i-Politics: More Austerity For Britain

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

An Extra Of Austerity 

Foreseen For Britain

Alongside the statement on Wednesday, the Chancellor's Autumn Statement on Wednesday, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR - the independent fiscal watchdog) are set to tell George Osborne that the Government's efforts to reduce borrowing are in danger.

The OBR are expected to warn this week that the Chancellor looks set to miss his target for bringing down Britain's debt mountain; raising the prospect of more austerity measures.

Unless the Chancellor puts forward further hardship measures, Economists - alarmed by just how difficult it seems for the debt-ratio to begin decreasing in the foretold timescale of 2014-15 and 2015-16 (which Mr Osborne set to reduce GDP) - warn that Mr Osborne's goal for reductions to the gross domestic product were totally underestimated. This means the Chancellor's duel debt-reducing targets are more at risk because of the low growth-estimates and their knock-on impact on the Treasury's revenues.

"When the OBR was established in 2010 I said that the evidence of its success would come when a Chancellor of the Exchequer wished it had never been set up. I think that moment is approaching..."

Sir Alan Budd, chairman of the interim OBR, Sunday Telegraph 02/12/12

As if things aren't bad enough! The outcome being an extra year of hardship is foreseen for British citizens .

i-Politics: Camerons Empty Rhetoric

Reblogged from The Writing's on the Wall: i-Politics:

Labour says Cameron's 

'Need to Make Prison Work' 

is empty Rhetoric

Private firms, voluntary groups and charities will be paid to help offenders turn their lives around, the government have decided. This is a new drive to beat crime, put forward by the Conservatives.

David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative
Party, United Kingdom. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

David Cameron has spoken out in a fight against crime - his most intense since taking office. All but the most high-risk prisoners will be given help by 2015.

Cameron has warned though there isn't a "blank cheque" for this initiative; he expects "more for less".

Cameron invited that serious crime would hold long prison sentences. He is adamant that he's no going "soft" or being "liberal" in crime. Stating that "...we need to make prison work."

Labour's Shadow Justice Secretary, Sadiq Khan, accused the Tories of " empty rhetoric" yesterday. Adding: "After 29 months, this Tory-led government's justice policy is in tatters. Today's announcement.... is ... a weak Prime Minister who is pandering to the backbenchers..."

This comes after a week where Andrew Mitchell was forced to reign (after swearing at the police) and George Osborne was caught in First-Class rail with a none-First-Class ticket (and refused to pay the upgrade fee).

I hicks that if Mr Cameron wants to shoe he's tough on crime, then he need to start with his own MP's.

Labour to give 16-year-olds the vote

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

Arriving in Manchester, before Labour conference, Ed Miliband told young people of his vision for a Labour Britain: He believes 16-year-old should have get vote.

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CyberPunk65
i-thorts' i-Politics September 30th 2012

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If 16- to 18-year-olds could vote, George Osborne might have thought twice about getting rid of EMA (Educational Maintenance Allowance) - it would have hit Tories at ballot box.

Ed Milliband MP speaking at the Labour Party conference. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Miliband has a project to "rebuild Britain" by involving young people more in politics. He wants young people to have a voice.

Miliband concedes that the coalition’s welfare system changers are acceptable to Labour, but lacked compassion towards the disabled.

Miliband admits agreeing with some of the government’s policies - but not most of them.

He can’t "wave a magic wand" though.

"We can’t have people going to food banks while millionaires have been given £40,000 tax cuts." Miliband argues, "It’s not right."

Let Both Coalition Parties Do Battle

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

Prepare for both coalition parties to commence battle.

At the Lib Dem conference (around the end of this month) the party will considers the proposals for wealth taxes. Earlier this months, Nick Clegg  attempted to shape that debate by floating the consideration of a new wealth tax (see Lib Dems Tax Unearned Wealth). 

Nick Clegg addresses the Conference Rally in Bournemouth. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne are under growing pressure as their flagship austerity plan fails to stimulate growth.

Osborne is dismissive of Clegg's proposal. He says the top 1% of earners contributes the most. So he will monitor their debate with almost detached interest.

All sides are now spoiling for a fight. Let battle commence.

The Curious Thing About A Coalition

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

COALITION CABINET
RESHUFFLE  

Cameron is said to be reshuffling his cabinet early this month (September). The move is in the hope of rekindle his party's low spirits and appeasing the right. It's hoped that fresh faces will revive Tory standing in the poles.

Twitter   September 02, 2012 at 02:27PM

• Ray Burr @cyberpunk65
  @YouGov: Update - Labour lead on 6: Latest Sunday Times results 31st Aug-2nd Sep - CON 35%, LAB 41%, LD 9%, UKIP 7%; APP -36

The call for William Hague to replace George Osborne as Chancellor of the Exchequer is a tacktick to appear like a softening of the current hardline policy concerning welfare cuts. However, will this will be enough, with Britain in the current double-dip resession and our shocking ecconomic performance of late?

Rumours has it, that all the all the 'big guns' will be staying but there are to be promotions also.

He has a juggling act to perform: He needs to keep the grassroots Conservatives happy, while appealing to the voting public. To do this he has to keep on with his policies to keep the right incheck and also seem to be for the people. Something the even a master of spin, like him, will find difficult.

Having said that, it's a curious fact that in reality, as part of a coalition government, the Tories have to appoint Lib Dems to posts (a certain fixed number), so Cameron can't do much at all. That means that he has to keep them happy too...

How David Cameron is to achieve all this and keep everyone happy is total speculation so far. But we don't have to wait too long.

Lib Dems Tax Unearned Wealth

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

LIB DEMs TAX
Unearned
Wealth  

Wealth TaxNick Clegg was revising an 'old Liberal' idea when he put forth Liberal Demercrat's intentions to tax the wealthy: by rewarding 'hard work' but levying unearend wealth.

This bombshell of the Deputy PM's temporary wealth tax has shook Westminster; upsetting both Tories and Labour MPs into from their summer hiatus. Both parties have poured critisism on Mr Glegg's plans for a "time limited contribution" from society's rich.

Liberals have for decades believed in focusing tax on wealth. In his interview he spoke of "an old Liberal idea that you should be rewarding initiative and hard work but you should be making people who have unearned wealth make a contribution".
   - Nick Clegg puts space between Lib Dems and Tories with tax bombshell - Guardian Politics 29/08/12

Differences?
Mid-way through the coalition's parliment, and as all political parties gear up for the 2015 general election, Nick Clegg's trying desperately to distance Lib Dems from their Tory coalition partners. Clegg wants his party to "start spreading ... wings more ... unencumbered and unrestrained by coalition."

Further cuts
Chancellor, George Osborne, is planning to target the poor with an extra £10bn in welfare cuts (to come into inergration 2016) which were introduced in the budget. Mr Clegg -although he accepts some cuts to welfare- would rather target the top echelon "than starts at the bottom."

However, it seem unlikely that the Chanellor will be swayed by Mr Clegg's proposal.

.: George Osborne's reply to Clegg's proposal? :.