Datatek
Well-Known Member
And they bankrupted the country again as they have done every time they have been in power, not forgetting Bliars contribution to destabilising the middle east.
Volusia
Active Member
Right on. From leaving and, bragging about leaving the country skint, to ripping off pension funds to the tune of billions, to selling off the gold at knock down prices, to locking the nation into a bad EU deal. The list is endless. They will never get back in to power again.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
Sadly, they will, folks in the UK have very short memories and many vote according to tradition not any form of rational logical analysis.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
Well, Thatcher, despite her faults, tamed the Trotskyite Unions that were intent on destroying UK industry for political reasons and transformed the UK from the sick may of Europe to a viable economy, reduced taxes for the average working man, made setting up one's own business easier, paid off a lot of debt from earlier Socialist governments for starters.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
Never had that problem. EU rules say if VAT has been paid at the time of purchase, you can move your baccy & liquor without a problem. There are limits on quantities though.
Had trouble with the UK customs though. The UK was sanctioned by the EU for trying to restrict VAT paid imports.
Volusia
Active Member
Falklands, Britain regained its standing in the world.
Lower taxes and recently, the best labour budget labour couldn't have got away with delivering.
On the other hand, tax credits up from 2million at its labour introduction, to the out of control 30 million it stands at today. Next question?
Datatek
Well-Known Member
If I remember correctly, the UK has 1% of world population, 4% of world GDP but gives out 7% of world benefits courtesy of labour
Even kids of Roms & others that have never set foot in the UK and may not exist qualify for child benefithonolulujoe
Well-Known Member
about time the countrys' finances were run as a corporation by a competent person with a long term view instead of a bunch of buffoons trying to make sure they get another 5 years on the gravy train.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
Like the banks perhaps with a £10 million pay packet plus bonus?
Despite the latest 10% pay hike, the buffoons are relatively cheap, just need reducing in number from 650 to 300 or so
honolulujoe
Well-Known Member
I would have a go for 10 mill and a bonus, have to be plus expenses though or it wouldn't be worth it
wattfield
AKA Dirk Diggler
Without multiquoting, can someone supply me with figures to show how the UK was "bankrupt" at any particular time, and how different it was at the end of a Tory term of Government? Not to mention the most recent ConDem coalition, with a Tory chancellor who increased debt more in 5 years than Labour did in 13.
Under Thatcher, income tax fell and indirect taxes such as VAT rose. The effect of this is not to reduce the tax paid by the average earner, that didn't change significantly, but to shift more of the the burden to those of lower incomes. Coupled with mass unemployment, the near demise of the traditional apprenticeship, high inflation & interest rates (and a huge increase in house reposession), reduced affordable housing, increasing inequality between the richest & poorest, increased homelessness, two severe recessions, deregulation of the finance sector (which left us little defence in the banking crisis) doesn't strike me as a successful term of Government.
For the record, my opinion is that subsequent Labour Governments did little to address these issues.
Trotskyite unions? Trotsky's view was that Marxism should come about by world revolution; I've never heard a British trade union leader support that. Even the Communist Party in Britain didn't support that.
s for the most recent budget being "Labour", don't make me laugh.
Under Thatcher, income tax fell and indirect taxes such as VAT rose. The effect of this is not to reduce the tax paid by the average earner, that didn't change significantly, but to shift more of the the burden to those of lower incomes. Coupled with mass unemployment, the near demise of the traditional apprenticeship, high inflation & interest rates (and a huge increase in house reposession), reduced affordable housing, increasing inequality between the richest & poorest, increased homelessness, two severe recessions, deregulation of the finance sector (which left us little defence in the banking crisis) doesn't strike me as a successful term of Government.
For the record, my opinion is that subsequent Labour Governments did little to address these issues.
Trotskyite unions? Trotsky's view was that Marxism should come about by world revolution; I've never heard a British trade union leader support that. Even the Communist Party in Britain didn't support that.
s for the most recent budget being "Labour", don't make me laugh.
honolulujoe
Well-Known Member
transfer the treasury to the boe, I reckon mark carney would make a much better job of it than any of the politicians.
I can't see that any government has done a particularly brilliant job of running the country
I can't see that any government has done a particularly brilliant job of running the country
brianconwy
Well-Known Member
"Falklands, Britain regained its standing in the world. "
In 1977 James Callaghan averted an invasion of the Falklands by quickly sending a small rask force to the islands when Argentina landed 'scientists' on South Thule. Operation journeyman.
In a similar situation Margaret Thatcher sat back and allowed them to take the islands. It cost lots of lives, billions of pounds at the time and billions every year since. But she recovered from a poor position to win the next election due to nationalistic flag waving.
I doubt if our image to the rest of the world was elevated to any degree. The conquering of a few specks in the South Atlantic held by a lesser power was hardly the renaissance of a once great empire.
In 1977 James Callaghan averted an invasion of the Falklands by quickly sending a small rask force to the islands when Argentina landed 'scientists' on South Thule. Operation journeyman.
In a similar situation Margaret Thatcher sat back and allowed them to take the islands. It cost lots of lives, billions of pounds at the time and billions every year since. But she recovered from a poor position to win the next election due to nationalistic flag waving.
I doubt if our image to the rest of the world was elevated to any degree. The conquering of a few specks in the South Atlantic held by a lesser power was hardly the renaissance of a once great empire.
tacr2man
Well-Known Member
Why would you expect them to they are only (for the most part) trained to any degree in politics , never run a business , or even had to operate to a strict budget . experience of real life very limited .
honolulujoe
Well-Known Member
Why would you expect them to they are only (for the most part) trained to any degree in politics , never run a business , or even had to operate to a strict budget . experience of real life very limited .
totally agree, wonder how Cromwell feels now
whenever vince cable opened his mouth as business secretary I dreamt of a sawn off
Volusia
Active Member
Having been in a position to pose the question of his raid on pension funds in the first year he carried out the theft of 5 billion pounds from said funds, I have to admit Brown gave a good, almost convincing, account of his actions. But agree, no government, whatever it's colour has the nounce to run the country, which is run by faceless civil servants anyway. But one fact remains, if you need to raise money you have to raise it from the hordes rather than who we would all like to see it raised from, the bankers. If Britain lost its banking sector, the apprentices you speak of who were dropped in favour of bussing in cheap labour voting workers, would not have anything to be apprenticed at. It seems all that is left in the UK is service industries, the city and precious little else. Even the Electrical distribution and supply companies, a core element to civilized living, dropped apprentiships thanks to labours so short sighted plans to keep folk like Millipede and Andy ( mid staffs) Burnham in office at all costs.
Datatek
Well-Known Member
As my old Dad used to say, those that can do, those that can't become politicians.
In my view, no one should be able to become a member of Parliament before the age of 50 and they should have a CV showing they have worked for a living.
I was amused by one politician on TV talking about the 10% pay rise for MP's, he said something along the lines that "if pay didn't go up, we would be left with a political class made up of the very rich and those who were not capable of anything else". Funny, I thought that is exactly the current situation
Even the upper echelon of Labour are public school toffs.
blue beasty
Leaks an prone to bits dropping off
All true no doubt but almost total reliance on the financial sector and the demise of industry sit squarely on Thatchers shoulders.
Blaming one party or another is pointless when a succession of both in power have been heading the same direction and make future choices pretty dire.
