Clegg warned of Tory Tax Bombshell
Ed Miliband, on the campaign
trail in Oldham reiterated the warning that Nick Clegg’s gave
during the run up to the Parliamentary Elections: that “the
Tories were going to drop a VAT bombshell”. Nick Clegg
is quoted as having said that “this tax
alone would cost the average family £7-50 a week, or £390-00
a year”. That was before he sold out his party in exchange
for power. What he didn’t dare
tell the electorate was that he would end up applauding George Osborne
for dropping this VAT tax bombshell, which would cost 250,000 jobs.
But he did say the coalition is a FAIR GOVERNMENT.
Ed Miliband was campaigning in the Oldham by election, which is too
close to call at present, but if as suspected the Lib Dems are pushed
into 3rd place; it won’t look good for the coalition. Before
the Christmas break David Cameron asked his
party to rally round and support Nick Clegg. No formal agreement
has been made between the Tories and the Lib Dems, on campaign tactics
in the Oldham election, which became vacant after the Labour candidate
was stripped of his seat by a judge.
Unemployment is still forecast to rise, as the planned local authority
cuts start in April. New rules are coming into force those unlucky
enough to lose their jobs. When you claim Jobseeker's Allowance, you'll
need to attend an interview at the Jobcentre. An adviser will help
you draw up a 'jobseeker's agreement'. This will set out the steps
you agree to take to find work.
To keep getting benefit you'll have to attend regular jobsearch reviews,
usually every fortnight. There's a longer review if you've been getting
benefit for 13 weeks. You could lose your benefit if you refuse to
go on a re-training course. It may be possible to get help towards
you mortgage interest. New rules for the Support for Mortgage
Interest payments may mean that some people who have been claiming
from 05-01-2009 will have their payments stopped. For more
information check
this site

But the number of people unemployed in the UK
increased by 35,000 for the three months to October 2010 to reach
2.50 million. The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance
(the claimant count) fell by 1,200 between October and November 2010
to reach 1.46 million,
The number of people aged 16 and over who are employed fell by 33,000
on the quarter to reach 29.13 million, the Office for National Statistics
(ONS) said. The actual number of people out of work seeking employment
is around the 5m mark. The figures are slightly massaged, in so far
as it counts those who have lost a full time job, and have been forced
to take a part time job, or temporary job are not included in the
jobless totals, even though they are searching for work.
Forecasters are now predicting a double dip into recession seem less
likely, although external factors, [in America or the Euro zone could
change the situation] Portugal and Spain have now had their credit
rating down graded, and are expected to ask for a bailout.
Inflation is still rising, and is expected to reach 4% or 5% with
the increase in inflation. The Tories have acknowledged there is a
problem with inflation, which if it rises too fast will trigger higher
interest rates. The bank of England will decide next week whether
to start increasing the base rate slowly, or to wait and see if the
lack of spending power from tax hikes, and increased prices may be
enough to stop inflation moving too high too fast. Inflation is currently
3.3%, in the Thatcher years it reached 22%, with mortgage interest
reaching 15%. This Tory government is calling in more business advisers
to help them balance the books, instead of using experienced economists.
The bank of England head Mervin King did express concern at the inexperience
of the Tory leaders. Old Tory hands have many times expressed concern
about the pace of cuts and higher taxation.
We had an American style election throwing money at leaders and parties,
as well as American style TV debates. The Americans usually elected
ex film stars or oil tycoons, only occasionally did they elect experienced
politicians.
Ron
Gold RFT
Express
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