Autumn Statement 2015: what’s in it for you?

Making it easier for Londoners to buy homes, eh? Just what London needs – a more vibrant home buying market…

But the fact that the country has recovered probably has more to do with the fact that London still attracts bankers en masse, and it’s still a fairly secure city in international terms. But in many ways this mini-budget’s reactive: not going after Tax Credits will placate many in his own party whilst encouraging home owning will delight the remainder. Sadly, the really needed changes – a far superior form of public transport system throughout the UK and a move towards nuclear power as a backup until we secure fusion – didn’t even merit an aside.

Agree about NOT ring-fencing 0.7% GDP on Overseas aid, we should not be funding dubious projects or rushing to spend at the end of the financial year. Sometimes we’ll need to give more, but mostly far less.

Do t agree about getting rid if Trident…it’s rolling over to bullies.

S Louise -if only you knew who the bullies really are you only get one point of view in the west. NHS or Trident who pays the 99 % so they should decide not war-mongers, in the cause of Big Business -West losing profit ? Invade and conquer new territory for asset stripping of that country . And when the country is too big to threaten -WW3 just look out your window at the World its kept very quiet in the UK.

1)….. ” … private sector jobs have increased far more than the public sector ones lost, … ”
Please post your source.
2)….. Much of the increase has been in the ”Self employed” sector
ONS…. Self-employed workers in the UK – 2014
* Self-employment higher than at any point over past 40 years
* Rise in total employment since 2008 predominantly among the self-employed
* The number of over 65s who are self-employed has more than doubled in the past 5 years to reach nearly half a million
*** Average income from self-employment fallen by 22% since 2008/09
* Across the European Union the UK has had the third largest percentage rise in self-employment since 2009

Bump

The term ‘Private Sector’ hides a multitude of sins, Malcolm, as I’m sure you know. Increasingly, even small businesses are moving their employees to self employed status, since that dodges their responsibilities under employment law. I’m seeing that happen on a daily basis and, of course, it all appears as ‘new jobs’ on the stats of any right-leaning think tanks – which so many are.

In terms of wave power I agree a lot of investment is needed and whether we’re talking fission or water power it’s still billions. Although I have to say I’ve always wondered why they need to build such big nuclear plants. RR do sell some neat little units that would still power a moderate-size town.

But on the housing question – and especially in London – you’ve hit the nail neatly. Most (if not all) the boom and bust house price cycles have had their origins in the South East. The problem is not addressed simply by making it easier to buy properties in London as that will only serve to exacerbate the issue. Instead, the administration ought to be considering either imposing huge taxes on non-UK citizens wanting to buy houses in London or barring them completely. While they’re at it, they should legislate to prevent any national media from being owned by those who live overseas…