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The Cuts......

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

A massive day for the country today, and whatever our individual political loyalties, I'm sure that these cuts will sadly directly effect the livelyhood of some on here. I hope those effected have the strength and opportunity to get through what may be some challenging times.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

And so begins the long and arduous task of undoing the mess the last govt left us in. This is where it starts, and it starts today!

I'm looking forward to it.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

There are not many in the 'un-ringfenced' areas of the public sector who are looking forward to it.

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By *prite128Woman
over a year ago

maidstone


"A massive day for the country today, and whatever our individual political loyalties, I'm sure that these cuts will sadly directly effect the livelyhood of some on here. I hope those effected have the strength and opportunity to get through what may be some challenging times. "

thats a really thoughtful post, thankyou

tough times have been with public sector ( and all the agencies that work with/for/funded by ) for a long time, despite the image the media often likes to portray and this is one more step along that path.

At least we might have a little more clarity about what we'll be facing and can them plan for survival ( or not ).

Sprite ( working for a charity )

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I don't think you can just blame one government, its accumulative and goes back a long time building debt up.

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By *thwalescplCouple
over a year ago

brecon


"And so begins the long and arduous task of undoing the mess the last govt left us in. This is where it starts, and it starts today!

I'm looking forward to it. "

Browns legacy, am I alone in thinking he and his cronies should be held accountable in a court of law?

If you ran a multi-billion pound business (UK PLC lol) into the ground like he has, you would expect some sort of kick in the ass wouldnt you?

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By *thwalescplCouple
over a year ago

brecon

BTW, dont have a particular political axe to grind, just pissed of at what has happened and the fact that we are all going to suffer one way or another!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Good to see major companies (or some) giving the government some backing and support.

We live in a nation of whining morons who believe they are entitled to everything they can get their grubby little hands on.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"And so begins the long and arduous task of undoing the mess the last govt left us in. This is where it starts, and it starts today!

I'm looking forward to it.

Browns legacy, am I alone in thinking he and his cronies should be held accountable in a court of law?

If you ran a multi-billion pound business (UK PLC lol) into the ground like he has, you would expect some sort of kick in the ass wouldnt you? "

I think that is unfair when you look at the facts, it may appear that way if you only listen to the propoganda.

My view is not based on ANY political persuation, but sometimes it's not good to just believe the hype.

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay

"We will throw more resources into the area that the previous government so woefully mismanaged, that being illegal immigration into these isles"

Damien Green, Immigration Minister July 2010

20% cut in UK Borders Agency budget George Osbourne, Chancellor October 2010

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


""We will throw more resources into the area that the previous government so woefully mismanaged, that being illegal immigration into these isles"

Damien Green, Immigration Minister July 2010

20% cut in UK Borders Agency budget George Osbourne, Chancellor October 2010"

You don't need an increase in budgetary requirements to say, "Fuck off, we're closed."

Osbourne said at the beginning of his speech that the cuts will come from layers of bureaucracy stripped out and that it will happen over the next four years, not overnight.

You should really quote in context Jane instead of picking out sound bites to suit your argument.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


""We will throw more resources into the area that the previous government so woefully mismanaged, that being illegal immigration into these isles"

Damien Green, Immigration Minister July 2010

20% cut in UK Borders Agency budget George Osbourne, Chancellor October 2010"

"throw"????? what a choice of words whatever happened to his vocabulary?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


""We will throw more resources into the area that the previous government so woefully mismanaged, that being illegal immigration into these isles"

Damien Green, Immigration Minister July 2010

20% cut in UK Borders Agency budget George Osbourne, Chancellor October 2010

"throw"????? what a choice of words whatever happened to his vocabulary?"

eh? What should he have used instead of 'throw'? Pour?

His use of 'throw' indicated his intent to get really to grips with the problem of immigration in this country.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"

Osbourne said at the beginning of his speech that the cuts will come from layers of bureaucracy stripped out and that it will happen over the next four years, not overnight.

You should really quote in context Jane instead of picking out sound bites to suit your argument."

A little unfair, I think Jane makes her point well here, she's highlighting a contradiction, and the quote seems very much in context in my opinion.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"

Osbourne said at the beginning of his speech that the cuts will come from layers of bureaucracy stripped out and that it will happen over the next four years, not overnight.

You should really quote in context Jane instead of picking out sound bites to suit your argument.

A little unfair, I think Jane makes her point well here, she's highlighting a contradiction, and the quote seems very much in context in my opinion."

A 20% cut in Border Agency budget does not neccessarily mean that Damian Brown's speech regarding throwing resources into combatting our immigration problem is contradictory. He'll simply have to use the resources he now has more effectively. Cutting out waste is one way of ensuring that.

By reducing departmental budgets Mr. Osbourne has, in fact, made sure that government departments can no longer thrown money around willy-nilly as they have in the past.

Consider the BBC cuts as well as the requirement for the BBC to take over funding for the World Service and S4C Wales, now couple that with a 6-year freeze on the BBC TV Licence and it's not difficult to see that the BBC cannot pass on the cuts to the licence payer and must now get it's house in order if it wishes to remain a world leader in the provision of News and Programming. Smart move George. Very smart.

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay

We will see how smart 'George' (love the use of their christian names Wishy...makes 'em sound like your pals)

is when the implications of these cuts and the affect they have on consumer spending come to light at the end of the current financial year.

Argos yesterday released figures that show that a 7% drop in sales over the last quarter....Tescos results released last week showed that if you strip out the growth overseas, insurance and banking sales, and petrol.....actual grocery and homeware sales in their UK stores dropped 2.9% in the last six months.

Debenhams sales down....Boots sales down....Next sales down...Morrisons sales down...Mortgage lending at a Ten year low....

It's all about growth Wishy, mass increases in unemployment means higher Benefits costs and less tax receipts...

No growth means double dip recession, let's see if you are crowing come next April....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Well they can always put the immigrants on empty aircraft carriers for a 5 star cruise home, in fact they’ll all be fighting to get out shortly, the increased border patrols will be to keep us mugs in so they can take what little we have left.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"

A 20% cut in Border Agency budget does not neccessarily mean that Damian Brown's speech regarding throwing resources into combatting our immigration problem is contradictory. He'll simply have to use the resources he now has more effectively. Cutting out waste is one way of ensuring that.

By reducing departmental budgets Mr. Osbourne has, in fact, made sure that government departments can no longer thrown money around willy-nilly as they have in the past.

Consider the BBC cuts as well as the requirement for the BBC to take over funding for the World Service and S4C Wales, now couple that with a 6-year freeze on the BBC TV Licence and it's not difficult to see that the BBC cannot pass on the cuts to the licence payer and must now get it's house in order if it wishes to remain a world leader in the provision of News and Programming. Smart move George. Very smart."

I think it's a clear contradiction, in my opinion Damien was saying what sounded ok politically, Osbourne was dishing out reality. 'Throw more resources' isn't the language of efficiency.

I think your spot on with the BBC though.

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay


"Well they can always put the immigrants on empty aircraft carriers for a 5 star cruise home, in fact they’ll all be fighting to get out shortly, the increased border patrols will be to keep us mugs in so they can take what little we have left. "

There will be plenty of space on the filght decks of the new carriers as we have cancelled the order for the planes.....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"We will see how smart 'George' (love the use of their christian names Wishy...makes 'em sound like your pals)

is when the implications of these cuts and the affect they have on consumer spending come to light at the end of the current financial year.

Argos yesterday released figures that show that a 7% drop in sales over the last quarter....Tescos results released last week showed that if you strip out the growth overseas, insurance and banking sales, and petrol.....actual grocery and homeware sales in their UK stores dropped 2.9% in the last six months.

Debenhams sales down....Boots sales down....Next sales down...Morrisons sales down...Mortgage lending at a Ten year low....

It's all about growth Wishy, mass increases in unemployment means higher Benefits costs and less tax receipts...

No growth means double dip recession, let's see if you are crowing come next April...."

I don't know about you but I get more power for my pound by searching around online these days. Whereas I'd customarily hop in the car to B&Q for anything we needed for the household I now shop around online, all my Xmas pressies have been purchased this way for the last three years now (with the exception of Siren's as I feel I haven't done her justice if I haven't trudged around town looking for something special for her).

I no longer shop in Argos or any of the usual places I used to go. I never buy CDs or DVDs preferring to download instead. That's where the dip in sales on the High St has come from as I'm not the only one trying to get the maximum for my money.

On the whole I think the Tories have got this review spot on, not too little that it has no effect and not too harsh that we're all crossing ourselves and waiting for the Grim Reaper to call.

Well done George, mate. Now see it through.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

Osbourne certainly had to do some cutting, time will tell whether he's got the balance right, but double dip recession here we come! I do wish they would stop blaming the previous government now though and just get on with it.

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay

You can dress it up as much as you like, retail sales are well down be they high street or internet, if you are confident that there will be an increase in growth over the remainder of the financial year then we will have to agree to disagree.

April will be along before you know it, and then we will all see if the sweeping cuts have been of benefit to the economy or not.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 20/10/10 17:40:16]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"You can dress it up as much as you like, retail sales are well down be they high street or internet, if you are confident that there will be an increase in growth over the remainder of the financial year then we will have to agree to disagree.

April will be along before you know it, and then we will all see if the sweeping cuts have been of benefit to the economy or not."

I'm not saying sales are not down, but that there are more factors to it than the recession. People are being cautious, and rightly so because they do not know what's around the corner. Nothing is certain anymore, apart from death & taxes, and all this talk of a double-dip recession is scare-mongering put out by Brown in the election campaign and picked up now by the new Labour kings of spin. They have no credible arguments to offer so they resort to these kinds of negative comments. We cannot trust a party who got things so wrong whilst in power. If they know how to put it right now, why didn't they do just that last year when it really mattered.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

After this lot the only way our economy will grow is the rest of Europe drags us up with their coat tails. Pray Germany gets its act together.

Apparently our new eco plane free carriers could have foreign planes on them in time of need, can just see the French rushing to help us if Argentina starts up again....what a laugh.

Still it will be interesting in a while to see how the stock market responds once they manage to assimilate what the cuts will really bring.

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By *he_original_poloWoman
over a year ago

a Primark shoebox in Leicester

Thank fuck we are an island and impervious to the effects of the global economy, thus enabling us to solely blame the last government for everything, including the choices made by this lot.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Has anyone ever worked in Croydon - I did a few years ago and the line of asylum seekers outside Lunar House was incredible - Personally I think Labour lost the plot and failed to stop the loopholes that let economic migrants become uk citizens rather than restricting it to those genuine asylum seekers. That's just one big mistake that cost the country massively - But I see the over-arching problem being that the MP's no what what political colour, live in a parallel universe and are detached from reality prefering to try to impose ideals!

New Oliver Cromwell anyone?? lol

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By *umpkinMan
over a year ago

near the sounds of the wimborne quarter jack!


"

Consider the BBC cuts as well as the requirement for the BBC to take over funding for the World Service and S4C Wales, now couple that with a 6-year freeze on the BBC TV Licence and it's not difficult to see that the BBC cannot pass on the cuts to the licence payer and must now get it's house in order if it wishes to remain a world leader in the provision of News and Programming. Smart move George. Very smart."

A very clever way of buggering up the BBC so that Sky TV can get a bigger hold onto it`s share of the viewing figures! Don`t forget the large donation that Rupert Murdoc gave to the CONservatives. Why else should a major shareholder of News Corperation (who own Sky TV) give the CONservatives such a large donatiion?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"

Consider the BBC cuts as well as the requirement for the BBC to take over funding for the World Service and S4C Wales, now couple that with a 6-year freeze on the BBC TV Licence and it's not difficult to see that the BBC cannot pass on the cuts to the licence payer and must now get it's house in order if it wishes to remain a world leader in the provision of News and Programming. Smart move George. Very smart.

A very clever way of buggering up the BBC so that Sky TV can get a bigger hold onto it`s share of the viewing figures! Don`t forget the large donation that Rupert Murdoc gave to the CONservatives. Why else should a major shareholder of News Corperation (who own Sky TV) give the CONservatives such a large donatiion?"

Or it could be a move by the Chancellor to combat the many hundreds of BBC execs earning huge salaries and bonuses at the expense of the licence payer.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I could live with these cuts and more

IF

The Government didn't waste Billions through incompetence and stupidity

If they didn't squander Billions of taxpayers money on projects which could be budgeted better

£48 million just to re-furbish an annexe of the Houses of Parliament so it can be used by the 12 new Law Lords.

I rest my cam M'Lord

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"£48 million just to re-furbish an annexe of the Houses of Parliament so it can be used by the 12 new Law Lords.

I rest my cam M'Lord"

That's obscene

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"£48 million just to re-furbish an annexe of the Houses of Parliament so it can be used by the 12 new Law Lords.

I rest my cam M'Lord

That's obscene"

Oh come on, get real. As if 12 new lords can possibly get away with a £4m/each spend on offices in today's economic climate.

I'd like to see the sources for this ridiculous info.

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By *bbandflowCouple
over a year ago

South Devon


"I don't think you can just blame one government, its accumulative and goes back a long time building debt up."

That is quite true, but my over-riding memory of Gordon Brown is that he was the doyen of "Prudence" which I take to mean abstemious and careful. Well, not very careful when we're having to claw back £83bn worth of debt.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Global economic crisis anybody, or did labour cause that too. Not that i am a fan of labour but the rest might just be even worse.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Surely any economic crisis is caused via a "knock on effect"

We were buggered big time re the tories...then labour try and fix it but cant because the are thrown out so then the fookin tories get back in and they cant fix it and then....and then and then....you get the picture.

Now we got two of the so and sos having a go and failing bigtime.

there is no ONE government we can blame for the crap were now in......All of them have a place in the shambles

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay


"

Consider the BBC cuts as well as the requirement for the BBC to take over funding for the World Service and S4C Wales, now couple that with a 6-year freeze on the BBC TV Licence and it's not difficult to see that the BBC cannot pass on the cuts to the licence payer and must now get it's house in order if it wishes to remain a world leader in the provision of News and Programming. Smart move George. Very smart.

A very clever way of buggering up the BBC so that Sky TV can get a bigger hold onto it`s share of the viewing figures! Don`t forget the large donation that Rupert Murdoc gave to the CONservatives. Why else should a major shareholder of News Corperation (who own Sky TV) give the CONservatives such a large donatiion?"

Newscorp do not own BSkyB, they own approx 38% of the stock.....Nor has Rupert Murdoch bankrolled the Conservative Party, and I am no fan of the Tories. What Newscorp did at this years election was they publically backed the Conservatives as the next credible government.....In previous elections Newscorp have shuffled between the top Two parties, Newscorp back Labour in 1997 and for the next two elections.

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By *ixson-BallsMan
over a year ago

Blackpool

double dip recession?...retail sales down?...speaking from a personal view,my pay was frozen for the last 2 years,pension contributions had to be increased and order books at work were treading water...now... this has been my busiest year to date..order books are full,we're taking on new staff,i'm earning more money than ever...been on 3 hols,just bought a new car,got money in the bank and fookin loving it...double dip recession??..your talking out of your arse...most things are on the up including the pessimism of the doom mongerers

George, the coalition you've done the right thing at last

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Most things are on the up? Like what?

Business is booming in Sheffield? What do you do for a living- reposess houses?

Tell the protestors on Saturday in Sheffield that Trustfund George has played a blinder.

What a crock.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"just bought a new car,got money in the bank and fookin loving it...double dip recession??..your talking out of your arse...most things are on the up including the pessimism of the doom mongerers

George, the coalition you've done the right thing at last "

Great to hear that things are good for you, it would be interesting to know what industry you're in? The fact is we currently have the lowest interest rates on record, there has been massive quantitative easing as well as other stimulas activity, there's bound to be some winners, but almost every main economist believes the recovery is fragile. Double dip is a possibility.

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By *he_original_poloWoman
over a year ago

a Primark shoebox in Leicester


"Most things are on the up? Like what?

Business is booming in Sheffield? What do you do for a living- reposess houses?

Tell the protestors on Saturday in Sheffield that Trustfund George has played a blinder.

What a crock. "

Actually a lot of things are on the up. There's a lot of positive talk about growth in the private sector..... all the more reason why massive cut backs are not the only/best way forward and the previous Labour plan to have some cut backs but ride a lot of it out has some credability.

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By *ollie_JCouple
over a year ago

London

[Removed by poster at 20/10/10 21:14:03]

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay


"Jane whilst I agree with most of your posts..

BSkyB is in the day to day control of News Corp..

This happened on day 1 of the merger, back in the day.

News Corp staff built the business from scratch.. From the iselworth office all the way up to livingston

"

With all due respect they are my husbands employers, I won't go on too much about it but I will only say that Murdoch made an unsuccesful attempt to wrestle back control of BSkyB last year and is expected to come back next spring with a much improved offer.

The annual share options that have just been offered to staff of BSkyB are being snapped up in record amounts as Murdoch is expected to be more succesful next time around.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"double dip recession?...retail sales down?...speaking from a personal view,my pay was frozen for the last 2 years,pension contributions had to be increased and order books at work were treading water...now... this has been my busiest year to date..order books are full,we're taking on new staff,i'm earning more money than ever...been on 3 hols,just bought a new car,got money in the bank and fookin loving it...double dip recession??..your talking out of your arse...most things are on the up including the pessimism of the doom mongerers

George, the coalition you've done the right thing at last "

Yes and my other half is really Bill Gates, now what recession are you talking about, there never was one in the first place

Sound like a old skool Tory man through and through though, hit the poor and make me richer, best to point out they’re trying to rid themselves of them views.

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By *ixson-BallsMan
over a year ago

Blackpool

Great to hear that things are good for you, it would be interesting to know what industry you're in?

business/service training (if the engineering/manufacturing industries struggle,so do we...when they are optimistic and confident, we get busy)

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Best job to have these days is a bailiff....

And that would be the last fookin job i would want.

I dont know how people could to be honest. ?

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By *ig badMan
over a year ago

Up North :-)


"Best job to have these days is a bailiff....

And that would be the last fookin job i would want.

I dont know how people could to be honest. ?"

I donno i was with some today and they were pretty unhappy on what cuts they are getting.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I disagree with the 37% increase in foreign aid. Send em fookin luggage instead, tell 'em to fookin move!

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By *abioMan
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

we have been looking at some of this as it relates to the transport industry....

so yes they get a couple of billion for infrusture projects... road and rail building... crossrail, Tyne and wear metro extension HSL 2, ect...

but all in all it is going to be a 25% cut in the transport budget

if you use the trains you are going to love this.... as of 2011 all the "regulated fares" (your buy on the day tickets and season tickets) will be allowed to go up by inflation plus 3%

which is all well and good... if i am getting a pay freeze but my travel is going up by 6 or 7%.... wonderful

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"we have been looking at some of this as it relates to the transport industry....

so yes they get a couple of billion for infrusture projects... road and rail building... crossrail, Tyne and wear metro extension HSL 2, ect...

but all in all it is going to be a 25% cut in the transport budget

if you use the trains you are going to love this.... as of 2011 all the "regulated fares" (your buy on the day tickets and season tickets) will be allowed to go up by inflation plus 3%

which is all well and good... if i am getting a pay freeze but my travel is going up by 6 or 7%.... wonderful"

Without regulating the train prices you could have seen rises of 10%-20% which would have hit your frozen pay a lot harder. Rail prices have needed regulating for a long time now and this is most welcome. It's unfortunate that it's come at this particular moment in time but the recession won't be here forever and rail price regulation will, hopefully.

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By *UNCHBOXMan
over a year ago

folkestone

Manufacturing went through the pain the public sector has to face now 2 years ago, and so are further advanced in the cycle of coming through it. Personally, my company froze pay 2 years ago, laid off a number of staff, because their bank pretty much told them they wouldnt extend credit lines. But now they have given small pay rises, and the business is starting to grow.

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By *abioMan
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

wishy..... they have always been "regualated" fares.... at the moment, they are only allowed to go up by inflation plus 0.5%

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"wishy..... they have always been "regualated" fares.... at the moment, they are only allowed to go up by inflation plus 0.5%"

I stand corrected. I never knew that. Thanks Fabio.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"£48 million just to re-furbish an annexe of the Houses of Parliament so it can be used by the 12 new Law Lords.

I rest my cam M'Lord

That's obscene

Oh come on, get real. As if 12 new lords can possibly get away with a £4m/each spend on offices in today's economic climate.

I'd like to see the sources for this ridiculous info."

Yes get real not racist (foreign aid goes to foreign countries and they are home)

That said why do we send so much aid overseas when and then have to watch our own countrymen begging for funds for things that should be financed through taxes

RSPCA

NSPCC

Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital

Cancer research

etc

But now to "get real" your correct I was wrong, the final bill has now increased to £60 million for the refurbishment.

New Supreme Court opens with media barred

Work on the new premises began in 2007 and was estimated to have cost nearly £60 million.

shall I say that again

Work on the new premises began in 2007 and was estimated to have cost nearly £60 million.

How can it cost so much in this financial climate - quote The Justices of the Supreme Court posed in front of the building wearing their black robes, lavishly threaded with gold AND The judges emerged from the intricately carved stone portals of their new home resplendent in their modern regalia.

mmmmm sounds yummy marble and velvet with lots of gold

The whole article is below for you to chew on

Journalists had to wait outside as the 11 new Justices of the Supreme Court were sworn in inside the refurbished Middlesex Guildhall in Parliament Square.

Lord Phillips, head of the new panel of judges who sat at the House of Lords until the end of July, had hailed the new court as an opportunity to bring to the public the workings of the highest court in the land.

But journalists and the public were told there was no room and the proceedings would be broadcast live from the chamber by its own team.

Half a dozen policemen and court security guard were outside the neo-Gothic building newly emblazoned with signs declaring it to be The Supreme Court and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

The judges emerged from the intricately carved stone portals of their new home resplendent in their modern regalia. Gone were the full bottomed wigs, robes and breeches.

The Justices of the Supreme Court posed in front of the building wearing their black robes, lavishly threaded with gold. All were bare-headed save for Baroness Hale, who wore a flat black tasselled hat.

Lord Phillips said they had discussed whether they should have headgear and all the male members of the Supreme Court declined but Baroness Hale said she wanted a hat.

The judges then went in procession over a pedestrian crossing through hastily shut down roadworks to Westminster Abbey.

There they were joined by judges from the High Court and Court of Appeal, who arrived in a fleet of limousines, for prayers.

Unlike the judges of the Supreme Court, the rest of the judiciary clung on to their wigs for the ceremony.

The bevy of judges then attended the traditional Lord Chancellor's breakfast in the Great Hall in the Houses of Parliament.

The opening of the Supreme Court marked the end of a 130-year-old association between the highest court in the land and the House of Lords.

There had been mounting calls to separate the highest appeal court from the second house of Parliament, thereby removing the Law Lords from the legislature.

As members of the House of Lords, the Law Lords were entitled not only to sit judicially, but also to join debates and enactment of Government legislation, although in practice they rarely did.

All Justices of the Supreme Court who were Law Lords will remain members of the House of Lords but new judges appointed will not be members.

Work on the new premises began in 2007 and was estimated to have cost nearly £60 million.

The new court is a landmark in constitutional and legal development, but some lawyers believe it is also a giant step towards creating an elected House of Lords.

Established through the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the Supreme Court will hear civil appeal cases from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as criminal appeal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It takes over the devolution jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC). The JCPC continues to be the final court of appeal for certain Commonwealth countries and other jurisdictions, such as Crown Dependencies.

Lord Phillips, president of the Supreme Court, said: "For the first time, we have a clear separation of powers between the legislature, the judiciary and the executive in the United Kingdom. This is important. It emphasises the independence of the judiciary, clearly separating those who make the law from those who administer it.

"As Justices of the Supreme Court we will be more visible to the public than we ever were when sitting as members of the House of Lords. This is desirable as the court will only decide points of law of public importance.

"Justice at the highest level should be transparent and the new court will have a crucial role in letting the public see how justice is done."

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By *UNCHBOXMan
over a year ago

folkestone

It still amazes me how the goverment can still pay too much for procurring goods. You have the spending power equal to no private company, yet still has thousands of different purchasing organisations in the public sector often duplicating roles, and therefore not getting the discounts a private company would. Can you imagine Tesco not using their scale to demand the discounts they get from their suppliers?.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"It still amazes me how the goverment can still pay too much for procurring goods. You have the spending power equal to no private company, yet still has thousands of different purchasing organisations in the public sector often duplicating roles, and therefore not getting the discounts a private company would. Can you imagine Tesco not using their scale to demand the discounts they get from their suppliers?. "

I watched a terrible programme in the early hours of the morning last week, it was all about how the Military spends its money, defence contracts.

The squandering is nothing short of criminal, almost every company we purchase from has an ex MP or ex very Senior Ranking Officer (generals/admirals) as a senior director usually the MP's have had previous dealings with the defence budget/purchasing when they were members of parliament

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Right, so it's not just a new swanky pad for 12 new lords to squat around in. It's a fundamental shift in our judiciary system that takes judical matters at the highest level away from Law Lords (who never bothered to attend most sittings anyway) and puts the responsibility of passing judgement in supreme cases to specifically sworn in Supreme Judges, who are made up of existing Law Lords but any new Supreme Judges who are not current Law Lords will not become Law Lords by appointment.

It is fitting and correct that the new Supreme Court should have it's own Courthouse and that costs money. £60m it appears, but I welcome a move designed to remove hereditary peers passing judgement on the rest of us simply by priviledge of birth. We needed a Supreme Court and now we have one.

p.s. Thanks for posting the article, I tried searching for it but to no avail, my google phrasing must be shit today lol.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


""We will throw more resources into the area that the previous government so woefully mismanaged, that being illegal immigration into these isles"

Damien Green, Immigration Minister July 2010

20% cut in UK Borders Agency budget George Osbourne, Chancellor October 2010

"throw"????? what a choice of words whatever happened to his vocabulary?"

it has a bit of an "ere u r .. catch" quality about it, don't you think?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


""We will throw more resources into the area that the previous government so woefully mismanaged, that being illegal immigration into these isles"

Damien Green, Immigration Minister July 2010

20% cut in UK Borders Agency budget George Osbourne, Chancellor October 2010

"throw"????? what a choice of words whatever happened to his vocabulary?

it has a bit of an "ere u r .. catch" quality about it, don't you think?"

I didn't see it that way, I've heard that phrase used lots of times in emphasis of a planned course of action. I guess we just viewed it slightly differently. I was curious as to why you singled out that word, that's all.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


""We will throw more resources into the area that the previous government so woefully mismanaged, that being illegal immigration into these isles"

Damien Green, Immigration Minister July 2010

20% cut in UK Borders Agency budget George Osbourne, Chancellor October 2010

"throw"????? what a choice of words whatever happened to his vocabulary?

it has a bit of an "ere u r .. catch" quality about it, don't you think?

I didn't see it that way, I've heard that phrase used lots of times in emphasis of a planned course of action. I guess we just viewed it slightly differently. I was curious as to why you singled out that word, that's all. "

well it is certainly not a word I would have used in the context. It has "rubbish" connotations. Aw go on throw some money at it, throw away society etc. Too bucanneer for my likeing, I'm afraid. .... Target, earmark there are so many more appropriate words for this context.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I agree that the change with regards to the New Law Lords is welcome, it is the £60 million pounds purely for the refurbishment of an exisiting government building that I object to, is justice more honest by the introduction of gold into uniforms and marble into rooms ? and in your words, in this current climate

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It is not surprising that they would want gold laden gowns after all it's not the only thing we have to fork out for in relation to these representatives of justice and law

Britain's top judges – and their wives – move court to Mauritius for a week

Britain's most senior judges have travelled with their wives to exotic islands in the Bahamas and Mauritius five times in the past five years to oversee court hearings.

And so it was that the Supreme Court justices found themselves living in £650-a-night beach 'pavilions' at a five-star resort on the holiday island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean, while commuting each day to court in the capital, Port Louis.

The party was led by Britain's most senior judge, Lord Justice Phillips of Worth Matravers, the 72-year-old president of the Supreme Court and former Lord Chief Justice.

The judges brought with them three clerks, who also stayed at The Oberoi at Turtle Bay, a resort which boasts on its website a "romantic four-poster bed" in every room as well as a spa with "private jacuzzis where you can luxuriate together".

The hotel, set in "20 acres of beautiful subtropical gardens", hugs the Indian Ocean for over a third of a mile.

The British taxpayer footed the £1,052.25 bill to pay for cars to take the judicial party to and from the island's airport and a further £2,040 for a reception on the island hosted by Lord Phillips.

UK authorities also spent £1,551.60 sending legal papers to and from Mauritius.

Britain's Supreme Court justices also sit on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which acts as a final court of appeal for some Commonwealth countries and UK overseas territories such as Jamaica, Grenada and the Falkland Islands.

Normally the Privy Council judges sit in London but for five times in the past five years, a spokeswoman for the Supreme Court said last week, they have held hearings abroad – twice in Mauritius and three times in the Bahamas – after being invited there.

No other country has asked them to go abroad to sit in judgment.

On the latest trip to Mauritius, the justices heard six cases spread over five days, beginning with a half-day hearing which revolved around the disputed width of a minor road in Curepipe, the second largest town in Mauritius situated in the centre of the island.

Important case eh how wide should a road be.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Surely any economic crisis is caused via a "knock on effect"

We were buggered big time re the tories...then labour try and fix it but cant because the are thrown out so then the fookin tories get back in and they cant fix it and then....and then and then....you get the picture.

Now we got two of the so and sos having a go and failing bigtime.

there is no ONE government we can blame for the crap were now in......All of them have a place in the shambles

"

Labour had 13 years in power when they came to power britain was in the best financial positon it had been in for years maybe since the war !!!!! then the bastards screwed us we are broke and it happened on browns watch !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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