bridge too far

'Twas ever thus

Another thing that intrigues me is this. If all the 'developed' countries adopt a similar harsh deficit reduction, where on earth will the increased business come from? Fortunately, most of the rest of the world is being a tad more sensible in how they address the problem.

As someone interviewed on TV so eloquently put it: "The bankers caused this mess but the children and the poor will pay for it"

Yes of course it is. But then add in the benefits that would have to be paid out and both the loss from VAT on goods not purchased and the small businesses that will fold because 1 million more people out of work won't have the disposable income and it won't look like a saving at all. Add into that the probable drop in house prices (because people out of work can't keep up with mortgage payments, leading to a glut of houses up for sale) and things look decidedly not rosy at all. It just needs to be slower and less deep.

and thereby taking the demand out of the economy too as well as resulting in a decrease in taxation / NI to the Treasury coffers. And also Price Waterhouse Cooper (that bastion of socialism) reckons a further 500,000 private sector jobs will be lost as a result of the shrinkage in the public sector.

hula

Funny you should say that because, as was pointed out, GO on the one hand said that the Labour government had no plans to tackle the deficit and then, almost in the next breath, he said that the ConDems had in fact adopted many of the plans the Labour Party had proposed!

power

Brilliant and very funny response by Alan Johnstone

smith

grab

yoghurt

Good article (as ever) by David Conn in today's Guardian about football debt: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2010/oct/20/english-football-lord-triesman-debt-warning Mainly about Liverpool and ManUre but dear ole Poopey does get a mention.

mould

Got married Bought a house Had two children Got divorced Got married again Performed (dance) at the Albert Hall

oil

I'm sorry you choose to misunderstand. Do your blinkers need adjusting maybe? I have nothing against helping people out, nothing at all. However, here is a landlord who earns an income out of renting out his house. As a landlord he has a moral and legal responsibility for the welfare of his tenant. He shouldn't have to rely on the goodwill of others. After all, his income from the rent should cover maintenance and repair charges. It is a business he is running. Businesses have income and expenditure ergo so does he.

rodent

gerbil

I think the intelligent among us will understand the moral and principle of paying for work and not expecting something for nothing. The less well endowed? I wouldn't know.............

Indeed - when Liam Fox was interviewed this afternoon, he said that 'we are such a big purchaser, we can call the shots'. Then he should have called the shots on this one.

john

grinning demon

eye

Will you stop posting please? I'm struggling with your name Throw Also errrr Gay (I have 2 friends called Tim who are both gay)