i-Politics: More Austerity For Britain

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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 .

Conference Season is Boring!

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They say a week in politics is a long time; but with this Labour Party conference it's seemed longer.

Ed Milliband MP speaking at the 

Labour Party conference. 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To me, conference season is a time for leaders to show off their metal in the face of their true believers.

But so far it's been boring. Where are the rising stars, nipping at the proverbial ankles? Where are the party goofballs and political suicides?

For me, there has been a lack of spark and fire.

I've had the hardest time keeping interested. Clegg did a little impromptu karaoke. But Miliband has bored the pants off me with his 'one nation' stuff. (It's the same 'no policy' Labour as usual.)

Let's hope the good old Tory nut-jobs won't let us down. (If he Chief whip doesn't keep them in toe, then Cameron's smarmy smile might keep them at bay. Hopefully not, though.) This has been a far too civilized and calibrated rendition of keeping to the party-theme for my taste for both the Limp Debts and the Later Party.

So, lets hope the Cons have someone to entertain us. Cameron's false set of promises won't!

Labour Ahead in the Polls - So Far - States Poulace Poll in The Times

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Ed Miliband. („Ed's speech on how we need fundamental change in the Labour party to win again.“) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are now whispers in the House about defeat (in the 2015 elections) for Cameron and Clegg, which could impact heavily on their party leadership, ahead of the conference season - due to new Poulace poll (in the Times) putting Labour ahead.

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The race to win the next general election is already on, and Labour has taken the lead. A 50 point lead ahead of Conservatives. (45% of those questioned would vote Labour in at the next general election; that's a five point increase since July polls.) This could (if the polls are right) put Ed Miliband on course for a masive victory in 2015.

The Tories are down to a 30% share of votes in a general election - a four point drop! Nevertheless, in the very same poll, 23% are happy with how David Cameron carried out the activities of Prime Minister; putting him is ahead in the popularity race. And 34% thought he would do a better job as PM than Mr Miliband. (That's more people would like to see Cameron remain as PM next time round.)

The voters branded Miliband and Nick Clegg as both: "out of his depth", "weak", and "indecisive". Cameron was branded: "doesn't listern", and "arrogant". Voters branded alll three parties: "out of touch".

Let Both Coalition Parties Do Battle

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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

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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

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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? :.

Tory Titan

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Boris: 
Tory
Titan  

Next Premier? 
Is Boris Johnson heading for the Tory's top seat?

The other day David Cameron called Boris a 'Tory Titan' and stated that he had no wish to hold back anyone's ambitions.

"David Cameron has described Mayor of London Boris Johnson as a 'titan' of the Conservative Party who has 'a lot more to give the country'."
-- BBC News Politics 10 August 2012

That said, is Boris really a candidate for the Premier-ship? He isn't even an MP at the moment (although, his brother currently is) and he used to be the MP for Hackney prior to being Mayor of London.

He has turned into a very strong candidate in the last few weeks (with all the Olympic hype). And has handled the media with a strength of character that is almost statesman-like. (Almost! Except for the zip wire incident which made him look a complete prat.)


Tory Titan?
But is he a titan?

The Encarta Dictionary (English edition) defines a titan as:
(noun) a powerful person; somebody whose power, achievement, intellect, or physical size is extraordinarily impressive.

.: Boris gets stuck on zip wire carrying two flags 01 Aug 2012 :.

It's hard to view this man on the zip-wire (video above) or the guy on a bicycle seriously. His hair has a mind of its own -and there seems to be a madness to it that's perversely odd. Could you describe 'this' Boris as a 'titan' of anything other than blunders?

However, you can't sign Johnson off so easily. 

"Several Conservative MPs and donors have talked up the possibility of Mr Johnson being a future party leader."
-- BBC News Politics 10 August 2012

That means that they want him to be one. They have designs on him taking the lead chair. It's not unprecedented with the Tories. After Maggie was slung out by her party -knives sticking firmly from her shoulder blades- they elected a grey suit, John Major. He too was a long shot. But the long shot took Maggie's place all the same!


Boris the PM?
How could Johnson do it?

"A recent poll of Conservative activists found that he was the top choice to replace Mr Cameron, despite not being a serving MP and with four more years to run before his term of office as London Mayor comes to an end."
--By Rosa Prince, The Telegraph 10 August 2012

For Boris to become a giant-killer and take the king's crown, he's got a lot of work to do. His term as Mayor needs to come to an end; then he needs a seat to sit in Parliament; and then he has to stand for party leader and win. And all that without putting a single foot out of place.

(The Blunderer of Old London Town must stay out of trouble for more than four years!)

Personally, I can't see it myself. Then again... stranger things have happened!