bungle

Why is that then? Local Councils may need to take on important capital projects, need money for developments, or want to alter the service they provide in a significant fashion. Local Councils have control over lots of things, y'know. There may also have been a population or demographic shift which means more or fewer people are paying Council Tax, or re-classification of homes may lead to a shift in banding which would need to be offset to ensure a balanced budget.

That's a general point about Council tax levels. At no point have I said they only raise at the level of inflation, just that they need to do that to cover costs.

Or maybe central government could give Council's a better settlement? Or maybe local government needs to raise above inflation to spend on important projects. It's all very well to pick isolated examples, but I'm afraid that just avoids all of the facts. And Hacienda and BTF are dead right in that freezing Council Tax won't stimulate the economy either.

Unfortunately Council spending goes up year on year because of...inflation! Staff wages go up, cost of contractors go up, cost of the services they have to buy goes up. They need to be able to raise Council Tax by inflation to keep pace with this. The big problem with the Tory plan (if one suggestion is a plan!) is that they haven't actually said how the will compensate local government. Local government will have spending plans and forecasts that rely on certain revenue streams, it would be irresponsible of central government to put all of that in jeopardy.

Any of them who have been on any soap ever, and then I am expected to know what their name and character name is as part of "common knowledge". B*stards, whoever they are.

If you read the thread you'd see I answered on page 1 or 2. Sorry if that is difficult for you.

Apparantly an agreement has been reached with Chris Holder. And it looks like Poole are going to enter a team into the new National League, as long as Stadia UK agree. I wonder what day they will ride on?

Why on earth would we want to do something that stupid?

I'm all for it in principle, obviously the costings need to be worked out. However, I'd be happy to royally shaft people who throw away loads! Tory Council here, although still using the Lib Dem implemented waste policy, so one box for most recycling, but seperate for cardboard and garden waste. Collected on 3 different days. Both main parties had same day collections and kitchen waste recycling for implementation in 2008 in their 2007 election manifestio. Surprise, surprise the Tories still haven't implented same day collection, and kitchen waste is delayed until 2010 at the earliest! Bath and North East Somerset was the top local authority for recycling, but it is now slipping down the list.

Well, I'm not sure anyone was in any doubt that you had very little idea of what you were talking about, but in case they were this comment has proved it. Well done you.

Lol. I'm sorry, but your last two posts have been ridiculous. Part of the job of being in opposition is, if you disagree with the government, to make it known what your alternative is. If the government steals your idea than great. I'd love to know the actual number of Lib Dem policies that Tory and Labour have stolen year on year. The thing is, the Tories are clueless (although Ken Clarke is currently speaking very well) and are almost denying there is a problem and have no idea how to help people. So far the some total of their thoughts are to freeze Council Tax, which is so embarrassingly flawed that they barely even mention it!

What a surprise, Osborne does lots of nitpicking and saying he doesn't agree with things, but nothing from him or his party (so far!) acknowledging that something needs to be done and what they'd do.

I see that George Osborne has secured an emergency debate (which could last 3 hours) on the pre-budget report, which will start at about 12.45, 1pm. I wonder if he's got anything to say yet?!

I receive very few PMs, but most of those I do are from JFP.

Whoosh!!

I think it's important to mention because whenever the Government issues "help" it is always the motorist (and the cost of motoring has fallen by 10% in real terms since 1997). Again yesterday Labour helped the motorist with it's phasing in of VED. Well, why can the government not call for a 1 year freeze in rail fares, to help public transport users through this tough time? They could pay for this by delaying major road widening schemes. As always, though, it's motorist first.

The other thing no-one is mentioning is that regulated rail fares go up 6% on the 2nd January. This means that since Labour came to power travelling by train has gone up 6% more than inflation.

Any kind of link to this suggestion?

No, no, can't you see it's all the MPs fault?! Bloody hell. Did you know it's their fault there is a grey cloud in the sky today too?!

Hey, and at least we are discussing positive action to try and get the economy going again. Unlike the Tories!

It will help, but not enough. And as the poster above mentions, we now have another increase on alcohol and tobacco (which, by the way, will also hurt local independent shops and local pubs). The whole package is a mess (although I don't mind the new higher tax band in 2011 as a solution - not my preferred method but no massive problems with it), which is just going to make those people who need the help worse off.

It doesn't help people who neeed help, it is helping those who have the power to spend. Where is the help for low income families? There is none, and they will be shafted by increased NI. Tories = Incapable of realising the issue Labour = Know there is a problem, but have messed up the solution.

The aim is to try and allow people to spend without taking on debt. Hence I would prefer a 4p cut on basic rate income tax which puts more money into the pockets of the low paid and middle class, and also would have benefit on non-luxury items. You don't spend VAT on your weekly grocery shop, so in what way does this help the people that need the help? At this time the Government has to take on more debt to give the economy a chance to grow, I just think that Labour have done this very badly, and it could well lead to further difficult times ahead. Still, at least they are trying to do something, while the Conservatives show that they are not fit for government.

Indeed it is, I just felt the Wiki page was not particularly clear and had a bash myself!

There's a lot of waffle in there. I heard it explained quite well on the radio this morning actually. Basically at a recession time people and companies cut back on their spending. However, the lack of any money being spent creates unemployment and drags down the economy. To combat this, governments can try and stimulate the economy by getting people spending again. There are, of course, many different ways of doing this. However, the idea is to boost the economy by giving people the ability to spend, thus allowing business to continue functioning etc. The other option is, of course, to do nothing, and cut spending and save money. But the consquences could be dire and long-lasting.