skybluetony176
Well-Known Member
I’ll just leave this here
Yep the "PM in waiting" was once again out of his depth when not reading a prepared script from an autocueSunak's not having a good day. Car crash interview on BBC Breakfast this morning. Amazes me how often members of government show up on TV with no clue how to answer questions it must have been obvious they were going to be asked.
It's been a saturated sector for a while now .
Quite a few failures prior to this .
One of the hopes of local authorities trying to drive a recovery in City centres but failing I think.
I heard Sunak on the radio, he's useless, style over substance. Anybody impressed by him is part of the problem.
There is absolutely no recognition of the reasons why people aren't spending, no attempt at all to address these. To assume that the public is using restaurants due to cost just exposes the Tory underlying philosophy.
Poor business models, opening way too many restaurants (wasting a load on capex in leasehold premises ! - see Jamies Italian !) in poor locations, next to direct competitors. A mixture of greed and stupidity
I heard Sunak on the radio, he's useless, style over substance. Anybody impressed by him is part of the problem.
There is absolutely no recognition of the reasons why people aren't spending, no attempt at all to address these. To assume that the public is using restaurants due to cost just exposes the Tory underlying philosophy.
Possibly a little unfair Fernando. I’m guessing it’s partly trying to encourage those wavering about whether to stop in or go out (many are just in a stay in and get a deliveroo/take away routine now) to take the plunge and also encouraging people to go on nights they wouldn’t ordinarily (I think the vouchers are Mon - Weds) to help plug some of the turnover gap for quieter part of the week. There’s been plenty of gov fuck ups during the outbreak but a lot of the financials assistance to businesses is reasonably thought out
Ps they can’t win to some extent though as others on here were calling for a cheque to go to every household to spend on whatever they want. Would’ve been crazy (in my view) in comparison with the furlough scheme for the reasons you’re highlighting and if you’re trying to keep people in work so they can get the economy going as soon as possible (when date)
Hague was a far better local MP for his constituency.I heard Sunak on the radio, he's useless, style over substance.
I would still stand by the idea that a short term UBI would have been a simpler way of ensuring that nobody ‘fell through the cracks’ to be fair. Though not necessarily as a cheque but in the form of a debit card only usable at certain places, vouchers for shops etc as was mooted in the States.
Yep, Giving people what is in effect a groupon voucher when group on vouchers exist ism't really going to help. It's also likely to just move weekend trade from Weekends to the start of the week. HMRC don't think it will be good value for money either.
As you say it would of better to have a UBI even if it was a 1 off amount as that would actually create demand/
I heard Sunak on the radio, he's useless, style over substance. Anybody impressed by him is part of the problem.
There is absolutely no recognition of the reasons why people aren't spending, no attempt at all to address these. To assume that the public is using restaurants due to cost just exposes the Tory underlying philosophy.
I would still stand by the idea that a short term UBI would have been a simpler way of ensuring that nobody ‘fell through the cracks’ to be fair. Though not necessarily as a cheque but in the form of a debit card only usable at certain places, vouchers for shops etc as was mooted in the States.
I'm still not convinced UBI would do nothing but increase inflation as companies know that that extra money is there and will try and get as much of it as possible. Plus giving it in terms of vouchers isn't necessarily going to help those struggling with rent, rates, utilities etc. If you're the type of person spending in shops when struggling to put food on the table vouchers to spend in shops isn't going to do anything to change that behaviour and chances are they'd just end up buying more and still having the problem.
So to stop people falling through the cracks it needs to be spent on those things that make them fall through the cracks, like utility bills. But does that then just become an extension of things like housing benefit with a bit of a rebrand? Plus it still doesn't help with the issue of companies hiking prices.
Nah, UBI done properly would claw back excess wealth from those who don’t need it and increase spending at the bottom on essentials. And besides isn’t the entire point of capitalism that that sort of price fixing isn’t possible?
Putting money into the working classes won’t be inflationary, unless you think they already meet all their basic needs.
I'm still not convinced UBI would do nothing but increase inflation as companies know that that extra money is there and will try and get as much of it as possible. Plus giving it in terms of vouchers isn't necessarily going to help those struggling with rent, rates, utilities etc. If you're the type of person spending in shops when struggling to put food on the table vouchers to spend in shops isn't going to do anything to change that behaviour and chances are they'd just end up buying more and still having the problem.
So to stop people falling through the cracks it needs to be spent on those things that make them fall through the cracks, like utility bills. But does that then just become an extension of things like housing benefit with a bit of a rebrand? Plus it still doesn't help with the issue of companies hiking prices.
Some of that is down to the country basing an economy on inflated commercial and domestic property values rather than productive investment. I see no signs from Sunak (Stamp Duty holiday anybody?) that he recognises this issue.
Don’t disagree and in the past, at least, rampant credit card backed consumerism !
Cant blame the individuals for going into debt when you suppress wages for decades.
I was quite impressed when the rumours started flying around about high street vouchers for £500 for adults and £250 for children started flying around on Tuesday. Here’s why John Lewis and Boots to cut 5,300 jobs the day after it’s revealed there’s little help for the high street Boots and John Lewis announces major job losses and store closures. Coincidence I’m sure. Nothing yesterday for the high street. I think the Mirror summed it up best, we were promised a new deal and got a meal deal.
Nah, UBI done properly would claw back excess wealth from those who don’t need it and increase spending at the bottom on essentials. And besides isn’t the entire point of capitalism that that sort of price fixing isn’t possible?
Putting money into the working classes won’t be inflationary, unless you think they already meet all their basic needs.
Possibly still the same issue with people on higher salaries, wages reduced by inflation but trying to maintain a standard of living they'd come accustomed to.Agree when people can’t afford the basics Shmmeee but I’ve known and seen plenty of people on great salaries racking up personal debt, living well beyond their means, it happens.
Agree when people can’t afford the basics Shmmeee but I’ve known and seen plenty of people on great salaries racking up personal debt, living well beyond their means, it happens.
I guess there have been finance schemes in some form since day one .
For the big spends .
Thatcher exacerbated things in the modern era expanding to five years from three on things such as beds or fridges etc .
Doubt she's been alone in those relaxations.
I' not convinced it won't have an inflationary effect. If capitalism worked properly we wouldn't need the likes of OFCOM, OFGEM to step in would we? Since we've brought the free market into a number of services we've not seen price increases stagnate or slow down.
Plus it's universal - everyone gets it regardless of wealth and income. It would be 'worth' more proportionally to the poorer but it's still not clawing back excess wealth.
You could have the argument that if this replaces the PA then those with higher incomes end up paying more tax which does that but when you take into account the effective tax rates of the very wealthy who can access tax havens and top accountants the larger burden will be on the middle. So you might close the gap between the poor and the middle but pushing the poor up slightly and the middle down, but the wealthy are relatively unscathed and the main issue with wealth disparity gets worse.
I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea or any worse than what we do now, but I don't think it's going to be this great solution some seem to think it will be. Minimum/Living wage was supposed to be a big leveller and its effect has been minimal. More people requiring food banks etc than ever before.
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