Brexit, for once some facts.
- Thread starter flecc
- Start date
With respect, the post was devolved a long time ago from being the responsibility of the UK Home Secretary to the specifically-created post of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the current incumbent being one, Karen Bradley, the history of whom is something with which I'm sure we're all intimately familiar.
The creation of the very specific post ensures the PM cannot be held to be directly connected with Irish affairs on a personal level therefore it is most certainly not her responsibility.
Tom
Serves those benefit scrounging pensioners right. They sit on their @rses all day, reminiscing, complaining about the price of food, whinging about being cold and clogging up hospital admissions. And if that wasn’t enough, the miserable old b@stards are now living far too long. Have you ever witnessed such selfishness?
When I was younger, pensioners and in particular ex- coal miners, did the honourable thing and died of a lung related disease before they cost too much. These days they just loaf around at keep fit classes and go walking together. They are never going to die at this rate and we will be paying for them forever.
I’m firmly in the Daily Mail camp on this one. Let’s vilify and stir up resentment against effing pensioners. That will “soften” public opinion and make cuts more palatable. It won’t affect us, we’re young and old age only happens to other people.
witty comment posted today:
we want our fruit cake and vote for it. fruit cake means fruit cake.
we want our fruit cake and vote for it. fruit cake means fruit cake.
And not just pensions Tom, it's true of all benefits, those elsewhere in Europe treated very much better.
Of course they don't buy aircraft carriers and nuclear missile submarines, or steal private pensions and stash them in tax havens.
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In France the absolute minimum state pension is 803.20€ a month. On top of that pension you can add a +200 € housing benefit so about 1000€ a month all told.
Guilty as charged M'lud and I ask for many more offenses in the coming years to be taken into consideration.
And on a reflective note here is a thought for the day for that worthy Mr Davis when he is negotiating on our behalf with the EU.
The wise words of the ex American President once described as
"The President who's brain has gone missing"
Apparently he suffered the same affliction.
"“I have left orders to be awakened at any time during national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting.”
― Ronald Reagan
Since then the bar has been set much, much lower ....
Is the state pension a benefit? I've always viewed it as a compulsory investment product sold to me by the government. I will simply be honouring the T&Cs when I reach state retirement age.
Governments have already broken the terms of the contract twice since we agreed on the deal 40 years ago. Who do I get in touch with?
No. The amount you get from the state pension depends how many years you and your employers paid national insurance.
You would be surprised to know how many people do not get the full state pension. With the growth of the 'gig economy', it can only get worse.
As I said all along, tories policies are bad on so many levels if you happen to be JAM or below.
Agreed, I should have worded it to differentiate more clearly. Like you I also resent the way the government has reneged on our previously agreed pension conditions.
Who to complain to? No-one or nowhere in this country that's for certain.
We have access to the European courts for just one more year, but given the waiting list and our previous prime minister saying that we will ignore the European court rulings in future, that will get nowhere.
Civil disobedience is a remaining option, or seek inspiration from 1940s Italy and make good use of a lamp post and length of strong rope.
That would focus a few minds.
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The state of the nation is illustrated fairly accurately in this cartoon:
Meanwhile, elsewhere these things are happening:
Yet this is a real job vacancy.........
Tom
Meanwhile, elsewhere these things are happening:
Yet this is a real job vacancy.........
Tom
As I am getting near the age I have the numbers. I was self employed for quite some time and I am missing many quarterly points (revenue not high enough to earn points for example). So my pension at 67 will be about 600€ a month, including a white collar pension of 2.85€ a month... The state will top that up to the 803.20€ mentioned above.
To get NZ Super you must have lived in New Zealand for at least 10 years since you turned 20. Five of those years must be since you turned 50. So the money I paid into NZ pension funds between 15 and 21 yrs old has gone forever...
Where I live 1000€ a month is enough for a comfortable life. I will probably stop working nights at the end of 2019.
1. Pensions are indexed on inflation in France
2. I live 11 km from the Spanish border and the minimum pension in Spain is 600€. Guess where my food, drink and nightlife come from...
3. With my medical history 20 years is a VERY long time, if I get 5 years of pension I will be above odds.
A chuckle for all in the Independent
"
UK to send Royal Navy warship through disputed South China Sea in challenge to Beijing"
One of the benefits of Brexit no doubt, we can go back to Gunboat diplomacy.
The China WONT DARE not to give us a great trade deal now will they?
My goodness no! and if they do we will send another gunboat.
I have just had a nagging doubt.
Can we actually rely on our ships to get all that way and back without breaking down?
"
UK to send Royal Navy warship through disputed South China Sea in challenge to Beijing"
One of the benefits of Brexit no doubt, we can go back to Gunboat diplomacy.
The China WONT DARE not to give us a great trade deal now will they?
My goodness no! and if they do we will send another gunboat.
I have just had a nagging doubt.
Can we actually rely on our ships to get all that way and back without breaking down?