snap general election?

dinyull

rjsterry wrote:

We should be building 300,000 homes a year according to the House of Lords Select Committee report.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&sourc ... m5P4ktI0ng

We're actually managing less than half that.That 300,000 would include local authority and housing association building; it doesn't all need to be for sale. As Pross pointed out, S.106 agreements can be used to fund new infrastructure alongside the housing. That amount of construction would also generate significant employment.

The problem with this is....flooding the market with houses means the house builders are making a rod for their own backs. Market competition would drop, and so would house prices.

I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but house builders aren't going to voluntarily reduce their profits.

dinyull

Pross wrote:

Developers already have to provide a certain percentage of the development as affordable housing for any development over, I think, 10 houses. They will then either build the houses themselves for a housing association who then rent them out or sell the land to the housing association to build themselves.

Unless the builder decides they'd rather pay a levy fee to the council which means they don't have to include affordable housing.

FocusZing

I just hope some dull spark doesn't decide building high rise flats in towns and cities is the answer. Gawd they are depressing to look at, sprawling housing developments with no natural breaks is bad enough.

The architecture where you live makes a difference to a feeling of wellbeing.

mamba80

Surrey Commuter wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

One might suggest student numbers perhaps -quality rather than quantity.
I'd imagine a part time job on min wage would make a fairly small dent in fees, as most would be used for subsistence.

I meant the additional £20k debt in living costs - this suggests there is not a lot of earning going on. Or are we lumping in the costs of going on a year's holiday?

So, it appears to be ok to dump public debt on to students, who then get a decent job and pay a load of tax, buy a house, then get old and infirm and be forced to pay for their own care at home.... is this what is meant "from cradle to grave" ?

having a graduate workforce benefits us all, esp business, FB Google etc etc dont set up their HQ's in Rwanda! and higher taxes are needed to pay for all this infrastructure we need.

As an awful lot of student debt is never collected, so how much is removing it going to cost? almost all on here had higher education for free, seems hypocritical to then say to our kids "ah but... you can pay for yours"

Many of the silly courses have gone and remember its not just uni that students pay, its further ed too.

i dont know any students who use their mtce loans for a summer holiday.

bompington

mamba80 wrote:

Tuition fees..... Labour are promising to scrap these from 2017! and limit interest rate rises.

Figures look like the fees, currently 9250 per year and over 6% interest rate (that should be on Rip off Britain!) appear to be putting off poorer families

1. Labour's manifesto is pretty strong on offering free lunch for everyone (or at least "free lunch for all of you, those nasty rich people will have to pay, well, we think so, we haven't quite worked out the figures yet"). Maybe rising poll figures suggest that it's working at least a little bit...
2. not sure where you're getting the 6% from? Currently 4.6% max for those earning over 40K?
3. Famously, in Scotland, where there are no fees, poorer students are LESS likely to go to uni.

bendertherobot

PM promising to consult on capping social care costs now. Running slightly scared?

kingstongraham

For today's students, it isn't about whether you want to pay, it's how do you want to pay? Tax for the rest of your life, or until you've paid off the agreed part what your education cost? It's a decent compromise.

Over the last 35 years or so, the number of people over 90 has almost tripled and the participation in higher education has also almost tripled. Both of these are a good thing, but both have costs.

kingstongraham

bendertherobot wrote:

PM promising to consult on capping social care costs now. Running slightly scared?

Like it or hate it, it's the one brave(ish) policy she's come out with, even if it's not at all coherent. When they said at the weekend they were definitely not going to look at it again, it was inevitable it was going to change.

Jez mon

bendertherobot wrote:

PM promising to consult on capping social care costs now. Running slightly scared?

Just strongly and stably pitching from one policy idea to the next...

For all the accusations that the Labour party have to face about free lunches etc, as soon as the Tories unveil a policy that is ever so slightly unpopular they retreat quicker than you can say this lady is for turning.

bendertherobot

She's a bloody brilliant negotiator,

mamba80

bompington wrote:

mamba80 wrote:

Tuition fees..... Labour are promising to scrap these from 2017! and limit interest rate rises.

Figures look like the fees, currently 9250 per year and over 6% interest rate (that should be on Rip off Britain!) appear to be putting off poorer families

1. Labour's manifesto is pretty strong on offering free lunch for everyone (or at least "free lunch for all of you, those nasty rich people will have to pay, well, we think so, we haven't quite worked out the figures yet"). Maybe rising poll figures suggest that it's working at least a little bit...
2. not sure where you're getting the 6% from? Currently 4.6% max for those earning over 40K?
3. Famously, in Scotland, where there are no fees, poorer students are LESS likely to go to uni.

tory manifesto is also pretty vague on paying for stuff, what about the new promise on a cap on social care...weak and wobbly... this change will cost billions, all un costed and nothing on what the cap will be? 100k 500k what???
lunches for school kids isnt such a bad idea, esp as all the staff and kitchens are now in place

the 6% figure i heard on R4 and was unchallenged, looking into it further, loks like this will be the next rate rise increase.

i dont know anything about Scotland but i 'm guessing v low aspiration amongst the poor is something to do with it?

just tuned into the news and May is having a melt down following Q after Q on social care changes..... huge U-turn.

she is very uncomfortable under the spot light, folds under pressure.

Bobbinogs

bendertherobot wrote:

She's a bloody brilliant negotiator,

You mean she has lost a load of votes and is now doing what she can to get them back? Not sure about that tactic for negotiating.

Looks like Labour are playing a blinder (never thought I would say that). Large numbers of young have signed up to vote...no tuition fees is the price for all the votes going to Labour. Add the old voters into the mix after the Social care threats and it is beginning to make this one a lot closer than it should have been.

bendertherobot

Bobbinogs wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

She's a bloody brilliant negotiator,

You mean she has lost a load of votes and is now doing what she can to get them back? Not sure about that tactic for negotiating.

Looks like Labour are playing a blinder (never thought I would say that). Large numbers of young have signed up to vote...no tuition fees is the price for all the votes going to Labour. Add the old voters into the mix after the Social care threats and it is beginning to make this one a lot closer than it should have been.

I might be missing a smiley

The fees thing is a blinder. Of course it's debt, costs, but it's an attractive policy. Expect voter registration site to fall over in a bit.

mamba80

KingstonGraham wrote:

For today's students, it isn't about whether you want to pay, it's how do you want to pay? Tax for the rest of your life, or until you've paid off the agreed part what your education cost? It's a decent compromise.

Over the last 35 years or so, the number of people over 90 has almost tripled and the participation in higher education has also almost tripled. Both of these are a good thing, but both have costs.

as said, do we want a graduate highly educated workforce or not?

as for costing of adult social care, what is wrong with giving people the choice? provide for your own age via state/private run care insurance with costs capped OR pay for it out of your estate? (costs capped) andrew delnot came up with sensible proposals and he has been ignored.

she has had months planning this election, yet 4 days in, does a an about turn on a key policy, strong and stable my ar$e lol! this sort of thing has never happened during an election as far as i can remember.

bendertherobot

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 48651.html

Sneaked into the manifesto apparently.

Have to say, 5 weeks ago, thought it was a tad unfair to steal a march and leave the others unprepared. But, they had no idea. Did she go to sleep, get up and decide to call an election?

surrey_commuter

I think politicians get too hung up on U-turns. If she introduces a cap of circa £100k then that is a good thing. I am assuming few pay more than this and it removes a big worry for people.

rick_chasey

Surrey Commuter wrote:

I think politicians get too hung up on U-turns. If she introduces a cap of circa £100k then that is a good thing. I am assuming few pay more than this and it removes a big worry for people.

U turns are another nail in the credibility coffin, regardless of how sensible or not they are.

Nor do they scream "strong" leadership.

mamba80

Surrey Commuter wrote:

I think politicians get too hung up on U-turns. If she introduces a cap of circa £100k then that is a good thing. I am assuming few pay more than this and it removes a big worry for people.

Tomo, T.May will announce Tories to scrap tuition fees

with nursing care home fees around 40k per year, 100k isnt enough, there needs to be another element ie insurance and where is the money coming for this new policy?

pblakeney

Rick Chasey wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

I think politicians get too hung up on U-turns. If she introduces a cap of circa £100k then that is a good thing. I am assuming few pay more than this and it removes a big worry for people.

U turns are another nail in the credibility coffin, regardless of how sensible or not they are.

Nor do they scream "strong" leadership.

True that.
Strong and stable like a willow tree in a storm.

Stevo_666

Bobbinogs wrote:

Looks like Labour are playing a blinder (never thought I would say that). Large numbers of young have signed up to vote...no tuition fees is the price for all the votes going to Labour. Add the old voters into the mix after the Social care threats and it is beginning to make this one a lot closer than it should have been.

Or put it another way, Labour are so far behind in the polls that they are trying to bribe large sections of the population to win some votes and avoid getting totally wiped out next month.

dinyull

Frail and floppy.

mamba80

Stevo 666 wrote:

Bobbinogs wrote:

Looks like Labour are playing a blinder (never thought I would say that). Large numbers of young have signed up to vote...no tuition fees is the price for all the votes going to Labour. Add the old voters into the mix after the Social care threats and it is beginning to make this one a lot closer than it should have been.

Or put it another way, Labour are so far behind in the polls that they are trying to bribe large sections of the population to win some votes and avoid getting totally wiped out next month.

yeah i'm trying to think when the Tories have ever done this.... nah cant think of anything at all lol!!!!anyone for a tax cut???? or a share in british gas etc etc or maybe right to buy... nah they werent bribes at all were they...

She seems unsuited to Premiership, naturally shy (for a politician) and comes across as v cold, i guess as HSec, she was hidden away, no wonder no one saw her during the brexit campaign, she must have been bricking it.... say what you like about Corbyn but he gets out there, meets the people and takes the flak, as well as being v passionate in what he believes in.

Lax and lazy could be a good slogan for May.

Stevo_666

mamba80 wrote:

Stevo 666 wrote:

Bobbinogs wrote:

Looks like Labour are playing a blinder (never thought I would say that). Large numbers of young have signed up to vote...no tuition fees is the price for all the votes going to Labour. Add the old voters into the mix after the Social care threats and it is beginning to make this one a lot closer than it should have been.

Or put it another way, Labour are so far behind in the polls that they are trying to bribe large sections of the population to win some votes and avoid getting totally wiped out next month.

yeah i'm trying to think when the Tories have ever done this.... nah cant think of anything at all lol!!!!anyone for a tax cut???? or a share in british gas etc etc or maybe right to buy... nah they werent bribes at all were they...

She seems unsuited to Premiership, naturally shy (for a politician) and comes across as v cold, i guess as HSec, she was hidden away, no wonder no one saw her during the brexit campaign, she must have been bricking it.... say what you like about Corbyn but he gets out there, meets the people and takes the flak, as well as being v passionate in what he believes in.

Lax and lazy could be a good slogan for May.

Not saying other parties don't do this. It just seems that some parties (well one party at present) are spectacularly more successful at it than others. The Tories always have been pretty pragmatic which is part of the reason why they are winners

Stevo_666

Dinyull wrote:

Frail and floppy.

You talking about the level of support for Labour and the Lib Dems?

Fair comment then

milton50

My bet that the Tory majority will be less than 60 is looking not too shabby at the moment.

Bobbinogs

Milton50 wrote:

My bet that the Tory majority will be less than 60 is looking not too shabby at the moment.

60 votes or 60 seats?

milton50

Bobbinogs wrote:

Milton50 wrote:

My bet that the Tory majority will be less than 60 is looking not too shabby at the moment.

60 votes or 60 seats?

Haha, 60 seats

milton50

mamba80 wrote:

as well as being v passionate in what he believes in.

Apart from vociferously supporting unilateral nuclear disarmament for 40 years and then dropping it when he realised it would cost him votes.

rick_chasey

bendertherobot wrote:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dementia-tax-conservative-manifesto-2017-general-election-cabinet-ministers-theresa-may-poll-lead-a7748651.html

Sneaked into the manifesto apparently.

Have to say, 5 weeks ago, thought it was a tad unfair to steal a march and leave the others unprepared. But, they had no idea. Did she go to sleep, get up and decide to call an election?

Has anyone made the obvious dementia joke yet?

mamba80

Stevo 666 wrote:

mamba80 wrote:

Stevo 666 wrote:

Bobbinogs wrote:

Looks like Labour are playing a blinder (never thought I would say that). Large numbers of young have signed up to vote...no tuition fees is the price for all the votes going to Labour. Add the old voters into the mix after the Social care threats and it is beginning to make this one a lot closer than it should have been.

Or put it another way, Labour are so far behind in the polls that they are trying to bribe large sections of the population to win some votes and avoid getting totally wiped out next month.

yeah i'm trying to think when the Tories have ever done this.... nah cant think of anything at all lol!!!!anyone for a tax cut???? or a share in british gas etc etc or maybe right to buy... nah they werent bribes at all were they...

She seems unsuited to Premiership, naturally shy (for a politician) and comes across as v cold, i guess as HSec, she was hidden away, no wonder no one saw her during the brexit campaign, she must have been bricking it.... say what you like about Corbyn but he gets out there, meets the people and takes the flak, as well as being v passionate in what he believes in.

Lax and lazy could be a good slogan for May.

Not saying other parties don't do this. It just seems that some parties (well one party at present) are spectacularly more successful at it than others. The Tories always have been pretty pragmatic which is part of the reason why they are winners

Oh come on! i ve been critical of Corbyn on plenty of times...

May repeated time an again they d be no snap GE... u-turn, same on NI and probate fees... as late as yesterday we were ALL told no change to the 100k home social care.... now an about turn.
I m all for politicians looking at the evidence and changing their minds, thats a good quality BUT having a head start on the opposition, releasing what i d hope, is a well thought out manifesto (been in pwr 7 yeasr) and then c0cking a main policy, doesnt inspire confidence.

she is being lax on policy, hardly strong an stable, she needs to carry sceptics like me, if she intends to lead a united Great britain as she claims she does, into the brexit negotiations and beyond.

this is a farce, esp as it appears May had this policy put into the manifesto without full cabinet consultation, what next winter fuel allowance u-turn?

Milton50 wrote:

mamba80 wrote:

as well as being v passionate in what he believes in.

Apart from vociferously supporting unilateral nuclear disarmament for 40 years and then dropping it when he realised it would cost him votes.

good point but perhaps even JC realised the job loses involved with scrapping trident are too large, remember easy to have hi flying principals when on the back benches, less so in opposition, almost impossible in Government!