Tokyo-Saint

So should it all be level Barry? Also do you admit that at least some of the business community is doing something for the working man? Large multinationals aside of course. Stop answering questions with questions*, you could be a politician. I know I have just done that but otherwise there is no chance of getting an answer.

In that case are you both proposing that the level of tax companies pay should be the same throughout Europe? This would stop or at least discourage companies like Google basing the operations out of Ireland or Amazon out of Luxembourg. Isn't the EU in general trying to make things more uniformed across member states? Banana straightening and all that.

How do you work that out Barry? I am part of the business community, at present employ 100% British staff (not by design), pay national insurance, pension contributions etc etc. Not to mention the huge taxes we have to pay, business rates, tax on profits, VAT, tax on any dividends. 95% of the money we bring in is from other countries, many in the EU. How is that "doing nothing for the working person"?

The answer to this would obviously usually be yes. However, there are so many sensationalist scaremongers out there ("The Bulgarian's are coming!") and so many dim wits that believe them, I am worried that a large number people would vote without making an informed decision. They might as well open the lines on Xfactor and let people vote at the same time as voting on that.

No sticks Barry, you are doing a fine yourself with all that rope. I was just wondering why someone who spent a large part of his life somewhere else, stealing someone else's job (and may well do the same again in Singapore) seems to be so against the concept of migration.

Aren't you an immigrant from NZ Barry?

Not sure it is only big business Barry. My business does about 60% of our trade with the EU. Without it and with the old visa/trading tariffs we would not be in the position we are in now. Trading internationally is a big part of most companies large or small these days.

I wonder how Bob got on with his garage?

Turns out we were all wrong and he is currently doing a 5 stretch at hmp Winchester.

Yeah I agree, not complaining just saying we are not that in a situation where there is barely room to move or anywhere close to it.

Not really whitey. Compared to Tokyo, even London is covered in green and pleasant land and brown and not so pleasant land.

I agree tp, he probably is. i.e. suck cock etc.

Playing devils advocate but what is the 'real' cost compared to building and maintaining council places? Taking out the few Brian Badonde looking conservatives that the mirror have used as an example of private landlords renting to the public, is it really that bad? At worse (cause they are the figures the mirror gave) the price is 29% over and above the going rate. This means the landlord takes care of the up keep of the properties and assuming he does his job, deals with emergencies such as broken boilers etc. Then, he pays 20% tax their profits as a company (which of course goes back in the public purse) and then if he wants to take a dividend, he will have to pay tax on that as well (again into the public purse). Is the problem that a large amount of these places are in really expensive areas? Camden for example is one of the most expensive places in London to live (Brett will testify) but has a huge amount of council houses and private landlords. A private landlord here will be charging 29% over and above an already huge figure. Should the location of these rents be looked into as well? Should people be given the option of waiting longer on the waiting list or take this place slightly out of town? I am sure Ludwig will be along in a minute to call me a **** and a few lefties will say people have the right to live where they want, however in October a council house in Southwark was sold for £3m. Providing this money is/was reinvested into new properties in a less central location, isn't this a good thing?

I agree to some extent, however in the OP you are demonising a private landlord for offering accommodation. You quote their turnover as supporting evidence. It is not their fault that there is a housing crisis is it? I don't know if the ones you quoted are the worst landlords in the world making huge profits or if they are actually providing a necessary service due to Thatcher thinking it was a good idea to sell off the council houses. However, the premise of the whole thing is too not far removed from a Dune/Barry sensationalist link from a right wing news paper - just from the opposing wing.

It's a propa club for propa geezers.

Probably fair to be honest. I know this won't be popular but if you had a house and could either rent it to the local council or a private professional, who would you go for? If the accommodation is in poor condition or the tenants are badly treated, that's another issue. However, I assume the extra 29% is like for like?

From a private landlords point of view, it's B Pap. Otherwise I take it they can go and offer it to private tenants. To be honest, even a little more than the going rate to cover additional 'risk' of accommodating someone I guess they have little knowledge of (I don't know the ins and outs of it but I guess the council just allocate who lives where as opposed to an estate agent who would do greater background checks etc) would be fair. It is not the private landlords responsibility to house the nation. Should the government? Probably, but that is not the argument you are making is it?

Don't quote me on this Whitey but I believe that is Barry after the Everton away match.

What they cleared in turnover doesn't really matter Pap. Were they charging a fair rent for the accommodation offered?

They're French Pap. There will be a long break for lunch and even longer holidays in Summer. Plus you get to go on strike once or twice a year. This should fit with your usual 'local traditions'.

It's his spiritual home GS.

Is that real or parody? I am in! Which channel will it be on Brett?

No, but if they do Pochettino will be jumping at the chance bear.

Bwaaark!