buctootim

It would be good for the U21s and bads for lower league teams. I agree with Lighthouse, the JPT cup final was brilliant and should be reserved for the lower leagues.

Ministers in a cabinet have collective responsibility - thats the way government works. No minister is going to come out and explicitly contradict the agreed policy unless they want to be sacked / resign / do a IDS, especially given the PM was very pro. Similarly no reasonable politician is going to rule out something for all time. "When the facts change I change my mind". So there isnt anything categoric from Brown saying 'I will never join the euro', its more measured than that. The five tests were a clever way of saying no whilst appearing to follow the line. If you want you can make a 'thats a load of old pony' post, but that will just deny the reality of the politics at the time. All kinds of people might be re-writing history about the euro. but Brown really was one of the sceptics. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/jeremy-warner/9109500/Five-tests-that-saved-Britain-from-the-fate-of-economic-oblivion.html http://www.economist.com/node/1752320

Brown was clearly always against joining the euro. It was one of the fundamental bones of contention between him and Blair, who wanted to join. The five tests were a deliberate fudge - a 'pro' spin on five conditions which were all but unachievable. Credit people with a bit of memory.

Bit of a stretch isnt it? VAT has been at 15% or more since 1979. Yes in theory the Cypriots could try to deprive us of lowering VAT to 10% - but since it would cost £60bn pa no Chancellor ever is going to propose it- so its nett effect on us is zero. In any event taxation issues have to be unanimously passed - so the current rules exist because the British Government agreed to them . Similarly the British Government could push back on the solar panels and insulation ruling, but has decided not to at the first hurdle. That is consistent with their approach of reducing subsidies for solar and other renewables. It sounds to me as the the EC ruling suits them just fine. Is this what 'regaining sovereignty' is all about? - the right to do stuff we don't want to do anyway? http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/vat/topics/rates_en.htm

Hopefully, although Boris is committing hari kirii too - but it still doesnt explain why he has resigned. The only two options I can think of are that i) he is telling porkies or ii) he organised the backbench rebellion and was told to resign or be sacked. Even then I would have waited to be sacked and come out looking like the good guy.

Go on then, you start. Heres a list of the differing rates set by different EU countries and their varying exemptions. http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/taxation/vat/how_vat_works/rates/vat_rates_en.pdf

He's right, but it sounds a bit odd. Why would you resign if you had fought against the cuts, then it turns out the majority are with you and the cuts are 'kicked into the long grass'? Someone is telling porkies

A few questions. 1. Why is median working household income now lower than in 2004/05 despite economic growth of c15% since then? 2. Why has the income of the top 1% who pay tax (let alone the mega wealthy who dont) increased by 27% in the same period? 2. Why is Osbourne still offering tax cuts to the wealthy and companies when the budget deficit is still 3.7% of GDP after seven years of him as chancellor?

Aah nostalgia. I had no idea people still used that lazy debating technique. Do you have any substantive comment on the points I made?

The problem comes back again to the fundamental problem of a vision for Britain outside of the EU. If there was a properly thought through plan, or at least options put forward by a think tank and verified by one of the big accounting firms then the issue of personalities wouldnt be so important. If there were widespread backing from industry, or other countries it wouldnt be so important. In the absence of any 'product' to examine people naturally look instead at the quality, credibility and trustworthiness of the people doing the selling - and its not impressive. The out campaign is mainly lead by mavericks and outliers - people who mostly have never really succeeded in mainstream politics. They have nothing in common with each other apart from being eurosceptic.

I think we can all agree she is a heavy weight pygmy.

You need to delve down beneath the headline figures Johnny. If things were really rosy you would expect record employment to be reflected in record household income, it isnt. What is happening is that despite the economy growing more people are being forced to work in whatever job they can find , typically at low pay rates. Ordinarily the rise in the minimum wage would be an excellent thing - but the reduction of in work benefits far exceeds the gain for most low paid people, particularly families. We are following the US in that the top 10% (mostly top 1%) primarily benefit from economic growth whilst everybody else stagnates.

Are these the Harlem Globetrotters All Stars? A retired ex junior minister who never even made it to the cabinet? Anne Widdecombe's biggest achievement was to help destroy the odious Michael Howard, for which she would have gained more respect had she done it before he sacked her and not after.

It would be cheaper for all of us if someone like Citizens Advice Bureau or Child Poverty Action took out a contract on him.

Really? You are going to save £20,000pa in an ISA? have a massive windfall from the property portfolio you inherited? run a company who benefits from corporation tax cut? There is a budget deficit remember. For every pound in revenue given away to the rich means another pound extracted from the poor or cut from essential services.

water

Was it Joanna's club? I went there once on stag do. We got stopped at the door with the question "what ship you off lads?"

Ha! "car park" is always when I get found out too. Ive gradually developed a regionless classless accent having been in Sussex for 30 years but every time I say "car park" my friends crack up and out come the worzel jokes.

Selective, Franco was in power 1939-1975. Franco destroyed the economy during the civil war from 1936. The fact it bounced back from a low base to not quite as low a base for a short part of his reign (with American economic aid) isnt really significant.

"The macabre truth of gun control in the US is that toddlers kill more people than terrorists do" http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/13/the-macabre-truth-of-gun-control-in-the-us-is-that-toddlers-kill-more-people-than-terrorists-do

You also get stuck in Lg2. Im no expert but dont you need some Lg1 players and a manager with as bit of ambition and ability to get promoted?

I dont know what will happen either - but your opinion should at least be based on something substantive. You give the impression of someone whose opinion is based on what fits most comfortably with you and are damned if you're going to have it shaped or nuanced by facts or stats. To read and consider the same information and came to a different and rational conclusion is one thing - to put your fingers in your ears and say its all spin / lies / wrong / guesses etc etc is another. Its that wilful denial of reality that is weird.

Or 23rd based on purchasing power parity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita

There are a lot of clever, informed right wingers who have reasoned views. You aren't among them. At all. Or on a nearby continent.

A place called Towbex in Lancing - but its probably not local to you. Im sure any decent towbar fitter, car audio place or auto electrician could do it.