Value for money?
UK Chancellor George Osborne has today delivered his Autumn Statement to Parliament. This mini budget is often less sever than the Spring budget but still usually inflicts some financial pain. t is a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul as the Chancellor shuffles money around and outlines proposals to increase revenues sprang to mind.
Each political party has its core bel speifs to honour, plus its core voters to appease. The Tories have staying hand in their political bedfellows the Liberal Democrats, but not much of one. The Lib Dems appear to be morphing into true blue conservatives.
Each political party has its core bel speifs to honour, plus its core voters to appease. The Tories have staying hand in their political bedfellows the Liberal Democrats, but not much of one. The Lib Dems appear to be morphing into true blue conservatives.
Osborne got to his feet and delivered his mini budget amongst catcalls, jeers and laughter. He spoke of reduced growth figures, high unemployment and the possibility of a new recession. Tell us something we don't know George, sprang to mind. He then went onto reveal this budget in detail.Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls then got to his feet and responded, again to jeers, catcalls and laughter. At times it was more like vaudeville than the seat of government. The Speaker of the House did his best to keep order and allow both men the right to be heard.
SkyNewshave some of the main changes proposed in this statement which include:
"Basic state pension to rise by £5.30 next April. Pension credit also unrated by £5.30. :: In 2026 - state pension age will rise to 67.
Benefits uprated by 5.2% next April.
Credit Easing to help small business - ceiling of £40bn. National Loan Guarantee Scheme to use country's record low interest rate to ease interest rates charged to firms who borrow from banks.
Country's low rate to benefit families too through mortgage indemnities. Will reinvigorate "right to buy" to also help construction sector.
Bank Levy rate to rise from January 1st.
National Infrastructure Plan to get Britain building to improve roads, bridges, rail, schools etc. It will be paid for through"British savings for British jobs." £20bn to come from pension schemes.
£5bn of additional Government spending on infrastructure plan - 90% of homes will have access to super-fast broadband.
Regional Growth Fund for England to get extra £1bn.
£0.5bn for science projects.
Health & Safety red tape to be cut further for small firms.
Corporate tax rate to fall to 25%.
Business rates holiday extended until April 2013.
8.7% unemployment rate forecast for next year by OBR.
New Youth Contract to offer work experience and assistance getting into private sector to help ease youth unemployment.
Extra £1.2bn to schools with 100 extra 'free schools'. Maths Free schools to help UK's science industry.
Free nursery places for 40% of the country's 2-year olds (260,000)
Planned 3p per litre fuel duty increase in January is cancelled. August's planned increase to be reduced.
Rail fares capped at 1% higher than CPI inflation.
Public sector pay awards set at an average of 1% increase after the pay freeze ends next Spring. This will be the pay award for 2013-2015. With a public sector strike tomorrow this is a further slap in the face.
Opinion:
So at a time when youth unemployment is extremely high the government plans to rush through the proposed increase in retirement age. This will leave less jobs available. Of course if you sit on your backside in Parliament liing of the fat of the land it is easy to work till your are feeble. It could be a different kettle of fish if for example you are a building worker.
Each change of plan such as delaying the increase in petrol leaves a financial hole to fill. This is where being a Robin Hood character is useful.
Watching the front bench of the government whilst Ed Balls spoke was as enlightening as ever. These people have had a privileged upbringing and benefited from an expensive education. Millionaires in their own rights means the nitty gritty of the autumn statement will not affect them one iota. Smirking faces were the order of the day. Liberal Democrats such as Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander were hard to identify amongst this sea of smug wealthy faces. That is probably because LIberal Democrats who are sharing government with the Tories right now are morphing into true blue conservatives.
The Coalition government may try to claim that tomorrow's strike is due to the unions but that is far from the truth. The government is using this as an excuse to bash unions and public sector workers. The government is not prepared to negotiate further.
It seems that the coalition want to keep stressing that public sector pay is good. They claim it now outstrps pay in the private sector. Public sector workers in the Uk were traditionally paid poorly. The attraction with the work was that it was usually ajob for life. Not anymore.
Pay increased under Labour and fr example in the NHS Agenda for Change attempted to improve the pay of its workers, in particular those at the bottom end of the pay scales. Withe py freezes followed by lower than inflation pay rises it appears that the coalition want to pt public sector workers in their place. That is back to being the lowest paid.
Shame on you.
Watching breakfast TV this morning I glimpsed Samantha Cameron, wife of the UK PM at a Victoria Beckham shindig. The TV program was trying to concentrate on the fashion aspect of the event. Well this viewer looked at it differently. My ears pricked up to hear that Sam Cams shoes for the event cost £600. Yes that's right £600 and her hubby dares to tell us how well off we are but how hard up the country is.
Look at the paltry pension increases above. To show such frivolous disregard for money the night before the budget and two days before a national strike says it all.
It is no longer that dark ages when people heed such rubbish about how hard the UK is etc etc.
In it together? My backside.
SkyNewshave some of the main changes proposed in this statement which include:
"Basic state pension to rise by £5.30 next April. Pension credit also unrated by £5.30. :: In 2026 - state pension age will rise to 67.
Benefits uprated by 5.2% next April.
Credit Easing to help small business - ceiling of £40bn. National Loan Guarantee Scheme to use country's record low interest rate to ease interest rates charged to firms who borrow from banks.
Country's low rate to benefit families too through mortgage indemnities. Will reinvigorate "right to buy" to also help construction sector.
Bank Levy rate to rise from January 1st.
National Infrastructure Plan to get Britain building to improve roads, bridges, rail, schools etc. It will be paid for through"British savings for British jobs." £20bn to come from pension schemes.
£5bn of additional Government spending on infrastructure plan - 90% of homes will have access to super-fast broadband.
Regional Growth Fund for England to get extra £1bn.
£0.5bn for science projects.
Health & Safety red tape to be cut further for small firms.
Corporate tax rate to fall to 25%.
Business rates holiday extended until April 2013.
8.7% unemployment rate forecast for next year by OBR.
New Youth Contract to offer work experience and assistance getting into private sector to help ease youth unemployment.
Extra £1.2bn to schools with 100 extra 'free schools'. Maths Free schools to help UK's science industry.
Free nursery places for 40% of the country's 2-year olds (260,000)
Planned 3p per litre fuel duty increase in January is cancelled. August's planned increase to be reduced.
Rail fares capped at 1% higher than CPI inflation.
Public sector pay awards set at an average of 1% increase after the pay freeze ends next Spring. This will be the pay award for 2013-2015. With a public sector strike tomorrow this is a further slap in the face.
Opinion:
So at a time when youth unemployment is extremely high the government plans to rush through the proposed increase in retirement age. This will leave less jobs available. Of course if you sit on your backside in Parliament liing of the fat of the land it is easy to work till your are feeble. It could be a different kettle of fish if for example you are a building worker.
Each change of plan such as delaying the increase in petrol leaves a financial hole to fill. This is where being a Robin Hood character is useful.
Watching the front bench of the government whilst Ed Balls spoke was as enlightening as ever. These people have had a privileged upbringing and benefited from an expensive education. Millionaires in their own rights means the nitty gritty of the autumn statement will not affect them one iota. Smirking faces were the order of the day. Liberal Democrats such as Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander were hard to identify amongst this sea of smug wealthy faces. That is probably because LIberal Democrats who are sharing government with the Tories right now are morphing into true blue conservatives.
The Coalition government may try to claim that tomorrow's strike is due to the unions but that is far from the truth. The government is using this as an excuse to bash unions and public sector workers. The government is not prepared to negotiate further.
It seems that the coalition want to keep stressing that public sector pay is good. They claim it now outstrps pay in the private sector. Public sector workers in the Uk were traditionally paid poorly. The attraction with the work was that it was usually ajob for life. Not anymore.
Pay increased under Labour and fr example in the NHS Agenda for Change attempted to improve the pay of its workers, in particular those at the bottom end of the pay scales. Withe py freezes followed by lower than inflation pay rises it appears that the coalition want to pt public sector workers in their place. That is back to being the lowest paid.
Shame on you.
Watching breakfast TV this morning I glimpsed Samantha Cameron, wife of the UK PM at a Victoria Beckham shindig. The TV program was trying to concentrate on the fashion aspect of the event. Well this viewer looked at it differently. My ears pricked up to hear that Sam Cams shoes for the event cost £600. Yes that's right £600 and her hubby dares to tell us how well off we are but how hard up the country is.
Look at the paltry pension increases above. To show such frivolous disregard for money the night before the budget and two days before a national strike says it all.
It is no longer that dark ages when people heed such rubbish about how hard the UK is etc etc.
In it together? My backside.
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