Have we experienced a real rise in living standards as Osborne claims?

gazter

Tory Councillors are no less susceptible to office capture than Labour ones. When their officers tell them that the roofs will fall in, that they are cut to the bones, and they dont even think they can provide the service anymore, then they listen.

But the thing is, they said all that in the 2000s. Thats why councils got persuaded into annual 10%+ increases in council tax. 7% became the norm, year on year.

Of course, it never really got spent on anything productive. Councils spend a huge amount of money on themselves, and will continue to do so until you make them force tough decisions.

ukcarper

gazter wrote: »

which district?

Why don't you believe it's a Tory council

gazter

ukcarper wrote: »

Why don't you believe it's a Tory council

Im ashamed if a Tory Council has turned down the freeze every single year it has been offered, and that has happened on both the district and the county.

ukcarper

gazter wrote: »

Im ashamed if a Tory Council has turned down the freeze every single year it has been offered, and that has happened on both the district and the county.

We'll it has and I think 64 Tory councils are increasing council tax this year.

gazter

ukcarper wrote: »

We'll it has and I think 64 Tory councils are increasing council tax this year.

Its not so much doing it this year, but you said that theyve refused the freeze every year. The County Councils are having to make some very difficult decisions about how they manage their finances, but the districts need to MTFU and represent their residents a bit more effectively.

ukcarper

gazter wrote: »

Its not so much doing it this year, but you said that theyve refused the freeze every year. The County Councils are having to make some very difficult decisions about how they manage their finances, but the districts need to MTFU and represent their residents a bit more effectively.

I don't know how the chancellor can claim council tax has been frozen when councils run by his own party are not doing it.

CLAPTON

ukcarper wrote: »

I don't know how the chancellor can claim council tax has been frozen when councils run by his own party are not doing it.

because he is a politician and as such is a liar.

however, it is right that the local people should decide whether there should be cuts to local services, further efficiencies made or increased local taxes.

TickersPlaysPop

It is not illegal to lie as a politician

When elected an MP can do almost nothing for the electorate, the electorate have no power to remove them. They can do nothing for 4 yrs and spend the time feathering their own nest on a nice salary. The recall bill failed to introduce significant change.

Also, the electorate have no influence on their MP, or local council.

We need a new system if we want anything different....

We are being denied voicing our discontent with the system because a 'none of the above' option on ballot paper and compulsory voting has not been allowed.

CLAPTON

TickersPlaysPop wrote: »

It is not illegal to lie as a politician

When elected an MP can do almost nothing for the electorate, the electorate have no power to remove them. They can do nothing for 4 yrs and spend the time feathering their own nest on a nice salary. The recall bill failed to introduce significant change.

Also, the electorate have no influence on their MP, or local council.

We need a new system if we want anything different....

We are being denied voicing our discontent with the system because a 'none of the above' option on ballot paper and compulsory voting has not been allowed.

there is nothing stopping people forming their own 'non of the above' party

the difficulty is in formulating policies rather than simply critising.

being 'anti' is easy :

all the evidence is that people are fairly content

Xrayal

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

I have! Council tax freezes; petrol duty freezes; personal allowance increased; inflation down.


Could I be better off with higher interest rates: not really, as there have been great bank switching incentives; and fuel costs down.


Yes, VAT went up, but buying things that are VAT-able is a choice, the VAT on fresh food is still zero, and VAT on energy bills is still 5%.


So, on a fairly low income, I'm doing OK. I haven't mentioned the triple-lock on pensions because I don't get the full Basic State Pension, but my pretty small Company pension has had fairly generous increases.


To me, all the party leaders are privileged. If someone was sent by his parents to Eton, and thus has been taught it's his right to be leader, that's no different from a socialist person, bringing up his sons in an intellectually-privileged environment, and being taught it's his duty to lead.

Buying energy is not a choice. It's a national scandal that VAT on energy is 5%.

Also toothpaste is not exempt of VAT. I know some people think toothpaste is a choice but I dont!