Public finances: The chickens coming home to roost

LauraW10

As long as you don't lose your job - and that will be most of us; people will just get on with there lives and they won't even notice.

You should get out abit more (if you don't actually have a life outside MSE - be a devil and try another board) - live a little and stop wallowing in gloom. Life is very short and very precious - ask Jade Goody.

Wookster

LauraW10 wrote: »

As long as you don't lose your job - and that will be most of us; people will just get on with there lives and they won't even notice.

I'm afraid that attitude is a bit like AIDS - you feel fine for 5-10 years and then things start to go wrong.

I'm either just daft, a pessimist or a realist but I see very real problems and challenges facing this country that will need resolution. The biggest problem of them all is that no one seems to be able to make the tough decisions needed as they are thinking about the next election.

As a politician, responsible for stewardship of the country it is your duty to manage risks and plan for the future, no the next election.

Rochdale_Pioneers

We'll continue to borrow. We're up to 47% on UK measure - so thats about 51% on my preferred Eurostat measure that includes PFI and net banking liabilities. Thats still not a lot vs France Germany Japan America etc etc.

The way some of you are talking there will need to be sweeping cuts in public services and in pension provisions in the public sector. Can I give you a reality check - the Conservative party is NOT going to run on that platform. Nor is it ever going to implement such a thing. In 1979 the country was far more broken than it is now, and yet Thatcher managed to increase investment into social security and the welfare state every single year of her reign. The idea that Cameron is going to take an axe to services is no more than a right-whinge squelchy pants dream.

ess0two

Wookster wrote: »

I'm afraid that attitude is a bit like AIDS - you feel fine for 5-10 years and then things start to go wrong.

I'm either just daft, a pessimist or a realist but I see very real problems and challenges facing this country that will need resolution. The biggest problem of them all is that no one seems to be able to make the tough decisions needed as they are thinking about the next election.

As a politician, responsible for stewardship of the country it is your duty to manage risks and plan for the future, no the next election.

Whats the other option?sit at home fretting.

LauraW10

Wookster wrote: »

I'm either just daft, a pessimist or a realist but I see very real problems and challenges facing this country that will need resolution. The biggest problem of them all is that no one seems to be able to make the tough decisions needed as they are thinking about the next election.

As a politician, responsible for stewardship of the country it is your duty to manage risks and plan for the future, no the next election.

You are a keyboard warrior and as such you don't have not much control over anything - so you should relax and stop worrying. It's sunny and warm out.....

LauraW10

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

We'll continue to borrow. We're up to 47% on UK measure - so thats about 51% on my preferred Eurostat measure that includes PFI and net banking liabilities. Thats still not a lot vs France Germany Japan America etc etc.

The way some of you are talking there will need to be sweeping cuts in public services and in pension provisions in the public sector. Can I give you a reality check - the Conservative party is NOT going to run on that platform. Nor is it ever going to implement such a thing. In 1979 the country was far more broken than it is now, and yet Thatcher managed to increase investment into social security and the welfare state every single year of her reign. The idea that Cameron is going to take an axe to services is no more than a right-whinge squelchy pants dream.

Agree with the first bit about our debts not being that bad relative to other countries. However, I'm sure Ken Clarke said on the BBC news at ten last night that the government should cut spending NOW - not wait until next year. I remember 'cos this made me laugh. Who else is cutting public expenditure right now? No country. The Tories really are determined to do a hatchet job on us again and take us back to the '80s. Frankly, they can't wait.

Edit - The Tory party seem to be using Ken alot now instead of George O - what's all that about?

WestonDave

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

We'll continue to borrow. We're up to 47% on UK measure - so thats about 51% on my preferred Eurostat measure that includes PFI and net banking liabilities. Thats still not a lot vs France Germany Japan America etc etc.

The way some of you are talking there will need to be sweeping cuts in public services and in pension provisions in the public sector. Can I give you a reality check - the Conservative party is NOT going to run on that platform. Nor is it ever going to implement such a thing. In 1979 the country was far more broken than it is now, and yet Thatcher managed to increase investment into social security and the welfare state every single year of her reign. The idea that Cameron is going to take an axe to services is no more than a right-whinge squelchy pants dream.

I'm not so sure of the second paragraph. I take your historical point but if this year continues as it has started the election campaign will be fought against a backdrop which starkly compares the out of work or frightened private sector workforce against the largely secure, still getting payrises and expensively pensioned public sector. Given that there aren't that many Tory voters in the public sector workforce, it might be a very popular platform to campaign for the abolition of public sector final salary pensions and a pay freeze! Already the local Tory council here has blamed much of the council tax rise on having to set aside £1m for pension deficits and they have a point!

Rochdale_Pioneers

LauraW10 wrote: »

Edit - The Tory party seem to be using Ken alot now instead of George O - what's all that about?

They have realised that Clarke has gravitas, public respect, a common touch, an easy communication style and knows what he is talking about, and that Gideon doesn't.

Poor Gideon. Once the photos of him in the Bullingdon gear came out (and the story of what they called him), he never recovered. Ultimately people want someone they can relate to as guides through the economics. "Oik" in his rah rah gear loving it up on russian oligarchs yachts is never going to compete with "I like food" in his hush puppies.

tomstickland

LauraW10 wrote: »

You should get out abit more (if you don't actually have a life outside MSE - be a devil and try another board) - live a little and stop wallowing in gloom. Life is very short and very precious - ask Jade Goody.

Isn't the attitude that allowed things to go so badly out of shape? It's everyone's duty to find out what's happening.

tomstickland

I saw Osborne on Question Time and was pretty impressed with what he had to say.

Is that yacht the one with Mandelson on it too?