Aimed at the Wrong People?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Another false fact ana

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.

season=session

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.

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?

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

^ 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

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

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

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

ana posts like yours simply do not progress the argument and are made just to irritate nothing more and nothing less.

Well those that can, contribute and to the discussion and those that can't nitpick.

My original post was made to MaizieD because I'd heard the figure of £1.5 bn over and over again on the news and in the media, but it was always £2.5 bn on here.

I notice Maizie isn't being castigated for getting it wrong.

Whitewave, please less of accusations that some posters do not add to discussions, I was called a parasite yesterday and you posted immediately in agreement

I notice Maizie isn't being castigated for getting it wrong.

What did I get wrong, Ana?

Blimey when did I agree with you being a parasite annie if I did I profoundly apologise

Why wouldn't you knock Jeremy Corbin, vile horrible man

I agree with Anya and Whitewave. People who don't have much money often spend more than this on a holiday - and if you add together the cost of a number of gig tickets it would be much more. People save up, sometimes for a couple of years. They aren't all rich.

Was that a question or a statement Arry

Who is Jeremy Corbin??

You did Whitewave, the post was removed , thank you for your apology , saddens me that is you opinion of me, never mind, it's been said and now it's past