Just for my Dad...Diane Abbott's bad This Week Last Week

My Dad missed this. Show's why she cannot be leader, never mind PM.



Squiffy.

I'm sick of the moaning...

The Budget last week was a brilliant attempt at getting on top of our deficit crisis and also to kickstart the British Economy with a more competitive environment.

If, however, you were to watch any of the discussion programmes you'd hear lots of people saying "I know we've got a terrible deficit problem, but...". You can fill the end part in with many phrases, "VAT is totally regressive", "reducing housing benefit will cause many problems", "freezing child benefit will hit mother hard"....etc

It's the same as saying, "I know we need to make cuts, but don't hurt me, hurt everyone else please." I'm sorry, but it's unrealistic. Whilst a lot of the people complaining did well through the boom years, they don't think that they should contribute to the consolidation which needs to take place now.

I know that the Budget will hit me, through larger VAT and NI, on top of the large amount in taxes I already pay. I was taxed more during the boom years too, but I accept my responsibility as someone who can pay more. I do hope that when the economy is fixed, there may be a better balance to make up for the amount of extra taxes that I will be putting in to make up for the economic incompetence of the last few years.

I would hope that others would accept their responsibility too, rather than complain that we should tackle the problem but not in a way that hurts them in their pockets.

It makes me a bit mad, so shut it!

Squiffy.

Strewth, that was a tough one. Osborne makes the pips squeak.

The budget has just finished, and as expected it is very tough. VAT going up will make the biggest noise in the days ahead, but it was to be expected.

It's depressing, but entirely necessary, such is the mess we're in. The papers tomorrow will be bloody and this should end the honeymoon. Especially as the Lib Dems will be complaining this evening. Expect some Lib Dem outrage and maybe some resignations.

I'll have more thoughts later.

Squiffy.

Thoughts on tuition fees

It surprised me when the Labour Government introduced tuition fees in the way they did. Firstly, the obvious, that they said that they had legislated to stop in and then brought them in for the next parliament.

Secondly, and mainly, why they didn't abolish the loans and introduce a graduate tax. It would have saved a lot of bother, students would not have left Uni with huge debts, but could have paid much more into the system than they took out. Each Uni could have levied differing amounts of percentage top up on income tax, up to a maximum of 3%.

The problem now is that the dye has been cast. Students have loads of debt, and to change the system could be seen as unfair. To change the system now would bring lots of up front cost for much later gain, and we cannot afford it now. If it had been changed earlier, the upfront costs could have been mitigated.

I'm afraid that we are left with this bad system, which appears to be unfair and looks like getting worse. Ironically, if the Tories had introducded tuition fees and the same time as student grants maybe a graduation tax could have been implemented then, but I guess that the Tories don't like the graduation tax principle. I think it is fair and sound.

Squiffy.

The best race of the season

The Canadian GP was the best so far this year. It was impossible to tell who would win until the last lap, the tyres being so marginal that a puncture was a real possibility.

We now have a 5 way championship fight with the McLarens, Red Bulls and one Ferrari up for the fight. Who will win will depend on the ongoing development of each car, so far McLaren has shown to be brilliant in this respect. Last year they gained 2.5s over the season, this year it looks like they have gained 1s without reducing reliability - something that Red Bull desperately need.

I think I'd tip the McLarens, and with a new level of maturity, Lewis Hamilton to be champion. There's still plenty of races to go, but it looks like it is going to go down to the wire and be a great year.

Squiffy.

Eric Pickles is a star...no bin taxes

I think I've mentioned twice in blog posts my distain for bin taxes and how the focus should shift to promoting recycling. In one of the first acts of the ConLib Government it is happening.

A trial in Windsor and Maidenhead is rewarding people with vouchers for shops such as M&S if they weigh their recycling and it is above a certain value. Early results show a rise of 35% in recycling. It can only be of benefit,

I want it to be introduced in my area, can you imagine people actively taking recyclable rubbish from the streets to take home to boost their income rather than flytipping rubbish due to bin taxes. Sounds far-fetched but maybe it isn't. You have to understand human nature to get these decisions right.

Eric Pickles has got off to a flyer. No bin taxes and no HIPS. He receives Squiffy's cabinet minister of the month award. And he's from Yorkshire, I remember him as the plain speaking Leader of Bradford city council.

Squiffy.

I tip Ed Miliband as Labour Leader.

Looking at the nominations it looks like being a battle between both Milibands and both Eds, even though that's only 3 people. David Miliband is the favourite but I think that Labour election rules makes it more likely that his brother becomes leader.

Labour uses the Alternative vote system, which as I've said before rewards the least hated person. As David M and Ed B represent the two wings of the moderate Labourites the following scenario is likely.

Those liking David M will likely put brother Ed as second preference, with Balls last. Those liking Ed Balls, will probably put namesake Miliband as second preference and David last. With Ed Miliband's second preferences likely split between the two opponents, adding first preferences to second makes Ed Miliband the victor.

The rivals have a few months to stop this scenario becoming true.

Squiffy.

The European Debt Crisis

Very funny.



Squiffy.

Cameron shows confidence at PMQs

It was the first PMQs for David Cameron and he did very well. Harriet Harman was better than expected, although I think she will be tempted to ask questions which mainly interest her rather than the country as a whole.

DC was assured and answered HH's last question with a good put down. He even managed to answer some questions, which is a novelty for PMQ's!

Squiffy.