Forum Topic

Why Labour find economics so difficult

From our councillors latest update:"over 10 or so years the council has had to make savings of the order of £130M per annum – in other words we will be spending £130M less in 2019 than we were in 2010. These telephone numbers are a little difficult to grasp"£130M per annum would equal a difference of £1170M between 2010 and 2019. It's no wonder Labour can't run the countries economy when they struggle with basic maths.

Ian Fillingham ● 3469d26 Comments

You know what they say "old accountants never die - they simply lose their balance".It is a great joy for me to have been a councillor long enough to have heard Labour Councillors decrying both rent increases for council tenants introduced by a Labour Chancellor and this year's 1% DECREASE in the rents of council tenants brought in by a Conservative Chancellor.Cllr Lambert is not alone.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 3465d

"Who would you trust to get his figures write?"Certainly not someone like you who seems barely literate - 'write'?? As I said a moron.

Vanessa Smith ● 3466d

I don't think it is Robin, who is unwell and has not been involved with local politics lately if my understanding is correct.  Think Isleworth Labour, think UKIP.

Phil Andrews ● 3466d

Good doint Ian..he is a real Drick.

Keith Iddon ● 3466d

Given that he ignored the fact that I started this thread, and waded straight into Phil, I'm tempted to say yes, Robin does exist.

Ian Fillingham ● 3466d

Does Tricky Dickie even exist?

Anne England ● 3467d

it would seem a little premature ( even for Nicki) to say a successful elected councillor - did she mean a successfully elected councilor ( which no one could dispute). Or is the distinction a little too subtle for her?

James Homer ● 3467d

It would appear that the local Labour Darty has recruited a real Drick who seems to be living up to her name.

Keith Iddon ● 3467d

Well Nicki, at the very moment you were typing this I was on my way home after a day's work at my menial job, sitting in my van on the Twickenham Road.  I had plenty of time to reflect upon the expertise of which you speak, the evidence of which was all around me.

Phil Andrews ● 3467d

Guy Lambert - successful elected councillor and former accountant.  Phil Andrews - postman. Who would you trust to get his figures write?Deliver your letters and shut up Phil, just leave it to the experts lol.

Nicki Drick ● 3467d

Ok, I will put it together and start a new thread so everyone can contribute.

Marina Thomas ● 3468d

Thank you Anne

Paul Fisher ● 3468d

deepening

Anne England ● 3468d

" Try buying a dictionary"And perhaps a shovel to help with the ever deeping hole thats being dug

Paul Fisher ● 3468d

Marina - why not do both. Then I can deal with your concerns directly and gather others from the thread.

Guy Lambert ● 3468d

Ah, so it's the phrase 'per annum' you don't understand. Try buying a dictionary.

Ian Fillingham ● 3468d

It's refreshing to know that at least one councillor at Hounslow council is interested to know what we think. Thank you!Transport is an elephant in the room nobody wants to hear or talk about it seems. I have lived in Syon for 10 years, but this is getting so out of hand that I would move tomorrow if I could. Transport is the major issue for many many people I know, and is only bound to get worse with all the developments that are planned, including new schools, High street and 15-year plan. I can start a new thread, so everyone can contribute, or email you directly - please let me know which is better.

Marina Thomas ● 3469d

Marina - all wards (I actually live in Syon anyway!) though I obviously am most focused on Brentford and may pass 'off patch' issues to colleagues. But transport by its nature rarely respects ward boundaries.

Guy Lambert ● 3469d

Guy,In the same article you say you also want to improve your understanding of transport, how it works and how we can work with TfL to improve it.Are you interested in views from the residents of your ward only, or from the neighboring wards, too?

Marina Thomas ● 3469d

Actually I understand economics quite well and most people manage to understand what I'm saying. Perhaps the way you worded your heading explains why you find it so easy to misinterpret.I do try to keep it succinct and I'm sorry if I spell it out in a way that some people find hard to understand, so I'll put it another way and see if that helps. Our spend at the end is a reduction of ~£130M in the per annum spend in the last year of the decade under question compared to what it was in the first year. You should not cumulate it. That is of the order of £2000 per household. Of course, as James later suggests, we could have filled the gap by tripling council tax but I'm dubious whether the referendums required would have been passed and in any case it would have broken a manifesto promise.

Guy Lambert ● 3469d

and you have to wonder why someone who writes:and I have to say that I find it pretty astonishing that services have by and large held up well. However the environment is getting tougher year by year and it’s unrealistic to think we can sustain matters much longer.supported not increasing the council tax this year

James Homer ● 3469d

I seriously wonder why Cllr Lambert keeps digging holes for himself on Council financial matters when he always gets it so wrong each time he bothers?

Paul Fisher ● 3469d

I think we have a case of the three B's here. LOL!

Keith Iddon ● 3469d

It's on the front page of this site - Councillor Guy Lambert's latest bulletin.

Phil Andrews ● 3469d

Where can I find this "gem", please?

Marina Thomas ● 3469d

Which is roughly twice the Council's entire budget!Funnily enough Ian I had intended to make a post almost identical to yours when I read that comment the other day, but decided against because I didn't want to sidetrack the discussions which were taking place about Church Street and Councillor Curran's vendetta against community activists in Brentford.But you missed this bit later in the same bulletin: "...and as a former accountant I can divide 52 by 2".  Read that again and weep.

Phil Andrews ● 3469d