Comments on: The plastic bag budget http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:18:17 +0000 hourly 1 By: Marry http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1993 Marry Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:04:47 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1993 Useful info, nice blog, thanks. Useful info, nice blog, thanks.

]]> By: "Plastic bag budget" criticised by eurosceptic Conservative MP Mr. John Redwood http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1992 "Plastic bag budget" criticised by eurosceptic Conservative MP Mr. John Redwood Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:25:28 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1992 [...] "Plastic bag budget" criticised by eurosceptic Conservative MP Mr. John Redwood Eurosceptic Conservative MP John Redwood has criticised last week's "Plastic bag budget": The plastic bag budget | John Redwood's Diary [...] [...] "Plastic bag budget" criticised by eurosceptic Conservative MP Mr. John Redwood Eurosceptic Conservative MP John Redwood has criticised last week’s "Plastic bag budget": The plastic bag budget | John Redwood’s Diary [...]

]]> By: track rat http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1991 track rat Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:56:19 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1991 Since when did the 'incovnenient truth' to quote Saint Al Gore (who has lately replaced St Bob Geldof and St Bono in the cannon of those who worship at St Celebrity of the Environment, Islington) about plastic bag polllution, global warming or any other global 'disaster' get in the way of the greens and their allies in Nu Labour from trotting out the story and imposing some more rules and taxes on us. Since when did the 'incovnenient truth' to quote Saint Al Gore (who has lately replaced St Bob Geldof and St Bono in the cannon of those who worship at St Celebrity of the Environment, Islington) about plastic bag polllution, global warming or any other global 'disaster' get in the way of the greens and their allies in Nu Labour from trotting out the story and imposing some more rules and taxes on us.

]]> By: Bazman http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1990 Bazman Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:32:52 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1990 Far be it for Bazman to attack the unemployed and the poor, but I was reading in the Mirror yesterday an article about the winners and losers in the budget. What struck me was the unemployed family. The man on the sick with a personality disorder (huh?) and the woman a trainee teacher with three children. They have an income from the state of £600 a week. Rent and council tax paid, and £35 a week towards fuel for the car, so they can take the kids to school. My Father was self-employed and sometimes employed guys like him for cash. He often said that in real terms he earned less than these men. Now I'm not comparing like with like here, as one of the men he employed would buy two copies of the Sun. One for his wife to read when he got home, but remind me. Why do I go to work? Far be it for Bazman to attack the unemployed and the poor, but I was reading in the Mirror yesterday an article about the winners and losers in the budget.
What struck me was the unemployed family. The man on the sick with a personality disorder (huh?) and the woman a trainee teacher with three children.
They have an income from the state of £600 a week. Rent and council tax paid, and £35 a week towards fuel for the car, so they can take the kids to school.
My Father was self-employed and sometimes employed guys like him for cash. He often said that in real terms he earned less than these men.
Now I'm not comparing like with like here, as one of the men he employed would buy two copies of the Sun. One for his wife to read when he got home, but remind me.
Why do I go to work?

]]> By: Bazman http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1989 Bazman Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:07:18 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1989 Privatising profits and nationalising losses is a term I heard a politician say yesterday. Very good. Privatising profits and nationalising losses is a term I heard a politician say yesterday. Very good.

]]> By: David H http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1988 David H Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:53:15 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1988 13 billion plastic bags a year and Gordon Brown wants to ban them. Ye Gods!! Where is the creativity and joined up thinking from this Govt? With fags and drink so expensive the population will be leaping into its cars and white vans and heading across the channel to top up as often as possible. Don't set off empty, fill as many plastic bags with rubbish as you can and dump them in Calais. Landfill problem solved. 13 billion plastic bags a year and Gordon Brown wants to ban them. Ye Gods!! Where is the creativity and joined up thinking from this Govt?

With fags and drink so expensive the population will be leaping into its cars and white vans and heading across the channel to top up as often as possible. Don't set off empty, fill as many plastic bags with rubbish as you can and dump them in Calais. Landfill problem solved.

]]> By: Confused from Oxford http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1987 Confused from Oxford Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:27:54 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1987 Could someone explain the bit about assisting the money markets. If this means making it easier for banks with poor business models and lax lending regimes to do more of the same then are we not exacerbating the problem. I thought this was the cause of the credit crunch so how will it also be its remedy. Should we not be raising interest rates if anything, to force these institutions to tighten up their regimes and stop lending to poor bets? Could someone please explain. Reply: THE LATEST US INTERVENTION IS TO BUY HIGH QUALITY PAPER WHICH THE MARKET IS CURRENTLY SHUNNING,WHILST BALANCING THAT WITH SELLING MORE GOVERNMENT GRADE PAPER. THE $200 billion IS NOT A NET MONETARY EASING. THE US AUTHORITIES ARE TRYING TO RESTORE SOME SENSE TO A MARKET THAT IS RELUCTANT TO BUY ANY NON GOVERNMENT PAPER OF CERTAIN TYPES. Could someone explain the bit about assisting the money markets. If this means making it easier for banks with poor business models and lax lending regimes to do more of the same then are we not exacerbating the problem. I thought this was the cause of the credit crunch so how will it also be its remedy.

Should we not be raising interest rates if anything, to force these institutions to tighten up their regimes and stop lending to poor bets?

Could someone please explain.

Reply: THE LATEST US INTERVENTION IS TO BUY HIGH QUALITY PAPER WHICH THE MARKET IS CURRENTLY SHUNNING,WHILST BALANCING THAT WITH SELLING MORE GOVERNMENT GRADE PAPER. THE $200 billion IS NOT A NET MONETARY EASING. THE US AUTHORITIES ARE TRYING TO RESTORE SOME SENSE TO A MARKET THAT IS RELUCTANT TO BUY ANY NON GOVERNMENT PAPER OF CERTAIN TYPES.

]]> By: Neil Craig http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1986 Neil Craig Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:02:05 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1986 I had previously said here that I support increasing excise as a way of discouraging bingeing, but I made clear that it should be revenue neutral. Darling has not used the money to reduce other taxes, particularly corporation tax which would really help the economy. I have rather more approvalm of regional governments than you since I think it would, if properly run, allow different regions to practice different microeconomic policies & am confident those areas which went free market & low tax would provide a beneficial example. On the other hand people currently don't want it & it should not be forced on them. The bag tax sounds OK in principle but the statement that the money will go to "environmental charities" means that the government will control where it goes. Just as we see the lottery fund being grabbed to shore up the Olympics. We already know that Friends of the arth, Europe is a largely government funded subsiduary of the EU, used to lobby for ever greater regulation. A "charitable" fund under government control would be likely to increrse the unholy alliance between the eco-fascists who want to regulate everything & the bureaucrats who want to empire build with ever more regulators. Since nuclear power is virtually CO2 free I would argue that non-profit organisations like SONE committed to lobbying for nuclear do far more for the real environment than the FoEs & Porrits but somehow I do not see them being on the governments list for funding, while I am sure the Luddites would be. I had previously said here that I support increasing excise as a way of discouraging bingeing, but I made clear that it should be revenue neutral. Darling has not used the money to reduce other taxes, particularly corporation tax which would really help the economy.

I have rather more approvalm of regional governments than you since I think it would, if properly run, allow different regions to practice different microeconomic policies & am confident those areas which went free market & low tax would provide a beneficial example. On the other hand people currently don't want it & it should not be forced on them.

The bag tax sounds OK in principle but the statement that the money will go to "environmental charities" means that the government will control where it goes. Just as we see the lottery fund being grabbed to shore up the Olympics. We already know that Friends of the arth, Europe is a largely government funded subsiduary of the EU, used to lobby for ever greater regulation. A "charitable" fund under government control would be likely to increrse the unholy alliance between the eco-fascists who want to regulate everything & the bureaucrats who want to empire build with ever more regulators.

Since nuclear power is virtually CO2 free I would argue that non-profit organisations like SONE committed to lobbying for nuclear do far more for the real environment than the FoEs & Porrits but somehow I do not see them being on the governments list for funding, while I am sure the Luddites would be.

]]> By: judy from the north http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1985 judy from the north Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:36:02 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1985 I do not profess to be an economist but I am mistified why Northern Rock was never mentioned.It is the most important issue for most of us but no it was airbrushed out.Did anyone else like me feel sick at all the boasting about how wonderful the economy is when it feels so different in reality.It was a purely political budjet no approach to how to put things right in troubled times.We need your clear thinking John keep up the good work we can dream for a conservative chancellor soon I hope I do not profess to be an economist but I am mistified why Northern Rock was never mentioned.It is the most important issue for most of us but no it was airbrushed out.Did anyone else like me feel sick at all the boasting about how wonderful the economy is when it feels so different in reality.It was a purely political budjet no approach to how to put things right in troubled times.We need your clear thinking John keep up the good work we can dream for a conservative chancellor soon I hope

]]> By: Bazman http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1984 Bazman Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:08:13 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/03/12/the-plastic-bag-budget/#comment-1984 What most people need from a budget is one that creates the right economic conditions to create well paying jobs. With that money the mortgages can be met. No job and everything is expensive. The money markets caused a lot of these problems and are now looking to governments for a way out. To be then free to do the same thing all again? Bonuses and trebles all round. The three quid pint and the six quid packet of fags are nearly here. Supermarket sales of beer will soar and cigarettes and tobacco are cheaper than ever. The country being awash with illegal East European imports. I stopped smoking ten years ago and have some grim satisfaction in this. I never thought any government would get a smoking ban into the law though. Says a lot. It will be interesting to see how pubs change in the next ten years. Maybe the smoking ban and high prices will make them more civilised, turning them into semi restaurants? Whatever happens people will not drink less. (COMMENT SHORTENED) What most people need from a budget is one that creates the right economic conditions to create well paying jobs. With that money the mortgages can be met. No job and everything is expensive. The money markets caused a lot of these problems and are now looking to governments for a way out. To be then free to do the same thing all again? Bonuses and trebles all round.
The three quid pint and the six quid packet of fags are nearly here. Supermarket sales of beer will soar and cigarettes and tobacco are cheaper than ever. The country being awash with illegal East European imports. I stopped smoking ten years ago and have some grim satisfaction in this. I never thought any government would get a smoking ban into the law though. Says a lot.
It will be interesting to see how pubs change in the next ten years. Maybe the smoking ban and high prices will make them more civilised, turning them into semi restaurants? Whatever happens people will not drink less.
(COMMENT SHORTENED)

]]>