Nearly neck and neck Conservative/Labour

[Longweekend]

So you have a decent understanding of Economics, can you explain why much of Europe and the USA are in so much and why the Labour party in the UK is responsible for it?

I am not qualified to comment on other countries and their economic woes, I can only look to Labour's past history and their management of the UK's finances which was inadequate.....

[joebloggs]

I am not qualified to comment on other countries and their economic woes, I can only look to Labour's past history and their management of the UK's finances which was inadequate.....

Some facts .. can you posts some facts or a link to show this is wrong?

The big picture
We conclude that relative to other major industrialised countries, the UK‟s performance was
good after 1997. The growth of GDP per capita – 1.42% a year between 1997 and 2010 – was
better than in any of other “G6” countries: Germany (1.26%), the US (1.22%), France
(1.04%), Japan (0.52%) and Italy (0.22%). Figure 1 shows GDP per capita levels in four
countries relative to 1997. The height of the line indicates the cumulative growth: in 2010,
the UK had a level of GDP per capita 17% higher than in 1997; over the same period US
GDP per capita had grown by 14%

http://cep.lse.ac.uk/conference_pape...s_15112011.pdf

[grahamw48]

Some facts .. can you posts some facts or a link to show this is wrong ?

http://cep.lse.ac.uk/conference_pape...s_15112011.pdf

Yep...easily done on all that borrowed money, inflated property prices, fake business 'success'.

Now it's payback time.

You might be better asking the current generation of 18-25s how they feel at being unable to afford to run a car, due to insurance fraud...mainly by immigrant gangs, or get on to the housing ladder, either to buy or rent, that their parents and estate agents etc have been living off for years.

[KeithD]

Yep...easily done on all that borrowed money, inflated property prices, fake business 'success'.

That's exactly the position the Tories are in now as well.

You might be better asking the current generation of 18-25s how they feel at being unable to afford to run a car, due to insurance fraud...mainly by immigrant gangs, or get on to the housing ladder, either to buy or rent, that their parents and estate agents etc have been living off for years.

Insurance costs are not controlled by the government, and the vast majority of fraud is done by British citizens, and a minority of lawyers (mentioned on the news this morning). Insurance fraud takes place due to it being the cheapest option, as even those that are caught only get a small fine and a few points.

As for housing, government after government in this country always try to get people to buy houses. Why? The majority of other countries rely on renting. It is the mass purchase of properties that always results in a crash, regardless of who is in power. People forget that by having a mortgage of say £200,000 over 25 years, they will actually pay around £350,000 for the house, not including taxes and fees. (Based on 5%, which is what many banks are offering). A £75,000 house 25 years ago, would now be worth about £145,000. After all deductions the profit would be around £10,000. Not much for a 25 year investment.

[SimonH]

As for housing, government after government in this country always try to get people to buy houses. Why? The majority of other countries rely on renting. It is the mass purchase of properties that always results in a crash, regardless of who is in power. People forget that by having a mortgage of say £200,000 over 25 years, they will actually pay around £350,000 for the house, not including taxes and fees. (Based on 5%, which is what many banks are offering). A £75,000 house 25 years ago, would now be worth about £145,000. After all deductions the profit would be around £10,000. Not much for a 25 year investment.

Just my opinion but I'd rather have made 10K over 25 years than have lost 150K over the same period if I'd have been renting at £500/month

[KeithD]

Just my opinion but I'd rather have made 10K over 25 years than have lost 150K over the same period if I'd have been renting at £500/month

You'd have made far more putting the money in ISA's

[joebloggs]

Just my opinion but I'd rather have made 10K over 25 years than have lost 150K over the same period if I'd have been renting at £500/month

Minus repairs and mods - the house we rent has probably had £20-30k spent on it in the last few years, new roof, new roof on an outbuilding, new central heating, new energy efficient gas boiler, re-wired the whole house, extended the kitchen , new kitchen units, new bathroom suite, new fire surround, new fences around the gardens - my rent is a lot less than £500 a month.

Repairs cost me nothing, I've just had an extractor fan replaced, a plumber just replaced the sealant in the bathroom, cost me £0.

[SimonH]

Minus repairs and mods - the house we rent has probably had £20-30k spent on it in the last few years, new roof, new roof on an outbuilding, new central heating, new energy efficient gas boiler, re-wired the whole house, extended the kitchen, new kitchen units, new bathroom suite, new fire surround, new fences around the gardens - my rent is a lot less than £500 a month.

Repairs cost me nothing, I've just had an extractor fan replaced, a plumber just replaced the sealant in the bathroom, cost me £0.

Sounds nice

I've probably spent nearer £60K on mine in the last 5 years, but there again, it's mine and gone up in value by over £200K

Not a bad investment