As for the NHS being sold off, when I go for my CT scans its with a private company through the NHS, So my question is, has privitisation not already happened and why is it such a bad thing? Tax payers do actually pay for the NHS.

I thought it was the UK government?

Sorry Malvern, but as far as I was aware negotiations (possibly limited as they are) where still ongoing? Therefore nothing has actually happened yet?

I dont take my opinions from any newspapers folks.

The good news for me, the UK gets to remove one level of governance from the council < devolved < westminister < EU system.

Theres no Brevidence because it hasn’t happened yet, its all speculation still. Thats why I made my comment about STW being an echo chamber of negative views about Brexit, the only substance I see here is anti-Tory speculation.

On N.I, there is no solution to the GFA other than the one which has been adopted, I didn’t say there was.

On the subject of the country being torn asunder, yes possibly, but I think devolution has had as much of an impact on that as Brexit.

Try searching for it Malvern? As I mentioned, confirmation bias. You lot can at least change the government of the country in the next election, as a resident of N.I I have no such ability.

No because N.Ireland is basically remaining in. I dont believe in all the doom and gloom peddled in here though, STW suffers from an anti-Tory bias and as such you lot only seem to search for things to confirm your fears.

Proper little echo chamber in here…

All songs are ruined for me, its my own fault! I have a colleague who’s surname is Frew, it rhymes with you, which is in every song! I now put replace his name in every song I sing along to!

Also, my wife used to think that Islands in the stream, was “Ireland’s industry”.. :D

I’m pretty sure lilies are poisonous to cats, you should grow them.

My dad once saw a “lady” place her purse on the roof of her car after shopping, get in and drive off. The purse fell off the car. The way the car park was designed meant that my dad could easily intercept her on her way out, which he did, while waving her purse at her. To which she responded with the middle finger and drove on.

As an act of kindness my dad took her purse to the police station instead of handing it in to the shop, in the hope of causing her a bit more hassle.

Plus, outdoor jobs carry less risk of the Covid.

we know what the real reason is – theres no cost attributed when your not banking the cash.

but then the self same people are the ones moaning about not being supported during the gov mandated shut down……

I tried to say the same on another thread to my peril :D

Mass house insulation – Sheffield council was doing it by the street in the late 80s, it’s relatively manpower intensive and benefits renters. Prioritise deprived areas first.

I like this, theres a lot of cold houses, we might not even need a sizewell C

Dont think it does TJ

They have also put money into apprenticeship schemes.

My two most hated invasive species are Rhododendron and Hogweed, paying people to clear them would be a great idea. Its a job that keeps coming back as well. :D

Kelvin, thats what I was trying to get at, the economy has changed because of Covid, all of these food places are surplus now. I don’t think we should be even attempting to prop them up.

We cant do that anymore Dazh, people wont go for it, that ship has sailed.

People have realised that they can cook for themselves,they can entertain themselves and they dont need to fly to Magaluf for a stag do, unfortunately that means certain industries are goin to take a big hit regardless of Vat cuts

Yes Kelvin but there is a Pret on every corner in London and it seems that they are closing many now. Thats what I’m talking about, not the one pub and cafe in your village.

Dazh, I dont see how keeping these places open long term is compatible with risk mitigation, its an unfortunate consequence that many will lose jobs, Rishi Sunak should have strengthened the benefits system to look after these people, but thats a much harder calculation to make than just cutting vat.

Show us the proof of how you know that dazh? Also yes I don’t think its possible to save every livelihood, I think the sad fact is that due to covid, certain industries are doomed regardless of any amount of propping up. We were oversaturated with food, beverage and clothing outlets anyway, it was a bloated economy to begin with.

And no it won’t save the economy but it’s better than nothing and is a great message to people to get out and about and get back to a normal life as much as is possible.

Well put. I think that is the underlying message, please go out and spend your money.

TJ. I’m sure it will rise by the same in similar countries (Germany/France) , its a global problem not just a Tory problem.

A quick google shows our unemployment rate to be 3.9%
France at 8.2-8.6%
Germany at 5.2%

Whats your point?

Great idea and I hope it helps get people spending again.

Off course, on this forum it’s nothing a but Tory nose rubbing and an insulting waste of time that will no doubt only benefit rich Tory voters with 3 homes and private caterers.

Yes, I think people forget its not the Torys putting people out of work, it’s Covid 19 and the consequence of trying to mitigate it.

Double benefits, do nowt else would be much better

Yes, the rest of what you wrote, meh.

You have a great imagination Kelvin

Maybe basing our economy on eating out, drinking, cheap fashion and living a Bourgeoise party lifestyle was a bad move in the first place? As a country we might be paying the price for that? Maybe we all need to grow up and actually produce something in the UK?

Yes I am currently selling my house and buying one, the stamp duty will now pay for my solicitor fees.

I will also be eating out

I’m sure the truly wealthy would have been buying houses regardless of stamp duty.

As for the VAT reduction, that will be hoovered up by service providers and not passed through to consumers.

As it should be, he is trying to protect jobs, not save you a few pounds down the pub, Frank.

Self-employed and contractor
A person is self-employed if they run their business for themselves and take responsibility for its success or failure.

Self-employed workers aren’t paid through PAYE, and they don’t have the employment rights and responsibilities of employees.

Someone can be both employed and self-employed at the same time, for example if they work for an employer during the day and run their own business in the evenings.

From HMRC

Seems to me your either employed, self employed or unemployed.

Based on what binners and others are saying Rishi Sunak should have put the money directly into peoples pockets.

Can we be trusted not to spend it on Amazon though?

Binners I hate to say this and please don’t take it as nasty, I think you are unemployed.

If you are paid through PAYE then you are not self employed.

Sorry my idea of self employed is someone who submits a self assessment at the end of the tax year. Not someone who pays through PAYE.

Deadly, I’ll admit that I had the “arrive at the trails in the work van crowd” in my mind

It really does very little for first time buyers

dougie – £12k pa is within the 0% personal allowance so not taxable.
There is nothing illegal in self-employed being paid cash-in-hand; you’re confusing that with not declaring earnings paid in cash.

That was what I was inferring

Self-employed sole traders have been helped by giving them 80% of 3 months salary averaged out over 3 years of earnings (up to a maximum of £2,500 per month.) Mind you, plenty of cash won’t have been declared so they’ll have taken a hit that way. And deservedly so.

This

The same self employed people who earn £12000 a year and happily work cash in hand in the good times?

aP. Its just the consensus that I get from a lot of threads on here, it always seems people actually want the UK to fail, I find it strange. Some of the talk of opium wars, gunboats, empire, wetherspoons above sort of reinforces that in my mind. Oh and the title of the thread, why would the UK be singled out for a kicking? The visa thing? Surely we are doing China a favour by offering to take a dissenting part of their population?

Some amazing opinions on here, why do you lot hate the UK so much?

Hey everyone

Thanks for all advice, criticism.

Everything is sorted, I’ve learned many lessons in the past week. One of which is to keep my mouth shut. 😂

Bit of perspective here, we live in N Ireland and we haven’t seen anything we want in a couple of years that fits our budget.

We can afford the house whether we go the mortgage route or the selling route, we will however be selling regardless.

Timmys, taste is subjective and I know your dreams may differ. There won’t be one in the area we want in 5 mins, we want a 4 bed and new ones are a limited commodity.