My post was in answer to a post saying that "average wages are plummeting at levels not seen since the 1780s"? From what you say, it appear that you probably disagree with that post too?
The actual average weekly wage in November 2016, under the Tory Theresa May was £509. The actual average weekly wage under Labour's Tony Blair was £306. Perhaps the original poster should be castigating labour's record rather than that of the Tories.

We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men. [Orwell]

In today's election news...

White Van Woman says she will reduce immigration like what she didn't last time.

While we are in the EU we can do very little about controlling immigration. Once we are out, we can do a great deal.

We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men. [Orwell]

Also in today's election news,Corbyn says he will abolish hospital car park fees (good idea I might add.).

But then adds he will tax people who have private health care insurance....what the people who help free up the NHS.
not quite sure about that,what about the people who get it as part of their salary package.

always a Norwood boy, where ever I live.

So,that's why net non EU immigration rose by 164,000 to y/e 2016,largely under her watch...

In any event the stats (both EU and non EU) are rubbish because they include students who...bring revenue,are here short term,and hopefully in later life buy goods from here in business as a result of links formed when they were here...our estimated international student population is over 100,000.

Perceived hostility to foreigners is likely to erode our market share in the international education field and have long term impact on trade.

Edited by legaleagle (08 May 2017 7.08pm)

Nick, I do think you should channel your Labour obsession out canvassing etc for this election period and not posting endless links on here as it's not going to make any difference!

I am already taxed on my health care that comes as part of my salary package. Either McDonnell doesn't realise that people are already taxed or I will have to pay even more, for not using the NHS.

This goes back to my point several pages ago. The NHS may well need more money but it needs a complete overhaul, looking at what the NHS should and shouldn't provide, funding, training, and how it can work along with private health care. Unfortunately it appears to be beyond the wit of our politicians and probably the general public too.

That's the most vapid and idiotic article I've ever read. Unsurprisingly the bloke is part of the Adam Smith Institute, people who think Economics was solved in the 18th century, and so don't bother with any actual economic analysis.

The claim about worst decade of wage growth since 1780s appears to be from the resolution foundation. I can't actually find that claim anywhere else, but I've only looked on the RF website briefly.

Here is the story from a much more credible source with less of the unfounded claims made by the bloke in Forbes:

[Link]

A better idea would be using car parking charges (for visitors and those easily able to walk) to improve public transport networks around hospitals. People should be disincentivised from using cars, especially around hospitals and especially in London, and given appropriate means not to use cars.

Just to be clear the tax is an increase in IPT on healthcare insurance. Doesn't seem wholly unfair given the profile of those people who tend to have private health insurance, but perhaps the incentives won't run in the right way. Important study of the Laffer curve required on that one.