I dedicate this thread to Clodhopper.
Every week I shall post Vince Cable's column from the Daily Mail and I expect some hot political debate from Cloddy.
Vince Cable: Cult leader - Profiles, People - The Independent
I shall begin with this article.
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
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Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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Clodhopper
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Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
Would help if the link didn't keep crashing my connection! :wah:
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Lone voice: "I'm not."
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Oscar Namechange
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- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
Clodhopper;1241690 wrote: Would help if the link didn't keep crashing my connection! :wah:
I'll copy it for you. hang on.
I'll copy it for you. hang on.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
Clodhopper;1241690 wrote: Would help if the link didn't keep crashing my connection! :wah:
The eulogies poured forth. "Vince Cable was superb. Again. He is a golden interlude in Lib Dem history. He is a holiday in Tuscany." (Simon Carr, The Independent). "This is Vincent Cable's moment. He has shown himself to be one of the classiest politicians in the Commons. Whoever wins the race to replace him will struggle to do half as well. Perhaps he should simply keep the job." (Leading article, the Guardian). "As for Mr Cable, the stand-in had again proved himself unexpectedly dangerous in debate. Let me repeat what I have said all along: Liberal Democrats are mad to consider anyone else for their leader. (Quentin Letts, the Daily Mail).
Welcome to that strangest of modern political crazes: The Cult of Cable. The Liberal Democrats' Acting Leader and Shadow Chancellor has done far, far better than anyone could have expected, possibly including himself, when he found himself in the leadership job after Sir Menzies Campbell's unwilling departure last month. When asked how he's enjoying the challenge, he answers, in typical self-deprecatory and laconic style that "I don't think enjoyment is the word. It's something like fast downhill skiing it's exhilarating, but you can fall over any second. There are no brakes".
Still, as he puts it, "we all enjoy flattery" and he evinces a quiet satisfaction that his acting leadership has seen the party tick up in the polls. He did, in fact, want the job for good. "I did consider standing. I canvassed opinion and, after what happened to Ming, colleagues felt they couldn't have someone from the same generation and that they wanted to skip a generation. I accepted the political reality". After the dust settles and either Chris Huhne or Nick Clegg is elected leader on 15 December, Cable expects to settle back into his old job, shadowing Alistair Darling.
If only they'd had more faith in Vince, but perhaps it was understandable after Ming Campbell was being, in Cable's words, "kicked to pieces by the media. We all discussed it. Ming was a serious professional with real gifts and immense knowledge". After Gordon Brown pulled the great election that never was, "that changed the parameters", says Cable, though he maintains that he was "keen" that Campbell continued. He was also, he says, one of those "more reluctant" to see the back of Charles Kennedy's boozy leadership in 2006, but he concedes he was collecting signatures on a letter to Kennedy expressing the view that his position wasn't sustainable.
Cable commands adulation from right-wing commentators who, but a few months ago, were happy to declare that he could bore for England. ("Successful shadow chancellors have to be boring. I save my non-boring side for family and friends.") Yet now Vince has convinced the doubters. He has been having some unexpected fun at Gordon Brown's expense.
The Government's weaknesses over Northern Rock in particular have played to Cable's strengths. As a former chief economist at Shell, and possessed of an acidic turn of phrase, he has had plenty of opportunity to expose the fallacies and faint hopes of the Government's bail-out of the stricken mortgage bank. He dragged the Chancellor virtually kicking and screaming to the despatch box to account for what could still turn out to be a disastrous waste of public money.
But it was his cruel ridicule of the prime minister that has propelled Cable from being merely an excellent Treasury spokes-man into the role of "best leader the Lib Dems never had". This was how Hansard recorded the Cable demolition of the once-invincible Brown: "Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham) (LD): The House has noticed the Prime Minister's remarkable transformation in the past few weeks from Stalin to Mr. Bean [Laughter] creating chaos out of order, rather than order out of chaos."
It wasn't original the Bean line had cropped up in the press but no matter. Mr Cable could see its destructive potential, and he duly deployed it, complete with his customary "vulpine grin", as the parliamentary sketchwriters had it.
It was indeed a characteristically dry, witty, slightly mordant performance. It also seems almost a betrayal, given that some 35 years ago Mr Cable and Gordon Brown were both young Labour firebrands collaborating on a book called The Red Papers for Scotland. Brown was the editor, naturally, and precocious student-rector of Edinburgh University at the time; Cable was working on his PhD and a Glasgow councillor and wrote about inner-city deprivation an d poverty. Robin Cook was another contributor.
Cable remembers Brown as clever, intense and idealistic, though he didn't know him well and "I didn't pick up how far he would go". An early belief in "social justice" was something Cable also had in common with the other Labour leader he has worked with, John Smith. In the late 1970s while Smith was Trade Secretary in the Callaghan government, Cable served as his special adviser. Cable recalls Smith as "a big man with good judgment and would not, I think, have dumped Labour's social democratic traditions like Blair".
Cable has, however, dumped a few traditions of his own. A liberal at university, he then turned to Labour, standing as a candidate in the 1970 election. When, after the Social Democratic Party/Liberal Alliance was formed in 1981, as the moderates decided they couldn't put up with "Bennery" any longer, he threw his lot in with them, and has stuck with the successor Liberal Democrats ever since.
Thus he seems to have gone from being someone who abandoned Old Labour because it was too left-wing to now attacking New Labour for not being left-wing enough. For example, on Brown, he has asked, "How is it that a politician with such an obvious commitment to fairness and social justice is presiding over a tax system where the bottom 30 per cent are paying more in tax than the top 30 per cent?"
But we needn't exaggerate Cable's leftist credentials. He calls himself an "open-markets economist" and contributed to the Orange Book, the revisionist tome normally associated with what can loosely be called the free-markets tendency of the Liberal Democrats.
He seems always to have held such views. When he left Fitzwilliam College Cambridge, where he collected a degree in Natural Sciences and took in a stint as president of the Cambridge Union, he took himself off to Kenya. "A plum job at that time was with the Overseas Development Institute, who needed young graduates to help the newly independent Commonwealth nations to govern themselves until their own undergraduates came though".
He and hi s colleagues in Nairobi were "ludicrously overpromoted" for such "horrendous responsibility". "One of my first tasks in working life was drafting a document called "Socialism in Africa" actually a manifesto for private enterprise and it is probably the most responsible job I have ever done." He went along to Jomo Kenyatta's rallies just to hear his deep, mellifluous oratory.
It was partly through this work that he married his first wife, Olympia, who died six years ago from breast cancer. "I grew up in York, a city which was then almost entirely white ... Then in the 1960s came the university bringing overseas students of which the first (literally) was my late wife Olympia, a Goan from Kenya whose arrival in the city, wearing a salwar kameez, merited front-page coverage in the local press. We met and fell in love and then married in her home town of Nairobi."
But Cable's father did not react well to the match. "He progressed from puzzled politeness to anger once it became apparent that he was to have an Asian daughter-in-law. When we came home as a married couple his rage and her pride fuelled a row of epic proportions. We did not communicate again for many years." Cable and his wife had a daughter and two sons, one of whom, Paul Cable, is an opera singer. After Olympia died, Cable was "gutted" but he has found love again.
Tellingly perhaps, he was sticking to his liberal principles when he spoke at a United Nations forum in the New Forest, at which he found himself arguing in favour of free trade against a vociferous lady farmer who pleaded the case of New Zealand butter and wanted to know how she was supposed to make a living. The row was resolved when he agreed to visit her farm. She, Rachel, a divorcee , is now the second Mrs Cable.
Cable's other passion is ballroom dancing. This parliamentary twinkletoes has a cupboard full of trophies for a pastime he took up about 15 years ago with his first wife, as they found themselves in early middle age with the children grown up. He now collects his medals and passes dancing exams with his teacher. Twice a week he goes in for an hour of what he calls "hard dancing". The quickstep is apparently the most exhausting ("It looks easier than it is") while the samba has a "tricky rhythm". "I would love to do Strictly Come Dancing and put Craig Revel Horwood in his place. I dance for pleasure, to relax, keep fit, and socialise".
Could a little more fancy footwork have delivered the leadership? Maybe, but the press, as Sir Menzies Campbell discovered, is a capricious mistress. For years they heaped on the compliments about Ming's exquisitely-cut suits and stentorian pronouncements on foreign affairs, lobbying constantly on his behalf for the top job. Then came the kicking. Maybe Vince is doing so well because he hasn't got much to lose: "If you're an acting leader, you can afford to take risks. Perhaps every leader should think of themselves as being temporary," says Olly Grender, former party spin doctor. Maybe Chris Huhne or Nick Clegg will prove temporary too, in which case the loyal deputy will be able to stand in again, and the Cult of Cable will enjoy its second coming.
A Life in Brief
Born 9 May, 1943, York
Education: Nunthorpe Grammar School in York. Reads Natural Science and Economics at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, and elected President of the Union in 1965. Completes PhD in Economics at Glasgow University
Career: Worked for Kenyan government before returning to Glasgow to serve as a Labour councillor. Is special adviser to then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, John Smith. Joins the Social Democrat Party. In 1990 begins working for Shell and is appointed its Chief Economist in 1995. Enters parliament in 1997 as Lib-Dem MP for Twickenham. Elected deputy leader of the party in 2006 and becomes acting leader after Ming Campbell's resignation earlier this year
He says: 'My political thinking has perhaps been most influenced by the great economists who have sought to reconcile economic liberalism with wider moral values and social justice'
They say: 'He's been outstanding. By taking risks he's shown how we can get our message across' Lib-Dem MP Danny Alexander
The eulogies poured forth. "Vince Cable was superb. Again. He is a golden interlude in Lib Dem history. He is a holiday in Tuscany." (Simon Carr, The Independent). "This is Vincent Cable's moment. He has shown himself to be one of the classiest politicians in the Commons. Whoever wins the race to replace him will struggle to do half as well. Perhaps he should simply keep the job." (Leading article, the Guardian). "As for Mr Cable, the stand-in had again proved himself unexpectedly dangerous in debate. Let me repeat what I have said all along: Liberal Democrats are mad to consider anyone else for their leader. (Quentin Letts, the Daily Mail).
Welcome to that strangest of modern political crazes: The Cult of Cable. The Liberal Democrats' Acting Leader and Shadow Chancellor has done far, far better than anyone could have expected, possibly including himself, when he found himself in the leadership job after Sir Menzies Campbell's unwilling departure last month. When asked how he's enjoying the challenge, he answers, in typical self-deprecatory and laconic style that "I don't think enjoyment is the word. It's something like fast downhill skiing it's exhilarating, but you can fall over any second. There are no brakes".
Still, as he puts it, "we all enjoy flattery" and he evinces a quiet satisfaction that his acting leadership has seen the party tick up in the polls. He did, in fact, want the job for good. "I did consider standing. I canvassed opinion and, after what happened to Ming, colleagues felt they couldn't have someone from the same generation and that they wanted to skip a generation. I accepted the political reality". After the dust settles and either Chris Huhne or Nick Clegg is elected leader on 15 December, Cable expects to settle back into his old job, shadowing Alistair Darling.
If only they'd had more faith in Vince, but perhaps it was understandable after Ming Campbell was being, in Cable's words, "kicked to pieces by the media. We all discussed it. Ming was a serious professional with real gifts and immense knowledge". After Gordon Brown pulled the great election that never was, "that changed the parameters", says Cable, though he maintains that he was "keen" that Campbell continued. He was also, he says, one of those "more reluctant" to see the back of Charles Kennedy's boozy leadership in 2006, but he concedes he was collecting signatures on a letter to Kennedy expressing the view that his position wasn't sustainable.
Cable commands adulation from right-wing commentators who, but a few months ago, were happy to declare that he could bore for England. ("Successful shadow chancellors have to be boring. I save my non-boring side for family and friends.") Yet now Vince has convinced the doubters. He has been having some unexpected fun at Gordon Brown's expense.
The Government's weaknesses over Northern Rock in particular have played to Cable's strengths. As a former chief economist at Shell, and possessed of an acidic turn of phrase, he has had plenty of opportunity to expose the fallacies and faint hopes of the Government's bail-out of the stricken mortgage bank. He dragged the Chancellor virtually kicking and screaming to the despatch box to account for what could still turn out to be a disastrous waste of public money.
But it was his cruel ridicule of the prime minister that has propelled Cable from being merely an excellent Treasury spokes-man into the role of "best leader the Lib Dems never had". This was how Hansard recorded the Cable demolition of the once-invincible Brown: "Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham) (LD): The House has noticed the Prime Minister's remarkable transformation in the past few weeks from Stalin to Mr. Bean [Laughter] creating chaos out of order, rather than order out of chaos."
It wasn't original the Bean line had cropped up in the press but no matter. Mr Cable could see its destructive potential, and he duly deployed it, complete with his customary "vulpine grin", as the parliamentary sketchwriters had it.
It was indeed a characteristically dry, witty, slightly mordant performance. It also seems almost a betrayal, given that some 35 years ago Mr Cable and Gordon Brown were both young Labour firebrands collaborating on a book called The Red Papers for Scotland. Brown was the editor, naturally, and precocious student-rector of Edinburgh University at the time; Cable was working on his PhD and a Glasgow councillor and wrote about inner-city deprivation an d poverty. Robin Cook was another contributor.
Cable remembers Brown as clever, intense and idealistic, though he didn't know him well and "I didn't pick up how far he would go". An early belief in "social justice" was something Cable also had in common with the other Labour leader he has worked with, John Smith. In the late 1970s while Smith was Trade Secretary in the Callaghan government, Cable served as his special adviser. Cable recalls Smith as "a big man with good judgment and would not, I think, have dumped Labour's social democratic traditions like Blair".
Cable has, however, dumped a few traditions of his own. A liberal at university, he then turned to Labour, standing as a candidate in the 1970 election. When, after the Social Democratic Party/Liberal Alliance was formed in 1981, as the moderates decided they couldn't put up with "Bennery" any longer, he threw his lot in with them, and has stuck with the successor Liberal Democrats ever since.
Thus he seems to have gone from being someone who abandoned Old Labour because it was too left-wing to now attacking New Labour for not being left-wing enough. For example, on Brown, he has asked, "How is it that a politician with such an obvious commitment to fairness and social justice is presiding over a tax system where the bottom 30 per cent are paying more in tax than the top 30 per cent?"
But we needn't exaggerate Cable's leftist credentials. He calls himself an "open-markets economist" and contributed to the Orange Book, the revisionist tome normally associated with what can loosely be called the free-markets tendency of the Liberal Democrats.
He seems always to have held such views. When he left Fitzwilliam College Cambridge, where he collected a degree in Natural Sciences and took in a stint as president of the Cambridge Union, he took himself off to Kenya. "A plum job at that time was with the Overseas Development Institute, who needed young graduates to help the newly independent Commonwealth nations to govern themselves until their own undergraduates came though".
He and hi s colleagues in Nairobi were "ludicrously overpromoted" for such "horrendous responsibility". "One of my first tasks in working life was drafting a document called "Socialism in Africa" actually a manifesto for private enterprise and it is probably the most responsible job I have ever done." He went along to Jomo Kenyatta's rallies just to hear his deep, mellifluous oratory.
It was partly through this work that he married his first wife, Olympia, who died six years ago from breast cancer. "I grew up in York, a city which was then almost entirely white ... Then in the 1960s came the university bringing overseas students of which the first (literally) was my late wife Olympia, a Goan from Kenya whose arrival in the city, wearing a salwar kameez, merited front-page coverage in the local press. We met and fell in love and then married in her home town of Nairobi."
But Cable's father did not react well to the match. "He progressed from puzzled politeness to anger once it became apparent that he was to have an Asian daughter-in-law. When we came home as a married couple his rage and her pride fuelled a row of epic proportions. We did not communicate again for many years." Cable and his wife had a daughter and two sons, one of whom, Paul Cable, is an opera singer. After Olympia died, Cable was "gutted" but he has found love again.
Tellingly perhaps, he was sticking to his liberal principles when he spoke at a United Nations forum in the New Forest, at which he found himself arguing in favour of free trade against a vociferous lady farmer who pleaded the case of New Zealand butter and wanted to know how she was supposed to make a living. The row was resolved when he agreed to visit her farm. She, Rachel, a divorcee , is now the second Mrs Cable.
Cable's other passion is ballroom dancing. This parliamentary twinkletoes has a cupboard full of trophies for a pastime he took up about 15 years ago with his first wife, as they found themselves in early middle age with the children grown up. He now collects his medals and passes dancing exams with his teacher. Twice a week he goes in for an hour of what he calls "hard dancing". The quickstep is apparently the most exhausting ("It looks easier than it is") while the samba has a "tricky rhythm". "I would love to do Strictly Come Dancing and put Craig Revel Horwood in his place. I dance for pleasure, to relax, keep fit, and socialise".
Could a little more fancy footwork have delivered the leadership? Maybe, but the press, as Sir Menzies Campbell discovered, is a capricious mistress. For years they heaped on the compliments about Ming's exquisitely-cut suits and stentorian pronouncements on foreign affairs, lobbying constantly on his behalf for the top job. Then came the kicking. Maybe Vince is doing so well because he hasn't got much to lose: "If you're an acting leader, you can afford to take risks. Perhaps every leader should think of themselves as being temporary," says Olly Grender, former party spin doctor. Maybe Chris Huhne or Nick Clegg will prove temporary too, in which case the loyal deputy will be able to stand in again, and the Cult of Cable will enjoy its second coming.
A Life in Brief
Born 9 May, 1943, York
Education: Nunthorpe Grammar School in York. Reads Natural Science and Economics at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, and elected President of the Union in 1965. Completes PhD in Economics at Glasgow University
Career: Worked for Kenyan government before returning to Glasgow to serve as a Labour councillor. Is special adviser to then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, John Smith. Joins the Social Democrat Party. In 1990 begins working for Shell and is appointed its Chief Economist in 1995. Enters parliament in 1997 as Lib-Dem MP for Twickenham. Elected deputy leader of the party in 2006 and becomes acting leader after Ming Campbell's resignation earlier this year
He says: 'My political thinking has perhaps been most influenced by the great economists who have sought to reconcile economic liberalism with wider moral values and social justice'
They say: 'He's been outstanding. By taking risks he's shown how we can get our message across' Lib-Dem MP Danny Alexander
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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Clodhopper
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Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
I'd like to see him in the top job. Hey ho. Lib Dems are strong locally, but we need to see a lot more Lib Dem MPs.
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Lone voice: "I'm not."
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Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
Clodhopper;1241706 wrote: I'd like to see him in the top job. Hey ho. Lib Dems are strong locally, but we need to see a lot more Lib Dem MPs.
There could be one more Lib Dem than you expected :sneaky::wah:
I actually read his column every week in the Mail on current events. I'll post them every week to see what is thought of them.
Hope other members will join in. :-6
There could be one more Lib Dem than you expected :sneaky::wah:
I actually read his column every week in the Mail on current events. I'll post them every week to see what is thought of them.
Hope other members will join in. :-6
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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Clodhopper
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- Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:11 pm
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
There could be one more Lib Dem than you expected
Why do I keep hearing the Jaws music when I read that?:p
Why do I keep hearing the Jaws music when I read that?:p
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Lone voice: "I'm not."
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Oscar Namechange
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- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
Clodhopper;1241712 wrote: Why do I keep hearing the Jaws music when I read that?:p Well, I suppose it is a bit fishy :yh_rotfl
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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Clodhopper
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- Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:11 pm
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable has launched a pamphlet published by the independent think tank Reform setting out proposals for tackling the fiscal crisis.
In this pamphlet, he argues that there should be no “ring fenced areas of spending and that all existing spending should be justified.
He claims that the situation is very probably more serious than the Government’s proposals for a fiscal tightening of 6.4% of GDP over eight years suggest. He argues that a fiscal consolidation of 8% of GDP over five years is more realistic, with the emphasis on controlling public spending, not higher taxes.
Nine specific areas of potential savings are identified as a start to a radical programme of reform. The main proposals are:
•Zero growth overall for public sector pay (saving £2.4bn a year), a 25% reduction in the total pay bill of staff earning over £100,000 and a salary freeze and end of bonuses for the civil service (saving £200m a year)
•Tapering the family element of the tax credit – saving £1.35bn
•A radical review of public sector pensions with the view to moving to higher employee contributions and later retirement ages. There is currently a £28bn subsidy to unfunded schemes
•Scrapping several major IT systems including the ID card scheme (£5bn over 10 years), Contactpoint (£200m over five years), the NHS IT scheme (£250m over the next five years) and the proposed ‘super database’ (£6bn)
•Curbing ‘industrial policy’, including scrapping Regional Development Agencies (£2.3bn annually) and ECGD subsidies (£100m annually) and reducing (by at least half) the Train to Gain and Skills Councils budgets (£990m together a year)
•Reforming the National Health Service, by reducing the centralisation and over-administration - starting by scrapping Strategic Health Authorities (£200m a year) – by strengthening commissioning and with ‘supply side reform’ - in particular tariff reform could save around £2bn a year
•Curbing the centralisation in education, by cutting national strategies and scrapping quangos – saving around £600m a year
•Reducing the amount of waste in the defence procurement process, including scrapping the Eurofighter and Tranche 3 (£5bn over 6 years), the A400M (total cost £22bn), Nimrod MRA4, the Defence Training Review contract (£13bn over 25 years) and the Trident submarine successor (£70bn over 25 years)
•Examining possible future public sector asset sales, including some aspects of the Highways Agency (land value of £80bn) and intangibles such as spectrum, landing rights and emissions trading
Commenting, Vince Cable said:
“The time for generalities is over.
“Instead, we need serious proposals for cutting public spending and tackling the UK’s budget deficit.
“The priority is to move the economy out of recession but there is also a need to restore fiscal credibility and to allow Government to focus its resources where are they are most needed.
“We need to debate when, how and where the cuts will come.
“Undoubtedly more are required to meet the exacting fiscal disciplines but asking the British public for their vote at the next election means being upfront from the outset about what Government should and should not be spending its money on.
Taken from Lib Dem website. Big red footnote - this is not policy, this is first thoughts on the matter.
I particularly like the practicality: he's immediately focusing on areas where savings might be made.
In this pamphlet, he argues that there should be no “ring fenced areas of spending and that all existing spending should be justified.
He claims that the situation is very probably more serious than the Government’s proposals for a fiscal tightening of 6.4% of GDP over eight years suggest. He argues that a fiscal consolidation of 8% of GDP over five years is more realistic, with the emphasis on controlling public spending, not higher taxes.
Nine specific areas of potential savings are identified as a start to a radical programme of reform. The main proposals are:
•Zero growth overall for public sector pay (saving £2.4bn a year), a 25% reduction in the total pay bill of staff earning over £100,000 and a salary freeze and end of bonuses for the civil service (saving £200m a year)
•Tapering the family element of the tax credit – saving £1.35bn
•A radical review of public sector pensions with the view to moving to higher employee contributions and later retirement ages. There is currently a £28bn subsidy to unfunded schemes
•Scrapping several major IT systems including the ID card scheme (£5bn over 10 years), Contactpoint (£200m over five years), the NHS IT scheme (£250m over the next five years) and the proposed ‘super database’ (£6bn)
•Curbing ‘industrial policy’, including scrapping Regional Development Agencies (£2.3bn annually) and ECGD subsidies (£100m annually) and reducing (by at least half) the Train to Gain and Skills Councils budgets (£990m together a year)
•Reforming the National Health Service, by reducing the centralisation and over-administration - starting by scrapping Strategic Health Authorities (£200m a year) – by strengthening commissioning and with ‘supply side reform’ - in particular tariff reform could save around £2bn a year
•Curbing the centralisation in education, by cutting national strategies and scrapping quangos – saving around £600m a year
•Reducing the amount of waste in the defence procurement process, including scrapping the Eurofighter and Tranche 3 (£5bn over 6 years), the A400M (total cost £22bn), Nimrod MRA4, the Defence Training Review contract (£13bn over 25 years) and the Trident submarine successor (£70bn over 25 years)
•Examining possible future public sector asset sales, including some aspects of the Highways Agency (land value of £80bn) and intangibles such as spectrum, landing rights and emissions trading
Commenting, Vince Cable said:
“The time for generalities is over.
“Instead, we need serious proposals for cutting public spending and tackling the UK’s budget deficit.
“The priority is to move the economy out of recession but there is also a need to restore fiscal credibility and to allow Government to focus its resources where are they are most needed.
“We need to debate when, how and where the cuts will come.
“Undoubtedly more are required to meet the exacting fiscal disciplines but asking the British public for their vote at the next election means being upfront from the outset about what Government should and should not be spending its money on.
Taken from Lib Dem website. Big red footnote - this is not policy, this is first thoughts on the matter.
I particularly like the practicality: he's immediately focusing on areas where savings might be made.
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Lone voice: "I'm not."
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Oscar Namechange
- Posts: 31840
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
Clodhopper;1241718 wrote: Taken from Lib Dem website. Big red footnote - this is not policy, this is first thoughts on the matter.
I particularly like the practicality: he's immediately focusing on areas where savings might be made. Yes... very good points. Although some could be made policy.
I particularly like the practicality: he's immediately focusing on areas where savings might be made. Yes... very good points. Although some could be made policy.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
I used to always vote liberal democrat went off then when they formed the lib/lab pact as they seemed to be selling out. In scotland principles went out the door just so their leader could get to be part of the sottish government-forget his name but a right wee sweetie wifie.
I like Vince cable and if we had Proportional representation the liberals might get more support-at least the number of seats would reflect their actual support.
posted by oscar
There could be one more Lib Dem than you expected
From BNP to liberal democrat? You have got to be kidding. I still think monster raving loony party is the one for you. You could stand as Mrs fox-tiggywinkle-can't make up my mind enthralled to gordon brown jackboot lady.
I like Vince cable and if we had Proportional representation the liberals might get more support-at least the number of seats would reflect their actual support.
posted by oscar
There could be one more Lib Dem than you expected
From BNP to liberal democrat? You have got to be kidding. I still think monster raving loony party is the one for you. You could stand as Mrs fox-tiggywinkle-can't make up my mind enthralled to gordon brown jackboot lady.
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Oscar Namechange
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Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
gmc;1241995 wrote:
From BNP to liberal democrat? You have got to be kidding. I still think monster raving loony party is the one for you. You could stand as Mrs fox-tiggywinkle-can't make up my mind enthralled to gordon brown jackboot lady.
You fell for It :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl Knew you would :yh_rotfl
I do like Cable though. I enjoy his weekly column in the Mail.
From BNP to liberal democrat? You have got to be kidding. I still think monster raving loony party is the one for you. You could stand as Mrs fox-tiggywinkle-can't make up my mind enthralled to gordon brown jackboot lady.
You fell for It :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl Knew you would :yh_rotfl
I do like Cable though. I enjoy his weekly column in the Mail.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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VINCE CABLE: Rotten boroughs, rogues, 150 MPs... all have to go | Mail Online
Cables column for the week.
Cables column for the week.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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Solid good sense from start to finish.
VOTE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FOR A NEW START.
VOTE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FOR A NEW START.
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
An all round good egg is Mr cable. Thoroughly decent chap.
Seriously, he gets my vote. You just know when a politician is an honest one.
Not many of them about
Seriously, he gets my vote. You just know when a politician is an honest one.
Not many of them about
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
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Clodhopper;1244452 wrote: Solid good sense from start to finish.
VOTE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FOR A NEW START.
Yes... good article..
VOTE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FOR A NEW START.
Yes... good article..
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
Vince Cable: I stirred up a hornets¿ nest, but my Mansion Tax is fair | Mail Online
The word from Cable this week on Mansion Tax.
The word from Cable this week on Mansion Tax.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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What am I supposed to do?
oscar posts an article by the Sainted Vincent, and I agree with it. Not exactly thrilling.
But that's why the Lib Dems are the right party for the next government. Sure, after a decade they'll need replacing, but they are the ones in touch with reality rather than a need to retain power because they are ideologically "the only right chioce".
Liberal Democracy is pragmatic. It deals with people as they really are and the political world as a reflection of this. Saying that the debt that has built up for our grandchildren under Labour is real and we need to start paying it is no more than truth. I would like to see a one-off tax on "wealth" generated to pay at least some of the debt off, but Mr Cable doesn't quite seem able to say this publically yet.
Would you vote for a one off tax designed to free your grandchild (possibly yet unborn or even unconceived) from the follies of that child's grandparents? Would you pay now to save your grandchild a burden in the future?
oscar posts an article by the Sainted Vincent, and I agree with it. Not exactly thrilling.
But that's why the Lib Dems are the right party for the next government. Sure, after a decade they'll need replacing, but they are the ones in touch with reality rather than a need to retain power because they are ideologically "the only right chioce".
Liberal Democracy is pragmatic. It deals with people as they really are and the political world as a reflection of this. Saying that the debt that has built up for our grandchildren under Labour is real and we need to start paying it is no more than truth. I would like to see a one-off tax on "wealth" generated to pay at least some of the debt off, but Mr Cable doesn't quite seem able to say this publically yet.
Would you vote for a one off tax designed to free your grandchild (possibly yet unborn or even unconceived) from the follies of that child's grandparents? Would you pay now to save your grandchild a burden in the future?
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Lone voice: "I'm not."
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Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
Vince Cables column for the week:
Vince Cable: They're single mothers Gordon, not fallen women | Mail Online
And discuss.
Vince Cable: They're single mothers Gordon, not fallen women | Mail Online
And discuss.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
oscar;1248838 wrote: Vince Cables column for the week:
Vince Cable: They're single mothers Gordon, not fallen women | Mail Online
And discuss.
It's an insult to most single mothers most of whom end up that way either by divorce or by the death of the husband. My mother was a single parent-as a teenager I once asked her what she thought about her image as a feckless ne'er do well sponging off the state. She was mortified as she hadn't quite thought of it that way-that it was her they were talking about-that was back in the seventies. Not much changed then. Afer ww2 there were an awful lot more single parents around than there are now. Used to be the children were taken away and put in to orphanages, girls that got pregnant were deemed feeble minded and stuck in to mental hospitals maybe we should go back to the good old days and we can pretend single parents don't exist.
What about all the war widows gordie boy-going to make them all get jobs?
He's a sanctimonious prick picking on people who once upon a time the labour party stood up for now all he wants to do is suck up to the bloodsucking bastards that have ruined the economy.
remember this
YouTube - Gordon Brown Praises London Bankers in 2007
YouTube - MPs expenses
Well gordie boy certainly made a difference didn't he?
YouTube - Gordon Brown's Downfall Part 1 - The Events surrounding Glasgow East
Vince Cable: They're single mothers Gordon, not fallen women | Mail Online
And discuss.
It's an insult to most single mothers most of whom end up that way either by divorce or by the death of the husband. My mother was a single parent-as a teenager I once asked her what she thought about her image as a feckless ne'er do well sponging off the state. She was mortified as she hadn't quite thought of it that way-that it was her they were talking about-that was back in the seventies. Not much changed then. Afer ww2 there were an awful lot more single parents around than there are now. Used to be the children were taken away and put in to orphanages, girls that got pregnant were deemed feeble minded and stuck in to mental hospitals maybe we should go back to the good old days and we can pretend single parents don't exist.
What about all the war widows gordie boy-going to make them all get jobs?
He's a sanctimonious prick picking on people who once upon a time the labour party stood up for now all he wants to do is suck up to the bloodsucking bastards that have ruined the economy.
remember this
YouTube - Gordon Brown Praises London Bankers in 2007
YouTube - MPs expenses
Well gordie boy certainly made a difference didn't he?
YouTube - Gordon Brown's Downfall Part 1 - The Events surrounding Glasgow East
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Laughs. There isn't much TO discuss. It's solid good sense throughout. Can't you see the difference between Vince's joined up thinking and the rubbish you posted about slavery?
Labour will lose the next election. I reckon barring something Kinnockesque from Cameron the Conservatives will be in.
But I do hope the Liberal Democrats gain seats. Think there is a chance of it. Ideally, I'd like to see us as the Party where the disffected from the other two naturally go. But that's only the first step.
Vincent Cable for Dictator of the World! BwaHahahahahahaaaa!
Labour will lose the next election. I reckon barring something Kinnockesque from Cameron the Conservatives will be in.
But I do hope the Liberal Democrats gain seats. Think there is a chance of it. Ideally, I'd like to see us as the Party where the disffected from the other two naturally go. But that's only the first step.
Vincent Cable for Dictator of the World! BwaHahahahahahaaaa!
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Lone voice: "I'm not."
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gmc;1248956 wrote: It's an insult to most single mothers most of whom end up that way either by divorce or by the death of the husband. My mother was a single parent-as a teenager I once asked her what she thought about her image as a feckless ne'er do well sponging off the state. She was mortified as she hadn't quite thought of it that way-that it was her they were talking about-that was back in the seventies. Not much changed then. Afer ww2 there were an awful lot more single parents around than there are now. Used to be the children were taken away and put in to orphanages, girls that got pregnant were deemed feeble minded and stuck in to mental hospitals maybe we should go back to the good old days and we can pretend single parents don't exist.
What about all the war widows gordie boy-going to make them all get jobs?
He's a sanctimonious prick picking on people who once upon a time the labour party stood up for now all he wants to do is suck up to the bloodsucking bastards that have ruined the economy.
] I read what he is proposing for single mothers and I do not believe for a moment that he is targeting any other than young teenage mums.
We have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe and it's reached epidemic proportions that are a drain on housing, ther NHS etc.
I quite like the idea of hostels for young mums in that they will be taught parenting skills however, It's all too late. New Labour created the situation with teenage pregnancy by far too generous benifits and free housing. It's a case of 'door, stable, bolted'.
What about all the war widows gordie boy-going to make them all get jobs?
He's a sanctimonious prick picking on people who once upon a time the labour party stood up for now all he wants to do is suck up to the bloodsucking bastards that have ruined the economy.
] I read what he is proposing for single mothers and I do not believe for a moment that he is targeting any other than young teenage mums.
We have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe and it's reached epidemic proportions that are a drain on housing, ther NHS etc.
I quite like the idea of hostels for young mums in that they will be taught parenting skills however, It's all too late. New Labour created the situation with teenage pregnancy by far too generous benifits and free housing. It's a case of 'door, stable, bolted'.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
oscar;1249731 wrote: I read what he is proposing for single mothers and I do not believe for a moment that he is targeting any other than young teenage mums.
We have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe and it's reached epidemic proportions that are a drain on housing, ther NHS etc.
I quite like the idea of hostels for young mums in that they will be taught parenting skills however, It's all too late. New Labour created the situation with teenage pregnancy by far too generous benifits and free housing. It's a case of 'door, stable, bolted'.
Let's go back to the good old days when teenage mums were pariahs that had their babies taken away to fill the orphanages and they could be sent to special schools where they could have it drummed in to them how feckless they were. Being a child of a single parent does not make you a waste of space or your mother somehow inadequate.
As to the teenage pregnancy rate perhaps we should copy what they do in europe and start sex education classes in primary school amd allow acces to contraceptives to those who want them-it's the girls you need to educate and perhapscreate a cultivate where getting pregnant is uncool. We need to tell those idiots who believe that sex education makes children promiscuous to sod off and the religious lobby to mind their own business. This goes a damn sight further back than with new labour-as the son of a single parent I remember it well and all the lamenting about the high divorce rate.
Tell you what the day gordon brown and david cameron sack every MP who has been lining their own pocket at the public expense and makes the pay back every penny they have ripped us of for because it was "within the rules" is the day I might consider taking either of them lecturing about the moral decline of society seriously.
Never mind the expenses scandal and what we've done to the country look at these single mums aren't they terrible just doesn't hack it for me. It shouldn't for anyone with a grain of sense either. Hypocritical bastards the whole lot of them. I'm a thief and a con man and I've bankrupted the country and started a war and aren't all those poor bankers wonderful let's bail them out and not jail any of them but I know single mothers are symbolic of a moral decline let's appeal to the numpties and maybe they'll forget the rest.
We have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe and it's reached epidemic proportions that are a drain on housing, ther NHS etc.
I quite like the idea of hostels for young mums in that they will be taught parenting skills however, It's all too late. New Labour created the situation with teenage pregnancy by far too generous benifits and free housing. It's a case of 'door, stable, bolted'.
Let's go back to the good old days when teenage mums were pariahs that had their babies taken away to fill the orphanages and they could be sent to special schools where they could have it drummed in to them how feckless they were. Being a child of a single parent does not make you a waste of space or your mother somehow inadequate.
As to the teenage pregnancy rate perhaps we should copy what they do in europe and start sex education classes in primary school amd allow acces to contraceptives to those who want them-it's the girls you need to educate and perhapscreate a cultivate where getting pregnant is uncool. We need to tell those idiots who believe that sex education makes children promiscuous to sod off and the religious lobby to mind their own business. This goes a damn sight further back than with new labour-as the son of a single parent I remember it well and all the lamenting about the high divorce rate.
Tell you what the day gordon brown and david cameron sack every MP who has been lining their own pocket at the public expense and makes the pay back every penny they have ripped us of for because it was "within the rules" is the day I might consider taking either of them lecturing about the moral decline of society seriously.
Never mind the expenses scandal and what we've done to the country look at these single mums aren't they terrible just doesn't hack it for me. It shouldn't for anyone with a grain of sense either. Hypocritical bastards the whole lot of them. I'm a thief and a con man and I've bankrupted the country and started a war and aren't all those poor bankers wonderful let's bail them out and not jail any of them but I know single mothers are symbolic of a moral decline let's appeal to the numpties and maybe they'll forget the rest.
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gmc;1250563 wrote: Let's go back to the good old days when teenage mums were pariahs that had their babies taken away to fill the orphanages and they could be sent to special schools where they could have it drummed in to them how feckless they were. Being a child of a single parent does not make you a waste of space or your mother somehow inadequate.
As to the teenage pregnancy rate perhaps we should copy what they do in europe and start sex education classes in primary school amd allow acces to contraceptives to those who want them-it's the girls you need to educate and perhapscreate a cultivate where getting pregnant is uncool. We need to tell those idiots who believe that sex education makes children promiscuous to sod off and the religious lobby to mind their own business. This goes a damn sight further back than with new labour-as the son of a single parent I remember it well and all the lamenting about the high divorce rate.
Tell you what the day gordon brown and david cameron sack every MP who has been lining their own pocket at the public expense and makes the pay back every penny they have ripped us of for because it was "within the rules" is the day I might consider taking either of them lecturing about the moral decline of society seriously.
Never mind the expenses scandal and what we've done to the country look at these single mums aren't they terrible just doesn't hack it for me. It shouldn't for anyone with a grain of sense either. Hypocritical bastards the whole lot of them. I'm a thief and a con man and I've bankrupted the country and started a war and aren't all those poor bankers wonderful let's bail them out and not jail any of them but I know single mothers are symbolic of a moral decline let's appeal to the numpties and maybe they'll forget the rest.
I agree with a lot of what you say but it's similar to John Major preaching the moraity crap and then we find out he's been slipping Edwina Currie one.
They do have clinics where teenage girls can get free contraception. Also with free health care, they can get it anywhere on prescription on the NHS. I do actually believe that morality has gone down the toilet in this country. I never believed that I woud see teenagers having sex on a war memorial or in shop door-ways but I have seen it.
As to the teenage pregnancy rate perhaps we should copy what they do in europe and start sex education classes in primary school amd allow acces to contraceptives to those who want them-it's the girls you need to educate and perhapscreate a cultivate where getting pregnant is uncool. We need to tell those idiots who believe that sex education makes children promiscuous to sod off and the religious lobby to mind their own business. This goes a damn sight further back than with new labour-as the son of a single parent I remember it well and all the lamenting about the high divorce rate.
Tell you what the day gordon brown and david cameron sack every MP who has been lining their own pocket at the public expense and makes the pay back every penny they have ripped us of for because it was "within the rules" is the day I might consider taking either of them lecturing about the moral decline of society seriously.
Never mind the expenses scandal and what we've done to the country look at these single mums aren't they terrible just doesn't hack it for me. It shouldn't for anyone with a grain of sense either. Hypocritical bastards the whole lot of them. I'm a thief and a con man and I've bankrupted the country and started a war and aren't all those poor bankers wonderful let's bail them out and not jail any of them but I know single mothers are symbolic of a moral decline let's appeal to the numpties and maybe they'll forget the rest.
I agree with a lot of what you say but it's similar to John Major preaching the moraity crap and then we find out he's been slipping Edwina Currie one.
They do have clinics where teenage girls can get free contraception. Also with free health care, they can get it anywhere on prescription on the NHS. I do actually believe that morality has gone down the toilet in this country. I never believed that I woud see teenagers having sex on a war memorial or in shop door-ways but I have seen it.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
huh.........so you have your own House of Commons now.....
let`s party!:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl
let`s party!:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl
Life is just to short for drama.
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Todays column from cable:
VINCE CABLE: Women will pay the price for austerity as pensions come under attack | Mail Online
VINCE CABLE: Women will pay the price for austerity as pensions come under attack | Mail Online
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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I do actually believe that morality has gone down the toilet in this country. I never believed that I woud see teenagers having sex on a war memorial or in shop door-ways but I have seen it.
Then you've been walking around with your eyes shut. Add in graveyards, under trees and in their parent's bed - all from 30 years ago. Before that, what went on was truly bumptious - the Edwardians were reacting against Victorian morality, and Victorian morality was a reaction to the "let's shag everything" attitude that existed before that. (And I do mean everything. Including ducks)
No, the real failure of morality is shown by the number of people voting for or joining the BNP and the creation of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. These are the sort of people who lead us to the Concentration Camps (invented by the British around 1900, I might add) and mass killing.
Then you've been walking around with your eyes shut. Add in graveyards, under trees and in their parent's bed - all from 30 years ago. Before that, what went on was truly bumptious - the Edwardians were reacting against Victorian morality, and Victorian morality was a reaction to the "let's shag everything" attitude that existed before that. (And I do mean everything. Including ducks)
No, the real failure of morality is shown by the number of people voting for or joining the BNP and the creation of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. These are the sort of people who lead us to the Concentration Camps (invented by the British around 1900, I might add) and mass killing.
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Lone voice: "I'm not."
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Clodhopper;1250784 wrote: Then you've been walking around with your eyes shut. Add in graveyards, under trees and in their parent's bed - all from 30 years ago. Before that, what went on was truly bumptious - the Edwardians were reacting against Victorian morality, and Victorian morality was a reaction to the "let's shag everything" attitude that existed before that. (And I do mean everything. Including ducks)
No, the real failure of morality is shown by the number of people voting for or joining the BNP and the creation of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. These are the sort of people who lead us to the Concentration Camps (invented by the British around 1900, I might add) and mass killing. Bloody heck Clodders... have you overdosed on Red Bull in your coffee this morning? :wah:
How do we jump from the Victorians to shagging to ducks to Abu Ghraib to the BNP? :yh_rotfl
Sorry... Just cracked me up that did.
No, the real failure of morality is shown by the number of people voting for or joining the BNP and the creation of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. These are the sort of people who lead us to the Concentration Camps (invented by the British around 1900, I might add) and mass killing. Bloody heck Clodders... have you overdosed on Red Bull in your coffee this morning? :wah:
How do we jump from the Victorians to shagging to ducks to Abu Ghraib to the BNP? :yh_rotfl
Sorry... Just cracked me up that did.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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No red bull. Just perky and off birdwatching in a couple of hours.:-6
Sex has been going on a looooong time, and every generation thinks it invented the business. It's a horrible thought, but your parents had sex. Probably quite imaginatively, too. That's one sort of moral/immoral.
Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib are also failures of morality. Rather worse than shagging the wrong person in the wrong place, imo.
The BNP as an organisation is a failure of morality and if they ever get power will create hell on earth. Just like their idols, the Nazis. Many of their officials are known and convicted violent racist criminals.
Sex has been going on a looooong time, and every generation thinks it invented the business. It's a horrible thought, but your parents had sex. Probably quite imaginatively, too. That's one sort of moral/immoral.
Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib are also failures of morality. Rather worse than shagging the wrong person in the wrong place, imo.
The BNP as an organisation is a failure of morality and if they ever get power will create hell on earth. Just like their idols, the Nazis. Many of their officials are known and convicted violent racist criminals.
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
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Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
oscar;1250761 wrote: Todays column from cable:
VINCE CABLE: Women will pay the price for austerity as pensions come under attack | Mail Online
The retirement age for women is already due to rise from 2010 for those born after 1950.
State Pension age calculator: Directgov - Pensions and retirement planning
Have fun oscar
VINCE CABLE: Women will pay the price for austerity as pensions come under attack | Mail Online
The retirement age for women is already due to rise from 2010 for those born after 1950.
State Pension age calculator: Directgov - Pensions and retirement planning
Have fun oscar
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Good Morning gmc! How's the cold and frozen North?
Birdwatching postponed a week. Boooo. However, do get to watch Tigers vs Ospreys as a result. Yaaay!
On pensions - am rather relieved I decided not to rely on the state some years back. Dunno if my preparations will be adequate, but at least I haven't wasted money on a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow...
Birdwatching postponed a week. Boooo. However, do get to watch Tigers vs Ospreys as a result. Yaaay!
On pensions - am rather relieved I decided not to rely on the state some years back. Dunno if my preparations will be adequate, but at least I haven't wasted money on a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow...
The crowd: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
Lone voice: "I'm not."
Lone voice: "I'm not."
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gmc;1250789 wrote: The retirement age for women is already due to rise from 2010 for those born after 1950.
State Pension age calculator: Directgov - Pensions and retirement planning
Have fun oscar
I've had my private pensions out and spent them before His Worthiness raided the pension fund again last year. :p
State Pension age calculator: Directgov - Pensions and retirement planning
Have fun oscar
I've had my private pensions out and spent them before His Worthiness raided the pension fund again last year. :p
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
oscar;1250940 wrote: I've had my private pensions out and spent them before His Worthiness raided the pension fund again last year. :p
Couldn't have been pension then as you can only get 25% tax free and have to drawdown or buy an annuity with the rest. Many people get endowments and pensions mixed up. His worthiness is one of the most destructive chancellors this country has ever had. single handedly he has destroyed what was one of the best private pension systems in europe and forced innumerable company pensions to close down. That's his legacy-a bankrupt nation sliding in to poverty and despair and a plethora of indirect taxes and raids on ordinary people's savings that have left people poorer than they were under the tories. I hate the bastard. At least maggie was an honest bitch gordon is a sleekit wee slater that should have stayed under his stone.
Just in case that was beyond your limited vocabulary.
The Online Scots Dictionary - Scots to English
If I'm going to insult the heid bummer of the numpty house it's only fair you can appreciate the name calling
Couldn't have been pension then as you can only get 25% tax free and have to drawdown or buy an annuity with the rest. Many people get endowments and pensions mixed up. His worthiness is one of the most destructive chancellors this country has ever had. single handedly he has destroyed what was one of the best private pension systems in europe and forced innumerable company pensions to close down. That's his legacy-a bankrupt nation sliding in to poverty and despair and a plethora of indirect taxes and raids on ordinary people's savings that have left people poorer than they were under the tories. I hate the bastard. At least maggie was an honest bitch gordon is a sleekit wee slater that should have stayed under his stone.
Just in case that was beyond your limited vocabulary.
The Online Scots Dictionary - Scots to English
If I'm going to insult the heid bummer of the numpty house it's only fair you can appreciate the name calling
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gmc;1250948 wrote: Couldn't have been pension then as you can only get 25% tax free and have to drawdown or buy an annuity with the rest. Many people get endowments and pensions mixed up. His worthiness is one of the most destructive chancellors this country has ever had. single handedly he has destroyed what was one of the best private pension systems in europe and forced innumerable company pensions to close down. That's his legacy-a bankrupt nation sliding in to poverty and despair and a plethora of indirect taxes and raids on ordinary people's savings that have left people poorer than they were under the tories. I hate the bastard. At least maggie was an honest bitch gordon is a sleekit wee slater that should have stayed under his stone.
Just in case that was beyond your limited vocabulary.
The Online Scots Dictionary - Scots to English
If I'm going to insult the heid bummer of the numpty house it's only fair you can appreciate the name calling Your right actually... It was endowments but in Pete's case he had reached 65 so he had his private pensions cashed in. Had to pay 40% tax on the lot.
I'll avoid your strange Celtic volcabulary if it's all the same to you. I have enough problems understanding what local teenagers are saying. Although I will keep it for future reference to Insult you at a later date.
Just in case that was beyond your limited vocabulary.
The Online Scots Dictionary - Scots to English
If I'm going to insult the heid bummer of the numpty house it's only fair you can appreciate the name calling Your right actually... It was endowments but in Pete's case he had reached 65 so he had his private pensions cashed in. Had to pay 40% tax on the lot.
I'll avoid your strange Celtic volcabulary if it's all the same to you. I have enough problems understanding what local teenagers are saying. Although I will keep it for future reference to Insult you at a later date.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
oscar;1250952 wrote: Your right actually... It was endowments but in Pete's case he had reached 65 so he had his private pensions cashed in. Had to pay 40% tax on the lot.
I'll avoid your strange Celtic volcabulary if it's all the same to you. I have enough problems understanding what local teenagers are saying. Although I will keep it for future reference to Insult you at a later date.
Good grief woman I even posted a link to a dictionary for you:-5
I'll avoid your strange Celtic volcabulary if it's all the same to you. I have enough problems understanding what local teenagers are saying. Although I will keep it for future reference to Insult you at a later date.
Good grief woman I even posted a link to a dictionary for you:-5
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Oscar Namechange
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Clodhopper and Vince Cable's House Of Commons
gmc;1252654 wrote: Good grief woman I even posted a link to a dictionary for you:-5
Yes and I bloody well saw it. :p:p:p
Yes and I bloody well saw it. :p:p:p
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon