So you become prime minister.
Discussion
Your policies/legislation/deregulation?
How would you cut spending and where would you spend more? Most importantly, what would you keep/change in the motoring areas?
If I were PM, I'd cut spending by:
1. Less money being sent overseas
2. Abolish the HS2 rail thing (probably too late)
3. Complete blank-canvas of the benefits system
4. Not trying to fix unbroken infrastructure, e.g. making the M3 a "smart motorway"
5. Simplifying administrative processes which probably rack up thousands of hours worth of government labour in admin fees
6. Not lowering speed limits, thus saving cash on thousands of new signs
I'd spend more on:
1. NHS
2. Police
3. RAF, Army, Navy and SAR etc
4. Supporting new state-of-the-art infrastructure developments
On the motoring side of things:
1. Higher fines for mobile phone use/drink-drug driving, everybody benefits except the offender
2. By greater funding of the police, have more traffic cops out to catch the MLMs
3. Review of insurance company policies, to cut the jargon and act on behalf of the policy holder instead of being lazy/greedy by settling 50/50 all the time
4. Consider mandatory dashcam fitment on new vehicles
5. Potholed roads to be resurfaced, not patched
6. Review of all speed limits introduced in the past 10 years where the road layout didn't change but the limit was lowered
7. I'd have the BBC pull their finger out of their box ticking "investigation" and reinstate Clarkson immediately so we can all watch TG tonight.
I'm sure somebody will be along to say there's a flaw in my plan but hey, I'm not going to be PM so who cares.
How would you cut spending and where would you spend more? Most importantly, what would you keep/change in the motoring areas?
If I were PM, I'd cut spending by:
1. Less money being sent overseas
2. Abolish the HS2 rail thing (probably too late)
3. Complete blank-canvas of the benefits system
4. Not trying to fix unbroken infrastructure, e.g. making the M3 a "smart motorway"
5. Simplifying administrative processes which probably rack up thousands of hours worth of government labour in admin fees
6. Not lowering speed limits, thus saving cash on thousands of new signs
I'd spend more on:
1. NHS
2. Police
3. RAF, Army, Navy and SAR etc
4. Supporting new state-of-the-art infrastructure developments
On the motoring side of things:
1. Higher fines for mobile phone use/drink-drug driving, everybody benefits except the offender
2. By greater funding of the police, have more traffic cops out to catch the MLMs
3. Review of insurance company policies, to cut the jargon and act on behalf of the policy holder instead of being lazy/greedy by settling 50/50 all the time
4. Consider mandatory dashcam fitment on new vehicles
5. Potholed roads to be resurfaced, not patched
6. Review of all speed limits introduced in the past 10 years where the road layout didn't change but the limit was lowered
7. I'd have the BBC pull their finger out of their box ticking "investigation" and reinstate Clarkson immediately so we can all watch TG tonight.
I'm sure somebody will be along to say there's a flaw in my plan but hey, I'm not going to be PM so who cares.
Muddle238 said:
If I were PM, I'd cut spending by:
2. Abolish the HS2 rail thing (probably too late)
4. Not trying to fix unbroken infrastructure, e.g. making the M3 a "smart motorway"
6. Not lowering speed limits, thus saving cash on thousands of new signs
I'd spend more on:
4. Supporting new state-of-the-art infrastructure developments
Ummm, is it me...?2. Abolish the HS2 rail thing (probably too late)
4. Not trying to fix unbroken infrastructure, e.g. making the M3 a "smart motorway"
6. Not lowering speed limits, thus saving cash on thousands of new signs
I'd spend more on:
4. Supporting new state-of-the-art infrastructure developments
KFC said:
Muddle238 said:
If I were PM, I'd cut spending by:
1. Less money being sent overseas
Oh. Someone else who doesn't understand the majority of money being spent overseas is actually bribes and an overall positive for UK.1. Less money being sent overseas
Whilst the current lot have made some efforts to cut out waste from the public sector I still have this feeling that it is still wasteful and not particularly cost efficient.So I'd want to review the operations of each part and establish how exactly they spend their money and how effective they are. The review would have to be totally independent, probably done by experts from the private sector who instead of concentrating on profit, would be instructed to provide recommendations on cost spending etc.
This might not result in spending less on public sector & services, but would be intended to ensure that the money is being used in the most cost effective way possible with regard to quality of service and "customer" satisfaction. If this meant (for example) getting rid of a load of managers in the NHS and using smarter ways to manage/report (automation/technology) thats fine, especially if it meant there was a chunk of money now available to buy more medical staff/better drugs/healthcare equipment that would improve the service to the patients. If this was carried out across all services / sector departments it could be quite significant.
I briefly worked in public sector, most of the management were inept, ineffectual and only there because they couldn't survive in a commercial environment, therefore were intent on empire building to try and make themselves look important. These people would go, they offer nothing to the organisation.
This might not result in spending less on public sector & services, but would be intended to ensure that the money is being used in the most cost effective way possible with regard to quality of service and "customer" satisfaction. If this meant (for example) getting rid of a load of managers in the NHS and using smarter ways to manage/report (automation/technology) thats fine, especially if it meant there was a chunk of money now available to buy more medical staff/better drugs/healthcare equipment that would improve the service to the patients. If this was carried out across all services / sector departments it could be quite significant.
I briefly worked in public sector, most of the management were inept, ineffectual and only there because they couldn't survive in a commercial environment, therefore were intent on empire building to try and make themselves look important. These people would go, they offer nothing to the organisation.
Some more random ones
Ban all properties with 2 or less bedrooms from being rented. (I suppose an arbitrary limit of £200per month for 1 bed or £300pm for a 2 as an alternative) Should stimulate the housing market a bit since you get more 1st timers on the ladder. (I admit I'm biased here)
Speed limit to 80 when Dry. 100 between 2am and 6am if Dry
Cut foreign Aid to £0.
Scrap the Licence fee. Make BBC self funding but sill Free to Air like ITV/C4/C5
Somehow stop the EU "right to work" Introduce the points system for immigration like in Australia. Across the board.
Leave the EU. But do "deals" with the major EU nations like Germany, France, Italy, Holland, etc (not Spain or Portugal obviously) that ape the good parts of the EU membership like Visas and import/export. Maybe extend that to the USA/Russia?
Make it compulsory for road works people to guarantee their work for 2 years minimum. So if it goes wrong in that time they repair for free and the 2 years is reset to that date. Also make them liable for pot hole damaged wheels.
I'm sure all these will never happen though.
Ban all properties with 2 or less bedrooms from being rented. (I suppose an arbitrary limit of £200per month for 1 bed or £300pm for a 2 as an alternative) Should stimulate the housing market a bit since you get more 1st timers on the ladder. (I admit I'm biased here)
Speed limit to 80 when Dry. 100 between 2am and 6am if Dry
Cut foreign Aid to £0.
Scrap the Licence fee. Make BBC self funding but sill Free to Air like ITV/C4/C5
Somehow stop the EU "right to work" Introduce the points system for immigration like in Australia. Across the board.
Leave the EU. But do "deals" with the major EU nations like Germany, France, Italy, Holland, etc (not Spain or Portugal obviously) that ape the good parts of the EU membership like Visas and import/export. Maybe extend that to the USA/Russia?
Make it compulsory for road works people to guarantee their work for 2 years minimum. So if it goes wrong in that time they repair for free and the 2 years is reset to that date. Also make them liable for pot hole damaged wheels.
I'm sure all these will never happen though.
I would up tax on booze in supermarkets and cut it in pubs.
No benefits until 3 years ni payments for non UK citizens then graduated in so 10 years gets full.
0% vat on tampax to keep the women happy.
No stamp duty for first time buyers.
Lift regs on building on greenfield, not a free for all but loosen it slightly. Ie log cabins so people get to go to the country and enjoy it and farmers get a second income. We are to protective over green spaces.
Make self builds easier to get planning, more flexible in locations.
50% vat on coffee for owners who have more than one shop.
Possibly 5% vat on zero earnings to the threshold maybe 10%. Less of a shock when a person/company does get to 81k.
Simplified accounts online. Really only a few boxes needed for mobile hairdresser's etc
Less management in the NHS, make a nurse a team leader on a department.
Pay for training of doctors and create an over supply. Wages can be dropped and can employ more.
Foreign prisoners who were sentenced with under 10 years residency deported to their own countries prisons.like how we try and get our prisoners back to do their sentence in a UK prisons we should only return the favour.
No benefits until 3 years ni payments for non UK citizens then graduated in so 10 years gets full.
0% vat on tampax to keep the women happy.
No stamp duty for first time buyers.
Lift regs on building on greenfield, not a free for all but loosen it slightly. Ie log cabins so people get to go to the country and enjoy it and farmers get a second income. We are to protective over green spaces.
Make self builds easier to get planning, more flexible in locations.
50% vat on coffee for owners who have more than one shop.
Possibly 5% vat on zero earnings to the threshold maybe 10%. Less of a shock when a person/company does get to 81k.
Simplified accounts online. Really only a few boxes needed for mobile hairdresser's etc
Less management in the NHS, make a nurse a team leader on a department.
Pay for training of doctors and create an over supply. Wages can be dropped and can employ more.
Foreign prisoners who were sentenced with under 10 years residency deported to their own countries prisons.like how we try and get our prisoners back to do their sentence in a UK prisons we should only return the favour.
Muddle238 said:
Your policies/legislation/deregulation?
How would you cut spending and where would you spend more? Most importantly, what would you keep/change in the motoring areas?
If I were PM, I'd cut spending by:
1. Less money being sent overseas
2. Abolish the HS2 rail thing (probably too late)
3. Complete blank-canvas of the benefits system
4. Not trying to fix unbroken infrastructure, e.g. making the M3 a "smart motorway"
5. Simplifying administrative processes which probably rack up thousands of hours worth of government labour in admin fees
6. Not lowering speed limits, thus saving cash on thousands of new signs
I'd spend more on:
1. NHS
2. Police
3. RAF, Army, Navy and SAR etc
4. Supporting new state-of-the-art infrastructure developments
On the motoring side of things:
1. Higher fines for mobile phone use/drink-drug driving, everybody benefits except the offender
2. By greater funding of the police, have more traffic cops out to catch the MLMs
3. Review of insurance company policies, to cut the jargon and act on behalf of the policy holder instead of being lazy/greedy by settling 50/50 all the time
4. Consider mandatory dashcam fitment on new vehicles
5. Potholed roads to be resurfaced, not patched
6. Review of all speed limits introduced in the past 10 years where the road layout didn't change but the limit was lowered
7. I'd have the BBC pull their finger out of their box ticking "investigation" and reinstate Clarkson immediately so we can all watch TG tonight.
I'm sure somebody will be along to say there's a flaw in my plan but hey, I'm not going to be PM so who cares.
you display many of the characteristics required to be a fine politician How would you cut spending and where would you spend more? Most importantly, what would you keep/change in the motoring areas?
If I were PM, I'd cut spending by:
1. Less money being sent overseas
2. Abolish the HS2 rail thing (probably too late)
3. Complete blank-canvas of the benefits system
4. Not trying to fix unbroken infrastructure, e.g. making the M3 a "smart motorway"
5. Simplifying administrative processes which probably rack up thousands of hours worth of government labour in admin fees
6. Not lowering speed limits, thus saving cash on thousands of new signs
I'd spend more on:
1. NHS
2. Police
3. RAF, Army, Navy and SAR etc
4. Supporting new state-of-the-art infrastructure developments
On the motoring side of things:
1. Higher fines for mobile phone use/drink-drug driving, everybody benefits except the offender
2. By greater funding of the police, have more traffic cops out to catch the MLMs
3. Review of insurance company policies, to cut the jargon and act on behalf of the policy holder instead of being lazy/greedy by settling 50/50 all the time
4. Consider mandatory dashcam fitment on new vehicles
5. Potholed roads to be resurfaced, not patched
6. Review of all speed limits introduced in the past 10 years where the road layout didn't change but the limit was lowered
7. I'd have the BBC pull their finger out of their box ticking "investigation" and reinstate Clarkson immediately so we can all watch TG tonight.
I'm sure somebody will be along to say there's a flaw in my plan but hey, I'm not going to be PM so who cares.
1. contradicting oneself within the the same speech ( see emboldened items)
2. claiming to want to spend more on the NHS +ploice and simplyfing processes - so claiming the same thing twice and then in the next breath requiring ' greater transparency' and 'more accountability for how tax money is spent ' ( which inevitably requires more people to spent less time on core service delivery and/or creaters a class of politicla commissars )
3. not having a grip on why the UKSAR service needed to move out of military control for good reasons ( none deployable asset doing 99 + % of it;s work on civvie taskings)
several crowd pleasing policies which have little or no chance of being introduced or demonstrate a cavalier lack of regard for organisations not being politicla puppets and following the rule of law.
Good one this.
1) Reduce Tax burden private individuals. (Lower VAT, higher personal allowance, integrate NI)
2) Tax foreign owned corporations on sales take not profit. Profit is too easy to 'move' elsewhere. Suggest 1.5% as a start, and simpler to administer.
3) Stop making the NHS a protected department. If spending needs to be reduced, then it needs to be reduced here too. Appoint Duncan Ballyntine as minister for health efficiency so services improve. Get better integration between health and social care.
5) I love the idea of universities doing drug research in competition with big pharmaceuticals.
6) Spend on infrastructure.
7) Social mobility is a concern - ensure Oxbridge takes 80% (?) of pupils from state funded schools - at least make it representative.
8) Graduated inheritance tax - up to max income tax band for inheritance over say £3m.
9) Abolish university tuition fees for science, engineering, medical, hi tech. Give a grant to impoverished students. Help ensure decent technicians for the future. - Working abroad, need to pay the tuition fees back.
10) Force food companies to adopt traffic light food marking. That they have not is a disgrace.
11) Serious fines for drunk and disorderly in a public place - some of our towns are no go areas in the dark.
12) Make 'Strictly Come Dancing' illegal.
1) Reduce Tax burden private individuals. (Lower VAT, higher personal allowance, integrate NI)
2) Tax foreign owned corporations on sales take not profit. Profit is too easy to 'move' elsewhere. Suggest 1.5% as a start, and simpler to administer.
3) Stop making the NHS a protected department. If spending needs to be reduced, then it needs to be reduced here too. Appoint Duncan Ballyntine as minister for health efficiency so services improve. Get better integration between health and social care.
5) I love the idea of universities doing drug research in competition with big pharmaceuticals.
6) Spend on infrastructure.
7) Social mobility is a concern - ensure Oxbridge takes 80% (?) of pupils from state funded schools - at least make it representative.
8) Graduated inheritance tax - up to max income tax band for inheritance over say £3m.
9) Abolish university tuition fees for science, engineering, medical, hi tech. Give a grant to impoverished students. Help ensure decent technicians for the future. - Working abroad, need to pay the tuition fees back.
10) Force food companies to adopt traffic light food marking. That they have not is a disgrace.
11) Serious fines for drunk and disorderly in a public place - some of our towns are no go areas in the dark.
12) Make 'Strictly Come Dancing' illegal.
Become PM and you wouldn't be able to do half what you want to do. PM is just a figurehead, nothing more.
Remember 'Maggie Thatcher, Milk Snatcher' thoughout all the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s?
She put up with all that antagonism towards her.
Yet the 30 year rule showed that she actually advised AGAINST cutting free school milk for all children on the grounds it would 'arouse widespread public antagonism'.
She was right. But she was just the figurehead that took the brunt.
Remember that if you're still around in 25 years time for the release on CallMeDave.
Remember 'Maggie Thatcher, Milk Snatcher' thoughout all the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s?
She put up with all that antagonism towards her.
Yet the 30 year rule showed that she actually advised AGAINST cutting free school milk for all children on the grounds it would 'arouse widespread public antagonism'.
She was right. But she was just the figurehead that took the brunt.
Remember that if you're still around in 25 years time for the release on CallMeDave.
Turbodiesel1976 said:
I'd set in motion a military strategy with the aim of establishing a United Ireland. United under British rule that is 
as opposed to letting them play boom and bust and gradually buying it up ... cheaper, less blood spilled and less chance of a nother 40 + years of tossery ...Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff