Why are we "Ring Fencing" Foreign Aid?
Discussion
Contrary to what the Wail/the bloke down the pub tell you, India remains a major trade partner for the UK with our foreign aid and Govt sponsored investment initiatives playing a key part. Tata is one of my firm's key clients so we hear and see 1st hand how good that relationship is.
Re: the profiting business point, profitable businesses have a habit of employing people who pay tax, paying corporation tax, paying taxable dividends to shareholders, spending money in the UK economy etc, etc, etc.
Like I said, it isn't rocket science...
Re: the profiting business point, profitable businesses have a habit of employing people who pay tax, paying corporation tax, paying taxable dividends to shareholders, spending money in the UK economy etc, etc, etc.
Like I said, it isn't rocket science...
einsign said:
All three parties do not represent the people of the UK.
There aren't even three parties in the UK, there are two:1) The EU (represented by LibCons and nuLabour).
2) UKIP.
Also didn't all the manifestos promise us an EU referendum too?
I guess letting us have a say is problematic, whereas giving away our money is easy.
Elroy Blue said:
GT3
As you're someone who continually tells us how great all parts of the private sector is, you'll agree that if those firms are competitive, they'll win the contracts anyway. No need for £14 billion pounds of taxpayers money in bribes.
.... Meanwhile, back in the real world, things aren't that simple - if only they were.As you're someone who continually tells us how great all parts of the private sector is, you'll agree that if those firms are competitive, they'll win the contracts anyway. No need for £14 billion pounds of taxpayers money in bribes.
Elroy Blue said:
GT3
As you're someone who continually tells us how great all parts of the private sector is, you'll agree that if those firms are competitive, they'll win the contracts anyway. No need for £14 billion pounds of taxpayers money in bribes.
Or, we could perhaps go down to 10B and see how we get on. 4B saved right now could do a lot of good...As you're someone who continually tells us how great all parts of the private sector is, you'll agree that if those firms are competitive, they'll win the contracts anyway. No need for £14 billion pounds of taxpayers money in bribes.
ClaphamGT3 said:
Tata is one of my firm's key clients so we hear and see 1st hand how good that relationship is.
better hope their recent losses don't have an impact then. Indian companies look after their own better than any I have come across, speaking as an ex employee of an Indian Company.Globs said:
Also didn't all the manifestos promise us an EU referendum too?
There were no pledges to a straight in/out referendum in any of the major parties manifestos. The closest to that was in the Libdem manifesto.There were 8 references to referendums in the Conservative manifesto - 1 on local referendums where 5% of the local population sign up, 2 on a referendum for further powers for the Welsh assembly, 5 on amending the 1972 European Community Act to prevent any further transfer of power to the EU without a referendum.
There were 5 references to referendums in the Labour manifesto - 1 on a referendum for an alternative vote to replace first past the post, 1 on a referendum for an elected second chamber, 1 on referendums for elected mayors in city-region authorities, 1 on a referendum for further powers for the Welsh assembly and 1 reference that the UK would not join the Euro without a referendum.
There were 3 references to referendums in the Libdem manifesto - 1 on an in/out referendum the next time there is a fundamental change to our relationship with the EU, 1 reference that the UK would not join the Euro without a referendum and 1 on a referendum on the wording of a written constitution.
Elroy Blue said:
Yes, that's worked really well with India lately hasn't it.
And why should taxpayers money be used to fund the dividend payouts of private companies, when our infrastructure is collapsing around us.
Just imagine for a second what would happen if BAE Systems went to the wall. That's why the foreign aid budget stays as it is; it's much cheaper than the alternative.And why should taxpayers money be used to fund the dividend payouts of private companies, when our infrastructure is collapsing around us.
Using India as an example, our trade with them is set to reach 23 billion pounds by 2015. What is this worth in terms of jobs, taxes paid, gdp growth etc? Is it even possible to quantify?
And our aid to them has been around the £250m mark per year in recent times. So did we get it back?
And our aid to them has been around the £250m mark per year in recent times. So did we get it back?
Elroy Blue said:
BAE (which is largely a US firm now) didn't get the Indian aircraft contract, didn't go to the wall but India still gets the 'aid'.
£14 billion could go a long way in helping business and infrastructure in this country
India is not the only recipient. And certainly the Typhoon deal is not the only deal on the line. BAE Systems would not work without UK government support (it is of course heavily dependent on defence spending), and if we stopped helping, they would up sticks and leave to the USA. That would be 38,000 direct job losses, and probably a hundred thousand total in knock on effects in subsidiary industries. They're good jobs too, in engineering and science. £14 billion could go a long way in helping business and infrastructure in this country
Once you look at that, £14bn actually starts to look quite cheap.
Elroy Blue said:
You mean back in YOUR world. The one I live in us falling apart because the Gov would rather spend £14 billion in bribes for the benefit if shareholders
Bribes to whom & which shareholders, exactly? Please tell us the facts.My world is a very complicated place where nothing's as clear-cut as in your world, but I'd be pleased to receive the benefit of your insight............
.Elroy Blue said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
.... Meanwhile, back in the real world, things aren't that simple - if only they were.
You mean back in YOUR world. The one I live in us falling apart because the Gov would rather spend £14 billion in bribes for the benefit if shareholdersWe fund our public services from the tax that businesses and individuals pay. The Govt supporting UK businesses to trade overseas seems like the best way of shoring up your world to me.
ClaphamGT3 said:
Elroy Blue said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
.... Meanwhile, back in the real world, things aren't that simple - if only they were.
You mean back in YOUR world. The one I live in us falling apart because the Gov would rather spend £14 billion in bribes for the benefit if shareholdersWe fund our public services from the tax that businesses and individuals pay. The Govt supporting UK businesses to trade overseas seems like the best way of shoring up your world to me.
Mojocvh said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
Elroy Blue said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
.... Meanwhile, back in the real world, things aren't that simple - if only they were.
You mean back in YOUR world. The one I live in us falling apart because the Gov would rather spend £14 billion in bribes for the benefit if shareholdersWe fund our public services from the tax that businesses and individuals pay. The Govt supporting UK businesses to trade overseas seems like the best way of shoring up your world to me.
ClaphamGT3 said:
Elroy Blue said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
.... Meanwhile, back in the real world, things aren't that simple - if only they were.
You mean back in YOUR world. The one I live in us falling apart because the Gov would rather spend £14 billion in bribes for the benefit if shareholdersWe fund our public services from the tax that businesses and individuals pay. The Govt supporting UK businesses to trade overseas seems like the best way of shoring up your world to me.
Maybe that's the kind of thing that Barack Obama meant when he said " You didn't build that"
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