hodgy0_2

The basic point is that it is a myth that public spending was out of control before the crash

To put it in context I believe it was 47% in 97 when Labour came to power, and had reduced to roughly 35% by 2007/8

And similar with the deficit

It went up after 2008, yes, but as I said Public money was used to bail out the banks

jonc

No, I never said it was out of control, also it was around 40% of GDP, but then the Tories didn't raid the pensions nor sold off gold at knock down prices. Add to that, neither did they go against a public opinion for a referendum before deciding to surrender Britain's sovereignty under the Lisbon Treaty and costing Britain tens of billions of pounds.

hodgy0_2

Lol, OK

mrtheedge2u2

On a person by person basis there will always be winners and losers but if you vote for who will serve the country best and not who will serve YOU best then I believe the country has won by keeping the Conservatives in power.

jonc

If anything, the £30,000 stone tablet that Ed Milliband commissioned just indicated the wastage and pointless spending to come had he got into office.

dpb

It could double as his tomb stone , cut down a bit

hodgy0_2

It is going to be quite an interesting few years

Personally, as someone firmly in the high rate tax band, and owner of several properties in London

I absolutely benefit from a Tory victory - the cap (in law no less) on tax rises, the continued promotion of simple asset inflation as a road to wealth and prosperity, the Tory stance on inheritance tax - all great for me and my family

Coupled with tackling the debt/deficit by cutting public expenditure by 12 billion, again great - that will not really effect me

But what is interesting is the reason why Cameron would not say where the 12billion in cuts will come from - is that it will have to come, in large part, from "in work" benefits

I.e from people already working - and I suspect that this will impact quite hard on some Tory voters

People who do work, but due to our inististant on building a low wage, low skill economy built on zero hour / temporary work (remember I posted on the inevitable growth of these 5 years ago)

Will see their living standards fall quite hard

Interesting (and painful for some) times to come

dpb

Child benefit and Pissys pool heating allowance

hodgy0_2

Undoubdtly child benefit

Chip

Child benefit should be limited to first two children.

stilover

In Harry Enfields voice....

"I am considerably richer than Yow"

hodgy0_2

lol, and believe or not, I will on holiday with him (and his
wife Lucy and their 3 children) later in the summer

stilover

Of course you will.

hodgy0_2

Lol, yes I will

Devildog

And name dropping too.

I'm going to shamelessly nick this from a tweet by JK Rowling, amended as appropriate:

Hodgy, The Internet doesn’t just offer opportunities for bragging, you know. ***** enlargers can also be bought discreetly.

jonc

Shameless name dropping? It's like saying I'm going on holiday with Ken Dodd is something worth bragging about!

hodgy0_2

lol, with 5 kids - I don't need it

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

I don't think anyone has insisted....those are the only jobs available to many, many, many people, especially in the north, after Thatcher finished with us.

Dirk Diggler 75

Spot on .......