Barack Obama @BarackObama As we grieve the children of Uvalde today, we should take time to recognize that two years have passed since the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer. His killing stays with us all to this day, especially those who loved him.
Here in Queensland, Australia, our beloved Premier of the state has said that electricity prices will rise dramatically next month, because .... get this, " global uncertainty ". Can you believe that? What the fudge is global uncertainty? Why should what's happening around the world affect out home made electricity, prices? To soften the blow, she is offering $150 voucher to, her those who need it most! What a piece of crap she is! Honestly, she would give Empson Salts the sh!ts. I can't remember a more despised politician. Ok, rant over ......................
Have to say, as much as I'm generally very unimpressed with this Government, they seem to have really stepped up with this latest support package. Even people like Martin Lewis can't find any fault with it. Credit where credit is due.
It’s welcome, my only question mark would be why absolutely everyone, including Sunak with his £750m, should get the £400 when some clearly don’t need it. Surely a tapered level of grant, reducing by steps from full for all those in fuel poverty (which I think would be every household with less than £28k income) until you reach an income of, say, £50k, would have left more for those in most need? I know the poorest will get more help as well, perhaps I haven’t understood it properly. While I am reluctant to beg for more tax we have just received the original £150 grant, which was based on Council Tax band, These bands are ludicrously out of date, so I benefit because I live in a terraced house which would have been completely unmodernised when first assessed….. If you have 2 (or more) houses do you get a grant for every home - it’s defined as ‘every household with an energy bill’?
$350 payment for anyone over 18 earning less than 70 grand announced here Both my kids will get it whereas the people actually spending money. On stuff other than pot in my house get nothing
As I said earlier, overall it's rather good, and certainly welcome. They deserve credit for doing it (finally), but the fact that they did it so reluctantly and after stating over and over how ideologically opposed they were, rather takes the shine off. The timing stinks, too.
Its certainly better than where we were last week when they unanimously voted against it. It could well be too little too late for many people. Rather than all the complications of these payments, surely it would have been easier to force a reasonable price cap on energy and force a reduction at the pumps. My fuel bill has over doubled per week from this time 4 months ago. Its shocking
Quite funny how many Tories are outraged at the Windfall Tax (sorry, Energy Profits Levy). Conservative MP Richard Drax told the Commons: “Can I warn (Rishi Sunak) that throwing red meat to socialists by raising taxes on businesses and telling them where to invest their money is not the Conservative way of encouraging those who create our prosperity and jobs to do just that" This from a man whose own vast wealth comes from his slaver ancestors. A 2020 investigation by The Guardian found that Richard Drax still owns and grows sugar on the same Drax Hall Estate in Barbados that made the family's fortune. Over 200 years, 30,000 slaves died at this and the other Drax plantations, according to Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Chair of CARICOM 's Reparations Commission. Tories, eh?
The truly ridiculous thing about it is that he turns 18 and a few days later the shooter walks in and buys an assault rifle. But hey that's ok. The reaction is? To discuss arming teachers!! Haven't seen any criticism of the shopkeeper who sold this without asking any questions at all. Control by the state, as here would not in itself guarantee that criminals (DT's so-called 'bad people' every American has a right to protect him and his loved ones from) couldn't get hold of them. But it would go a long way towards dealing with the loners who have massive chips on their shoulders
Agreed. Who was it in the Opposition parties who first suggested it while Sunak et al talked about the dangers of distracting the executives who might get annoyed and pull out of the UK or not invest in research because we were telling them to play nicely and share?
Just to play Devil’s advocate, isn’t this short term cash injection not just kicking the can down the road? Not for a second suggesting it’s not welcome, but what’s the answer in the longer term? Is there any expectation that energy bills will come down ?
It's the right thing to do because needs must, but it doesn't come without a price. A windfall tax won't pay for much. Money must be borrowed or printed to pay for it, so it will shove up inflation.
Yes, I think every home gets it. As I understand it, means testing etc would have been hellishly difficult and complicated. Anyone who doesn't want it can donate it wherever they see fit. Pensioners get extra, as do those on benefits etc. I cannot ever remember any government handing out so much financial help. Seems a bit churlish to try to find faults. There's plenty of faults elsewhere for sure.
