Do you want to discuss boring politics? (17 Viewers)

wingy

Well-Known Member
When are the BOE going to speak, usually get a clue about middle of the month don't we? Get in line with the others FFS!
 

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
Quite simply the rate they normally go around middle of month,if we were exporting it's currently high compared to the other rates out there?
But why are you so fixated about BoE rate? Do you have a regular wager On it? Do you hope it will go down so that mortgages are cheaper and house prices will increase?
 

Nick

Administrator
What's the deal with the pensions? Are they planning to start taking some from my employers contribution?
 

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
Rumour is about cutting the tax free lump sum you can take out I think.
Another one is putting NI on employer’s contributions. Additional cost to employers so the thinking is they may reduce the amount they contribute leading to lower pensions. Gordon Brown mk 2.

Could lead to reduction in jobs or increased prices for goods and services.

I have read that cutting the lump sum could be challenged legally, people would have made long term decisions based on the expected lump sum - e.g. paying off mortgages.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Another one is putting NI on employer’s contributions. Additional cost to employers so the thinking is they may reduce the amount they contribute leading to lower pensions. Gordon Brown mk 2.

Could lead to reduction in jobs or increased prices for goods and services.

I have read that cutting the lump sum could be challenged legally, people would have made long term decisions based on the expected lump sum - e.g. paying off mortgages.

Don’t we have some of the lowest employer contribution levels in Europe? I’d reverse the NI cut but they’ve backed themselves into a corner on tax.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
They certainly did, especially as it had increased to contribute to changes to social care cap which Labour have now dropped - another attack on pensioners.

That would be the cap they delayed for a decade then planned for after they left office?

I think it falls in same bucket as the NI cuts TBH. Just more vandalism.

Care needs fixing though. It’s destroying poor councils, some spending upwards of three quarters of their budget on care alone. It’s devastating families and driving immigration. Sadly the best we’ve heard so far is another “commission”, so nothing.
 

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
That would be the cap they delayed for a decade then planned for after they left office?

I think it falls in same bucket as the NI cuts TBH. Just more vandalism.

Care needs fixing though. It’s destroying poor councils, some spending upwards of three quarters of their budget on care alone. It’s devastating families and driving immigration. Sadly the best we’ve heard so far is another “commission”, so nothing.
I imagine at the time that they hoped somewhere in the dim recesses of their mind to still be in office. But yes, agreed.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
That would be the cap they delayed for a decade then planned for after they left office?

I think it falls in same bucket as the NI cuts TBH. Just more vandalism.

Care needs fixing though. It’s destroying poor councils, some spending upwards of three quarters of their budget on care alone. It’s devastating families and driving immigration. Sadly the best we’ve heard so far is another “commission”, so nothing.
Just spend the fucking money and stop worrying about fiscal rules, the whole debate is based on a false premise

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CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
Just spend the fucking money and stop worrying about fiscal rules, the whole debate is based on a false premise

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Depends what your false premise is

As explained before, the markets will dictate the cost of borrowing, if they don’t consider the spending/tax proposals are sensible we will have to pay more in interest to fund the deficit.

If you’re borrowing costs and deficit increases you have to print more money, if you print more, you debase the currency ie everyone gets less for their pound

If it’s borrowing to invest I think it will be accepted/fine, if it’s borrowing to cover an increasing day to day running cost deficit, borrowing costs will rise and the situation snowballs from there ie without sufficient growth the cost of servicing government debt keeps increasing as a percentage of gdp…which leads to more printing…and around we go
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
The markets do not dictate anything - the government chooses to sell them bonds, it does not need to. It can set the rate and if they don't want to buy them, they can go elsewhere for the rock solid government backed investment denominated in £ - where they going for it?
 

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
The markets do not dictate anything - the government chooses to sell them bonds, it does not need to. It can set the rate and if they don't want to buy them, they can go elsewhere for the rock solid government backed investment denominated in £ - where they going for it?

Where do they go ? You have to print money 🤷‍♂️

Of course the markets dictate the borrowing rates of governments otherwise everyone would borrow at the same rate
 

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
Interesting read from last week


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Yeah, saw it last week and I agree with the overriding sentiment ie that Reeves shouldn’t allow the markets to dictate policy but I believe the article is really talking about investment/growth spending

‘Such plans will never be welcomed by the bond market. This is partly because more public investment is likely to mean a greater supply of gilts. But it is mostly because more investment will boost economic growth. This is anathema to bond investors. Paradoxically, such an acceleration is exactly what Britain needs if it is to move on to the path to long-term fiscal sustainability — a cause that they like to champion.’

I want us to borrow to invest, if we can’t improve growth and productivity we’re fucked. My biggest concern about the budget currently is that the focus on growth will be watered down and some policies may discourage investment. However i was saying you can’t just spend whatever you want and if the day to day running cost deficit is not seen to be controlled we will end up paying a lot more to fund the deficit and we’d ultimately have to print more…which debases currency etc etc

ultimately it will come down to how well the government spends ‘our’ money
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Yeah, saw it last week and I agree with the overriding sentiment ie that Reeves shouldn’t allow the markets to dictate policy but I believe the article is really talking about investment/growth spending

‘Such plans will never be welcomed by the bond market. This is partly because more public investment is likely to mean a greater supply of gilts. But it is mostly because more investment will boost economic growth. This is anathema to bond investors. Paradoxically, such an acceleration is exactly what Britain needs if it is to move on to the path to long-term fiscal sustainability — a cause that they like to champion.’

I want us to borrow to invest, if we can’t improve growth and productivity we’re fucked. My biggest concern about the budget currently is that the focus on growth will be watered down and some policies may discourage investment. However i was saying you can’t just spend whatever you want and if the day to day running cost deficit is not seen to be controlled we will end up paying a lot more to fund the deficit and we’d ultimately have to print more…which debases currency etc etc

ultimately it will come down to how well the government spends ‘our’ money

Im really worried they think they can fix this with tinkering around the edges. Planning reform so far has been a bit of a damp squib, some good stuff but nothing truly radical, I worry the investment strategy will be the same and at best we’ll get a load of overpriced PFI projects.
 

MalcSB

Well-Known Member
Yeah, saw it last week and I agree with the overriding sentiment ie that Reeves shouldn’t allow the markets to dictate policy but I believe the article is really talking about investment/growth spending

‘Such plans will never be welcomed by the bond market. This is partly because more public investment is likely to mean a greater supply of gilts. But it is mostly because more investment will boost economic growth. This is anathema to bond investors. Paradoxically, such an acceleration is exactly what Britain needs if it is to move on to the path to long-term fiscal sustainability — a cause that they like to champion.’

I want us to borrow to invest, if we can’t improve growth and productivity we’re fucked. My biggest concern about the budget currently is that the focus on growth will be watered down and some policies may discourage investment. However i was saying you can’t just spend whatever you want and if the day to day running cost deficit is not seen to be controlled we will end up paying a lot more to fund the deficit and we’d ultimately have to print more…which debases currency etc etc

ultimately it will come down to how well the government spends ‘our’ money
Is the bond market what screwed Trussenomics?
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Is the bond market what screwed Trussenomics?

Id argue massive unfunded ongoing commitments screwed Truss, pinning it all on getting growth or bust. The left equivalent would be massive pay rises to public sector staff above inflation or market demand or creation of the national care service.

If Reeves does what she’s been claiming to want to do it’s capital borrowing so at least isn’t promising more spending in perpetuity and people are generally more aligned that what’s holding Britain back is infrastructure not the tax system so growth more likely.

That would be my hope anyway. Markets not always the most rational tho.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
Is the bond market what screwed Trussenomics?

It has to be looked at in context, inflation was at 10% already by the time of that budget and Truss was at the same time underwriting the energy suppliers who represented a core underpinning driver. She also failed to engage with the bodies who manage the other implications of increased government spending.
 

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
Is the bond market what screwed Trussenomics?

Yeah, as FP mentioned though, various things at play including her ignoring trusted institutions/bodies (edit - meant OBR) said at the time that while I/we all thought Truss was a bit of a nutter (she is), the power/control of the markets and influence of unappointed institutions over policy should be a cause for concern for all, whoever people support, as to some extent, they seemingly tie the hands of democratically elected governments.

Ive no doubt it’s at least part of the reason why Reeves appears overly/too cautious in her approach.

Ultimately a lot of the stuff is still subjective ie what will lead to further growth and investment, how much etc. spending plans are also tied to economic forecasts and as we’ve seen in recent years a lot have been way off (BoE and others consistently shambolic !)
 
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