Conservative party/opposition watch

[biffvernon]

DECC blog on Queen's Speech
https://decc.blog.gov.uk/2015/05/27/ene ... ns-speech/

[3rdRock]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33089711

The government is considering reducing tax credits for millions of working families as part of its £12bn welfare cuts, the BBC understands.

Allies of George Osborne are studying an Institute for Fiscal Studies idea to return tax credits to 2003/4 levels, plus inflation - saving £5bn.

Changes would cut entitlements for about 3.7 million low-income families by about £1,400 a year, the IFS said.

Political allies of Mr Osborne say the move would increase incentives to work.

Here we go ... again.

[Catweazle]

A salutary tale from Lola Okolosie.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... dial-state

Society is buying the Tory message that poverty is all the fault of the individual.

I know first-hand how vital state support can be.

a

Clearly the working classes aren't working hard enough, and that's why the country is in a mess .

[Tarrel]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33089711

The government is considering reducing tax credits for millions of working families as part of its £12bn welfare cuts, the BBC understands.

Allies of George Osborne are studying an Institute for Fiscal Studies idea to return tax credits to 2003/4 levels, plus inflation - saving £5bn.

Changes would cut entitlements for about 3.7 million low-income families by about £1,400 a year, the IFS said.

Political allies of Mr Osborne say the move would increase incentives to work.

Here we go ... again.

I wonder how reducing Working Tax Credits will be an incentive to work, when they are paid to people who are already working?!

Actually, the article in full does quote some other views within the Tory camp, recognising that WTCs are essentially a subsidy to big business, and that those businesses should start to "shoulder more of the burden" or, as I would put it, start paying fairer wages.

[Catweazle]

Actually, the article in full does quote some other views within the Tory camp, recognising that WTCs are essentially a subsidy to big business, and that those businesses should start to "shoulder more of the burden" or, as I would put it, start paying fairer wages.

And just to make sure that people continue to work, for less wages, they'll reduce the unemployment benefits accordingly.

[emordnilap]

WTCs are essentially a subsidy to big business, and that those businesses should start to "shoulder more of the burden" or, as I would put it, start paying fairer wages.

Yes. A compulsory, independently-audited minimum living wage.

Oooh, look up there...a pig.

[biffvernon]

Climate Change debate in House of Commons yesterday showed a pretty encouraging approach from Amber Rudd:

Starts at col 1264

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... tm_spnew72

(David Davies makes an ass of himself some way in!)

[Tarrel]

WTCs are essentially a subsidy to big business, and that those businesses should start to "shoulder more of the burden" or, as I would put it, start paying fairer wages.

Yes. A compulsory, independently-audited minimum living wage.

Oooh, look up there...a pig.

Of course, the situation that has led up to the Government having to subsidise wages is by no means simple.

Essentially, the economic environment that allowed one employed person to keep a family in a manner far more luxurious than Emperors of old could ever dream of can best be characterised by skilled and semi-skilled people leveraging the power of fossil fuels to produce high value goods for which there was high demand. High wages were therefore justified.

Much of this activity has been off-shored and /or automated, leaving a limited choice of low value-added jobs. Family breakdown and occupational mobility causing generations within families to drift apart add to the problem by creating a need for (very expensive) professional child care which adds to the financial burden of many families.

I think there is a strong argument for enshrining in law a broader set of responsibilities for company directors, based around the "triple bottom line" idea of profit, people and planet. This would ensure that Directors took a balanced approach to, say, profitability and paying a wage based on what the employee needs rather than on what can be justified in terms of "added value".

Many of us may also have to accept that the wealth created by industrial economies is now being shared amongst many more people, globally. So, in the UK, our "share" of high value jobs has fallen which means many of us may have to accept a lower standard of living than the industrial economy has previously supplied. I for one would be perfectly prepared to accept this, apart from the "fly in the ointment" of a small elite becoming conspicuously richer and richer!

A "super tax" on super-high earnings should, it goes without saying, be introduced.

[oobers]

Climate Change debate in House of Commons yesterday showed a pretty encouraging approach from Amber Rudd:

Starts at col 1264

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... tm_spnew72

(David Davies makes an ass of himself some way in!)

At first I thought you meant David Davis but then realised there was another tory climate dinosaur with nearly the same name. This extract from his website probably sums up who we are dealing with here:

I will continue to read and listen to those who have fears about fracking, as well as to those who want cheaper energy bills. For myself, my mind is entirely made up and I will happily support the Government.

http://www.david-davies.org.uk/campaign ... -shale-gas
I have my own ideas as to what the TC in the middle of his name should stand for.

[3rdRock]

Climate Change debate in House of Commons yesterday showed a pretty encouraging approach from Amber Rudd:

Starts at col 1264

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... tm_spnew72

(David Davies makes an ass of himself some way in!)

At first I thought you meant David Davis but then realised there was another tory climate dinosaur with nearly the same name. This extract from his website probably sums up who we are dealing with here:

I will continue to read and listen to those who have fears about fracking, as well as to those who want cheaper energy bills. For myself, my mind is entirely made up and I will happily support the Government.

http://www.david-davies.org.uk/campaign ... -shale-gas

I have my own ideas as to what the TC in the middle of his name should stand for.

Top Cat? No?

[emordnilap]

A "super tax" on super-high earnings should, it goes without saying, be introduced.

50% on earnings over £100,000, 75% on earnings over a million would be a start and not in the least unfair. According to Owen Jones, the lowest-paid 10% hand over 45% of their earnings in tax, the top 10%: 35%. OK, the actual amount paid by one person from each category may be wildly different but it's weird thinking all the same.

[emordnilap]

Climate Change debate in House of Commons yesterday showed a pretty encouraging approach from Amber Rudd:

Starts at col 1264

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... tm_spnew72

(David Davies makes an ass of himself some way in!)

At first I thought you meant David Davis but then realised there was another tory climate dinosaur with nearly the same name. This extract from his website probably sums up who we are dealing with here:

I will continue to read and listen to those who have fears about fracking, as well as to those who want cheaper energy bills. For myself, my mind is entirely made up and I will happily support the Government.

http://www.david-davies.org.uk/campaign ... -shale-gas

I have my own ideas as to what the TC in the middle of his name should stand for.

Top Cat? No?

True Conservative of course.

[3rdRock]

I have my own ideas as to what the TC in the middle of his name should stand for.

Top Cat? No?

True Conservative of course.

Two words. First word = Total

[emordnilap]

Top Cat? No?

True Conservative of course.

Two words. First word = Total

Oh yes, sorry. Total Conservative.

[3rdRock]

True Conservative of course.

Two words. First word = Total

Oh yes, sorry. Total Conservative.

Have you always been useless at Charades?