General Chat

Unfortunately, it's the Rent-an-Anarchists who are the vandals. The majority of marchers want a peaceful yet vocal protest.

The massive bonuses of CEO's sem obscene to the other workers within the organisations, and to those on limited income. The CEOs may have worked hard for it, but for fairness, the large bonuses ought to be a multiple of that given to the lowest paid employee eg John Lewis Partnership

Shop windows are already boarded up in Merthyr Tydfil in anticipation of the May Day holiday ;-)

I know one thing, if I had a shop in Central London, I would be having the windows boarded up before 01/05/2013 :-(

I think it will, OFG. Feelings on ground - teachers, NHS staff, council workers - running very high. Also, this Remploy business is a running sore. Such a small saving to cause so much misery.

And then we see the bonuses of top people at poorish companies like British Gas, Royal Mail, Barclays Bank. And the huge number of expensive Government Ministers and accompanying civil servants c*c*ing things up all the time. :-( :-(

The Winter of Discontent 1978-1979 witnessed a period of widespread strikes not seen since the General Strike of 1926. It was generally considered to be the main reasons for the collapse of Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan's government.

Here we are some 34 years later with teachers, health workers, firemen, post office workers, train drivers, civil servants, all threatening strikes.

This May Day should be interesting, May Day is an ancient fertility festival, and in the UK and Europe it has become synonymous with demonstrations against government polices.

The question is will this ancient fertility festival this year give birth to a "Spring of Discontent" for David Cameron's government ;-)

Welfare has increased by 100% since 2002 whereas the RPI only rose by around 30% with average earnings by slightly more. Whilst we all might like to see above inflation increases continue it can't go on for ever.

Each 5% on the welfare bill costs each person in the country around £90 per year

Unfortunately my missus and I can't afford the extra £180 on top or the £3600 it is costing us now.

I know IDS is quite proud of his Chinese ancestors. I rather think he must have Irish ones too. That description of 1% or nothing as "managing growth at a lower level" is ridiculous when you have to pay 10% more for energy, 4% more for rates (in S Wales), 25% more more insurance, loads more for food, loads more for train travel.

Most of us in work have had 1% or less for quite a few years now. But most earn a lot more money than benefits claimants and 1% of £40k is a lot more than 1% of £10k. I feel I am worse off than many benefits claimants, but at least I have the facility to work harder and get a bigger bonus. And I also have the option to take overtime. Plus I have free shares and only contribute a third (and that tax free) to my company pension. And if I was younger, I could try to get a better job.

How long can this Government continue like this? Gove is under huge attack by his teachers, Osborne looks like a fish out of water, Cameron is a clever researcher who is good at presentation (like Blair). And now IDS has found a book of Irish logic to waft in his welfare and pension reforms. :-)

:-S :-S

In answer to his critics about welfare cutbacks due to kick in on Monday, Iain Duncan Smith said the reality is that this government is not cutting welfare, it is managing their growth at a lower level :-S