Re: Oh Darling,
 

everything is worth what people are willing to pay for it. If you cant afford a house then rent, its not a big deal. people seem to think the housing market will magically return to 1980 prices. it wont. house prices in many other countries have rocketed as well. this combined with the weak poun means that there will always be a large demand for UK housing, wither from domestic of foreign sources.

Re: Oh Darling,
 

Yes, but it's market value at that moment in time. Houses won't be able to stay that high, as it was only possible by the availability of obscene mortgage deals, which are no longer available. MPs are simply protecting their own interests (with so many having two tax-payer funded houses). Have a look at house prices over in Ireland as an example of unsustainable housing prices.

Check this out:
http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/gra...ouse-price.php

Re: Oh Darling,
 

That graph shows that at current prices were not that far off the trendline. mortgage deals are still availabe, you just need 10-15% deposit.

Re: Oh Darling,
 

You're missing the point of what I'm saying - what I'm getting at is that without huge support from English taxpayers the Scottish would still have to pay for things like this. Conversely if Scotland wasn't given loads of financial support then maybe the English could have free prescriptions, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-Scotland or anything just making a point.

*cough* I don't like Andy Murray though *cough*

Re: Oh Darling,
 

Despite the Scottish Parliament, Scotland is STILL part of Great Britain.

Therefore it gets a proportion of the money that is given out by the Government.

It DOES NOT get any extra money "from English taxpayers", it just decides how to spend the money it gets, the same money as it has gotten since before it was free to make decisions like that.

Re: Oh Darling,
 

I agree that whether the Scots get extra money or not, and how they choose to spend it are two entirely seperate issues as you suggest.

However, the claim that Scotland doesn't get any extra money is rubbish http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnett_Formula

Re: Oh Darling,
 

A higher proportion than is contributed? If Scotland could only spend the money collected from taxpayers earning money in Scotland, I doubt they'd be able to offer free prescriptions and the like...it is because the country is subsidised that they can do this.

Heck, England is subsidised too though, people's pension funds and other sources have been funding England over and above what is collected in taxes for a long time.

Re: Oh Darling,
 

Don't forget how much oil scotland has given us ;)

Re: Oh Darling,
 

When did they last do that ?? :confused:

Re: Oh Darling,
 

Amazing!
There's a massive shortage of affordable housing.
There's a massive surplus of unemployed builders & tilers ( yes, Timwilky, I'm thinking of your lad )
Instead of propping up an unsustainable market, why not try for once doing something that stands a chance of ameloirating TWO problems?

ps: I liked the one about Sub-Prime Minister!