The Pre-budget Report

[Ravenheart]

I thought that the new broadband tax applied to VM phone's too after reading this a while back.

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/4...e-widened.html

On the issue of Virgin Media telephone lines, some reporters and even the odd Minister or two thought these were immune as they were fibre optic based, however, they have always been intended to be included in the levy.

So we're raising the money for private firms to improve the infrastructure?

I wonder how many will abandon their landline and go completely mobile?

Originally Posted by Maggy J

I wonder how many will abandon their landline and go completely mobile?

Less than might like to I'd reckon. Seeing as everyone off-net (VM etc) needs a fixed line for their internetz then they are stuffed....

[nomadking]

Hopefully this discussion is academic as:-

The Conservatives have vowed to scrap the tax if they win the next general election.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by nomadking

Hopefully this discussion is academic as:-

Wow. A saving of 6 squid a year. That's 20 fags, or 2.5 pints of quality lager...

[Osem]

Is this what Darling 'forgot' to spell out while he was so busy electioneering I wonder...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8406670.stm

Public spending is facing a £36bn squeeze from 2011 - with £15bn of the cuts needed yet to be identified, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said.

[Osem]

Well according to the Beeb, it appears good old listening, prudent, honest, straught-talking Gordon Brown is so worried about saving his posterior so close to an election that he overruled 'tougher' action to tackle the defecit..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8407318.stm

Surprise, surprise.........

[Scarlett]

Its all just window dressing, the steps that is designed to do one thing. To try and make sure that the next election results in a hung parliament. Labour have already lost and they know it, this is damage limitation.

_IF_ they had announced the economic steps that would be required to get us out of the huge pile of brown stuff they've got us into they would be handing the next parliament to the Tory's on a silver plate.

Swindling high taxes and budget cuts all over to try and get the deficit down are what is realistically what's going to be needed, and after the next election, that is what's going to happen, the govt wont have any choice.

[Ravenheart]

And already the broadband tax widens it's scope for collecting charges

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/11/broadband_tax/

"The duty has also been designed to include broadband services to address concerns that phone users may substitute to voice over internet protocol (VOIP) services such as Skype. This design means that users that choose not to take a phone service will still pay the duty," the consulatation explained.

Lets face it, if these barsteward politicians could, they'd tax us breathing air....

[Ravenheart]

Shhhh EoB they'll hear you from their belltowers and switched homes

[ntluser]

I think that many will see the PBR as the final straw.

Voters will decide that if Brown wants this budget to protect his interests more than ours then voters need to vote in their interests which means no New Labour.

This PBR hasn't so much protected New Labour but confirmed in the eyes of the voters that it needs to go.

Cameron, if he gets in, needs to learn the lessons that Labour failed to learn i.e. that the people want an efficient, effective, caring government that acts with openness, honesty, integrity and sensitivity.

Politicians need to think policies through carefully to ensure that they do not conflict or lead to unpredicted adverse outcomes. Errors need to be eliminated at the planning stage not when the policy is being implemented. With this government we have had too much political self-centredness which has adversely affected the logical process.

May I take this opportunity, despite the economic climate, to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous New Year.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by danielf

Wow. A saving of 6 squid a year. That's 20 fags, or 2.5 pints of quality lager...

However when it is part of Labours other taxes and money grabs it all adds up.