[Archived] The General Election 2015

[thenodrog]

The benefits cap intrigues me. Can anybody clarify whether the £23k figure is additional to wages or is an allowable limit when including wages?

The Mirror had an article in which it claimed the 'cruel government cuts' forced a family out of their house.

In actuality the family have relied on benefits for a long time, with 4 out of the 7 kids born after redundancy of the husband (wife didn't work). Now imo there is NOTHING wrong with that as the family has shown their irresponsibility.

If you have 3 kids and lose all your income, don't have 4 more and expect government handouts!

Bloody selfish bastrds. Breeding faster than the working population that is funding them. Child benefits should stop after two children.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/tax-credit-child-working-overpayment

Madness. See my sig.

• Number of children.... The more kids you have, the more you could get.

They had no choice but to bail out the banks, or we were all goosed! During that time, Britain RETAINED its AAA credit rating, only for the current incumbents to subsequent lose it!

Cameron's government have borrowed an extra £548 Billion since coming to power, (They've borrowed more in 4 years than Labour did in 13!) and haven't removed the deficit like they said they would.

Is that not the cost of reparing the damage ?

Is it not the reason for these austerity cuts? What should we do K-Hod carry on living beyond our means to oblivion?

[K-Hod]

I'll be honest, the way that was reported (Mike's link) was sickening. It was a problem entirely of their own creation.

Having that many kids without having the means to support them is irresponsible, and is almost tantamount to child abuse. They are exactly the kind of family that gets on my wick (and no doubt everybody else's), and take liberties without contributing anything meaningful to society.

[thenodrog]

For anyone to blame the global economic crisis on Labour is ridiculous in the extreme.

How would you describe anyone blaming it's effects on Cameron and Osborne then?

[K-Hod]

How would you describe anyone blaming it's effects on Cameron and Osborne then?

The banks are to blame for the global economic crisis, I'm sure we can all agree on that. My post was simply to quote a few facts!

[thenodrog]

I'll be honest, the way that was reported (Mike's link) was sickening. It was a problem entirely of their own creation.

Having that many kids without having the means to support them is irresponsible, and is almost tantamount to child abuse. They are exactly the kind of family that gets on my wick (and no doubt everybody else's), and take liberties without contributing anything meaningful to society.

They have a means to support them though... Benefits. Cut them and the problem will reduce greatly.

[K-Hod]

They have a means to support them though... Benefits. Cut them and the problem will reduce greatly.

Absolutely Gordon, no argument from me there. They need to be reformed, and whilst there are the genuine cases where people need benefits to survive, those taking liberties should be punished.

[thenodrog]

The banks are to blame for the global economic crisis, I'm sure we can all agree on that. My post was simply to dispel a few myths people seem to have been caught up in!

If you want to complain in a shop you need to complain to the person whose name is over the door.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21987829

New Labour under Blair and Brown brought in the FSA in 1997 which was held widely responsible for the banks running amok as they did.

Osborne binned it off and has replaced it. If this fails then he can be criticised.

[jim mk2]

The Tories in opposition were always berating Labour for over-regulating the City, then when the 2008 crash happened blamed Labour for under-regulating it. So how does that work ?

The fiscal deficit was caused by the govt having to bail out the banks. Saving RBS alone cost the country £54bn.

The moral hazard in all this is that those at the bottom of society are having to pay for for the excesses and stupidity of the wealthiest.

They have a means to support them though... Benefits. Cut them and the problem will reduce greatly.

Same old. same old. Hit those at the bottom for the folly of those at the top. I'd have more time for you if showed some sense of decency.

[yoda]

The banks are to blame for the global economic crisis, I'm sure we can all agree on that. My post was simply to quote a few facts!

Not sure I agree with that, companies (including financial ones) work to the regulations at hand (set by governments) and try to find ways around them.

The trigger for the financial crisis was the BNP pulling out of the sub prime market in the USA practically over night with no prior hints.

I was in France at the time and our business manager at the BNP told us to take any investments we might have in the USA out, that was about a month before they pulled out..

There was a lot of discussion on the MB prior to that about the world economy in general and how the credit levels had gone through the roof, Philipl and others making many posts about it.

I know I posted at the time that the biggest recession in history was coming but people were driving round in cars bought on plastic, B&Q were booming, house inflation through the roof, pension funds released, it was a big jolly for any one who wanted it.

[broadsword]

The banks are to blame for the global economic crisis, I'm sure we can all agree on that. My post was simply to quote a few facts!

They were allowed to do what they did, because of a lax regulatory framework.

The one in the UK was drawn by Gordon Brown.

[K-Hod]

They were allowed to do what they did, because of a lax regulatory framework.

The one in the UK was drawn by Gordon Brown.

Yeah, but it's not exactly what I'd call responsible lending and doesn't absolve them of responsibility.....

[broadsword]

I'm not saying they don't have any blame, but you seemed to be saying they were the only ones to blame, which I can't agree with at all.

[K-Hod]

I'm not saying they don't have any blame, but you seemed to be saying they were the only ones to blame, which I can't agree with at all.

It also seemed like you were saying the government were solely to blame in fairness

Anyway, there were many factors at play, but what stuck in my throat was the banks taking the proverbial then the government having to bail them out. Either way it was a horrenduous time for many people! My current workplace struggled badly as a result and nearly went under, though they're doing better than ever now which is a relief!

[yoda]

Losing your seat as an MP does not seem to hinder some people

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33107662

[thenodrog]

....... My current workplace struggled badly as a result and nearly went under, though they're doing better than ever now which is a relief!

A financial struggle for businesses under a Labour govt and increased profitability under a Conservative one. The usual pattern throughout the past century.

[K-Hod]

A financial struggle for businesses under a Labour govt and increased profitability under a Conservative one. The usual pattern throughout the past century.

It's been going a long time Gordon, it's survived several Tory/Labour governments and will continue to do so I suspect....

[jim mk2]

It's been going a long time Gordon, it's survived several Tory/Labour governments and will continue to do so I suspect....

Company fortunes ebb and flow with national and world events - there's no political trend one way or the other.

It is true to say however that the average man in the street in better off under a Labour govt and worse off under the Tories - the past 5 years being typical.

[thenodrog]

How is it that you keep banging on about the past 5 years yet appear to have wiped the absolute disaster of the previous 13 years from your memory banks? Is it a combination of embarrassment and shame perhaps or just another case of infantile brainwashing?

[yoda]

Labour still don't get it, still determined to elect a career politician as leader, they need a working class man/wpman at the top, not Oxbridge establishment people

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33117505

[K-Hod]

No argument from me Yoda, the party needs to completely rethink its identity imo.

Give it a rest will you Gordon, it's Friday night ;-)

[Mike E]

Company fortunes ebb and flow with national and world events - there's no political trend one way or the other.

It is true to say however that the average man in the street in better off under a Labour govt and worse off under the Tories - the past 5 years being typical.

Not in my experience and I don't properly know anyone earning over £25k/year.

[thenodrog]

Labour still don't get it, still determined to elect a career politician as leader, they need a working class man/wpman at the top, not Oxbridge establishment people

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33117505

Labelling Thomas the Tank Engine sexist hardly helped her cause I would suggest. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-minister-mary-creagh-attacks-thomas-the-tank-engine-over-lack-of-female-characters-9027328.html

BUT... has anybody noticed how many second generation immigrants wind up in politics? Creagh, Straw, Portillo, that greens nutjob Natalie Bennett, Brittan, both Blair and Broon were scottish. There's loads of them and Westminster and the desire to change the nation that adopted them appears to hold a fatal attraction.

[Gav]

Although poor in the leaders debate I thought Natalie Bennett talked a lot of sense on most topics, hardly a nut job.

[thenodrog]

A complete fruit loop.... and a ferkin aussie one at that! Go back to australia and try foisting your brand of far left politics on them you ugly cow.

Have you forgotten this gav? Surely not. Just thank the Lord the election did not leave her with a say in the running of this country.

[yoda]

A complete fruit loop.... and a ferkin aussie one at that! Go back to australia and try foisting your brand of far left politics on them you ugly cow.

Have you forgotten this gav? Surely not. Just thank the Lord the election did not leave her with a say in the running of this country.

Was that £30 billion she was unable to calculate ?