Labour Ahead In Economy Poll -By 2% You Gov

Thrugelmir

BobQ wrote: »

I agree that the commercial acumen of those negotiating the PFI deals was on occasions lacking but what was the alternative?

Doesn't matter the alternative was. We still have hospitals that cannot cope. With a population that lives longer and longer. Requiring more expensive care.

Whatever the past. We're reaching a turning point. Where everything will have to be reviewed and choices made.

Harry_Boyle

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Doesn't matter the alternative was.

Still dodging questions. You're good at pulling things down but not so great at putting them up. It's easy to stand back and criticise things but a lot harder to actually roll up your sleeves and do something about them.

Thrugelmir

Harry_Boyle wrote: »

but a lot harder to actually roll up your sleeves and do something about them.

Then reread my answer.

Whatever the past. We're reaching a turning point. Where everything will have to be reviewed and choices made.

BobQ

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Then reread my answer.

How do you get to Kilarney? Well I wouldn't start from here!:)

Are you suggesting cancelling all PFIs and reneging on the deals? Or what?

Thrugelmir

BobQ wrote: »

Are you suggesting cancelling all PFIs and reneging on the deals? Or what?

Renegotiation perhaps. Governments can default , nationalise if they so wished.

We live in a world where the view seems to be that someone else will fund it, lend for it, borrow for it, pay for it. All a zero sum game. As there's no one else but ourselves.

coastline

BobQ wrote: »

How do you get to Kilarney? Well I wouldn't start from here!:)

Are you suggesting cancelling all PFIs and reneging on the deals? Or what?

There has been an attempt to renegotiate some deals which has resulted in savings of £2.5bn..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20588870

they can be viewed in full here..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/jul/05/pfi-contracts-list

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm

Thrugelmir

coastline wrote: »

There has been an attempt to renegotiate some deals which has resulted in savings of £2.5bn..

The provider doesn't want to lose the contract. Many contracts may well have had upward inflation price linking in them.

BobQ

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Renegotiation perhaps. Governments can default , nationalise if they so wished.

We live in a world where the view seems to be that someone else will fund it, lend for it, borrow for it, pay for it. All a zero sum game. As there's no one else but ourselves.

I would approve of either option since the original PFIs were largely unfavourable to the tax payer in the longer term.

Of course the same argument could be applied to the natural monopolies we privatised like water and rail........:)..... but maybe that is a step too far.

prowla

Looking ahead, I think the lesson from PFI is that it would be a good idea not to do that again.

BobQ

prowla wrote: »

Looking ahead, I think the lesson from PFI is that it would be a good idea not to do that again.

Its curious that the Tories introduced the PFI approach and Labour vehemently opposed it. When they got into office they adopted it and the Tories increasingly criticised it, but when Osborne became Chancellor he continued to use it.

I guess they all saw it as a magic ointment.

Generali - do they still use it in Australia?