Boris....

Gavin Gilbert

bringing things firmly back on topic........

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7402133.stm

A few days into the job and Boris makes our public transport system and roads a little bit less safe.

wildmoustache

pliptrot wrote:

We've had business friendly policies since 1979 and we now have an enormous national debt -we are pretty much reliant now on the largesse of East Asia so that they don't call in the IOUs and make the Uk destitute - the worst inequality in wealth since the 1950s (and worsening) and some kind of London-centric machine which allows us all to ignore the poverty in the rest of the UK (and in much of London). If the UK - as Labour (and the Tories before) would have us believe- has outpaced the rest of Europe, then why the hell do we have (including the millions on disability benefits, done only to disguise the truth) greater unemployment, cannot afford decent public services and have the worst health care system in the developed world? (with the notable exception of the US).

As for OffthebackAdam's comments on fair taxation - given that he has pretty much the same expectations on defense, health and so-on as Richard Branson, would he like the same tax bill? Of course not. Taxation needs to be progressive, so that the haves help the have-nots. To argue otherwise is to advocate anarchy. If you don't like the working time directive - then opt out. You can, and most employers quietly ask you to. I can understand the resentment about Europe - after all the Germans (the largest exporting nation in the world) are at home on Friday afternoons, happy in the knowledge that they are richer, more secure and have a better quality of life than than the Brits who hate the idea of good pension provision, decent health care and the like. Can't you hear the sound of angels weeping? As for council tax - the old folk in the big house have a choice - as the large family in the council house probably do not. Many people find themselves off-the-back in life through no fault of their own. A little egalitarian thinking makes the world a better place. We've had more than enough of me-first-and-to-hell-with-the-consequences.

Worse healthcare system in the developed world is highly debatable. Many very poor people do far better out of the NHS than they would do out of pretty much any other system.

Your statement on wealth inequality is also a bit misleading. Comparing the top and the bottom, yes, you're right, but if you exclude the very top your statement isn't right.

As for pension provision - note that the German system, to use your example is becoming less progressive while the British system is becoming more progressive.

bagpusscp

Well the hornets are still buzzing.

Well with the biggest U turn in recent years in tax ,the real hard up are still out of pocket.
STILL DARLING MAY HAVE JUST BOUGHT ENOUGH VOTES TO WIN THE NEXT BY ELECTION.
The sooner this crowed get their P45's the better.

Piggies in the dirt the lot of em.

wildmoustache

bagpusscp wrote:

Well the hornets are still buzzing.

Well with the biggest U turn in recent years in tax ,the real hard up are still out of pocket.
STILL DARLING MAY HAVE JUST BOUGHT ENOUGH VOTES TO WIN THE NEXT BY ELECTION.
The sooner this crowed get their P45's the better.

Piggies in the dirt the lot of em.

I like the idea of compensating people for tax increases and now the precedent has been established I hope it's rolled out more widely.

Gordon - can I please keep more of my money?

OffTheBackAdam

There'll be out next time round, no Teflon Tony to glad-hand the crowds, economy in the doldrums, prices up, taxes up, unemployment going up, only too happy to line their own nests.

TheBoyBilly

So the much maligned Boris decides to reduce the test to once a year. Okay then, how many tests (of any sort) did RedKen do of Mini-Cabs?

bagpusscp

I reckon Gordon is going to be on the Gordon's this weekend.
Might as well give him another kick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udR7K8H-YCM

Gavin Gilbert

TheBoyBilly wrote:

So the much maligned Boris decides to reduce the test to once a year. Okay then, how many tests (of any sort) did RedKen do of Mini-Cabs?

Gavin's Top Tips #108, 30 seconds on Google can prevent you from looking like an ill-informed twat:

http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/transport/taxis-phv.jsp

TheBoyBilly

Do you ever venture outside your front door Gav? Go on, take a chance - there's a real world out there. You never know, you might find some of Gordon's Discount Gold

st68

boris johnson like his predessesor and all other politicians is full of shite if voting changed things they wouldnt let u vote only guaranteed thing from that lot is they get a heafty pay rise every year!!!!! :evil: oh and we mugs pay for it

Gavin Gilbert

TheBoyBilly wrote:

Do you ever venture outside your front door Gav? Go on, take a chance - there's a real world out there. You never know, you might find some of Gordon's Discount Gold

:?:

another clueless Tory smokescreens whilst backing away. I've seen plenty of the Real World, and it looks nothing like what is described inside The London Evening Standard.

So BillyBoy, what do you think of ABdPJ's lastest wheeze of letting motorcycles into the bus lanes? Brilliant news for London's cyclists, isn't it?

TheBoyBilly

Ah Gavin, I'm a motorcyclist too you see and can see the benefits. Not so much for those of us on larger bikes but for those who have to negotiate traffic on restricted 49cc scooters so perhaps there is scope for a compromise. I actually feel there is more danger to cyclists in bus lanes from...... buses! (and similar schemes seem to work in Bristol and other forward-thinking cities)

overmars

Yes, as Boris is also a cyclist putting more traffic in the bus lanes makes perfect sense. That's wonderful forward thinking.
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

TheBoyBilly

So far it seems to have been a success, that's all I'm saying. It's not much fun watching a young lady on her puny moped trying to dodge articulated lorries and WVM in heavy traffic. Perfect sense? Nothings perfect otherwise there'd be a different lane for every type of vehicle.

Gavin Gilbert

overmars wrote:

Yes, as Boris is also a cyclist putting more traffic in the bus lanes makes perfect sense. That's wonderful forward thinking.
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Let's keep things in perspective Overmars, whilst letting motorbikes into bus lanes is a retrograde step for us cyclists (the way bikies behave in ASL's points to that being bad news), Tory councils across London are removing bus lanes as they upset the private motorist..

Problem solved then.

overmars

TheBoyBilly wrote:

So far it seems to have been a success, that's all I'm saying. It's not much fun watching a young lady on her puny moped trying to dodge articulated lorries and WVM in heavy traffic. Perfect sense? Nothings perfect otherwise there'd be a different lane for every type of vehicle.

And it's not much fun watching a beginner wobbling. Having a faster vehicle flying past them doesn't help either.

Perfect? Perfect would be horse drawn buggies. Central London was simply not built for cars.

Clever Pun

TheBoyBilly wrote:

Ah Gavin, I'm a motorcyclist too you see and can see the benefits. Not so much for those of us on larger bikes but for those who have to negotiate traffic on restricted 49cc scooters so perhaps there is scope for a compromise. I actually feel there is more danger to cyclists in bus lanes from...... buses! (and similar schemes seem to work in Bristol and other forward-thinking cities)

This isn't Boris's idea though is it? the A10 (commerical road) into london has had bike on it for quite a while now and there's been no detrimental effects that I've seen. it can be a little unnerving to have a bike whizz past you closely if you don't have your wits about you, but no difference to a car really

overmars

Result of a Evening Standard poll in todays paper.

Q: Is Boris Johnson right to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes?

Yes 39%
No 61%

Gavin Gilbert

overmars wrote:

Result of a Evening Standard poll in todays paper.

Q: Is Boris Johnson right to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes?

Yes 39%
No 61%

I'm tempted to take the view that nothing in the London Edition of the Daily Mail can be trusted, even a poll putting ABdPJ in a losing position.

On a happier note - I'm hosting a cheese & wine evening on the Circle Line from 8pm on the 1st June. Any takers? 8)

OffTheBackAdam

overmars wrote:

Perfect would be horse drawn buggies

At 4 Tonnes of shit/horse/year?
Better watch where you're cycling/walking!


I'd much prefer to have a motorbike pass me in a bus lane than a bendybus!

overmars

OffTheBackAdam wrote:

I'd much prefer to have a motorbike pass me in a bus lane than a bendybus!

Really? I'd prefer a cyclist (preferably female). But hey, that's me.

Clever Pun

Gavin Gilbert wrote:

On a happier note - I'm hosting a cheese & wine evening on the Circle Line from 8pm on the 1st June. Any takers? 8)

It's scum like you Boris is looking to remove from our pleasant tube system... oh wait

overmars

Gavin Gilbert wrote:

overmars wrote:

Result of a Evening Standard poll in todays paper.

Q: Is Boris Johnson right to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes?

Yes 39%
No 61%

I'm tempted to take the view that nothing in the London Edition of the Daily Mail can be trusted, even a poll putting ABdPJ in a losing position.

On a happier note - I'm hosting a cheese & wine evening on the Circle Line from 8pm on the 1st June. Any takers? 8)

The Evening Standard are not happy with the goings on of that party. They're blaming it on Ken.

passout

Somebody far more clever than I once said something like "The opposition don't win elections, governments lose them". It's the same here. Boris got in because they knew who he was and they didn't want Red Ken any more - I agree with them. Time for a change, he'd been there too long. I think that Boris will be fine, he'll be on best behaviour and will get things done. Hopefully he'll cut down on wasteful spending as any good conservative 'should'. He is a bit of of a loose cannon though, I must admitt. Then again I live in Lancashire and don't really care if I'm honest, especially as london doesn't care about any problems up here. Good luck London.