What do with think will be in Labour’s budget?

I recall that is how Trump sold himself. As a businessman. See how well that has worked out.

I think they lack knowledge across nearly all of them and it’ll be similar arguments in many meetings as on here eg taxes for benefits.

But since becoming PM Burnham has discovered the bond markets do exist and Healey is talking about entrepreneurs this morning so I guess he’s realised he needs them after all.

And we have reached the what about - insert anyone you can think of - part of the discussion.

Maybe that the issue.

No real world experience of running a small or medium sized business, where actions have consequences and failure doesn’t come with a gold plated defined benefit pension.

Resorting to Whataboutery now. Clutching at straws.

It’s always whataboutery when a point is made that contradicts your world view. If you think politicians should have business experience Trump is the prime example.

US economy going great guns though. My S&P and Nasdaq shares up 28% and 37% respectively since Trump came to power.

Being divorced from the behavioural impact of tax is part of it.

How many more small and medium sized business are there compared to large corporates? Trump as a businessman is hardly representative of most business owners.

It's an example of what posters are proposing. The concept that countries should be run by businesspeople.

But countries are not like a business. They are a different beast all together. And a different skill set is needed.

But we’re told that running a business is the holy grail. When it clearly isn’t.

Bizarre comment anyway. So businesses don’t count because of that example.

How? And no answer on 35% v 115% debt to GDP below. France isn’t struggling at all just go hard on SMEs that’ll help.

Shame about the oil price, cost of living, fertilizer shortage etc. But Trump and his pals appear to be doing ok.

Have you seen how high the US debt is?

You could invest too, equal opportunity is there for all. No need for anyone to feel bitter.

This is a lot of the problem that people can't separate the likes of Trump, Musk, Bozos and various other billionaires, etc from the enormous numbers of smaller businesses. They're completely different types of people/business.

Unfortunately, we have people who can't see the wood for the trees because when you say "business", all they can think of is Trump and Russian billionaires, and not the millions of people working in smaller businesses, whether micro with just a few staff (or sole traders) up to medium sized ones employing a few hundred.

People are brain washed into thinking business is bad because of a tiny number of billionaires and they're incapable of seeing the difference.

@RedTagAlan

Also, and this is fairly important. Ireland is still in the EU. So if you want access to that market, that makes Ireland attractive.

Being in or out of EU does determine how countries set their tax rates.

Hate to break it to you there is no holy grail. That just medieval folk lore.

If career politicians had all the answers why is the country is such a mess?

If economists had all the answers why is the country in such a mess?

You need a mix of talents and skills along with consequences.

Yeah. And he just promised US farmers $8billion to so they can buy diesel. But reading about it, the US dept that is to pay it don't have it. So that will likely go onto the debt as well.

As you say, businesspeople is charge appears to be the Holy Grail.

And does it affect investment at all ?

It’s nonsense, yep. The U.K. economy relies on SMEs.

Who says business is bad ?

Trump was mentioned as an example of a businessman in charge. And you seem to be making an illogical leap that people are anti business.

Quite the reverse. Obviously business isn’t bad. That would be ridiculous. But some business is bad for the country - businesses sucking taxpayers’ money to make huge profits from providing public services inefficiently, landlords having their mortgages paid by housing benefit. Those things are detrimental to the economy.

It’s possible to see the role business plays in the economy without running one. I’d rather trust the views of economists than someone whose view is coloured by self interest.

You know 115% make sense, right?...

Can't understand why you haven't had an answer on that.

Going hard on SMEs who are being productive and employing people in very challenging circumstances makes complete sense.

The "bad" business you mention can easily be solved by competent politicians and civil servants managing those services better. Such as the ruinously expensive PFI contracts for hospitals and schools - negotiated and agreed by utter muppets in the civil service/politicians and letting big business shaft the UK. Same with landlords, why no controls?

Any sane person, landlord, business owner, etc will charge what they can get away with. You would too, if you owned a business or letting property. The REAL problem is utter incompetence at the government/public sector side of these "bad" contracts etc.

It's no different to individuals who, rightly, claim whatever benefits they're entitled to. Who wouldn't? Even if you don't "need" them, you'll take the money. Proper controls are needed.

It's why I get exasperated whenever politicians talk about "efficiency" and cost savings. You just know they mean cuts in services rather than actually making the services cheaper/more efficient to run and cutting the waste etc.