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The disappointing thing about 2008 is that the Primatives warned us it was coming years before.

Not making any personal point. :)

On University Challenge last night they played a Sex Pistols song as the starter and they had to name the band - not so difficult. They then played 3 songs by bands that were inspired by that famous Manchester gig: Buzzcocks, The Fall and Joy Division. I was amazed that the team got all of...

It would have to be "17 Seconds" by the Cure - and it didn't let me down, if anything it was better than "Three Imaginary Boys". Or "Sleep No More" by the Comsat Angels, which IMO is not as good as "Waiting for a Miracle".

Just my opinion - but it's daft to make a decision never to vote for a party again. The parties are just made of individuals and over 5-10 years (and sometimes instantly) there is a complete change in the people in any position of control. It's better IMO to assess the situation every time you...

Here's a joke that was doing the rounds some months ago: A Spaniard an Italian and a Greek go into a bar and order a round of drinks. Which one pays? Answer: the German.

Tony and Astute will you please stop arguing about FX rates. You know that you love each other really! If my wife and I were arguing about FX rates my daughter would knock our heads together and tell us to stop being so petty. Come on guys - time to move onto interest rates methinks. x

It's the 10th now. I'm just glad you didn't comment on the time of day - would have made this exercise much more demanding.

Don't get too worked up about the FX rate at this point Tony. It was inevitable and we're playing the long game. I was always certain that GBP would weaken and the markets would fall immediately on a Leave vote. This is a medium to long term gamble. The gamble to Remain had short term with...

I did the maths on a piece of paper, using algebra to avoid specifics. My statements above are based on that alone. Is it the word "crashed" you object to? I agree that it's rather emotive. If we change that to the the factual statement that "the pound has recently *fallen* against most...

I agree: 1) What is weighing on the UK is uncertainty and nothing else. 2) Being cocksure one way or the other is daft - we don't know. I voted Leave as the lesser of two evils but it was a close call and I won't be surprised if it goes badly (we should judge this in 5 years time after it all...

You are both right and neither of you is thick. If the imports are denominated in USD and USD strengthens, the price of exports to the US decreases which will increase sales (or permit you to increase profit margin). Similarly, domestic sales price increases and sales will drop (or reduce...

Easy, they sell at a loss.

Entirely because that option had been denied to the Coalition by Gordon Brown's debt spree.

Really? I'm not aware of Keynes being considered a left wing idea - indeed it all makes perfect sense to me. My perception is just that we should be spending now but cannot given the debt in 2010. What makes you think it is a left wing idea that's branded as radical?

Do you mean the Keynesian Economics that recommends saving during boom and spending during recession? The Keynesian Economics that Ed Balls called for in 2010? The Keynesian Economics that Balls ignored along with Brown when he was increasing the deficit (the rate of change of the debt - not...

They are both reasonable positions based on conjecture on what may happen IMO. If the country does slide into recession and investment in business declines, then interest rates must fall to regenerate growth. However if the weakening pound sets in causing inflation then interest rates must...

The issue isn't about factions - it's about an extremist having the reins of a major political party. If we had a nut job Right Winger at the head of the Tories it would be just as bad. Whether the politics of this country have moved Right must surely be a perception from where your opinion...

I think the nature of this kind of extremism is that he's already harnessed every single person who agrees with him - I've never met an unenthusiastic Militant; they are all now party members. Labour will always get a number of other votes from people who vote on brand but I cannot see them...

You started it... A strong moral compass? The man is a fuckwit. He supported the IRA. He supported terrorists in the Middle East and God knows where. He's anti-everything and like all extremists but hasn't got a positive word to say about anything. He understands nothing about economics -...