Oh Darling,

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

*Luckypants pulls up in his Land Rover wearing a tweed jacket and a shotgun*

What?? Me??

Well he DOES have a Viffer.................

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by cartwrim

I don't understand - I got the impression Scotland got loads of money from English taxpayers so they got free prescriptions and stuff whilst we have to pay for ours? How could they possibly resent that?

I'm sure someone'll correct me if I'm wrong!

You're wrong.

The Scots just decided to spend some of the money they were given in that way.

They probably had to sacrifice something else for that - but as I understand it they dont get any specific cash for Free Prescriptions

I believe the Welsh are the same.

Take it up with YOUR MP not the Scots people

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Ahem point of order.
Railways were privatised by the Torys I seem to recall.Labour regigged it with the set up of Railtrack following the Hatfield crash debacle.

As I recall, the plans were laid by the Conservative party but followed through by New Labour. The new Labour administration could have decided not to do this.


EDIT: A quick Google shows that my rose coloured specs were wrong and indeed it was the Conservatives. Labour ruled out re-nationalisation on grounds of cost.

Labour seems to have modified privatisation to "Privitatise the proffitable bits - then throw subsidies at the rest of it".

Perfect.

Originally Posted by lily

It seems in my family me and drew are the only ones who are winning.

We don't have many savings, we rent a place (which we have given notice on as have found a place that is bigger for less rent and other reasons) And we are looking to buy, which we think we will do as soon as the downturns stops (which it will)

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

I am in a similar situation as you guys. We are also looking to buy at some point. We are starting to look for a nice wee cottage with space for my bikes to rent until the time is right to buy.

Will you be prepared to buy if prices level off again?

This underwriting is a diversionary tactic to try and keep house prices up; but they're just not sustainable. The correction HAS to come. You'd almost think they were protecting their own interests

This is just a stupid idea. The reason house aren't selling is because of the uncertainty of both job and housing markets, mixed with the fact the people won't drop the price of their house asking prices. It is not because the banks aren't lending. If you have a 10% deposit, and a half decent credit record you will get a mortgage still, no problem.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

As I recall, the plans were laid by the Conservative party but followed through by New Labour. The new Labour administration could have decided not to do this.


EDIT: A quick Google shows that my rose coloured specs were wrong and indeed it was the Conservatives. Labour ruled out re-nationalisation on grounds of cost.

I think arguing over the tories or Labour is somewhat worthless.

They're both useless.


Chaining your bike to a 4 foot bollard... Are you kidding me?!

[yorkie_chris]

I like the phrase "all pigs eating out of the same trough"

The only way to get a reliable government would be to elect people who don't want the job.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

you can have kids AND have a career.

So essentially what you're saying is that women should know their place and get back to the kitchen. That wouldn't have gone down very well then let alone now, so it's hardly Maggies fault for choosing not to commit political suicide.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

But it was her governments plans that started the slide - BT now makes money, that could be going into the countries coffers, British Gas and the Electricity Board could be made to drop prices instead of the rampant profiteering that we have at the moment.

Haha. Yes, nationalisation's the answer. After all, British Rail was a paradigm of good value and efficiency before it was privatised.

I am one of those idiots that did without for yrs.I have saved and saved for a "rainy day" ,to find that now it is here my savings are all going down the pan.
Could I get help if I needed it.Probably not ,and why?
Because I've too many savings

Originally Posted by gid

I am one of those idiots that did without for yrs.I have saved and saved for a "rainy day" ,to find that now it is here my savings are all going down the pan.
Could I get help if I needed it.Probably not ,and why?
Because I've too many savings

Pop your cash in an egg account. 4% up to £1m. If you've got less than £2k in the bank, whack it in an Abbey National saver account (6.5%).

I wouldn't bother putting anything in to ISAs at the mo, but equally I wouldn't take anything out of one as interest rates have to go back up.

Check this out for bonkers views on savers : Punish savers and make them spend money | Anatole Kaletsky - Times Online