• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Parliamentary Sketch 25th Nov – Osborne’s slashing discredited

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor If you change your mind on something because of external pressure does that mean you have done the right thing, or have you been forced into it? For example, hypothetically, if I decided to slash my neighbour’s tyres for mowing their lawn on Saturday morning,  but my girlfriend told me […]

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
November 25, 2015
in News, Politics
Parliamentary Sketch

Politics is Great Britain

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor

If you change your mind on something because of external pressure does that mean you have done the right thing, or have you been forced into it?

For example, hypothetically, if I decided to slash my neighbour’s tyres for mowing their lawn on Saturday morning,  but my girlfriend told me repeatedly it was an excessive resposne, and she might leave me if I did; I’d change my mind. Have I now done the honourable thing? For me it’s a no, you can make up your own mind.

Well that is basically what had happened today during the spending review; The Lords, Labour, the public and his own MPs, forced Osborne into binning tax credit cuts. Not reducing them…cancelling them.

He also said he would not to cut police budgets, but if the Paris attacks hadn’t taken place, I would be pretty confident there would be thousands less coppers on the street. When these last minute changes are made, I wonder how the decisions are agreed upon; I’m guessing it’s not as scientific as you would hope. Paper, scissor, stone between Transport and Environment might settle it.

The tax credit U-turn may well have calmed unsettled Tories MPs, but there were audible gasps when the Chancellor told the house about a stamp duty increase for buy-to-let properties (which also applies to second homes). This might annoy Tory constituents, more than the tax credit cuts, in solid Conservative areas. According to the Telegraph unmarried couples will be able to avoid this; expect the divorce rate in Chalfont St Giles to spike over the next few months.

The Chancellor has been lucky, there are historically low interest rates so no major tax rises (ok a few cheeky stealth taxes – there always are) and the OBR has “remodeled” a lot of tax income measures, which lo and behold have given the government more money in the pot. Coincidentally some of this magic money is going to into a pothole fund; which got the loudest cheer in the chamber today.

RelatedPosts

Asylum seeker with leukaemia living at scandal-hit Barracks as Covid spread through site

Patel bullying case dropped after settlement but how much did it cost taxpayer?

‘Grim warning to Boris Johnson’ as support for Welsh Independence at highest ever level

Labour leader questions ‘fishy’ allocation of funds to Tory areas in Budget

Gideon also announced he wants to build 400,000 homes, but it isn’t clear that homebuilders have the time or the talent to do this. There is huge a shortage of bricklayers for example. It is doubtful this target can be met, but given his love for a high-vis photo opportunity; maybe Osborne could lend a hand.

However, there may be a way out of this construction quagmire, Osborne also said he is closing HMP Holloway. Perhaps we could cram everyone who needs a home into there, it can’t be any worse than it is now.

There were a few interesting small print alerts that emerged afterwards, there will be cuts to funding for political parties hitting Labour hardest, which is a surprise, and London will bear the brunt of transport cuts; to teach those militant strikers a lesson, perhaps?

Of course there will be more hidden problems and a pasty shaped mishap here and there, but overall it wasn’t the austerity doomsday some were predicating. The question is why didn’t he use the increase tax take and predicted growth to cut the deficit as much as possible, “fixing the roof when the sun is shining,” as is his mantra.

To some degree his statement protected public services, which goes against all he has said since the beginning of his tenure. Maybe he knows how much these cuts hurt, and in fact this wasn’t a chancellor’s speech, but a future Prime Minister’s. He knows the electorate isn’t going to vote for the bogeyman.

As ever quite a lot of things annoyed me today, but what stood out was his new phrase “Midlands engine” to accompany “Northern powerhouse.” His party might have decimated the renewable energy sector but his own wind power could probably plug the gap. I’d happily slash his tyres just for coming up with that phrase.

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The Other Prison Pandemic

Latest from TLE

Image by AdobeStock

Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for London, Friday 5 March 2021

Lucky Numbers and Horoscopes for today, 5 March 2021

How To Make: Black Bean Chilli Mince

How To Make: Black Bean Chilli Mince

Set For Life Results Thursday 4th March 2021

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.