News - Clegg wins TV debate, but online engagement stutters

[directhex]

they've collectively bashed the bankers less the many of the more vitriloic MP's in the labour camp.

Plus Vince is the best qualified and best experienced of the chancellor hopefuls.

[SammEl]

GORDAN GORDAN GORDAN!!!

Wait and see, he will win, Oh Hero.

[TheAnimus]

Whoah.... bankers in "finding a way to look after number 1" shocker

Its quite important to remember that often when politions first tax something new, its only for the rich, un-essential things. Then we get trickle down.

In this case I think it would be rather unfair on small enterprises, sure a big company can set up some geneva based fund to handle deferred salary contributions, but a small company just can't.

This is why I hate this type of thing, because it becomes an inconvenience to the very rich, if your earning £400k a year your employer will automatically find a way around it, its just too much cost. I mean they could give you shares which is the recommendation of this program and then let you buy a synthetic which would immediately give you a similar amount of cash, whilst you still hold the shares for the 7 years or whatever it is.

The people who can't do that are of course those who earn less.

Stupid political posturing of the worst kind. Why can't they all just be honest and say we are going to have to raise VAT?

VAT is a good tax in many ways because it is mostly luxury goods, the effect of VAT style taxation is one of the easiest for a depressed economy to stand.

Its also the exact opposite of what Gordon Brown did, so we know its a good idea.

[kalniel]

Stupid political posturing of the worst kind. Why can't they all just be honest and say we are going to have to raise VAT?

VAT is a good tax in many ways because it is mostly luxury goods, the effect of VAT style taxation is one of the easiest for a depressed economy to stand.

True. The problem is it just doesn't raise that much money, especially in a depressed economy.

[TheAnimus]

I've seen some estimates that suggested a hike to 25% would be enough to stop our deficit alone....

The problem is its very hard to accurately model and to say for certain either way.

[kevdale]

Clegg was always going to do well - no one knew who he was before the election and the Lib Dems can in many ways be all things to all men......a hung parliament will be very interesting!

[SiM]

That's reading is it?

Opposition from the CBI, and a BBC have your say column? I might just say 'read their manifesto' in return, that's reading too, never mind the sheer one-sidedness of it all.

Nice deflection. Criticising the the writers rather than their arguments. You should become a politician!

I'd love to hear your background of experience in economic matters though.

Degree level economics and economics is directly related to the industries that I have worked in the past 2 years.

[yamangman]

Nice deflection. Criticising the the writers rather than their arguments. You should become a politician!

Well quite. How can one argue with 'Vince Cable knows as much about econmics as an A level economics student'. That's just watertight!

[SiM]

Well quite. How can one argue with 'Vince Cable knows as much about econmics as an A level economics student'. That's just watertight!

That is not what I said. Have a look again.

I am not saying the other parties are bulletproof policies, it's just that the lib dem's are much, much worse and even an A-Level economics student would be able to tell you that!

Vince Cable is a politician, not an unbiased economist. He will say whatever it takes to get his party into power. I never commented on his economics knowledge. TBH, considering his economics background, I reckon his economic policies are purely to gain votes from the uneducated masses. Even if they win, they will probably water down their policies (like any other party too )