Can I believe the Chancellor?

Just Gideon lying through his teeth yet again.

I find that hard to believe too. I will have to go away and see just what benefits are means tested.

He meant nine out of ten families who are on benefits, are means tested. Child allowance and pensions are not benefits because they are universal.

Doesn't the character of posters come across well in their postings?

ab calling the Chancellor "Gideon" is spiteful, and smacks of desperation.

It certainly does.

Not at all Jingle, not at all , to be fair he has only done what many aspiring film stars do , oh and many a crooked business wheeler dealer does

I think about a quarter of the men in my family tree were known by their middle names, or ones they had chosen arbitrarily as better than the ones they were issued with at birth. I have not discovered any aspiring film stars , and if there were any crooked business wheeler dealers they managed to keep it quiet.

Ad hominem attack?

And my son ab. (uses his second name)

I'm glad he does actually. I think the second one is much better.

My DH uses his second name too as does my elder brother and elder sister. I've never really understood how that first starts happening.

Really Elegran? I think a lot of people choose to use their second Christian name, but we are speaking of changing one's name be deed poll , if he had chosen Oilver his second name he would have no need to change by deed poll would he ?

Gideon Oliver Osbourne

So as he went to the trouble (at 14) of changing his name by deed poll, wouldn't it be courteous to use that name instead of being childish and trying for a cheap laugh?

I don't blame him, at 14 or since, for preferring to be George rather than Gideon or Oliver. If your parents had chosen to name you as though you were a mediaeval monk or a Victorian banker, would you have used those names when you were old enough to make a decision?

If he changed his name by deed poll, then he is now known by the name he chose, and anyone persisting in calling him by his previous monicker is just being perverse - or perhaps thinks that sarcasm and personal ridicule for changing is a valid criticism of his politics.

I think courtesy extended to all is an excellent idea

Indeed.

We can but hope it will Elegran

And shown by all as well, of course...

jinglbellsfrocks
"He meant nine out of ten families who are on benefits, are means tested. .."

Then why didn't he say that?
He and all the current government bigwigs always choose their words extremely carefully when doing public broadcasts, so I can't believe for one minute that this was a mistake on his part.

My conclusion: that he said it deliberately knowing that many (Daily Mail readers, for example ???) will take his claim at face value, thus guaranteeing him their continued support for any further cuts whatsoever to 'welfare' that he goes on to propose, but also knowing that he could simply claim to have worded it badly or been misunderstood when challenged by those who are not so gullible think a little more deeply about such claims.

For some reason, that last post was not my final version, and didn't show any of my formatting, so here's what I actually intended to post:

jinglbellsfrocks
"He meant nine out of ten families who are on benefits, are means tested. .."

Then why didn't he say that?
He and all the current government bigwigs always choose their words extremely carefully when doing public broadcasts, so I can't believe for one minute that this was a mistake on his part.

My conclusion: that he said it deliberately knowing that many (Daily Mail readers, for example ???) will take his claim at face value, thus guaranteeing him their continued support for any further cuts whatsoever to 'welfare' that he goes on to propose, but also knowing that he could simply claim to have worded it badly or been misunderstood when challenged by those who are not so gullible think a little more deeply about such claims.

(Don't Gransnet realize how much space would be saved on the site if they allowed us an 'edit' button like most other forums do! )

Yes of course Anna , by all

It's Ana, if you don't mind Anniebach

I apologise Ana