Aimed at the Wrong People?

Oh yes, because posts like mine lead to that, don't they? What rubbish!

ana we can all nit pick, but find it to be a rather mindless occupation.

No thanks, I'd rather nit-pick if it's all the same to you, Rigby

I wonder how long this thread will last before it's deleted...

^ I don't want this to be a race to the bottom argument but I believe NI have no greater need for the money than some other areas of the UK.^

I absolutely agree with you, Rigby. It's deeply unfair, but, if it's spent as intended, it will benefit the people of NI. Which is a tiny silver lining for them.

No thanks, I'd rather nit-pick if it's all the same to you, Rigby (or indeed, even if it isn't).

Rather than just your usual nit-picking ana would you like to share your views on buying votes with money that is all of ours, whatever the exact sum of money it is?

And anyway, quite frankly, who'd believe any figures the government give about the cost of this 'deal'? They will give the DUP whatever it takes, and then some, and lie and lie again to us so we'll never know the truth anyway.

season=session

Maizie I don't want this to be a race to the bottom argument but I believe NI have no greater need for the money than some other areas of the UK. Its completely inequitable to give a huge amount of all our money just as a bribe. So I do absolutely grudge it 150%. The £1.5 bn apparently is only for this season i.e. until 2019 and then who knows? Also, the government now have to find the money they were hoping to save through means testing WFA ( which was of course uncounted in their manifesto) and the abolition of the triple lock (again uncosted). Given the increase in the rate of inflation, maintaining the triple lock is going to be expensive.

Another false fact ana

It's £1bn immediately which is the headline figure and a further £1.5bn. that can be drawn in over the next two years, conveniently forgotten when talking about the DUP.

Thank you for mentioning that the sum actually offered to the DU is £1.5 bn not £2.5bn - a myth which seems to have been perpetuated on every political thread.

where are you getting the £2.5 billion figure from, whitewave? It's generally being quoted as £1.5 billion.

The costing the tories estimated for Labour's manifesto pledges adds up to £2.2 billion.This would have come from the same magic money tree that May has suddenly discovered but, unlike May's bribe to the DUP, would have benefited the whole country and been a source of revenue in profits from renationalised industries and taxes on increased business activity and increased wages.

As for 'borrowing' it you really should get yourself up to speed with Modern Monetarist Theory roses. Governments don't 'borrow' money, they create it. So far governments have 'created' some £345 billion in the last 10 years for quantitative easing to bail out the banks and to keep the economy stable after the Brexit vote.

I don't exactly grudge NI the money, they need it, but to get it in the form of a bribe to keep a tottering government in office is an abuse of power. Not only is the DUP currently embroiled in a scandal over £millions of missing money, raising questions about whether the 'new' money will be used as it is supposed to be used, but this bribe has serious implications for Power Sharing (on which there is still no agreement in Stormont) and the Good Friday Agreement.

Of course what we must also remember that the £2.5bn is just the tip of the iceberg. The Tories have to cost back in retaining the triple lock, the winter fuel allowance and social care. Plus whatever else the DUP demand.

Yes, Corbyn was going to spend on public services by raising taxes for the rich and corporations. That's not borrowing.

How much rose?

Don't you mean 20 points behind?
And I think that Corbyn had plans to borrow spend much more than that.

And your point is rose?

Can you point to a single opposition who started the election campaign 20 points ahead and achieved what Corbyn achieved?

As for the Tories sniggering about Corbyns spending plans -what price that sniggering now when they have suddenly found another £2.5bn

What rot!!

There was nothing to stop her running a 'good campaign' except her inability to judge the mood of the electorate.

No 'magic money tree' she dared to tell a nurse on national TV. Well she's found the magic money tree to buy 10 votes

Quite!

Oh, come on!
Corbyn ran a good campaign and still lost, May ran a terrible campaign and managed to still come out with better numbers ( imagine if she had run a good campaign!)

You are joking!!!!!

May had a lead of 20 points. Corbyn was consistently trashed by the media. At the beginning of the election campaign no one thought Corbyn had a cat in hells chance.

But he overturned that lead completely, in fact given a couple more weeks and more exposure to his policies he would have won.

It was a brilliant result - given the lies and evil press. And false facts!!

Still, I will leave you with your dreams.

And May managed a Pyrrhic victory .

Labour in the ascendancy? Really? They are still sitting on the Oppsition benches.