I didn’t watch the link. I have my opinions on how it is and my eyes don’t fib. Collateral damage for the better good does happen and a huge majority of the time it works, or worked. Nowadays perfection is sought as a resolution to a problem. The social as it was, is abused and abused but cannot be changed because of the above. Like the NHS the welfare state is too big to fail and too big to succeed. Although my recent NHS experience has been brilliant and I’m nearly better. And I’m sure the good stories about both of the above outweigh the bad by a massive margin; but that’s not news is it ?

Socialism is driven by envy and hatred. It's like a fella going nuts cos another fella has a prettier wife. Which is, of course, simply the way of the World. One can hate it or one can accept it. A Champions League striker will have a nicer car & wife than everybody else.

Socialism is also driven by people rights.....but with no regard to their duties. 'i am entitled to a roof over my head'.....regardless of whether i behave like a t0sser in all the rest of my life. Refusing to work, choosing to party and generally behave like a loser.

the net result : Socialism makes everybody poorer and eradicates the work-ethic.

When you mix all this into Lefties insistence on opening up the Borders to legions of military-age men....the final outcome is anarchy.

Eze Peasy at Anfield....

Pleae don't feel obliged to come back in.

Haha, I might have known you'd turn up, eventually, to contribute your usual, helpful and open-minded pen'orth. Your response is the only thing you've contributed: that's about right haha.

Of course, the sentiment just about sums up the temperature here with some people.

Thanks for taking the trouble to respond, Ouzo; you are the only person who's taken the trouble to watch, consider and respond to the clip.

I did wonder about the exchange rate question but wondered whether he'd done his sums and taken that into consideration.

I have absolutely no problem with you making your comments. I see them as healthy and part and parcel of proper discussion.

You see, Hrolf, old boy: it's not difficult.

Government spending and taxation vary at different times and situations, there are all sorts of factors at play - for example, if the country is at war or there is a pandemic or other major events.

I am not a mathematician so my quick calculation could well be wrong, but, without checking who was in government, the range was as stated. I don't think you could say a 4% difference was significant.
To have a comprehensive overview you'd also need to take into account every year as only looking at years where there was a change in government will always skew the results, as there are quite often taxation changes designed to stay in power.