sorry to be the bearer of bad news....but take a look here...2000 job losses !!
opps another 750 lost here
opps another 1700 lost here
not exactly looking so bright now is it !!!!
Seems unemployment figures out today show new 17 year high !!!
so seems all the cost cutting and increase in tax...is not going to pay any debt off, but to pay the massive increase in unemployment benifiets !!!...oh not to mention the shortfall in PAYE tax that those people paid when working !!!
To a certain extend I'd agree that things for some people are getting better.
There are an awful lot of new cars round our way and there seems to be a lot more activity on construction sites than there was say 1 year ago.
However, I think things will be grim for a large amount of people for the next couple of years before the Gov. starts making things sweet in an effort to get re-elected.
I think everything (unless outside events dictate) will run to a timetable to suit re-election of a Conservative Gov. For instance, nearly all troops will be back from 'Stan. Any conflict with Syria or Iran will be well over before 2015, this will be timed to suit American Presidential elections of course. And the economy will be forced into an up-cycle in the hope that people will forget the pain of the first 3 or 4 years.
John
Caravan sales at an all time high;
It is believed that last year sales of caravans and camping equipment reached an all time high. The contribution of two billion pounds to the UK economy can be seen as part of the increased popularity of caravan and camping holidays. Now the nation’s favourite holiday pastime; research has also highlighted a perceived link between camping and caravan holidays with the benefits of healthy living.
It is believed that each day camping and caravan holidaymakers spend almost thirty pounds. Included in this figure is petrol, food and drink sales and when considered that there are around seventeen million caravan and camping holidays being made each year this figure is considerable.
Although this does not include pitch sales and fees; it is estimated that if it did the figure would be closer to fifty pounds a day. Considering that pitch fees are used to develop sites and employ local residents the contribution to local economies is also vast.
A survey has further detailed caravan and camping holiday spending. It is believed that fifty seven percent of holidaymakers spent their money in pubs while almost the same number spent money in local eateries. UK tourist attractions have also benefited in terms of ticket sales with almost seventy percent visiting a variety of attractions regularly. An outstanding eighty five percent of camping and caravan tourists walked to their destination highlighting the benefits to the environment this type of holiday has.
Of the seventeen million caravan and camping holidays taking place annually the average stay is estimated to be four days. Over these four days the amount poured into local economies through food and drink sales as well as entry to local attractions is believed to be one of the major factors bolstering rural incomes. Without this steady stream of holidaymakers it can be surmised that the large contribution in many rural economies is a vital element in their survival.
Campers rather than those staying in a caravan are believed to be even more likely to add to local economies. Because of a lack of facilities and storage when tent camping, shops and restaurants around campsites make more sales of subsistence products than those near caravan parks. With the popularity of this type of holiday growing rapidly rural economies will benefit further.
In terms of the supposed link between camping and caravan holidays and a healthier lifestyle the supposition seems to hold water. A survey used data from the general public as well as regular camping and caravan holidaymakers; it found that ninety seven percent of those who camped or caravanned regularly felt that being outdoors had a positive impact on their lives. The research also found that campers and caravanners were more likely to undertake activities such as walking, swimming and cycling than members of the general public.
Comment on the research has stated that it demonstrates what camping and caravan holidaymakers had believed for years. The contribution to the local economy through food and drink sales and local services keeps rural economies alive and provides jobs for those in the localities. The research also showed that campers and caravaners are driven by a desire to explore new places, visit attractions and sample local food.
Camping and caravan holidays are fundamentally about spending time in the marvellous British countryside, so the link between these types of holidays and a healthier lifestyle is unsurprising. This type of holiday not only provides freedom and choice but is also part of a healthy lifestyle. As a result there is little wonder that sales of tents and caravans are skyrocketing as more people try to join the hoards seeking this lifestyle choice.
New building every where we look;
Poundbury is a thriving new urban development on the outskirts of Dorchester, West Dorset. It was designed by the Prince of Wales who outlined his pioneering ideas in his 1989 book, ‘A Vision of Britain’.
Caravanning and camping have risen in popularity becuase a lot of people cannot afford to go abroad anymore.
J & S
So lets get this right...as unemployment has risen to a 17 year high....you think things are looking Up ????? As per Max link...it seems that the majority of jobs being created are part time ones !!! the amount of people now in part time work, is a the highest level ever recorded since records began !!!!
Now don't get me wrong I welcome the increase in workers being taken on at Nissan and Jaguar....I welcome the new jobs being created by Mcdonalds....but this does not outweigh the jobs being lost. We need to do more, a damn sight more to stimulate the economy. I honestly think the economy bottomed out about 2 years ago, and continues to bump along the bottom. I see no improvement, and as it stands, can not see where that improvemnet is going to come from.
The solution, or part of it is simple.
Remove VAT on items made in Britain, ie Toyota cars.
Yes there will be a large loss of tax revenue with the removal of the 20% but manufacturing in all British companies will be increased, companies around the world will see Britain as a good place to build thier new european based factories, unemployment will drop drastically re-couping much of the lost tax revenue or at least not having to spend so much of it on benefits, those currently unemployed will not only have a greater sense of personal achievement but will also have more money in thier pockets to spend and therefore pay more in VAT on some of what they do buy, and will be paying income tax instead of recieving other peoples.
Our British made products will be 20% cheaper than similar imported items making them much more desireable and anyone who wants to build the average car at will know they can sell it for £2000 cheaper than thier rivals who have them build in other parts of europe, but not just cars, everything we buy. Bring back "made in Britain" bring back National Pride, bring back respect to the unemployed.
Stop paying benefits to migrant workers, if they are migrant EU workers they shouldnt need benefits, if they are not working they should be classed as immigrants and subject to immigration law despite anything the EU say.
Immigrants and those applying for it should not be paid benefits, wanting money is no reason for wanting to emigrate here, asylum seeking is not immigration and immigration is not asylum seeking.
An immigrant is someone who wants to live in this country, an asylum seeker is someone who arrives here in fear of thier life, torture or wrongfull imprisonment in the country from whence they came, a Bosnian or Nigerian arriving here from France is not an asylum seeker, they have already escaped the tryanny by getting to France and France will not imprison them or execute or torture them.
We set up the welfare state for the welfare of the British population and it's commonwealth peoples, we did not set it up for Africans, Eastern Europeans those from the Far East and Middle East to escape poverty in thier own Countries, we have enough poverty in our country.
Immigration is a good thing, many tradepeople are needed, immigration should be based on "what have you to offer this Country" .
If someone marries an non-British citizen they should not be given a British passport but should be given a visa to remain in this country for as long as they remain actively married.
Marrying a British subject should not mean that you are entitled to bring the rest of your family to the UK.
The National Health should not be available to Tourists except through payment just as we have to pay for much of our medical treatment when holidaying abroad, via holiday insurance. There are exceptions via the E111 card for EU subjects but many non-EU subjects travel here on holiday just to use our free medical facilities.
When my ex took ill in Switzerland it cost over £21,000 for her treatment, paid of course by our insurance but if a Swiss National takes ill whilst on holiday here the treatment is free. Switzerland does accept the E111 card but it is not a member of the EU.
very good comments in Principe mids but nothing will stop what has happened because of this.
to many peeple looking for to few jobs mids. to many dodgy employers seeking to employ at the cheepest rates. that is why some come here as plenty of work for cheep wages. wages that british peeple it seems cannot afford to take.
things are not looking up at all in many areas. some areas are in a downward spiral of despair and poverty. the latest unemployemt figures back this up. a 17 yeer high and still immigration is not being cut back. many british peeple i have read feel let down and on the scrap heep of society.
toyota may make there cars here, but they are not a british company. giving them tax incentives like no VAT will never happen nor will it ever work. nice in principle though.:notes:
I don't care who OWNS the Companies, if they choose to base the bulk of thier manufacturing here employing the British workforce (no matter what nationality they are) then it is of mutual benefit to exempt the buyer the VAT on the item, be it a nappy or a car. The companies also have to pay an element of tax to the UK government, tax which may have been paid to the French or Germans had we not shown them why building the factories would allow them to compete in British and other european markets cheaper than in Countries where the VAT would still be paid.
When I lived in Germany many years ago you did not pay Mervestioer (spelt wrong but VAT equiavlent) on anything made there ie BMW, VW, Mercedes cars, almost all taxis were Mercedes becuase incentives were given to businesses who bought German made products.
Most french taxis are french cars so perhaps they have similar incentives.
We know it is hard times ahead and for some time in the past in this Country, the Government could help us to help ourselves instead of just saying we have to tighten our belts.
I have nothing against migrant workers, we need many of them, I spent 3 years recently as a migrant worker in Switzerland, the Swiss love migrant workers, but that is because we earned our keep, we were not entitled to any benefits or accommodation, you work you earn you pay your bills or you leave the Country. That is how we should be with them.
Even our own Commonwealth Countries like Australia will not let us just go there to live without having accommodation and work. Mainland British subjects cannot even go to work in Jersey without having a job and accommodation before you get there is there any need for us to have a virtual open door policy, like I said we set up the welfare state for the benefit of British people (whatever thier ethnic hereditary) born here, benefit here, born elsewhere live by migrant rules unless you are granted political asylum and you don't get that if your safe in the Country you have evacuated to ie France.
If you think countries care not in a trade war already your very much mistaken, all trade is a war, from the corner shop competing with the supermarket to the builders of ships.
Countries subsidise thier industries all the time, France for example have in the past been well known for subsidising thier farming community.
As I said, in the past (maybe still I haven't been there for a while) Germany had exactly the same policy of charging no VAT on certain German built products assembled in Germany.
France is also well known for blatantly refusing to follow EU directives for example refusing to import British Beef after it was cleared and ordered to do so after the last BSE problem, blockading ports and border crossings on multiple occasions and so on.
I believe there was a time when being a member of the EU gave this Country many advantages, I believe that time is over, what does being an EU member do for us in todays society, we pay vast amounts into it and may be asked to pay a lot more to subsidise Countries nearing bankruptcy and for what ?
Will BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagon, Renault, Citroen and all the other Companies abroad who export goods to the UK refuse to sell to us anymore if we opt out ? I seriously doubt it, those companies and Countries need to trade with us as much as we need to trade with them, do we refuse to trade with non EU countries like Switzerland or the USA ?
I seriously doubt the benefits of being members still outweight the benefits of standing alone now.
"‘Kind frens. We’re hall honest British workin’ men, but we’ve been hout of work for the last twenty years on account of foreign competition and over-production. We don’t come hout ’ere because we’re too lazy to work; it’s because we can’t get a job. If it wasn’t for foreign competition, the kind’earted Hinglish capitalists would be able to sell their goods and give us Plenty of Work, and if they could, I assure you that we should hall be perfectly willing and contented to go on workin’ our bloody guts out for the benefit of our masters for the rest of our lives. We’re quite willin’ to work: that’s hall we arst for – Plenty of Work – but as we can’t get it we’re forced to come out ’ere and arst you to spare a few coppers towards a crust of bread and a night’s lodgin’."
Written in 1910.
