On 2 Aug 2017 at 8:23am Sterling wrote:
In 2010, then Chancellor George Osborne said he aimed to eliminate the deficit by 2015.
He pledged in 2014, to eliminate it by 2018.
In 2015, Osborne announced the national finances would be in surplus by 2020.
Hammond scrapped that target in 2016, and pledged to eliminate the deficit by the early 2020s.
In May 2017, the Conservative Party’s manifesto pledged to eliminate the deficit by “the middle of the next decade”, meaning 2025.
Now Hammond is going to extend this to 2027.
So perhaps austerity had nothing to do with clearing the deficit and everything to do with the Tories (and their Lib Dem poodles) in destroying public provision.
On 2 Aug 2017 at 8:40am Earl of Lewess wrote:
In a constantly changing global economic environment, you can't stick rigidly to plans. You have to outline a goal and revise target dates if circumstances change. Also, the Government realised that there was a limit to how much austerity the public would take. Whether it's all been worth the pain or not, I have no idea. I'm not an economist and even if I was, they're wrong half the time. It's hard to believe that the government are the best hope we have.
On 2 Aug 2017 at 9:01am Rory wrote:
I still don't understand why I'm on a 6 year pay freeze whilst watching the cost of living rise astronomically before my eyes.
On 2 Aug 2017 at 9:47am Lewes man wrote:
So the mp can have bigger pay rise
On 2 Aug 2017 at 12:29pm GoM wrote:
Just rejoice and be thankful I privatised everything
On 2 Aug 2017 at 1:47pm Fedup Briton wrote:
It was just a "policy" to get people to vote for them (and it worked), yes we all know we spend too much and something should be done about it.
The only real attempt to kerb spending was to cut the welfare budget (chicken feed).
We all know austerity hasn't hit MP's, who have had some very nice pay rises in the same time period. Yes the same cretins that are crashing us out of the EU have been rewarded multiple times for doing so.
If they want to look at cost savings let's start with overseas aid budget (14 billion annually), Trident (20-100 billion depending on who you're listening to), HS2 (60 billion) and crossrail (20 billion).
Calling for a cull on the overseas aid budget might seem a bit harsh, but when there's people starving in this country due to austerity, it is arguably necessary.
Luckily I'm not a politician...
On 2 Aug 2017 at 2:00pm Twinkle wrote:
Hear hear! Yes, it is absolutely arguably necessary, you're right.
It won't change though, because of all the deals involved in us giving money away to other countries. We don't do it purely out of humanitarian reasons, believe me!!!
On 2 Aug 2017 at 5:01pm HS2 wrote:
will undoubtedly double in cost at least. I think Crossrail is good. No to Trident. Yes to the Uckfield line 
On 2 Aug 2017 at 5:52pm Another fed-up Briton wrote:
Austerity? What austerity? I have not experienced any recently. But I WORK and earn my living. I have not made the lifestyle choice of sponging off the state because my benefits are only slightly less than I could earn by WORKING. I have been in employment from 16 to 65; with only about two years in state-subsidised training. I own my house outright, do not use a credit card, and have raised two children who are both self-supporting members of society.
On 2 Aug 2017 at 6:43pm Chip Paper wrote:
You've been hardworking but you've also been fortunate. Not everyone affected by cuts to welfare payments are 'spongers'. Frankly your opener - 'Austerity? What austerity?' - shows hubris and an ugliness of spirit.
On 2 Aug 2017 at 6:48pm Hubris schmubris wrote:
Jesus saves but Moses invests
On 2 Aug 2017 at 7:42pm Earl of Lewess wrote:
@Another smug Briton - Instead of feeling superior, perhaps have the humility to be grateful that the lottery of life has enabled you to achieve these things. Even if you've worked for it all, you've still been blessed with health and determination.
On 3 Aug 2017 at 2:35pm Sterling wrote:
You forgot to add, Another fed-up Briton, that you were fortunate enough to grow up and work as an adult at a time when all governments were committed to a policy of full employment, when taxes went towards public services rather than being skimmed and skimmed to make the already rich richer. The ignorance of people like you fascinates me, though I suppose you can really help it. Earl of Lewes is completely right to call you Another Smug Briton because of your obviousl lack of awareness of other people's lives.