First Aspect
Veteran
They first line is due to go up to about £5 by 2030.
BRFR Cake Stop 'breaking news' miscellany
- Thread starter briantrumpet
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First Aspect
Veteran
Oh my god, there are rumours of a tax on latte's. Praise be, that will fill the £30 Bn black hole.
midlandsgrimpeur
Active Member
This may come as a surprise given my obvious political leanings but my brother is a massive Tory and used to work for the Conservative party. He was part of a small group that were invited to lunch at No.11 when Clarke was Chancellor. I do like this old guard, the likes of Clarke, Major, Heseltine and so on.
This is what really pees me off about current political discourse. The right as it stands is a populist right (specifically talking about politicians and media here) that has no interest in consensus or reaching common ground with us on the left yet constantly tells us we are the divisive party. I can have a respectful and productive discussion with a true centre right conservative in good faith at any time. The problem is we are currently trying to engage meaningfully with bad faith ideologues ( the Farage's of this world) who have no interest in this.
OP
OP
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
It'll need its own line on that list, obvs.
As if buying coffee wasn't already stoopidly expensive. Looking forward to my 1.30€ coffees in the bakery in France, if I get there at Christmas.
Dorset Boy
Active Member
That are about 1/5th the size of a coffee in England!
midlandsgrimpeur
Active Member
Kirstie Allsop did say a while back that if young people gave up their latte's and Netflix subscriptions that they could all afford houses, so they are obviously a fundamental part of a strong economic recovery plan.
OP
OP
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
There are several of us old Cakestoppers who voted for the Tories back then, and when I hear Clarke talk, I remember why - the party of Thatcher, at least in the early days, had a lot of sensible voices, and I was interested in his recounting of his winning over Thatcher on health service reforms. As I've mentioned often, you knew where you stood with her, and she relished an intellectual battle of ideas.
The fact that Clarke, Heseltine and Major are still arguing for pragmatic moderate conservatism - which ought to be part of the political scene, even if you don't agree with its premises - is a sign of their deep principles. I think that the Conservative Party is way beyond saving, and have no idea how Clarke can admire Badenoch, but I kind of admire his loyalty to the party.
OP
OP
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
Espressos are regularly over £2 now, and often £2.50+
midlandsgrimpeur
Active Member
I think anyone who is principled (whether you agree with those principles or not) is the same. This is one of the more insidious aspects of the current approach, there is no framework for debate. If you challenge someone like Farage you get accused of being an elitist snob that dismisses the views and concerns of 'the people'. Anyone that can't or won't meaningfully argue their case tends not to have one I find.
Pross
Senior Member
I've said this many times in the past. I can admire politicians I disagree with if they have genuine principles and can back them up with educated discussion. As an example, Mo Mowlem was a great politician that I respected despite being a Tory voter back then. They just seem to be completely disappearing from all sides or are still there but are being prevented from progressing because they won't say what is expected instead of what they believe which is worrying.
OP
OP
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
Indeed. They nearly all seem to be the servants of what the polls come up with and the toxic X environment, and that's not conducive to holding onto and espousing your underlying principles. Thatcher ran on principles (whether they were popular or not). Had she run on polling, she'd have realised that the Community Charge was deeply unpopular, but she went down with her ship, because she believed it to be right, according to her worldview.
I was interested in Clarke's comments about Reeves and the Budget, and think he was spot on about the stupidity of Reeves floating all sorts of ideas about it in advance and then reacting to polling on each one, when she should be running on principles, both financial and political, and taking the best decisions for the longer-term, rather than what some poll tells her.
midlandsgrimpeur
Active Member
Or perhaps what some SpAd tells her the polls are telling her.
Bazzer
Über Member
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My eldest girl works closely with very senior officials from the education department of a sub saharan african country, in developing the country's maths curriculum. The cuts to the massive £0.70p per £100 spent on overseas aid is already being felt, both in direct support, but also indirectly in that private donors are more reluctant to provide funds if they see the former colonial government is cutting back aid.
Ian H
Squire
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/millionaire-oap-aristocrat-hunt-bride-10663419.amp
Bride must be at least 20 years younger, for tax reasons.
Bride must be at least 20 years younger, for tax reasons.
Psamathe
Guru
I confess I've even voted Conservative (on one occasion) - local District Council elections where a year before our ward Councillor (Conservative) had listened to a few of us objecting to a planning application, accepted our arguments then attended the Planning Committee meeting and spoke against the application. I felt that district Councillor was less of a political Party role and that he took the trouble to represent constituents meant he was serving his purpose.
