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Talking Point /
Talking Point - Election 2010 |
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| Talking Point - Election 2010 |
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Monday 22nd March 2010 |
There could be just days to go until the Prime Minister sets the date for the General Election and people in North West Hampshire have been telling Andover Sound what they think about it.
For the last two months we've been asking users of andoversound.com to fill in an election questionnaire.
The data currently suggests that the local economy and jobs as well as transport and petrol prices seem to be the most important issues that will swing your votes.
But how many of us will actually go to the polls? Do you care about the election? If so what issues will you be thinking about when you cast your vote?
You can leave your comments below or click on the link to fill in our election questionnaire. |
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Sarah Evans of Andover says: |
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22:06 on Monday 3rd May 2010 |
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"Hi Graham, we've been out on the knocker day after day and we have tried to see as many people as possible. I'd be more than happy to come round and discuss the issues with you, if you let me know where you are. You can email me on sarahevanslabour@btinternet.com I'd be more than happy to speak to you." |
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Graham of Confused in my sitting room says: |
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19:45 on Sunday 2nd May 2010 |
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"It would seem that bar a few 30 second sound bites on various issues via Andover sound that the General Election seems to be passing by this backwater of NW Hampshire, with the prospect of a hung Parliament I was expecting if not hordes, at least a plethora of canvassers to be pushing my doorbell night after night calmouring for my all important vote, in fact there are three of us in this household, all unsure of who to vote for, but as yet not one candidate has bothered to come and tell us why we should vote for them, and I am begining to think, that if all they can be bothered to do is send me an A5 leaflet via our hardworking postman, I for one cannot be bothered to get out of my chair and vote for any of them on May 6th.
Or I am i having just another nightmare and the election is still months away ?
Roll on the revolution !!" |
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Derek of Artists Way says: |
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13:24 on Thursday 29th April 2010 |
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"@Linda: I'm not trying to oversimplify, but just to tell it like it is. You were a member of the campaign committee and were as exercised as any of us at the attempts to paint the campaign into a party-political corner. We have been accused variously of being a Labour front and a Lib Dem one, and of course you know as well as any of us that this was not true. You also know that there is a tradition of people standing as individuals for parish and town council elections (there are many people who are members of political parties around the country who do so, including Lib Dems, but the point is that they do not operate as a group or under a whip).
You were well aware that the campaign was going to stand candidates, and indeed you could have been one of them. It was of course your right to stand as a Lib Dem instead.
However, to have excluded people who campaigned passionately for a town council from standing as CATC candidates because they were also members of a political party would have been silly and perverse. The campaign has long said that its supporters come from across the political spectrum, and it remains the case, as you know, that in the main they are members of no party. As the Lib Dems and the Tories have decided to contest the election on straight party lines, it remains to be seen if we can end up with a town council that is not subsumed by narrow party politics. The point is that the people who campaigned for and won a town council for Andover are, in the main, standing as campaign candidates." |
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Linda Gates of Artists Way says: |
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19:23 on Wednesday 28th April 2010 |
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"Interesting comments Derek but you seem to be simplifying the situation somewhat. As a Lib Dem it would not be appropriate for me to stand under the Campaign for a Town Council banner. To do so would mislead the voters. You have said the campaign group is to be disbanded as soon as the election is over. If elected under your banner I would be a Lib Dem, not an independent. The same goes for the Labour party members in your group, they will no longer be part of the campaign for a Town council but will be Labour Party councillors. Don't you think the voters have a right to know this before the election?" |
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Derek of Artists' Way says: |
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22:34 on Saturday 24th April 2010 |
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"@'Ann Dover': Er, no, I'm not trying to kid anyone, but I suspect you're trying to kid yourself. It's a fact that most of the Campaign for an Andover Town Council's candidates (and we have more to come!) are not members of any political party. The strength of our campaign has always been precisely that it includes people from across the political spectrum: the only criterion for membership has been support for a town council. Many have tried to paint the campaign into some sort of party-political corner but have failed -- because it ain't true. We had a great meeting of our candidates the other night: there were people of all ages, from all backgrounds, community workers, volunteers, people with great ideas for our town - a world away from your crude attempt to smear. By contrast, we do have concerted attempts by two political parties to turn our town-council election into a straight party-political contest -- which of them do YOU support?" |
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Ann Dover of Harroway says: |
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12:48 on Thursday 22nd April 2010 |
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"Derek
Who are you trying to kid. You live with the Labour ppc and signed her nomination papers. You say your candidates are, in the main, not mmembers of political parties. Isn't the truth that apart from Labour party members and ex-communists you only have a hand full of real independants. Why not be honest and admit your political views before people vote for you. Perhaps if they knew the truth they wouldn't." |
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Robin Toates of Luggershall says: |
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14:10 on Wednesday 21st April 2010 |
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"@ MEssenger. i knw sum 1 hoo has 2 horsis they r nt bad animals dnt u fink we al no they cnt vote ? animals aint got a vote if they did they wuld vote the rrspca i also dnt fink 2 grand 4 a pedrigree horse aint bad" |
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Messenger of Andover says: |
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12:22 on Friday 16th April 2010 |
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"I know at least 5 people (1 x flaunting the benefit system and 4 x income tax fraud). The person flauting the benefit system has 3 horses! These would cost in excess of £550 pcm. How on earth can someone on benefits, in social housing and their partner being self employed afford this? Why do the majority on benefits have Sky tv packages? These items are luxuries and the tax-payer should NOT be paying for this!
The other 4 people I know are working and not being honest about their income. Two have cash in hand cleaning jos and should be giving HMR&C £800 per year in income tax and others are selling horses, sometimes making in excess of £2k profit per horse and not declaring this!
This is worth billions to us. How will the parties tackle these issues which would save our country a fortune and give the honest tax-payer peace of mind!" |
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Derek of Artists' Way says: |
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22:30 on Wednesday 14th April 2010 |
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"Good point Bill. I've been involved with the Campaign for an Andover Town Council from the start, and am astonished that the Tories and Lib Dems are treating the new town council like a mini borough election. Labour (and I'm NOT a member!) should be congratulated for keeping out. The best start for our new town council is for Campaign candidates -- who are in the main not members of any party -- to be elected on their promise to seek out the views of what Andoverians want their new council to do. The campaign has pledged to dissolve itself after the election, leaving any of its candidates elected to operate as independents." |
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Bill of Andover says: |
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16:37 on Monday 12th April 2010 |
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"Ok, never mind this big election thing thats going on. Why are the local Labour party not interested in Andover Town Council? Are they disguised as the "Campaign" folks? Come to that wht are the parties getting involved at parish council level anyway?" |
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nicky tamser of charlton says: |
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20:07 on Sunday 11th April 2010 |
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"vince,i would really like to know the lib dems view on the economy and immigration,because every time i see nick clegg on the telly all he ever does is disagree with labour and the conservatives,without coming up with anything constructive to say himself?" |
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Andrew Smith of Whitchurch says: |
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08:21 on Friday 9th April 2010 |
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"Come to Whitchurch next Tuesday for a hustings with a difference! See:
http://www.andoversound.com/pages/extranet/whitchurch---election-candidates-debate-i-5877.php.
This particular hustings in the North West Hampshire constituency is intended to focus on issues relating to global poverty and human rights, such as climate change and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Social Justice group at All Hallows church in Whitchurch, responding to an initiative from Christian Aid, have arranged this meeting in order to put on the election agenda issues which otherwise tend to get left out of the media coverage.
This is not to say that there aren't of course other subjects which concern local residents at this election, and people should of course feel free to question the candidates about these too.
For Christian Aid's election manifesto, see:
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/Images/ChristianAid2010ElectionManifesto.pdf.
- Andrew Smith, Deputy Choirmaster and Social Justice group coordinator, All Hallows Parish Church, Whitchurch.
" |
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Anon of Andover says: |
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20:30 on Wednesday 7th April 2010 |
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"Vince, what are the reasons we should vote for Lib Dems? I'll be very interested to hear what the Lib Dems would bring to the table that the other two parties wouldn't. Look foward to hearing your view" |
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Vince of Andover says: |
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19:22 on Wednesday 7th April 2010 |
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"wasnt hiding the fact. Brave enough to say who I am and what I believe in. " |
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Bill of Andover says: |
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22:17 on Tuesday 6th April 2010 |
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"Day 1 ends and I'm bored with Sky News prattling on already. Why can we not just get down the polling booth and cast a vote. They've been broadcasting their intended polices for weeks now - what else can they tell us?
On another note - well done UKIP for being the first leaflet through the door!" |
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Anon of Andover says: |
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21:35 on Friday 2nd April 2010 |
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"Cor blimey Vince! Is that maybe because you were a Liberal Democrat candidate? Your party is just as bad as the main two" |
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Vince of Andover says: |
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19:07 on Friday 2nd April 2010 |
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"looks like people have forgotton what the tories did for us last time or should i say didnt do for us. i watched the debate between the chancellors the other night and the clear winner by miles was Vince Cable, so i will be voting lib dem." |
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Richie Madisun of Andover says: |
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13:21 on Thursday 25th March 2010 |
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"Why would I look at his previously posted messages? Im not the nut job stalker. People who believe the BNP are a credable political party are deluded. The main 2 have screwed the UK but surely the BNP is not the way forward!!" |
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Victor Meldrew of Artists Way says: |
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15:30 on Wednesday 24th March 2010 |
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"Richie, if you cared to look at comments made in previous topics, you would see that Mr Toates is supposedly dyslexic, would you care to continue mocking people with lesser disabilities than yourself in 'the English language'? Firstly, grammer is of importance in our language, make an example, you clearly cannot. Plus, what exactly is the 'type' of person who supports the retched BNP? Example please. Enlighten us, you lead the way. " |
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nicky tamser of charlton says: |
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13:50 on Wednesday 24th March 2010 |
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"i thought this was a talking point about the upcoming general election,not an i can spell with great grammer better than you contest,i will be voting conservative (i suppose i'm a certain person as well ritchie)as i have had enough of the job the labour government has done in the last 13 years,they should have had a general election as soon as tony blair stood down,as people voted for a government under tony blair and not gordon brown in 2005" |
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Richie Madisun of Andover says: |
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12:43 on Wednesday 24th March 2010 |
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"Victor, I dont think you can equate my punctuation errors in the same vein as Robins use of the english language. Thanks for the concern anyway. All I was implying is that BNP supporters (in my opinion) are a certain type of person." |
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nicky tamser of charlton says: |
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11:22 on Wednesday 24th March 2010 |
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"sorry sigmund,i meant "a" level spelling" |
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nicky tamser of charlton says: |
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11:19 on Wednesday 24th March 2010 |
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"so sigmund,do you think that's right to take the mickey of someone with a disability?before you ask, i know the toates' very well,how would you feel sigmund,if you had a disability and everyone took the pee out of you,what do you want robin to do?ask his parents to type for him,or has he has dyslexia do you think he should keep his opionions to himself,not everyone has a level spelling " |
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Sigmund of Andover says: |
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09:24 on Wednesday 24th March 2010 |
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"I don't think Robin is for real. He probably has university degrees in English, Art and Psychology. It takes a real artist and a lot of practice to write like that. Try, it, it's not easy or should I say 'Triyet, its nut eezee'. See, what I mean, Robin is much better at it than I am." |
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Robin Toates of Luggershall says: |
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07:58 on Wednesday 24th March 2010 |
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"@ victor. yeh i 4 real. i lick talkin bout fings that r importint 2 me. fanks 4 yer consern" |
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Robin Toates of Luggershall says: |
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07:56 on Wednesday 24th March 2010 |
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"wot do ya meen by that riche ? gordan brown is terrybil wiv his writing nd speling he evn wrot 2 a soldjers mum wiv the rong name on it nd crossd it out nd sed he dint meen no harm. all walks of lif hav peeps dat r rubbisch spellers nd writers. thers nuffin wrong wiv me sportin the bnp dey wil do well in the genril lecsion cuz they wil luk afta british peeps nd we ned a strong leeder not lick dat dave camron who is a snub" |
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Andover Sound Fan of Andover says: |
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00:47 on Wednesday 24th March 2010 |
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"The whole lot of them make empty 'promises' and are a waste of space. It's all about money - them getting richer and us getting poorer. End of." |
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Victor Meldrew of Artists Way says: |
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21:25 on Tuesday 23rd March 2010 |
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"Richie, take a look at your own comment, before judging others. Your punctuality is dreadful. Robin, are you for real? The BNP are the evil of politics. " |
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Richie Madisun of Andover says: |
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13:08 on Tuesday 23rd March 2010 |
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"Robin, from the way you write your comments on here i could've guessed you'd be a supporter of the BNP ! " |
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Robin Toates of Luggershall says: |
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06:15 on Tuesday 23rd March 2010 |
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"sorry i ment 2 say vote blu whit nd red " |
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Robin Toates of Luggershall says: |
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06:13 on Tuesday 23rd March 2010 |
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"wot we ned is the bnp becuz they the only parti 2 say wot they thinck. i saw nik grifin on the bbc questchun time nd i fought he woz pikt on they wer lick a pak of horses nd wer bullyin him. why cnt we al just get along ? they wuld sort owt al dis banckin malarki nd wuld want the british peeps cum first not the not so much british peeps. they wuld also sort out the tempin jobs they wuld put our monney up cuz i cnt liv on pennees. they wuld sort out al the old peeps nd giv them betta howsing wiv betta toylets. vote blu white nd blak !" |
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Jeremiah of Andover says: |
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20:43 on Monday 22nd March 2010 |
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"Crikey, Sarah, you must have been reading up a bit. I don't think you'll get any money out of the bankers, certainly the MPs won't press for it, they're hand in hand with them anyway. And the Labour ones are worse than the Tories. Look at the latest thing with Stephen Byers and Mr Brown says there's no case to answer; can you credit it? It would be different if you were a self-employed window cleaner and you'd fiddled a few expenses on some extra cloths or buckets, HMRC would hound you for that into the grave but if you're big enough you can get away with anything. I agree that we could save some money by strategic cuts on things that aren't neccesary. Do you know, all the retired British ex-pats in Australia who've paid anything in National Insurance while they were over here, get a winter fuel alowance at Christmas. Just imagine it, at Christmas in Australia it's about 100 degrees, what do they want with a winter fuel allowance? I suppose the same thing happens for any other country the Brits have gone to. Don't you think they could cut that out?" |
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Sarah of Andover says: |
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12:43 on Monday 22nd March 2010 |
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"Jeremiah, why do any of them need to make cuts? Why should we - working people, pensioners and students pay for the unregulated global mess that a group of bankers got us into?
Why should the bankers get their bonuses?
Rather than making cuts we could use their bonuses for working people, small business loans, pensioners and students.
Then what about s[censored]ping trident - that would save up to £130bn, implementing the robin hood tax on could raise $400bn globally, increasing HMRC staff again to ensure the £11bn of unpaid and evaded tax is paid and ensuring big multi-national pay the tax they should could raise loads: all could be invested in our public services, house building to home the 1.8million people waiting for a home, and climage jobs.
What about the energy companies? Centrica walked away with £1.86bn in operating profits while for just £300m we could extend winter fuel payments to the most vulnerable in society: cancer patients, young families living on the bread line and of course pensioners. This could stop another 36,700 people dying of cold related illnesses.
Banks need to work out who they are there to serve , us or themselves. They need to start lending to small business. Leading economists said in the Times that UK debt is not out of control and another said cutting earlier will do more damage. This is obvious because cuts mean unemployment which equal less tax in the gov coffers, more money out in benefits and less investment by private companies because of less demand..." |
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Jeremiah of Andover says: |
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08:18 on Monday 22nd March 2010 |
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"The country's walking a financial tightrope with a run on the pound likely at any time and the subsequent need to raise interest rates. Whichever party wins, it will need to take draconian measures to rein in the debt and is likely to be the most unpopular government ever within 12 months. Does any party really want to win this one or are they secretly hoping the other will get the job? It's just a case of into which side of the political abyss you'd rather plunge. Good start eh?" |
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Jeremiah of Andover says: |
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08:10 on Monday 22nd March 2010 |
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"The country's walking a financial tightrope with a likely run on the pound always in the offing and a need to raise interest rates drastically. Whichever party's elected is going to have to take draconian measures to rein in the debt and will likely be the most unpopular government ever within 12 months. Does any party really want the job or are they secretly hoping the other will win? Which side of the political abyss do we want to plunge? " |
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