ianrobo1 Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 If electricity & gas come down (10% decrease announced by a couple of companies), then this should help reduce inflation further. Which is unlikely to be happening according to the companies themselves. I posted an article about a select committee quizzing of Utilities firms last week. IIRC, BG have cut gas only by 10% (no move on electricity). SSE claim that average electricity reduction will be 9% and gas reduction 4%. E.On have cut electricity by 9% and have not cut gas. And Scottish Power reduced some tariffs by 10% earlier in the year (but that was by no means comprehensive). One chief exec said: "I'm concerned that if the wholesale price increases, we might see an increase." "I would have expected us to see another round of decreases [in energy bills] later this year or early next year, but objective analysis suggests that this might not happen." nice to see competition and the free market working eh ? oh well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Here The government is being urged to give the same financial support to manufacturing during the recession as it has to failing UK banks. The Work Foundation think tank wants emergency state funding to help save jobs and companies in the "extremely important" sector of the economy. Its comments came as a CBI survey showed that factory orders were falling at their fastest rate in 17 years. The government said it had a "profound commitment" to helping manufacturing. Ian Brinkley, associate director at the Work Foundation, said: "The question needs asking - what are we going to live on in the future? "Modern manufacturing is once again facing a battering from the recession, but it would be a big mistake just to write the sector off. We can't afford to let a short-term problem deprive Britain of the skills we will depend on to compete in the world economy in the long term "We need to preserve as much of the industrial base as possible because once it is lost it is near impossible to get back again. "Despite the mythmaking around the demise of manufacturing, the sector remains extremely important for jobs, exports and GDP." The report said that UK manufacturing had been transformed in recent years and deserved more support for research and development. Other recommendations included a short-time working scheme to support firms and job losses in the current recession. A spokesman for the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said: "British manufacturing is a key driver of the UK economy. "It is a source of half our exports, and government recognises and has policies that demonstrate its profound commitment through thick and thin." TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the Work Foundation's report was "extremely welcome" as it showed the "importance of manufacturing not just to today's economy but to our post-recession future". Derek Simpson, joint leader of Unite, said the union was "urging the government to learn the lessons of past failures to support manufacturing and begin a programme of emergency support for strategic industries of which car production is most certainly one". It wants a £13bn fund set up to "provide interim relief for producers and to cover employment costs during the crisis period". "We can't afford to let a short-term problem deprive Britain of the skills we will depend on to compete in the world economy in the long term," Mr Simpson said. The CBI said 56% of the manufacturers it surveyed now expected to see orders fall over the next three months, while only 12% expected a rise. The survey also recorded a balance of -49% of firms reporting export order books below normal, where the balance is the difference between the percentage of manufacturers reporting an increase and those reporting a decrease. This was worse than the balance of -39% recorded in January. "The weak pound has made UK exports more competitive, but this advantage has been outweighed by falling global demand," said John Cridland, CBI deputy director general. The CBI report added that manufacturers are continuing to lower prices in an attempt to win orders Not sure EU law will allow us to provide assistance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I wasn't aware the UK had any manufacturing base left? # Thought Maggie T had given it the last rites .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidlewis Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 It's a shame I wasn't a multibillionaire becuase I would be handing out small time renewable energy sources for free. then the companies can watch their holds on villages fall away when the their entire electricity is free as a result of a wind farm. And I have walked amongst these bohemoths and I think they enhance the countryside. A lot more than that Angel of the North thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 wasn't aware the UK had any manufacturing base left? # Thought Maggie T had given it the last rites .... Under thatch Manufactoring declined by around 30% This was partly the short-term effect of policy - Thatcher's response to a world recession - but partly also a rather abrupt structural adjustment to a changing environment which all western countries were facing. Manufacturing employment declined in the rest of Europe too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drat01 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Quite a few business are using this credit crunch to destroy employees terms and conditions and you should check yours. Ahh - and which party made it their aim to kill unions again? Be very careful for what you wish for - removal of workers rights, removal of minimum wage all coming to you with a Tory gvmt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awol Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Tony Our manufacturing sector is still bigger than that of France and they followed radically different policies to those of Maggie and Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awol Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Quite a few business are using this credit crunch to destroy employees terms and conditions and you should check yours. Ahh - and which party made it their aim to kill unions again? Be very careful for what you wish for - removal of workers rights, removal of minimum wage all coming to you with a Tory gvmt Where did you read that, in a cracker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gringo Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 It's a shame I wasn't a multibillionaire becuase I would be handing out small time renewable energy sources for free. then the companies can watch their holds on villages fall away when the their entire electricity is free as a result of a wind farm. And I have walked amongst these bohemoths and I think they enhance the countryside. A lot more than that Angel of the North thing.The 'angel' ain't that bad. However that daft horse thing (that will never get built hopefully). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drat01 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Where did you read that, in a cracker? Seems like some "crackers" have the truth in them :-) Tory plans to allow for minimum wage opt out What a shame eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awol Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Where did you read that, in a cracker? Seems like some "crackers" have the truth in them :-) Tory plans to allow for minimum wage opt out What a shame eh? That sounds like the thin end of the wedge to me and I don't like Mr Chope's idea at all, although the suggestion to allow refuges to work seems long over due. Thing is this is a Private Members Bill Ian not Tory policy and shouldn't be misrepresented as such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drat01 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 A PMB that was supported by a significant number of Tory MP's though Jon. No condemnation of it from Cameron or Osborne and a clear indication of thinking of that particular party. Note: It's difficult to get any sort of official policy though from the Tory party and you have to see what the MP's want in cases like this for a clear view of how the party would take the UK The minimum wage would go under a Tory gvmt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awol Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 A PMB that was supported by a significant number of Tory MP's though Jon. No condemnation of it from Cameron or Osborne and a clear indication of thinking of that particular party. Note: It's difficult to get any sort of official policy though from the Tory party and you have to see what the MP's want in cases like this for a clear view of how the party would take the UK Eleven Tory MP's sponsoring the Bill, not exactly a return to feudalism in the making mate. You could probably find a similar number of Labour MP's to sponsor a Bill stating that everyone should be forced to drink bitter, race whippets and sing the Red Flag at BBC close down every night. A few odd thinkers do not make a policy. The minimum wage would go under a Tory gvmt! I could say with equal uncertainty that Labour plan to turn the sky green after the next election, it doesn't mean it's true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 BBC close down every night Blimey, that rolled back the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mykeyb Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I havent been on this thread for a while as in all honesty I found better things to do, so can I change just check that we are still following these guidlines before I jump in. The shit we find our country in at the moment is inspite of the Labour government and not because of. Tories are evil while Labour are good. People are losing their jobs now because of Maggie Thatcher and her evil plan to kerb the unions not because of the global recession. We would be far worse of if Dave and his boys were in charge. The Tories when they sweep back to power are going to make sure we all get paid a pittance to encourage more investment from other countries. 11 is a significant number. Etonians cant be trusted unless you are an Etonian yourself. Anyone with Blonde hair shouldnt ever be allowed to be Mayor of London. All the press are right wing. Did I mention Tories are evil and Labour are good. The tory part are akin to the four horsemen of the apocalypse. If I have made any errors please do not hestitate to correct me in a rather condescending lecturing style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drat01 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Eleven Tory MP's sponsoring the Bill, not exactly a return to feudalism in the making mate. Tory MP's who opposed the Minimum wage Peter Ainsworth MP, David Cameron's Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs David Amess MP Michael Ancram MP James Arbuthnot MP Peter Atkinson MP Tony Baldry MP John Bercow MP Paul Beresford MP Crispin Blunt MP David Cameron's Opposition Whip Tim Boswell MP Peter Bottomley MP Graham Brady MP Julian Brazier MP David Cameron's Shadow Transport Minister Angela Browning MP Simon Burns MP David Cameron's Opposition Whip Angela Browning MP Sir John Butterfill MP William Cash MP Christopher Chope MP James Clappison MP David Cameron's Shadow Work and Pensions Minister Ken Clarke MP Chairman of David Cameron's Democracy Taskforce Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP David Cameron's Shadow International Development Minister Sir Patrick Cormack MP David Curry MP David Davis MP Stephen Dorrell MP Alan Duncan MP David Cameron's Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Iain Duncan Smith MP Chairman of David Cameron's Social Justice Policy Group Nigel Evans MP Michael Fabricant MP David Cameron's Opposition Whip Michael Fallon MP Liam Fox MP David Cameron's Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Christopher Fraser Roger Gale MP Edward Garnier MP David Cameron's Shadow Justice Minister Nick Gibb MP David Cameron's Shadow Schools Minister Cheryl Gillan MP David Cameron's Shadow Secretary of State for Wales James Gray MP Damian Green MP David Cameron's Shadow Immigration Minister John Greenway MP Dominic Grieve MP David Cameron's Shadow Home Secretary John Gummer MP Chair of David Cameron's Quality of Life Policy Group William Hague MP David Cameron's Shadow Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond MP David Cameron's Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Hayes MP David Cameron's Shadow Minister for Vocational Education Oliver Heald MP David Heathcoat-Amory MP Douglas Hogg MP John Horam MP Gerald Howarth MP David Cameron's Shadow Defence Minister Michael Jack MP Bernard Jenkin MP Robert Key MP Julie Kirkbride MP Elanor Laing MP David Cameron's Shadow Justice Minister Jacqui Lait MP David Cameron's Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government Andrew Lansley MP David Cameron's Shadow Health Secretary Edward Leigh MP Oliver Letwin MP Chairman of David Cameron's Policy Review and of the Conservative Research Department Julian Lewis MP David Cameron's Shadow Defence Minister David Lidington MP Chairman, International Office and Conservatives Abroad Peter Lilley MP Tim Loughton MP David Cameron's Shadow Minister for Children Peter Luff MP Andrew Mackay MP David Cameron's Senior Parliamentary and Political Adviser David Maclean MP Patrick McLoughlin MP David Cameron's Opposition Chief Whip Humfrey Malins MP John Maples MP Conservative Party Deputy Chairman (Candidates) Francis Maude MP David Cameron's Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Theresa May MP David Cameron's Shadow Leader of the House Malcolm Moss MP Richard Ottaway MP James Paice MP David Cameron's Shadow Minister for Agriculture Owen Paterson MP David Cameron's Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Eric Pickles MP John Randall MP David Cameron's Assistant Chief Whip John Redwood MP Chairman of David Cameron's Economic Competitiveness Policy Group Andrew Robathan MP David Cameron's Deputy Chief Whip Laurence Robertson MP David Cameron's Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland David Ruffley MP David Cameron's Shadow Home Affairs Minister Richard Shepherd MP Keith Simpson MP David Cameron's Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Nicholas Soames MP Caroline Spelman MP Conservative Party Chairman Sir Michael Spicer MP Richard Spring MP Conservative Party Vice Chairman (Business) Sir John Stanley MP Anthony Steen MP Gary Streeter MP Desmond Swayne MP David Cameron's Parliamentary Private Secretary Robert Syms MP Peter Tapsell MP Ian Taylor MP David Tredinnick MP Andrew Tyrie MP Peter Viggers MP Robert Walter MP Nigel Waterson MP David Cameron's Shadow Work and Pensions Minister John Whittingdale MP Ann Widdecombe MP David Willetts MP David Cameron's Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills David Wilshire MP Ann Winterton MP Nicholas Winterton MP Tim Yeo MP Sir George Young MP I think it's a fair bet that the minimum wage will be under sever attack and probable killing off under any Tory party rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mykeyb Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 A few odd thinkers do not make a policy. Are you sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gringo Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I havent been on this thread for a while as in all honesty I found better things to do, so can I change just check that we are still following these guidlines before I jump in. The shit we find our country in at the moment is inspite of the Labour government and not because of. Tories are evil while Labour are good. People are losing their jobs now because of Maggie Thatcher and her evil plan to kerb the unions not because of the global recession. We would be far worse of if Dave and his boys were in charge. The Tories when they sweep back to power are going to make sure we all get paid a pittance to encourage more investment from other countries. 11 is a significant number. Etonians cant be trusted unless you are an Etonian yourself. Anyone with Blonde hair shouldnt ever be allowed to be Mayor of London. All the press are right wing. Did I mention Tories are evil and Labour are good. The tory part are akin to the four horsemen of the apocalypse. If I have made any errors please do not hestitate to correct me in a rather condescending lecturing style. speaking of etonians Labour in power failed to deal with the thundering market because it could not bring itself to face the economic consequences of a necessary confrontation. Liberal Britain stayed silent as tyranny swept by because it too wanted the quiet life. Normally, left-wing eras end because the left loses itself in ideological excess and careers off into the margins of politics. The left of the early 21st century was an exception. It failed not because it was left-wing but because in crucial respects it was not left-wing enough. It forgot the lessons of the Great Depression and failed to regulate runaway markets. It forgot the best of its achievements of the 20th century and failed to defend them from the assault of the 21st. As economies crashed and governments made colossal interventions to save them, it might seem reasonable to predict a revival of the better side of the left-wing tradition. I hope to see it come not least because social democrats have the best answers to today's financial and environmental crises. Many obstacles remain in the way of a return to reputable politics. Liberal opinion went wilder in Britain than in any other European country. Although some liberals will "recover their senses slowly, and one by one", as Charles Mackay predicted, others will be stuck in their ideological prisons for the rest of their lives. Meanwhile, although Labour responded well to the crash, it cannot escape responsibility for failing to see the crisis coming and may well pay the political price for its failure. I cannot think of a more revealing measure of that failure than the transformation of the English aristocracy from pantomime villains and chinless wonders into viable leaders of the nation. At the end of the longest period of left-wing government in British history, the Etonians were back for the first time since the fall of the Empire. A battered public seemed willing to embrace its old ruling class with something approaching relief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 The minimum wage would go under a Tory gvmt! Misrepresentation and scare mongering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 would this be the minimum wage that many experts are now saying was good intentions , bad results ? i.e You cannot make a man worth a given amount by making it illegal for anyone to offer him less. You merely deprive him of the right to earn the amount that his abilities and situation would permit him to earn, while you deprive the community even of the moderate services that he is capable of rendering. In brief, for a low wage you substitute unemployment. You do harm all around, with no comparable compensation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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