Squaredy

+1 for Cutty Mc Cutface.

You make the point that he is just a suspect, nothing is proven yet. But I suspect most people would not welcome him in the UK. It is great to be a lovely caring society but sometimes you have to say 'No!'. After all, if we get a reputation as being a country that will always protect terror suspects and block them from returning to the country where the crime took place we are pretty much doomed. And there is a second problem of him staying here. Should he be allowed total freedom, in which case that could be putting the lives of many people in the UK at risk (if he is a terrorist that is). Or if we agree he must be supervised or at least kept a careful watch over then what will that cost?

You have just reminded me of the M48 in South Wales. It’s is always a 50mph motorway. Permanently. It is a lovely quiet motorway as the new Severn bridge and new motorway were opened in 1993 which are far more convenient for most journeys. If I ever go to Chepstow from my house I drive along the full 12 miles of it at 50. It seems to take weeks.

Totally agree. I have a photo of a hole dug in a pavement near me which then had a set of three way temporary lights set up and the only obstruction was a small pile of earth in the road - between parked cars. Ludicrous and caused massive congestion for absolutely nothing. Actually thinking about it the A48 near me had this earlier this year....but that was a four way set of lights. And for three days it was just for the pavement - nothing at all in the road. Finally they dug up the road. But the chaos it caused for the first few days on a very busy bus route was awful. No brain was engaged in that traffic managament except covering their backs.

This thread is made for me! I have wondered in the past about starting a thread about terrible design, but this is even better. Following on from the taps mentioned earlier, what about automatic taps that simply do not work. I first came across this in 1997 (so etched on my mind was the trauma of not being able to work a tap) and one would think they would work well now. But no. I know a set of three newly installed at a local sports club near me where you have to dodge between them all hoping that you will get enough little dribbles out of each to finally wash your hands.

Excellent point. And then if you go past the sign (as they are so often obsolete) and then people shake their heads at you when you are forced to turn round as it is actually closed!

Well of course people did not buy their house then. And I totally agree about upgrading. I would like to move out of suburbia into proper countryside. But to do that even for a smaller house means finding about £150,000 extra, so it just ain’t gonna happen. So yes, we all lose by having high house prices, unless we are lucky enough to inherit or for some other reason have multiple houses.

I agree I do not see much poverty. Except perhaps when it comes to buying a house. I feel for my kids when they want to buy their first house. My main gripe is that the government have more money than ever, yet public services are generally dire. Of course, bear in mind I have lived in a Labour area for 26 years. Some things like education are certainly better where Labour have not been in charge for long.

And it is worth remembering that when people talk about austerity, the amount of money the public sector takes as tax and spends is at record highs - not just due to the Labour government. Despite accusations of austerity public sector spending went through the roof under the Conservatives. Many services have been cut and are struggling, but this is not due to tax cuts or frugality. If only it were then the solution would be easy. Our public sector is better funded than it ever has been, but outcomes are probably worse than they ever have been at least since WW2. The actual solution is to somehow make the public sector efficient and productive.

It is worth remembering that the billionaires you are talking about consist mainly of pension funds. In other words the future prosperity of you and I (unless you have no pension of course).

According to the media we currently have the highest overall tax burden since not long after WW2. Yes some rates may be lower, but there are many other taxes. Remember purchase tax was around 6%, this was replaced by VAT when we entered the EEC at 10%, and now it is mainly 20%. NI rates are also through the roof, property tax is higher, etc, etc, etc. So, yes we have VERY high taxation levels currently. About to get higher in a few days.

Indeed, they paid 98% on investment income until Maggie came to power in 1979. And the thresholds were not exactly high, so it wasn't just the super-rich. So I agree some (on the face of it) good things happened in the period 1946 to 1979, but the country was a basket case. And I would suggest if you are interested looking into the history of wealth taxes. It is rather chequered in terms of their success.

The makers of this video think that the public sector is suffering because of lack of funding. So where do they imagine the highest tax regime since World War Two actually goes?

As has been said speak to the tree officer at the local authority; as if they are requiring you to feel the trees for public safety it may be that a felling license is not needed. Or indeed if the trees are under a certain size.

Nearly all over now sadly. Been an amazing match, but the Aussies made it look easy in the end. I see we have a breakthrough now, but just a little too late I am afraid.