dothemaths

I agree but it is an interesting experiment and gives the population a sense of contributing to the national debate. I guess after a while the novelty wears off and people will only sign referenda which are substantive.

The 50K referenda are optional. I guess after a while the novelty wears off and people will only sign referenda which are substantive

Population of Switzerland is 8m, the equivalent for the UK would be 800,000 people. If you could get that many people supporting an issue in the UK, it probably means government needs to respond

If Brexit goes badly (even in the best case scenario, the first few years will be bloody difficult) then UK low skilled workers might start wanting to emigrate...

These lists are basically rubbish and made for UK consumption (TimesHigher is read only in the UK). Everyone working in academia knows that the top UK universities are middling at best. A more balanced view of quality can be seen by looking at http://www.nature.com/news/where-nobel-winners-get-their-start-1.20757 but to be honest, it is also only a partial picture

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/05/rising-rents-force-housing-policy-change-homes-tory Tory ‘buy as you go’ plan to make renters homeowners

Number of MP landlords has risen by a quarter since last parliament http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/jan/14/mp-landlords-number-risen-quarter-last-parliament-housing-bill

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/20/right-to-buy-disastrous-for-housing-market

Isn't this since 2012 ?- only a tiny fraction of RTB have been sold in this period. Our current problems are due to the last few decades when most of the properties were sold. I guess this list has more to do with how stretched the council budgets are and how unaffordable housing is.

Still more rubbish. To get exponential growth you need a multiplier effect like a chain reaction in a nuclear reactor -i.e. each new immigrant somehow causing many more of the local population (than the immigrants who have arrived) to spontaneously need more houses - frankly absurd. To summarise, the graph shows that houseprice increases are not primarily due to increased demand. In all these paragraphs written by several here, I fail to see any coherent arguments to the contrary. If you have something worthwhile to say then you can usually say it in a few sentences. If you cannot then it is a bad sign...

Absolute Rubbish. End Of. The graph shows population growing linearly at a few fraction of a percent per annum (immigration) and exponential growth of house prices. As an honest, numerate person, to me either the graph is wrong or immigration is irrelevant. If I am mistaken then please enlighten, concisely - as Samuel Johnson said "young persons should be taught to think justly, and write clearly, neatly, and succinctly". Dr Johnson also said "However we may labour for our own deception, truth, though unwelcome, will sometimes intrude upon the mind."

Absolute rubbish. Either the graph is WRONG or immigration is IRRELEVANT. Probably because most immigrants are not buying houses. What a bunch of muppets.

I hear that some slaves are now going on to forums like housepricecrash to complain. Reminds me of 476 AD.

hit the nail on the head - could be a long wait for reality to bite

It was just (a very effective) election bribe Interesting to see if this has legs. ex-council flat that has made headlines this week after being sold for £1.2m http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/14/right-to-buy-scheme-disaster-housing