Off Topic Politics Thread

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davecg69 said:
Our energy bills are nothing to do with the war in Ukraine! We get 4% of our gas from Russia!
The prices are all about the companies realising that Europe needs the gas, so they’re floggingbit back to them at high prices and making obscene profits. At the same time, as we have no storage any longer (shut down by the Tories) we’ll be buying it back at inflated prices in the winter, so they’re just buttering us up and preparing us.
Now, Mistrust is going to “find” £100 billion or thereabouts to “lend” us to help the energy bills in the short term. This money will have to be paid back, but, no doubt, it will be championed by the right wing media as a superb help …. Then a quick election so the sheep voters will return them to power ….. if they get in again, I will move abroad - I couldn’t stand to see another term of these lying, cheating crooks …..
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I posted the following a few days ago, which explains how energy companies, that produce energy comparatively cheaply, are allowed to sell it at the same price as a company that produces it at a vastly higher rate, which means there most definitely is scope to reduce the cost of energy. If the government wants to protect the companies that are forcing the high prices, then that should be THEIR responsibility and not the responsibility of the consumer. My utilities were supplied by Octopus, all from renewable sources, which meant that my prices were inflated, if they were selling it to me at the same price as the energy being generated by companies using gas.


San Tejón said:
This guy reckons Gas and Electricity prices could be reduced by 40% & 65% respectively, by a change of law. It also exposes how the country is paying way over the odds for renewable energy and nuclear energy.

“The UK has many ways to generate electricity – renewables, nuclear, coal, hydro and gas. Most are used, except coal, which is now only for emergencies.

The price of generating electricity varies greatly. Gas at current spot market prices costs about £611 per megawatt hour (MWh).

Nuclear is about £60 per MWh, hydro £50, and £50 to £140 for on and offshore wind and solar.

The electricity delivered to our houses is from a mix of all these sources. Bizarrely, that’s not how the wholesale price is set here.

It is decided on “marginal costing”, which works against consumers’ interests right now.

It means the wholesale energy price is set so the most expensive producer can make a profit from the sales they make into the wholesale energy market.

Gas produced electricity is the most expensive to produce – and likely to remain so for a long time. Its manufacturing cost, plus a fair profit margin, sets the wholesale price for all electricity, however it is generated.

It also means nuclear, hydro and renewables producers are paid the price that the gas generators get. This makes no sense at all.

Profits for nuclear and renewables companies, who usually make more than half of UK electricity, increase dramatically, and unnecessarily when a marginal costing price setting model is used to suit gas generators.

There is an added twist. Many renewable producers have contracts essentially fixing their prices, with Government taking on the risk of variation.

Excess electricity profits of nuclear producers on fixed-price contracts – due to prices based on the cost of gas production – go to the Government. A little-known fact. There is also a pricing problem in the gas market.

The UK meets about half its gas needs, the rest is bought internationally at a price we can’t control.

Yet the energy regulation system lets UK produced gas be sold at the international price for onward supply to UK consumers, again massively increasing the profits of UK gas producing firms wholly unnecessarily, and solely because of the pricing model used.

The talk is a windfall tax could correct this. But that ignores that many problems we face have been created by dire regulation. The Government could change that regulation – as the EU is said to be considering.

Instead of all producers, whether of gas or electricity, being paid the price of the highest cost supplier they received their own fair marginal cost of production and a reasonable profit.

Then, presume the energy regulator priced the onward supply of wholesale gas and electricity to the energy distribution companies on the basis of the actual cost to produce (including fair profit) of the gas and electricity actually sold into the market each day.

For much of the renewables and nuclear sector this will not be hard because of the Government price guarantees already in place.

For gas, all you need is to mix internationally priced gas with UK produced gas at its fair price of production.

The law would have to change. The resulting yelling, screaming and legal threats from energy companies would have to be ignored because customers can no longer afford UK energy prices.

This is a national emergency. We suspended existing laws for Covid and we could certainly do it now.

Broadly speaking gas prices may fall by 40% and electricity by 65%.

This move would not solve all the energy problems overnight. The remaining prices are still problematic and huge reforms to the market would still be needed. But there would be instant cuts in energy costs saving household budgets, businesses and many lives.

It would mean a reduction in inflation and the pressure for state interventions to save households, pubic services and businesses.

We need courageous politicians willing to change the rules. I live in hope that this might happen but I’m not holding my breath.”

• Richard Murphy is a chartered accountant and campaigner. He blogs at taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/ and tweets @RICHARDJMURPHY.
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San Tejón said:
I posted the following a few days ago, which explains how energy companies, that produce energy comparatively cheaply, are allowed to sell it at the same price as a company that produces it at a vastly higher rate, which means there most definitely is scope to reduce the cost of energy. If the government wants to protect the companies that are forcing the high prices, then that should be THEIR responsibility and not the responsibility of the consumer. My utilities were supplied by Octopus, all from renewable sources, which meant that my prices were inflated, if they were selling it to me at the same price as the energy being generated by companies using gas.
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There are def things that can be done. But ultimately the energy sector is about to collapse.

Just like Lehman bro’s in 2008, except this time in the energy industry. Apparently is a huge amount of margin calls going out onto energy firms. This could cause the collapse of the energy markets.

This will then mean the government will have to bail the sector out, meaning more inflation and price rises for us. Also still won’t fix the underlying problem of too little supply of energy.

Proper **** storm incoming. Like i said, for all the emotion of protecting Ukraine, when the rubber hits the road I don’t think it is worth a financial collapse in Europe.
 
I like this photo, with the report that Cassie was “giggling” as she shook hands with this military man. Her demeanour is like that of a teenager meeting a boy she fancies, IMO. I think the look on Johnson’s face tells it’s own story.
When’s the divorce?

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San Tejón said:
I like this photo, with the report that Cassie was “giggling” as she shook hands with this military man. Her demeanour is like that of a teenager meeting a boy she fancies, IMO. I think the look on Johnson’s face tells it’s own story.
When’s the divorce?

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More like, when’s the body getting washed up in the river?
 
How can this country end up with someone as utterly stupid as Truss as PM? Before she got the job, she demonstrated her lack of diplomacy by alienating the French, our closest neighbours who she doesn`t trust, and the Scots, who`s leader she wants to ignore and avoid having another independence referendum. Sturgeon meantime has made the right noises by saying she`ll try to have a productive relationship with Truss. Truss already has no respect abroad and is known as the `iron weathercock` because she can`t stick to her principles. Yesterday during her wooden speech outside No10, she lavished praise on BJ, who was booted out by her party as his position was untenable. All while her cuckolded husband looked on like a spare part, like a complete stranger. She blames our current situation entirely on Putin and COVID, as if the last 12 years of Tory misrule and Brexit never happened.
She is manna from heaven for Labour and the SNP. The majority of Tory MPs don`t want her - she`s filled her cabinet with her supporters irrespective of whether they are best for the job or not, thus disenfranchising herself further. The Tories have no chance in the next election with her in charge, so they need to get rid of her well before then.
 
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AberdeenSaint said:
How can this country end up with someone as utterly stupid as Truss as PM? Before she got the job, she demonstrated her lack of diplomacy by alienating the French, our closest neighbours who she doesn`t trust, and the Scots, who`s leader she wants to ignore and avoid having another independence referendum. Sturgeon meantime has made the right noises by saying she`ll try to have a productive relationship with Truss. Truss already has no respect abroad and is known as the `iron weathercock` because she can`t stick to her principles. Yesterday during her wooden speech outside No10, she lavished praise on BJ, who was booted out by her party as his position was untenable. All while her cuckolded husband looked on like a spare part, like a complete stranger. She blames our current situation entirely on Putin and COVID, as if the last 12 years of Tory misrule and Brexit never happened.
She is manna from heaven for Labour and the SNP. The majority of Tory MPs don`t want her - she`s filled her cabinet with her supporters irrespective of whether they are best for the job or not, thus disenfranchising herself further. The Tories have no chance in the next election with her in charge, so they need to get rid of her well before then.
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Cuckolded husband? Are you saying he just looks that way?

I would expect some kind of vote of no confidence. Maybe even try to put Boris back on the next ballot and hope people’s memories are so short term that they only compare him to Truss rather than himself
 
Gregm1988 said:
Cuckolded husband? Are you saying he just looks that way?

I would expect some kind of vote of no confidence. Maybe even try to put Boris back on the next ballot and hope people’s memories are so short term that they only compare him to Truss rather than himself
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Truss has had (at least one) an affair.
 
ChilcoSaint said:
This is just brilliant
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I was reading about her yesterday, hilarious. She's up for a joke and enjoying herself answering loads of tweets, if you look at the one from the Swedish prime minister a lot of Swedes liked the joke too.
Her comment today was "Phew what a day!"
 
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Osvaldorama said:
There are def things that can be done. But ultimately the energy sector is about to collapse.

Just like Lehman bro’s in 2008, except this time in the energy industry. Apparently is a huge amount of margin calls going out onto energy firms. This could cause the collapse of the energy markets.

This will then mean the government will have to bail the sector out, meaning more inflation and price rises for us. Also still won’t fix the underlying problem of too little supply of energy.

Proper **** storm incoming. Like i said, for all the emotion of protecting Ukraine, when the rubber hits the road I don’t think it is worth a financial collapse in Europe.
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Very blunt but I’ve often thought same. Very difficult situation but until there’s a solve in Ukraine, which I doubt there will be, fuel prices will be at these levels for a considerable time.
 
SaintStu said:
You think you are having a bad day, I've now got Jacob Rees Mogg as my boss.
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I hope you have a forelock worthy of tugging. Ask him what his opinion is on working from home. <laugh>
My niece will now be working with Kwasi Kwarteng and her hubby will be reporting to James Cleverly.
I don’t know much about KK, other than the part he played in the writing of Britannia Unchained (which probably makes him a ****), but Cleverly has always struck me as callous and cold, and has the perfect face to play the baddy in a Bond film. Still at least he keeps his horses warm.
 
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