Universal credit: Should the temporary increase be kept for longer?

[Fab Foodie]

I just can't watch countryfile, with smug 'Adam I'm a farmer*' etc etc.

Occasionally mentions a bit of hardship in the countryside, but we don't want to upset the bucolic vision too much do we??

Or point out who controls land, land ownership and why??

So instead let's go over here and interview this delightful lady with her funny coloured sheep.
Isn't she nice

*No you're not, you're doing a good job of preserving heritage breeds for their genetic diversity , renting them out as extras for olde worlde telly progs, and doubtless make a fair wad from appearing on the telly on your inherited farm..

All jolly well done, but it doesn't reflect the reality of food and farming, nor 'rural life' and economies there in this country.

Yeah, but Sunday evenings, glass of port and that nice Matt Baker….

 

[mudsticks]

Yeah, but Sunday evenings, glass of port and that nice Matt Baker….

Indeed, lovely Matt.

And even some youngish ladies too, yes ??

'Silver Fox' John Craven still allowed, I presume.??

But not that other woman who knew about stuff, who used to be on it, she went and got a bit old right??

Anyway , stop trying to distract from the UC discussion.

I know your game.

Plus it's my birthday and a rather delightful younger man has just brought me a cup of coffee and marmite on sourdough toast *

So I must concentrate on being made a fuss of

*Artisanal natch, there's a marvellous woman in the village who bakes us eight loaves every week..

 

[Archie_tect]

The reality of working outwith the way it's presented on TV, ie Countryfile, is exactly why I can't watch Grand Designs, or the myriad of 'architectural' conversion programmes. + the way that 'Homes Under the Hammer' and 'Love It or List It' has contributed to making every house in Britain unaffordable to first time buyers.

But back at the camp...

 

[mudsticks]

The reality of working outwith the way it's presented on TV, ie Countryfile, is exactly why I can't watch Grand Designs, or the myriad of 'architectural' conversion programmes. + the way that 'Homes Under the Hammer' and 'Love It or List It' has contributed to making every house in Britain unaffordable to first time buyers.

Me neither.

Often if I talk about house building plans here, people will say Oooo did you see such and such on Grand Designs..

Nope never watched it sorry..

The fact that many of us lucky enough to have the space, are 'unofficially' housing rural keyworkers, behind hedges in vans , is one of those open secrets, that doesn't quite fit with the whole 'escape to the country' vision.

Anyway typing whilst eating...

How rude

 

[Fab Foodie]

Indeed, lovely Matt.

And even some youngish ladies too, yes ??

'Silver Fox' John Craven still allowed, I presume.??

But not that other woman who knew about stuff, who used to be on it, she went and got a bit old right??

Anyway , stop trying to distract from the UC discussion.

I know your game.

Plus it's my birthday and a rather delightful younger man has just brought me a cup of coffee and marmite on sourdough toast *

So I must concentrate on being made a fuss of

*Artisanal natch, there's a marvellous woman in the village who bakes us eight loaves every week..

Which old lady who knew stuff?
They have the lovely mature man’s totty Charlotte Smith from Farming Today as a regular, as well as the young fluff….

 

[mudsticks]

Which old lady who knew stuff?
They have the lovely mature totty Charlotte Smith from Farming Today as a regular as well as the young fluff….

Well that's good news.
Maybe someone took some notice.

I think it was Miriam O'Reilly.

Anyway having been showered* with birthday gifts, and salutations, I'm now off for a ride to the coast, as the routine chores are done, and it's a fantabulous autumnal morning.

See you on the beach...

*Slight exaggeration, but it is a very nice new Rab baselayer, and apparently there's more to come

 

[Fab Foodie]

Well that's good news.
Maybe someone took some notice.

I think it was Miriam O'Reilly.

Anyway having been showered* with birthday gifts, and salutations, I'm now off for a ride to the coast, as the routine chores are done, and it's a fantabulous autumnal morning.

See you on the beach...

*Slight exaggeration, but it is a very nice new Rab baselayer, and apparently there's more to come

Happy Birthday X

 

[swansonj]

Happy Birthday Mudsticks, you inspiration and role model.

 

[mudsticks]

Happy Birthday X

Happy Birthday Mudsticks, you inspiration and role model.

Aww shucks.

It's not all a barrel of larfs being the token floozie on NACA.

So the salutations are appreciated.

Annnnd the day just got even betterer, I finally found the track pump where someone had 'helpfully' tidied it away to .

Um I'd like to know wtaf you put it up on the highest shelf imaginable. ??

It's not like it's a danger to children, or summat.

Anyway, can you try to keep on topic with the UC stuff. ??

There's good chaps now

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Plus it's my birthday and a rather delightful younger man has just brought me a cup of coffee and marmite on sourdough toast *

 

[newfhouse]

Plus it's my birthday

Congratulations. Careful with all those candles

 

[mudsticks]

Congratulations. Careful with all those candles

View attachment 70

Ooo cake

 

[Archie_tect]

Many Happy Returns!
+ cake.

 

[AndyRM]

Happy birthday @mudsticks!

https://tenor.com/v7pT.gif

 

[Bromptonaut]

I don't recall any justification for the 'uplift' in the first place.

In the absence of which I assumed it was because the tories were crapping themselves at the thought that all the new claimants resulting from covid job losses would discover that life on benefits was not the easy life that they like the media to portray.

The rationale I heard was parity with SSP.

The contemporaneous revalorisation of LHA (i.e. rent ceilings for private lets) owed more to your second theory though without adjusting the Cap it is of limited value around here. But pre pandemic the intention, after a long freeze, was to increase only by CPI; as if any landlord was that generous.