Parkwell

I'm glad you asked. I decided that regardless of whether we are in or out of the EU, the UK would not change significantly and would not improve because the bulk of the fault lies with our politicians. I think this is exacerbated by our electoral system which I want to see heavily reformed and doubt will happen in my lifetime. Part of me favours leaving because I also disagree with some of the structure of the EU governance and would rather retain more direct control over UK affairs. However, I'm aware that the change I want is so unlikely to occur in either scenario that to vote on that basis seemed pointless. Ultimately it felt better to let others decide and I would be okay with either outcome. Looking at it now. The referendum result was to leave the EU. That must be passed in some form to maintain the integrity of our democracy. My belief that the fault lies with our politicians appears true as they have failed to agree on a vision for the future or made sufficient plans and assurances to the public in the quite likely outcome of no deal. This should always have been seriously planned for because otherwise the EU rightly assumed we were not prepared to walk away from negotiations and thus backed the UK into a corner. We could have done better but that's not what happened. May's deal tries to please everyone and in doing so gives us the worst of both options leave and remain. Tied to the EU with less agency. It's been rejected twice and has little support. I believe in being responsible for your actions. I know, a strange concept today. It's harder to grow if you are shielded from consequences. The politicians who let us down need to see and be responsible for their failures. The people that voted leave need to see and feel the consequences of the risk they took. Remain voters who refused to accept the result and continued to sow divisions and obstruct planning for the future should feel the consequences of their actions. It won't be easy but the UK can survive no deal. It may even succeed in the long term. Just as we could have survived a housing crash. Just like we could have survived the financial crash without destroying the nations finances. This is the end of the road that those in power promised. No more kicking the can and asking to be saved. The UK needs to make the best of what is to come. Whether we are stronger after it or not is down to each and every one of us. Sadly I have always believed, and still do, that the end result will be an unfavourable deal where little changes. To my mind that would be truly humiliating.

I abstained in the referendum. Assessing things as they are now I would vote no deal.

nvm

We don't need two BBCs, we need half of the one we have.

Amazon don't make the laws so I don't see any point complaining at them. They are just smart enough to get me a better price and make a tonne of profit. Looks like common sense in action.

That chimes with my theory of a Hot Pornstar Index to track welfare payouts.

****** political parties. Reform the electoral system. I look forward to a day when we look back on party politics as something of curiosity and pity. However, I will not live to see this.

So we've all agreed to stop trying to reduce the wealth gap, or give people opportunities to get out of poverty. Good old fashioned class system it is. Right-O.

Don't worry. When London is mostly rich people being waited on by imported transient labour, they'll find a way to ship all the dole-scum off to the Midlands too. Probably class it under Health and Safety.

Now that's the sort of heartwarming observations I need.

London continuing it's trend toward being only for the rich, immigrants and commuters. It's getting like a cheesy sci-fi story of two tier society. Businesses could benefit from moving out to towns/cities with potential for growth. Cut their costs and provide jobs in desirable places. Many people are just waiting for the opportunities to leave.

Because the last million built were utter shite.

That's a long way to go to find someone to spot you the extra fiver.

Lower transaction numbers will be helping keep the averages afloat. As people sit and wait, especially at the first time buyer end of the market, and it's increasingly wealthier people transacting, the rate of change can be volatile but often won't be as dramatic until...

These flats are designed for young professionals to get used to being ******ed in the ass. Know thy place.

Nice vague slogans to make a few people feel fuzzy before voting. The new one implies they think they can build their way out of this. None of their plans sound like a plausible solution. Tory party still dead in the water.

The main source of the problem is a society addicted to debt and unable/unwilling to protect housing from speculation or reform it's demonstrably dysfunctional systems (taxation et al). BTL benefits and exploits others via both the debt and bad policies making it intrinsically linked. Some think going after BTL alone is enough, I don't agree. Foreign purchases are also an issue but not the be all. Both can be dealt with better at the root.

I've no problem with that principle. Let's try a capital gains tax on all property. This proposal is not directly targeting the same thing. It's a hackneyed approach with little thought beyond pound signs.

They won't do that because plenty of powerful people make a lot of money from increasing property and land prices. Better to target some ordinary folks who appear a bit wealthier and target them for an easy cash grab.

I never mentioned income tax. I'd rather see income tax reduced and this kind of authoritarian policy never introduced.

We seem to have reached a point where simply owning a home means you are wealthy enough for special punitive taxes. Just tragic. Such a poor petty tribal nation.

Easy debt and a lack of measures to dissuade people from using property as a speculative investment are the main drivers. BTL is a very visible part of the problem and so an easy target. Killing BTL is an important step but ideally only as part of a wider policy.

It has a square sink, ergo LUXURY.

Putting aside the semantics of socialism/capitalism (tedious and distracting IMO), this is the direction I'd like. All good things to rectify. And would definitely help even up the property wealth divide.

So your recommendation is to crawl in a ditch and die. Noted. Nice to hear you're alright, Jack.