General Election - TOMORROW!

[mykeyb]

It makes you wonder if they dont really want to win the next election and then the Tories have to sort out the mess thats left.

[Richard]

Who is Gideon?

[bickster]

Who is Gideon?

He gives good bible

[drat01]

It makes you wonder if they dont really want to win the next election and then the Tories have to sort out the mess thats left.

ah the "old scorched earth" argument that the Tory party are trotting out.

Which is complete and utter nonsense but does make good headlines I suppose

So are you saying that the last Tory gvmt did this?

It may have escaped your notice but when organisations the size of Citi start to ask for Gvmt help then the world economy is having a few difficulties. But of course we could just sit back and let it all swamp over us and following the destruction of any sort manufacturing industry that Thatcher presided over we are left with finance as being the major source of income for this country. Hence world factors are hitting us hard.

It's noticeable the words from Cameron to the CBI this morning, even he is saying that he was "sceptical", which for him was an interesting choice in words

The Tory party have not said how they would fund the measures they have announced, or have they? (I can't see them anywhere and would be interested to see) - maybe they will raise taxes?

[mykeyb]

Here is a question for fellow posters. Will bringing VAT down to 15% really make any difference, I mean will some organisations just keep the same price and pocker the extra 2.5% as a little bonus and the shoppers get zilch. Pretty much like the interest rate cut which my mortgage provider still hasnt passed on after not passing on the first 0.5% cut.

[drat01]

Who is Gideon?

Classic

The eldest son and heir of Sir Peter Osborne, 17th Baronet (and co-founder of the fabric and wallpapers designers, Osborne & Little), Between 1995 and 1997 he was a Special Advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for minister Douglas Hogg (during the BSE crisis)

You know THAT Gideon - the one that thinks calling people autistic is some sort of insult, you know the one that was a member of the Bullingdon club, you know the one that woman talked about Cocaine taking about etc

[chrissmith921]

I'd vote 'Other'.

Dunno who - whichever I felt like that isnt mainstream/BNP/Green.

[drat01]

Here is a question for fellow posters. Will bringing VAT down to 15% really make any difference, I mean will some organisations just keep the same price and pocker the extra 2.5% as a little bonus and the shoppers get zilch. Pretty much like the interest rate cut which my mortgage provider still hasnt passed on after not passing on the first 0.5% cut.

Its a good question Mike - I think it was Gringo that came up with a idea the other day of scrapping VAT - Now I aint a money or figures man but that was a very interesting idea.

I think the idea of a cut in VAT will be to reduce prices in the High Street marginally, to cut costs and to try and increase the capital kept within businesses. Well that is what the bloke on the radio said

p.s. My mortgage - First Direct - came down, but you are right and we (the public) need to bring pressure on Banks and Energy companies to enforce these benefits. Sometimes people power is what's needed

[TrentVilla]

Let's be clear the pre-budget report, if it is going to be as widely reported, is something akin to somebody who is about to have their house re-possessed going out and spending 20 grand on their credit card.

Those on here voting BNP and Labour have one thing in common, they are voting for parties that haven't got the first idea how to run an economy.

And of course that opinion is in no way shape or form linked to your political outlook at all but is purely from a neutral perspective isn't it.

[Richard]

Thought his name was George, certainly thats what I called him. I thought name changing was frowned upon.

Now I see the old socialist argument of "it's all the Tories fault" that is being trotted out.

Utter rubbish of course and

So are you saying that the last Tory gvmt did this?

No I dont think he is actually as when the Toires left office we had inflation at 2.6%, 4 quarters of growth, base rates at 6% and falling and unemployment at 1.6M. Added to that the pension rate of return was around 16%, now it is 8%

[drat01]

His name is Gideon George Oliver Osborne (born 23 May 1971)

[tonyh29]

I could have said I wonder what Lamont (and his aide of the time Cameron) do? but thought better of it

you should have becuase it is a well known fact that gordon brown supported Lamont on that issue ..and it was what cost Brown the leadership as the party didn't forgive him for it

[Richard]

Here is a question for fellow posters. Will bringing VAT down to 15% really make any difference, I mean will some organisations just keep the same price and pocker the extra 2.5% as a little bonus and the shoppers get zilch. Pretty much like the interest rate cut which my mortgage provider still hasnt passed on after not passing on the first 0.5% cut.

The governement are ignoring the cost implications on businesses on having to introduce this, especially for a limited period. In addition to thatitmay very well be limited to exclude business to business transactions, certainly if they want to generate a consumer "boom". For me it is a headline grabbing announcement designed to create a stir but actually ignores the practical implications.

[TrentVilla]

Personally I'm still waiting for any solid and credible policy from the Torries as to how they would deal with the global finacial problems and yes that is global, not just UK so Labour aren't entirely to blame. I will though get the usual, he can't because Labour will nick them excuse.

Until I hear some policies from them I'll continue to suspect that they would do the normal standard Tory thing of cut public spending in the Health Service and Education amongst other things.

[mykeyb]

In all honesty Trent I dont think they have a clue about how they would tackle it. They will probably say that until they take office they wont know exactly what they are looking at which may well be a bit of a cop-out.

[tonyh29]

Who is Gideon?

he is a person who is deemed highly intelligent and someone the labour party are in fear of .. hence the recent campaign against him and the party line against him adopted by a couple of VT regular posters

[drat01]

I could have said I wonder what Lamont (and his aide of the time Cameron) do? but thought better of it

you should have becuase it is a well known fact that gordon brown supported Lamont on that issue ..and it was what cost Brown the leadership as the party didn't forgive him for it

]That would be the same then as Cameron supporting Brown?

From the FT Sept 30th

David Cameron, the Conservative leader, promised on Tuesday to join a bipartisan effort to defend the British banking system, avoiding the political wrangling that blocked a deal in Congress to prop up the US financial system.

His comments were made as Gordon Brown, the prime minister, vowed to do whatever was necessary to steer Britain through “stormy and uncharted waters”, amid a growing sense that the worst could yet be to come.

Mr Cameron hinted at the possibility that the government might have to take drastic measures to prop up the system, telling his party conference in Birmingham: “There may well need to be a marshalling of public support behind some big ­decisions.

“We cannot allow what happened in America to happen here.” He added: “This is a moment when democracies are being tested: we need to show they can deal with crisis and difficulties like this one.”

I'd be interested to see where Brown supported Lamont - missed that one Tony not saying it isn't true at all - just interesting to see what he said at the time and what has changed his mind since

[TrentVilla]

In all honesty Trent I dont think they have a clue about how they would tackle it. They will probably say that until they take office they wont know exactly what they are looking at which may well be a bit of a cop-out.

I think your right, I don't think they have got a clue it certainly has appeared that way from Cameron's dithering on the issue.

I don't see how they can possibly hope to get in without some very solid economic policies.

Rightly or wrongly in recent weeks Brown has made up quite a bit of the ground he had previously lost to Cameron.

[Richard]

Who is Gideon?

he is a person who is deemed highly intelligent and someone the labour party are in fear of .. hence the recent campaign against him and the party line against him adopted by a couple of VT regular posters

And is actually known as George?

[drat01]

Who is Gideon?

he is a person who is deemed highly intelligent and someone the labour party are in fear of .. hence the recent campaign against him and the party line against him adopted by a couple of VT regular posters

Wonder why he was only third choice fo the position when Howard put him in there? - and the current Tory party are looking to move him on. Maybe he can change his name again to Ozzy or Sharon? :-)

Anyway - going off topic?