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ARGUS COMMENT: Actions of a drowning man
10:48am Thursday 15th May 2008
THERE will be few who do not feel cynical about Gordon Brown's finance package unveiled yesterday.
Help for first-time home buyers, a savings scheme for the low paid, flexible working rights for parents.
Anyone would think there was a crucial by-election coming up. Oh yes there is one next week in Crewe.
Let's be brutal. The government got it seriously wrong over the 10p tax rate and has done nothing but back-pedal over the whole issue for the last month.
It has failed to take into account the rising cost of virtually everything and the fact that the average family is now less-well off, living in a home that has decreased in value.
Only after this month's local elections, when Labour got a seriously bloody nose, did the government give the impression that it was starting to take notice of people's concerns.
Coming up with a package of measures at this stage is nothing more than a vote-winning ploy and a bid to be popular again.
Unfortunately for Mr Brown the public are not stupid.
They will see this announcement for nothing more than what it is - a bid to win back voters.
Sadly for Labour it may be too late.
It looks like Mr Brown is scraping the barrel when it comes to ideas and his rapidly growing unpopularity is reminiscent of John Major's time in power when he could do no right.
While we do not disagree with the measures announced it does feel like a case of too little too late.
Your Say YourGwent
R Davies, says...
11:36am Thu 15 May 08
Actually the change in tax rates meant the average family was better off. It was the fact that a lot of low paid workers were worse off that was the problem.
Also what is the problem with your house decreasing in value - it's still the same house. It's only if your treat your house as some kind of income stream that means this is a problem.
Simon, Newport says...
12:58pm Thu 15 May 08
The simple fact is that we've been living beyond our means for too long. I personally want to see several percent wiped off the housing market, as I'm looking at getting on the ladder. I refuse to pay more than £60k for a house. They don't cost that much to build in real terms, so the prices are just exploitative!
Prices are set by the amount people are prepared to pay! Same for petrol and everything else to some degree.
Vicky13, Newport says...
1:41pm Thu 15 May 08
There are people buying houses and renting them for extortionate amounts, when normal working people cannot afford to get a first home let alone rent out a second property!
Chris, says...
2:50pm Thu 15 May 08
It's a little simplistic to say that these measures are being brought in as a softener for the coming byelection. It will make no difference because by the time of the next general election this byelection will have been forgotten.
DG, Newport says...
4:33pm Thu 15 May 08
This can't be the same public I interact with. Must be another public.
cld, valleys says...
9:04pm Thu 15 May 08
Your sayYourGwent
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js, cardiff says...
11:10am Thu 15 May 08