Lord Young

[longfingernails]

What a numpty!

Cameron spends years and years detoxifying the brand, and genuinely creating a "compassionate conservative" vision - just for some rather marginal and irrelevant old fool to screw it all up by sounding like a parody of Alan B'stard.

Hopefully people will realise that Lord Young really isn't that important - not a minister, just carrying out a review or two.

What he said was actually accurate - for many, many people, now is an excellent time as mortgage payments are so low.

If they have any sense they will be squirelling away the extra disposable income and protect themselves against more straitened times.

Sadly, some people won't do this, will splurge the cash on X, Y and Z and will then blame the "Government" when hubby or wifey gets laid off and they can no longer afford the same lifestyle.

I agree his remarks, when taken out of context and spun as they have been, come across as insensitive. Doesn't mean he was incorrect - despite whatever mealy-mouthed apology 10 Downing Street have forced out of him.

For a larger majority of this country his comments are unfortunately very accurate. The collapse in mortgage rates has increased disposable income substantially and saved them what this country really needs - a collapse in house prices. These people can now buy bigger houses they can't afford, buy more stuff from China they don't need and get even further into debt at no cost to themselves.

Of course his commments are very insenstive to the 1mm of so who have lost jobs in the last two years. Also insensitive to another minority in the country: those who prudently save money, live within their means and don't get into debt. They have seen the value of their savings eroded by inflation in the price of goods and assets.

What extra disposable income? OK, so we may have lower mortgage rates,but we have taken the hit with increased prices (for many goods)and fewer jobs at lower rates of pay. There are many people who've been hit by the recession in big ways (lost jobs) but numerous others who've had to make smaller adjustments. In our family, I have suffered a pay freeze and my husband several pay cuts. We have no extra income to squirrel away, we are far worse off - and I know we are not alone.

Notty43, I'm not saying you are better off. Neither are my DH and I. The people who are better off are those who are up to their gills in debt. Rates are now far lower and inflation is eroding the principal on their debt ... win-win for them.

It seems as though the low-paid, low-skilled will suffer from loss of employment and reduced benefits. The rich suffer from higher taxes and no return on their savings.

It looks as though it will be the highly indebted part of the middle class that will benefit most. Now which is the most important voting demographic for all political parties in terms of marginal seats? I think I can guess.

I think it's a real shame that "we" find ourselves in a position where we can't offer an opinion without having to retract and offer "we apologise profusely blah blah blah". :(

Oh for a politician who tells it as it is and doesn't apologise!

Cameron probably agrees with Young, beneath the surface the Tories are still the vile scum they have always been. No douubt Gideon and "Dave" a pair of multi millionares will share our pain.

Why should he have resigned, so he said that we've never had it so good, and he meant in mortgage terms. So what! Cameron is becoming a sly bastard and he should watch it. Youngs been a member of the Tory part for years and has many freinds.

What is this country? some sort of police state? He should not have resigned.
I feel the knives will in the future be out for Cameron, one weeks a long time in politics, let alone the years that Cameron has to serve.

Of course the Labour party are all up arms, "that's how they all think! Boo hoo'. Just because one member of a party makes a statement, does not mean all the party agree? as we have seen with the Labour party

This saga is absolutely vile, and shows us a lot about politics. Cameron will shortly be the new Jullius Ceasar!

I suppose it all depends on your interpretation of the word "most"

Yes, those who have tracker mortgages will be better off at the mo.

But... if you've got a fixed rate mortgage you're fucked.

If you rent you're fucked

If you rely on benefits you're fucked

If you don't have a job any more you're fucked

If you have a job in the public sector, you're probably fucked

I would be interested to know whether most people have tracker mortgages or whether most people don't

It does tend to reinforce the idea that these tory rich-bods don't actually understand what being poor is actually like though