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DaiOBollical

Listed below are comments made by DaiOBollical between Monday, 8th June 2009 and Saturday, 13th June 2009.

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West Brom may escape break-up 02:57am on 13 Jun 2009 #31 Stevo

Thanks for the support. We need it at times!!

As I say, I was in support of your general message. As so often, though, the generalisation can affect some innocent bystanders!

Dai
Things are looking up for Gordon 3:02pm on 12 Jun 2009 #15 York

I don't know where you get your figures from, but Osborne's IHT proposal of raising the threshhold to £300,000 is due to affect 9 million people. That is a great deal more than the '10%' you suggest. Moreover, it will not be the 'top 10%', assuming you mean the wealthiest, since these are already well over this proposed threshhold. What it does, apart from giving specific relief to those in the bracket, is to encourage saving and investment (partly in the form of housing) to middle England, knowing that the Government is not going to take your hard-earned efforts from your family.

It is also disingenuous of you to suggest that departmental cuts of 15% will be required instead of 10% just to fund the IHT proposal. Firstly, the cost of the IHT proposal is a fraction of the 5% difference that you suggest and secondly, more importantly, the cost is to be offset by charging those who live within our shores but escape paying tax by earning offshore. These, surely, are the 'rich kids' who should be paying into our public coffers?

I have seen on other blogs that IHT is one of your soap boxes, but you should really be sure of your facts before giving your opinion.

Dai
West Brom may escape break-up 03:37am on 12 Jun 2009 Stevewo (various #)

Whilst I agree with your comments about buy-to-let being a business, it applies to many but is not universally so. As a member of HM Forces, I have had to let out my one and only property while working overseas, paying tax on it of course! I do not do this 'as a business' with intent to speculate, but to come back and live in it longer term. I also let out of necessity as I have to rent property overseas. My building society only gave me grace for so long on a normal mortgage before forcing me to take a more expensive buy-to-let mortgage. Nevertheless, I am not prospective trouble, since I have built up a reasonable equity in it!

Dai
Labour's long night of painful firsts 05:29am on 08 Jun 2009 Nick,

You say in your blog:

'That is unlikely in itself to restore enough momentum to unseat Gordon Brown.'

I disagree. I think the meeting with backbenchers this evening may cause the event. More likely though, through abstentions or otherwise, I think the motion on Wednesday will be his final undoing. I also think Cameron will be less sympathetic at kicking a man when he is down at this week's PMQs!!

As ever, we wait and see, some more patiently than others!
Well, Charlie Falconer has said it 05:11am on 08 Jun 2009 Personally, I think Falconer is right, a new leader would provide Labour with a better chance, even marginally so. I believe this, not because of Falconer himself, who I despise along with other Blairites, but because the swing voting public appears to have reacted adversely to GB. The reasons for this have been rehearsed many times in this and other blogs. I think SOME action by the PLP, no matter who the new leader, would be seen as positive by those swing voters. They have had the opportunity - and taken it - to submit their protest votes in the European elections, but many will revert to type at a general election. How many, though, remains the unknown question.

However, some bloggers have dismissed this possibility because no one would wish to lead the party at the present time. Whilst that might be true (although a similar situation did not stop William Hague from leading the Tories), if Brown actually resigns the leadership then the PLP will HAVE to have a leadership contest to select from within.

Unless, of course, they wish to maintain the status quo - a set of headless chickens.

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