10p tax rate

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by DB7 According to today's paper £1.2bn in tax credits goes unclaimed. Sorry to be cynical, but I'm sure part of the government's strategy was that 20-30% of those eligible would simply not bother to claim; perhaps thinking they weren't entitled.

Exactly!

As someone who would be classified as One of the Awkward Squad or Usual Suspects, it is the straw that has broken this camel's back.

[Moor Larkin]

The Labour trick of announcing budget changes a year before they are due to commence (to minimise anyone thinking about them too much at the time) has bitten Brown on the bum.................

The pension theft debacle has another twenty years to brew.

The coincident release of £5billion liquidity to help out the bankers.... I wrote bankers...... just adds to the hilarity of it all.

It should however be remembered that Brown introduced the 10p rate in the first place. What the Lord giveth...........

[Marky B]

Originally Posted by kelp Whatever happened to the Labour Party I knew????

It died - along with the last leader I certainly trusted and whose every word I believed:John Smith. BTW,I don't vote Labour,but it doesn't mean to say I don't respect it.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[kelp]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Why do people assume that the party in power has anything to do with the Labour Party of old? Post Office closures and two weekly bin collections are nothing to do with Europe Steve

Wow! another Steve statement. Steve if you ask me to I will give you the EU Directive number for closure of Post Offices. Oh, and the dustbin collection number too. You are wrong.
You only have to ask.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by kelp Wow! another Steve statement. Steve if you ask me to I will give you the EU Directive number for closure of Post Offices. Oh, and the dustbin collection number too. You are wrong. You only have to ask.

I'm asking

Steve

[kelp]

OK Steve, first for the benefit of colleagues that are unsure as to what is happening re the British Post Offices. This government are closing them, not all, but closing them. This stems from the Government calling them unviable. The Eu have directed that the most profitable parts of the business must be split between EU countries, France and especially Germany and its Deutche Post (forgive my atrocious spelling of Germanys main Postal Service). So the best bits have gone to our friends in France and Germany etc. This has left the British post office with all the...er...lets call it Spam mail, you know, you must have seen the increase in it all dropping through your letter box. The Postal Service has had to do this to make any money at all. So, in that respect, they are becoming unviable. (Funny they weren't before we got into bed with this lot!) The EU Directive is: 1997/67. The two weekly bin collection is due to the charge being made by the Government in Brussels/Strasbourg charging British local Councils a "Tipping Charge". This means that everytime a refuse vehicle tips, a cost comes in to your local council. hence......lets only collect two weekly. I believe the EU Directive number for this is 2002/39. No I am not a politician, (note the small p) I just happen to keep my eye on the disgusting mess that is happening to this once proud Nation.

[davidb]

it seems like they are going to partly resolve the situation by putting up the min wage ....so someone else foots the bill ! maybe theyre not as daft as i thought they were !

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by kelp OK Steve, first for the benefit of colleagues that are unsure as to what is happening re the British Post Offices. This government are closing them, not all, but closing them. This stems from the Government calling them unviable. The Eu have directed that the most profitable parts of the business must be split between EU countries, France and especially Germany and its Deutche Post (forgive my atrocious spelling of Germanys main Postal Service). So the best bits have gone to our friends in France and Germany etc. This has left the British post office with all the...er...lets call it Spam mail, you know, you must have seen the increase in it all dropping through your letter box. The Postal Service has had to do this to make any money at all. So, in that respect, they are becoming unviable. (Funny they weren't before we got into bed with this lot!) The EU Directive is: 1997/67. The two weekly bin collection is due to the charge being made by the Government in Brussels/Strasbourg charging British local Councils a "Tipping Charge". This means that everytime a refuse vehicle tips, a cost comes in to your local council. hence......lets only collect two weekly. I believe the EU Directive number for this is 2002/39. No I am not a politician, (note the small p) I just happen to keep my eye on the disgusting mess that is happening to this once proud Nation.

But postal delivery services were separated out from the Post Office many years ago. Deliveries are handled by the Royal Mail and I don't see them closing many depots. Directive 1997/67 is nothing to do with Post Offices. Directive 2002/39 is to do with postal delivery services as well.

And as for the tipping charge, how a council handles any charges made for disposal of waste is up to that council. It's only some that have gone for the pickup every other week. The ones with reasonable recycling facilities (like my local council) are still doing weekly pickups

So as I believe I said "Post Office closures and two weekly bin collections are nothing to do with Europe"

Steve

[kelp]

Quite honestly Steve, I find discussing things with you very difficult, so will call a halt to it right now. Have a lovely evening matey.

[David Brent]

Seems most Brits at the moment are totally Browned off.

Dave.

[GRAEME]

Originally Posted by kelp Quite honestly Steve, I find discussing things with you very difficult, so will call a halt to it right now. Have a lovely evening matey.

You mean he doesn't roll over and agree with you!

Let me put it this way:

There is a government law that says you can't drive faster than 30mph in a built up residential area. So, in order to make sure I never break this law - I decide to drive no faster than 10mph at all times. I cause traffic problems and road rage whereever I go.

Now then - by your logic - the speeding law has caused these traffic problems and road rage - therefore they are bad laws and the government is to blame.

By Steve's logic (if he'll forgive me for simplifying) - it is my fault. I am responsible for the way I interpret the rules and therefore for the unnecessay chaos that ensues.


If you want to blame "Brussels" you will - this is a paranoid persecution complex all too prevalent at the moment, but the truth is the UK government and local councils decide IF and HOW they are going to adhere to any EU directive. Quite often they hide behind a convenient directive in order to push through unpopular policy they want to do anyway. The ultimate power in "Brussels" is the council of ministers - made up of our and our partners' elected government ministers.

Post offices are closing to save money. Full stop.

[Frank63]

I know it's a bit of a communist view, but shouldn't public services such as the GPO, be there for the general good of the people. ?.

[GRAEME]

Originally Posted by Frank63 I know it's a bit of a communist view, but shouldn't public services such as the GPO, be there for the general good of the people. ?.

Whisper it, Frank, whisper it...

Unfortunately, even public services have to be "cost-effective". Tax payers' money is needed in a lot of areas - and as we've seen over the last twenty odd years, the British electorate will not vote for tax-raising governments.

In countries like Sweden, they're actually proud to pay tax! We seem to have swallowed the American all tax is evil message whole - but at the same time we expect everything free on the state.

[davidb]

whatever the reason for closing post offices ,whether its europe ,the government or graeme driving at 10 mph !, it amazes me that theres untold amounts of money to prop up banks that have been reckless with their business ,if post offices have to be cost effective then so should they ,hypocrisy is the word im looking for ,one minute its market forces that determine things ,the next its eu directives but then all of a sudden its a return to nationalisation with northern rock ,shame they couldnt have done that for rover ,they are a direct contradiction of themselves sometimes ,

[batman]

There are three post offices all within walking distance of where I live and they are all really busy most of the time. They are all situated inside small Co-op supermarkets.