Boris freezes council tax for 3 years in a row!

[longfingernails]

Whoo hoo!

Well done Boris!

Sorry, here is the link

www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23907141-boris-johnson-freezes-council-tax-his-portion-of-it.do

Great, but he "saved" part of the money by increasing fares way above inflation so I hope he uses the money to reduce fares.

On the contrary. Why should public transport be subsidised?

Let commuters pay what it costs, and cut the tax instead. I speak as someone who would probably wouldn't be affected much either way - I have an annual Travelcard, so that would mean a big rise in fares, but also pay far too much council tax.

There will be special cases - children, the disabled, etc. - but not those on unemployment benefits. There are two ways to incentivise work - the first is to cut taxes and benefit withdrawal rates for the poorest workers; the second is to make it cut benefit entitlements. Centrally, the coalition is doing both (but not enough, I think).

The point is, why should someone who walks to work pay for part of my Tube journey?

I would still fund capital costs for transport infrastructure from the taxpayer - but running costs should come from the users.

the second is to make it cut benefit entitlements.

If this country had full employment this might possibly make sense but the governments actions will increase unemployment so how would reducing benefits be right.

We have the highest fares in Europe, most countries see transport as a social necessity not a profit making enterprise.

We hand "benefits" to business every day by subsidising low pay with Housing benefits and tax credits maybe this should be tackled before reducing individuals benefits.

On your last point, I agree, though you won't agree that I agree!

Cleaners should be paid more by businesses. One reason businesses pay cleaners nothing is because unlimited non-skilled immigration has led to massive oversupply. Another, though, is that the government tops-up low wages through all sorts of benefits. Why? Why shouldn't the businesses pay more in the first place?

Cut taxes, cut benefits, and control immigration. Then businesses will be forced, by the market, to pay more for their low-skilled staff.

I strongly support this.

Transport is a social necessity, and a business necessity too. It is one of the few things that government can genuinely invest in. It should invest heavily in transport. The crucial point is that the State should invest in infrastructure, but need not pay huge proportions of the running costs.

LFN do you agrre that the ConDems poilcies will increase unemployment, at least in the short to medium term. If so how can people on benefits/unemployed get back into work.

It's ok for me I have a very marketable skill which pays very well (and makes my company lots of money) but I have enough humanity to recognise not all are in this happy position.

I thing I would say is that government run/financed skills courses are mostly very poor value, no one "learns" a trade in a clssroom in 6 months. I would subsidise companies to have proper 5 year apprenticeships so as to learn a trade by getting hands on with skilled people.

My company does this and it pays for itself by having well trained employees the problem is they loose staff to rivals who dont offer proper training.

I have no idea if the measures will increase unemployment in the immediate-term or not (though the OBR seems to think not).

The priorities have to be tackling inflation, and the deficit. Very short-term rises in unemployment are a price worth paying for better long-term economic prospects.

Not sure what that has to do with Boris freezing council tax though!

Not sure what that has to do with Boris freezing council tax though!

Not a lot, these threads tend to ramble as do I at times.

Very short-term rises in unemployment are a price worth paying for better long-term economic prospects.

Not if your one of the victims and I doubt if it will be very short term.

There are better ways of boosting the economy:

Build the next generation of nuclear power stations (and build our own instead of buying french ones)

The new London Buses, again build our own and stop buying trains and rolling stock from Japan (build our own)

Cancel Trident for good and spend the money on rebuilding our heavy industry.

Wage earners pay taxes and spend in the economy this will cut the deficit and reduce unemployment which will cut the benefit bill..

Classic Keynes

BTW the reason we buy "heavy" industry from abroad is because Thatcher destroyed a good part of our industry. If Germany can maintain a manufacturing industry then so should we.

newwave- the type of protectionism you are proposing is illegal and would be very damaging to the economy.

I am not proposing protectionism at all just that we should not always have to buy from abroad because we dont make these products but have our own competing industries in these fields.

If we still made rolling stock we would be able to compete with Japan on cost taking into account transportation costs from Japan alone and provide employment in this country with the profits and wages taxed in this country.

No doubt this government will fail to invest in green energy and we will as usual be buying from other countries.

Germany can do it and so should we.

I don't agree the Government should be seeking to get the best deal possible for the taxpayer and if that means buying from foreign firms which have a comparitive advantage in producation then so be it. By guaranteeing to buy from domestic firms then you are encouraging inefficiency as you are decreasing competition.

Anyhow this is irrelevant really as it would be illegal anyway.

How strange, LFN... we were all waiting with baited breath for your response to Heroine's points on this thread since last night, when you were too tired to answer.

I am relieved you found the energy to start this thread, but you wouldn't want people to think that you cried off when you couldn't defend your points now, would you?

Perhaps you forgot about it?

hudd, are you being deliberately obtuse, how would starting UK companies to COMPETE with overseas companies be illegal ffs.

Find me one part of any post where I have suggested "guaranteeing" and I will give a donation to the charity of your choice.

If Germany can compete why cant the UK, Germany has a better standard of living than we have in most cases and still has a heavy industry and an automobile industry.

You said get british companies to build the new nuclear power stations instead of french ones. This is against European law, the Government can't say we are only offering Government contracts to british companies

He would wouldn't he. When he needs to get re-elected.

Bring back Ken I say.

Fair point, I put it badly, NSPCC OK with you.

Point is we should have those industries in the UK. We were the largest manufacturer of rolling stock and engines in the world at one time now we are buying them from Japan. Financial services are not enough to rebuild the economy neither are the service industries.

We need to start competing in all fields.

I agree totally our economy is far too reliant on banking and financial services and needs to diversify.

When it comes to protectionism there are plenty of countries who have hidden protectionism we are just too honest and obey the "rules" when others (the French come to mind) dont.

Regarding the "best deal for the tax payer" fair enough but we should include other benefits such as companies and employees paying UK taxes which also helps to give a better deal to the tax payer.

Monty sad to say Boris will win, Ken sounds to strident these days. Pity the election isnt in two years time, Ken would be a shoe in after the government has devastated the country.

Newwave I'm not so sure that Boris would get re-elected. Living in London is getting tougher by the day. I just hope Londoners are getting tougher too. And I totally agree with you that this government will devastate this country in the not too distant future. They can't even run a decent public service, transport system etc.

But then I expect lfn will jump in blaming the last government etc etc etc..

TBH although I find most of her political positions abhorrent due to the lack of Human empathy for the "victims" of Tory policies nevertheless within her own lights she does put together a coherent argument for her views.

That said a lot of her views come across as spiteful and begrudging with the "economy" being more important than society.

As said by others, LFN now the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Better people suffer than the economy.

Knows not "now"

Indeed NW . Cut throat politics.

Good for Boris! Londoners' pay a lot as it is!

tethersjinglebellend I did answer most of her points, in quite a lot of detail.

Do you think I should apologise for going to sleep?