Wibbler, I agree that won't look great, but it'll be eclipsed by the mountain of debt.
Interesting comment by Iain Dale, stating most appear to be against the 50% tax rise. Could it be a new IHT opportunity for the Tories? A counter-intuitive tax reduction for the better off having popular appeal.
Mike - presumably the problem is your server (although I thought it had recently been seriously upgraded). If it can't cope today, God help it come General Election night. Why not open a donation box specifically to pay for a new server which can actually cope - I for one would contribute. If, however, the problem is Wordpress' responsibility, why not make the move to another Blog operator who can cope with your traffic?
What a lot of commentators were saying was "be truthful", Darling created a fantasy growth forecast, in the way Brown always did.
Nick Robinson did highlight that if there is positive growth by last quarter (unlikely but thats the forecast) the figures would come out in last weeks of GE campaign. That must be Gordon's last hope.
Ted. But with the hike in VAT in January 2010, I can guarantee a bounce in Q4 2010. But, everyone will know that it is a technical bounce. In fact even if it isnt a technical bounce that will be the accusation.
What a rubbish budget and while the 50% rate may go, it will encourage the rich ex-pats not to base in the UK. It's unhelpful and counterproductive.
Financial markets speak: the pound down 2 1/2 cents against the dollar and also falling against the Euro.
(Agree with anon 13.56 about the main site. PBC will quite literally not be the place to be on general election night if the technology-thinggy-dooberry-stuff isn't somehow improved).
LOL.
ReplyDeleteBalls is completely discredited politically. I hope he is kicked out.
But good on him for this, he seems pretty good at it. I think it's great that politicians are still willing to do silly things occasionally.
He's better than me!
ReplyDeleteAre we down on t'other site?
ReplyDeleteIs the main site down?
ReplyDeleteI think the hamsters have fallen off the wheel.
ReplyDeleteNot looking hopeful at the moment...
ReplyDeleteOh no, the main site is down yet again - Grrh!
ReplyDeletePeter from Putney
there goes the main site
ReplyDeleteNooooo!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I thought Cameron had a strong response. Shocking figures. 3.5% growth in two years is probably bonkers.
Cameron had an open goal, and he scored in great style.
ReplyDeleteBut the Tories REALLY REALLY REALLY need to look ANGRY instead of laughing at Cameron's best lines.
Having even frontbenchers chortling at the prospect of having to go to the IMF won't look great on the news.
Morris Dancer - there is no way the growth figures are credible for next year or the year after. So the borrowing figures are crap.
ReplyDeleteOh bugger, and I had nearly caught up with the thread on the main site too.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a conspiracy I tell ya.
http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2009/04/budget-instant-reaction.html
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/04/optimistic_abou.html
Again:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/04/optimistic_abou.html
I give up!
ReplyDeleteWibbler, I agree that won't look great, but it'll be eclipsed by the mountain of debt.
ReplyDeleteInteresting comment by Iain Dale, stating most appear to be against the 50% tax rise. Could it be a new IHT opportunity for the Tories? A counter-intuitive tax reduction for the better off having popular appeal.
Mike - presumably the problem is your server (although I thought it had recently been seriously upgraded). If it can't cope today, God help it come General Election night. Why not open a donation box specifically to pay for a new server which can actually cope - I for one would contribute. If, however, the problem is Wordpress' responsibility, why not make the move to another Blog operator who can cope with your traffic?
ReplyDeletetoo many lurkers bringing it down?
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot of commentators were saying was "be truthful", Darling created a fantasy growth forecast, in the way Brown always did.
Nick Robinson did highlight that if there is positive growth by last quarter (unlikely but thats the forecast) the figures would come out in last weeks of GE campaign. That must be Gordon's last hope.
Cameron was shallow and jokey. Not very statesmanlike.
ReplyDeleteIt'll keep the troops happy but exposed his complete unsuitability to the office of PM.
Ted. But with the hike in VAT in January 2010, I can guarantee a bounce in Q4 2010. But, everyone will know that it is a technical bounce. In fact even if it isnt a technical bounce that will be the accusation.
ReplyDeleteWhat a rubbish budget and while the 50% rate may go, it will encourage the rich ex-pats not to base in the UK. It's unhelpful and counterproductive.
Live analysis:
ReplyDeletehttp://news.sky.com/skynews/Unplugged/Budget2009
Hilarious LabourList top article. Apparently a 50% tax rate is a 'plan for recovery'.
ReplyDeleteIMF:
ReplyDeleteECONOMIC GROWTH FORECAST 2009
UK: -4.1%
US: -2.8%
Germany: -5.6%
France: -3.0%
Japan: -6.2%
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8011907.stm
Gabble, yes just basically means that the borrowing figures that he announced less than an hour ago are a pile of shit.
ReplyDeleteFinancial markets speak: the pound down 2 1/2 cents against the dollar and also falling against the Euro.
ReplyDelete(Agree with anon 13.56 about the main site. PBC will quite literally not be the place to be on general election night if the technology-thinggy-dooberry-stuff isn't somehow improved).
Could someone tell me whether or not Alistair Darling used the word "election"? It's the only one of my bets that I haven't caught up with either way.
ReplyDeleteAntifrank, I don't think (emphasizes the think) he did.
ReplyDeleteThat IMF prediction is terrifying.
ReplyDelete-4.1% this year and -0.4% next year. On the plus side, practically no one will have to pay 50% tax.
John O, thanks. Ah well, it was a 20-1 shot.
ReplyDeleteGabble.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy these forecasts. The most overextended countries do best on these numbers. I think it's another straight line extrapolation.
FWIW you can see the full table here
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2009/RES042209A.htm
New thread up here on PB2
ReplyDelete