Hammond and the Big Digital Companies - Budget Update 4 - May Era

Guardian: Reports " Hammond also promised to introduce a special tax on Amazon, Facebook and other digital giants in April 2020 raising £400m a year although he warned that if the Brexit talks collapsed he would have to hold an emergency budget in the spring.  "

Lets Get Real:

Even the LEFT will like the FACT that Chancellor Hammond has announced a special tax on the digital giants, it is about time that they paid more, they are getting far to much profit, some of that could be used for the NHS, Defence and tax cuts.   The left NEVER like Conservative budgets, it will be interesting to see the reaction of the press and the 24/7 news networks.  As I stated with the US, it is the same in the UK, everything is political.  A Budget even more so.   This blog thinks that the Budget will appeal to workers, tax cuts, cuts in beer, a freeze on fuel charges.  Also welfare gets more funds, what is not to like. 

Budget - Update 3 - May Era

Daily Mail: Reports " Hammond's £100 BILLION giveaway: Chancellor slashes income tax for 30 million workers and pledges billions for NHS, defence and benefits reforms (so where IS the money coming from, Phil?)  "

Lets Get Real:

One would be surprised if many Conservatives rebel against the Budget, the Chancellor hit all the marks, income tax cuts, increase spending on the NHS, Welfare State and important to the Conservative right, defence spending was increased.   This is the kind of budget that Conservative MPs can sell, one constant moan was that welfare needed more money, that has been done by this budget.  As said in previous post, let's see the small print, it is always the small print that gets you. 

The Budget - Update 2 - May Era

Sky News: Reports " Mr Hammond said his third budget was about helping "the strivers, the grafters and the carers" and would pave the way for a "brighter future".  "

Lets Get Real:

This is Budget is for workers, those that actually vote, one good aspect in the increase in the National Living Wage from £7.83 to £8.21 an hour from April 2019, welfare should not be a choice, welfare should be the last safety net, the Conservatives are making an appeal to Middle England, the Labour Party was never going to support the budget, they will try to block it, it will be interesting to see what the DUP do with their votes.  There could be an early election. 

The End of Austerity in the UK - May Era

BBC News: Reports " Philip Hammond has said the "era of austerity is finally coming to an end", in his last Budget before Brexit.  "

Lets Get Real:

This was a FEEL GOOD BUDGET, lets see after a few days what the small print says, past Budgets have fallen apart because of a unseen political cost.   There are tax cuts, well the level you pay tax goes up, for the middle class and the rich ( they tend to vote ) also a freeze on fuel hikes, also a freeze on the cost of beer.   The Chancellor stated yesterday that should there be no EU deal then another Budget might have to take place, this was reversed by No 10.  The promises in the Budget will go forward.   Of course the Labour Party opposed, they promise a lot, but also wreck the economy when they get in, thus 2010.  It will be interesting to see the political polls after a few days. 

Doctor Who Review - Doctor Who: Arachnids In The UK

Doctor Who News: Reports " Doctor Who: Arachnids In The UK was watched by 6.43 million viewers, a share of 29.3% of the total TV audience, according to unofficial overnight figures.  "

Lets Get Real:

" My Hotel, My Rules " So says the Chris Noth character, what a great show, this was Doctor Who is full monster mode, of course it was down to a human billionaire, not that far removed from President Trump, even down to washing his hands a lot ( we with OCD do not what to be represented by Donald Trump ).   The Doctor landed in Sheffield to return his new companions, if was to be seen that the Doctor did not want them to leave, so went for Tea with the family of one companion, the Doctor doing small talk was fun, Doctor with a flat, that would not work, the TARDIS would not be happy!! Also it was fun to see the family one of the companions assume that she was either gay as in dating the Doctor or had hitched up with the other companion.   Then we see how the Spiders developed, spoiler alert, the Doctor was fast to see the links, thus we come to the Hotel, the Hotel was built over old mining works, thus enter the Chris North character, he had sharp lines, was funny, a coward, but also the one at the end that gave the spider a merciful death with a gun, the Doctor objected, thus the above line. In a odd way you liked the Noth character, that was not the intention, but he had something.  The Doctor Who writers have to bring him back as POTUS, that would be fun.   The Doctor is not God, and he/she seems not understand Democracy, it would be good to see a POTUS North say, " My Country, my rules ".   Thus a great show by the cast and guest stars and writers, keep making this good and the Doctor will be around for a few good years.