The Times columnist Matthew Parris, and not a fan of our British Prime Minister, predicts that Gordon Brown could go sooner than expected. However, Tory leader David Cameron and his allies should make the running so as to diminish the reactionary,
right-wing section of his party. This section is a minority but is very vocal.
Well, if the general election does not have to take place until 2010, Gordon Brown has plenty of time to recover. He can start adopting popular policies and a Democrat might win the White House. While still Prime Minister, Mr Brown has awesome powers of
patronage. He is very interested in global concerns but I don't think these play very
well domestically. We have already got Bono. I think if he just withdrew the troops from Basra his popularity would recover in a single moment. The fact that Gordon Brown can't make such a move shows us the state of geopolitical issues.
www.searchaccountant.co.uk
PS> with hindsight Gordon Brown is still in office but obviously not governing. It seems to be Peter Mandelson (August 2009)
Monday, 28 April 2008
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Barcelona versus Man Utd could be a cracking game!!
FC Barcelona versus Man Utd could be a terrific game with stars including Messi, Henry, Ronaldo and Rooney. Hopefully, the Old Trafford warriors will get a result such a score draw. Barcelona fans have been very
critical of their team's performance but for a one-off game they have got such wonderful players.
The Camp Nou stadium is so big sometimes there is not much atmosphere and viewing from the upper tiers can be a bit of a strain without binoculars. However, tonight should see a full house and lots of noise especially if the Catalans sing the club hymn.
www.searchaccountant.co.uk
Today is also St George's Day (Diada de Sant Jordi), which is also the patron saint for Catalonia, so I expect that it will be a supercharged game. I quite like the Marina, which is opposite the Olympic Village, with its bars and restaurants. Maybe the Man Utd fans will concentrate in the Ramblas.
critical of their team's performance but for a one-off game they have got such wonderful players.
The Camp Nou stadium is so big sometimes there is not much atmosphere and viewing from the upper tiers can be a bit of a strain without binoculars. However, tonight should see a full house and lots of noise especially if the Catalans sing the club hymn.
www.searchaccountant.co.uk
Today is also St George's Day (Diada de Sant Jordi), which is also the patron saint for Catalonia, so I expect that it will be a supercharged game. I quite like the Marina, which is opposite the Olympic Village, with its bars and restaurants. Maybe the Man Utd fans will concentrate in the Ramblas.
Monday, 21 April 2008
Bank of England trundles to the rescue.
After the European Central Bank (ECB) poured liquidity into the continental banking sector last August, the Bank of England has decided to trundle to the rescue of the banks with a £50bn package. Those wonderful institutions, full of overpaid executives, will be able to swap mortgage loans and credit card balances for
UK government bills. Apparently, this will encourage the banks to lend to each other.
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/news/2008/029.htm
One story is that the package would have helped stave off the Northern Rock collapse.
However, this has been denied, I think by Bank of England sources, who said the Newcastle-based institution was far too gone.
People get the feeling that Bank of England governor Mervyn King wanted the commercial banks to suffer a bit of pain and maybe that will still happen. I wonder if the banks will get away with raising dividends.
Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, said “The Bank of England’s Special Liquidity Scheme is designed to improve the liquidity position of the banking system and raise confidence in financial markets while ensuring that the risk of losses on the loans they have made remains with the banks.”
UK government bills. Apparently, this will encourage the banks to lend to each other.
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/news/2008/029.htm
One story is that the package would have helped stave off the Northern Rock collapse.
However, this has been denied, I think by Bank of England sources, who said the Newcastle-based institution was far too gone.
People get the feeling that Bank of England governor Mervyn King wanted the commercial banks to suffer a bit of pain and maybe that will still happen. I wonder if the banks will get away with raising dividends.
Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, said “The Bank of England’s Special Liquidity Scheme is designed to improve the liquidity position of the banking system and raise confidence in financial markets while ensuring that the risk of losses on the loans they have made remains with the banks.”
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
How did the Gooners let the title slip away?
At one stage Arsenal were storming ahead with the Premiership and then it slipped away with a load of draws. Obviously the Eduardo horror injury did not help, but two draws against Birmingham did not help. When Aston Villa came to town, Man Utd torched them while Villa nearly got a win at the Emirates. Arsenal need another player to shoulder the goal scoring duties with Adebayor.
On the European front Wenger was right to criticise the lack of a penalty in the first tie against Liverpool, which could have made all of the difference. Arsenal
were so unlucky.
I think Wenger would benefit from a few more English players in his line-up, which would help dig out results at clubs such as Bolton, Blackburn etc. This could help
England since the Arsenal manager has brought through talented players and made them
better.
To do well in the Premiership and we are talking about three teams, Arsenal should have gone for momentum by making a better fist of the Carling Cup and the FA Cup.
They might not have won the two competitions but the losses to Spurs and Man Utd
were very damaging.
On the European front Wenger was right to criticise the lack of a penalty in the first tie against Liverpool, which could have made all of the difference. Arsenal
were so unlucky.
I think Wenger would benefit from a few more English players in his line-up, which would help dig out results at clubs such as Bolton, Blackburn etc. This could help
England since the Arsenal manager has brought through talented players and made them
better.
To do well in the Premiership and we are talking about three teams, Arsenal should have gone for momentum by making a better fist of the Carling Cup and the FA Cup.
They might not have won the two competitions but the losses to Spurs and Man Utd
were very damaging.
Monday, 14 April 2008
Gordon Brown got some terrible press this weekend.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown got some terrible press this weekend and Downing Street blamed ex-ministers. In the Saturday's Times, Matthew Parris really put the boot in saying again that the Prime Minister has no big idea and is not courageous.
Mr Parris again uses the "Wizard of Oz" description for Mr Brown and thinks the UK prime minister could go before the next election.
What is interesting is the number of ministers, both junior and senior, disagreeing with government policy such as the elimination of the 10 per cent income tax band for low earners. They don't seem to care whether the Prime Minister bears a grudge or not.
I think Mr Brown is very talented. He made Prime Minister and he also has a vision.
He wants to turn England into a version of Sweden with its expanded socialist welfare state. Mr Brown wants to dismantle the British armed forces and plans to conduct foreign policy via institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union. Obviously, this would be cheaper than having troops in Iraq, Sierra Leone etc.
Whether he succeeds in his aims we will have to wait and see. Mr Brown needs to win
the next election for his plans to bear fruit.
www.searchaccountants.co.uk
Mr Parris again uses the "Wizard of Oz" description for Mr Brown and thinks the UK prime minister could go before the next election.
What is interesting is the number of ministers, both junior and senior, disagreeing with government policy such as the elimination of the 10 per cent income tax band for low earners. They don't seem to care whether the Prime Minister bears a grudge or not.
I think Mr Brown is very talented. He made Prime Minister and he also has a vision.
He wants to turn England into a version of Sweden with its expanded socialist welfare state. Mr Brown wants to dismantle the British armed forces and plans to conduct foreign policy via institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union. Obviously, this would be cheaper than having troops in Iraq, Sierra Leone etc.
Whether he succeeds in his aims we will have to wait and see. Mr Brown needs to win
the next election for his plans to bear fruit.
www.searchaccountants.co.uk
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Do people think the Chinese will miss Gordon?
Do people think the Chinese will miss Gordon Brown's absence from the opening ceremony of this year's Olympics? It will probably not help Tibet but it is a shame
that we did not find out before that the British Prime Minster had a burning conviction about the Tibetans.
I think Mr Brown should be devoting his energies in getting our troops out of Basra airport. The Iraqi government does not seem to want to talk to our military and so it
looks like that the troops could come back home.
www.searchaccountants.co.uk
Mr Brown always made his disdain known for Tony Blair's wars and you would have
thought it would be one of the first things he would have resolved.
that we did not find out before that the British Prime Minster had a burning conviction about the Tibetans.
I think Mr Brown should be devoting his energies in getting our troops out of Basra airport. The Iraqi government does not seem to want to talk to our military and so it
looks like that the troops could come back home.
www.searchaccountants.co.uk
Mr Brown always made his disdain known for Tony Blair's wars and you would have
thought it would be one of the first things he would have resolved.
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
Mortality expectations - UK life insurers.
UK life insurers are being forced to provide against the upward revisions of mortality expectations. For instance, Investors Chronicle notes that Prudential
set aside £312m in 2007 to meet the changes in mortality.
The British regulatory body Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been quite vocal to the UK life insurers over the pressing need to place more funds in reserve to cover the cost of people living longer.
www.searchaccountant.co.uk
This just covers private sector pensions offered by the companies. UK public sector pensions are another matter and represent a growing problem that Prime Minister Gordon Brown is doing nothing about. Any reform will probably have to start with
the gold-plated pensions of MPs, since they can't keep these if they start cutting the pension entitlements of civil servants.
set aside £312m in 2007 to meet the changes in mortality.
The British regulatory body Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been quite vocal to the UK life insurers over the pressing need to place more funds in reserve to cover the cost of people living longer.
www.searchaccountant.co.uk
This just covers private sector pensions offered by the companies. UK public sector pensions are another matter and represent a growing problem that Prime Minister Gordon Brown is doing nothing about. Any reform will probably have to start with
the gold-plated pensions of MPs, since they can't keep these if they start cutting the pension entitlements of civil servants.
Monday, 7 April 2008
Yesterday's Olympic Torch thing was a bit of a mess.
Yesterday's Olympic Torch ceremony in London was a bit of a mess. It was interesting
to see the Chinese security detail in blue tracksuits. I suppose we are backing the
Chinese because we are terrified of any problems for the 2012 Games. We are going to
waste a fortune on redundant facilities. I wish Paris had won the Olympics.
We are going to waste a massive amount of money. Let's hope there will be some benefits for east London.
www.searchaccountants.co.uk
to see the Chinese security detail in blue tracksuits. I suppose we are backing the
Chinese because we are terrified of any problems for the 2012 Games. We are going to
waste a fortune on redundant facilities. I wish Paris had won the Olympics.
We are going to waste a massive amount of money. Let's hope there will be some benefits for east London.
www.searchaccountants.co.uk
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
I assume non-doms will just leave UK.
I assume non-doms will just leave the United Kingdom rather than messing about with
the HMRC and it means that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has managed to kill the Golden Goose, which lays the golden eggs. The City of London is already going through a downturn with UBS employees the latest to feel a bit quesy.
One problem making a move against Non-Doms is that they are so mobile. Switzerland looks good, a bit cleaner, a bit less crime. If you are a U.S citizen and already get taxed worldwide by Uncle Sam, you could always bite your lip and go back.
the HMRC and it means that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has managed to kill the Golden Goose, which lays the golden eggs. The City of London is already going through a downturn with UBS employees the latest to feel a bit quesy.
One problem making a move against Non-Doms is that they are so mobile. Switzerland looks good, a bit cleaner, a bit less crime. If you are a U.S citizen and already get taxed worldwide by Uncle Sam, you could always bite your lip and go back.
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