Terrible news for music in the UK

[Beef Oven!]

Not least because attempts to deporting people are usually unsuccessful.

That's the bit about not involving the agencies that will be required to operationalise the half-baked policy.

[ahinton]

Every media story should be treated with some caution, but if you can be bothered you can read on the government's own website that: "From 6 April 2016, those applying for settlement from Tier 2 and who entered Tier 2 under the rules in force from 6 April 2011 must be paid at least £35,000 per annum or the going rate in the relevant UK Border Agency Code of Practice, whichever is higher." I assume that this information is reliable. Here is the link if anyone wants to check: https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...erseas-soi.pdf

As for the motives behind people setting up petitions I would think they are fairly clear in this case: to oppose the idea that there should be an income qualification for non-EU immigrants to stay in the UK longer than five years. I don't see how that can be construed as "deeply suspicious". Either you think it's fair or you don't.

That's right - and so you just make sure that they're paid nothing like that amount and then anyone "guilty" can and will be deported (unless, of course, the government fails to get away with this). Between that and the "fortress Britain" idea that seeks to cut benefits for the infirm and, once again, will indeed do so if they can get away with it, a brexit should look ever more likely if for no other or beter reason than that no one will want to have Britain anywhere near it apart, perhaps, from an extreme Republican US run by someone well to the right of the Cruz missile. Better get out soon, huh?...

[ahinton]

Not least because attempts to deporting people are usually unsuccessful.

They might have been so far but, with the immigration issues that now face us - let alone those that might do so should the Chinese start to get uncomfortable as to where they are - deportation measures might come to be the most heavily exercising ones for not only the British government but for many others as well.

[MrBear]

The motivation behind the current petition to save local authority funding for rural bus routes in wiltshire ,is to save funding for rural bus routes in wiltshire.
Seems Clear enough.

Maybe not so
Are the buses likely to be cut because pensioners arnt paying fares they could afford to pay but they get a free pass so bus companies cant make money on the pittance they get for each of these journeys
I am saying that because where I live pensioners with a higher income than me ride on the bus for free when I have to pay and they dont realise how little the bus companies get for doing this


Hope they manage to keep the buses running

[Flay]

I hate this unreasonable, self-serving, selfish, arrogant, inconsiderate, corrupt, uncaring government.

Everything they do turns to excrement. And there's no worthwhile opposition. What a depressing mess.

This country is done for.

[Flay]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-mps-talk-long-derail-7539627

See what I mean?

[MrGongGong]

Partly because the process is flawed, as I've outlined. It doesn't matter how they are minded, the whole thing wil fail whatever.

I'm sure it will fail
but not before we loose many people who are of great benefit to this country both culturally and (if this HAS to be the judge of things) economically
and it will stop people coming here in the first place

But what do I know?
We already have enough pianists as it is without folks like Mitsuko Uchida coming over here and stealing their jobs

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I hate this unreasonable, self-serving, selfish, arrogant, inconsiderate, corrupt, uncaring government.

Everything they do turns to excrement. And there's no worthwhile opposition. What a depressing mess.

This country is done for.

There are points worthy of consideration on this thread, but if it is to continue, it should be kept strictly on topic - i.e. the effect on music/musicians.

[ahinton]

There are points worthy of consideration on this thread, but if it is to continue, it should be kept strictly on topic - i.e. the effect on music/musicians.

But I think that it is already fairly clear what effect this proposal, if implemented, will have on music making and the musicians who do it; the only question remaning to be answered appears to be whether and/or how it might affect self-employed musicians.

[ahinton]

I hate this unreasonable, self-serving, selfish, arrogant, inconsiderate, corrupt, uncaring government.

Everything they do turns to excrement. And there's no worthwhile opposition. What a depressing mess.

This country is done for.

Shame about its electorate that put it there, then...

[Beef Oven!]

Shame about its electorate that put it there, then...

Indeed, but it's hardly ever clear to the electorate what the impact of such policies might be until it's too late. That's half the problem - plausible policy statements that will end up having a deleterious effect (as per the example on how it will affect musicians).

[jean]

And of course, under FPTP, it's only ever a minority of voters that puts any government in power.

[MrGongGong]

the only question remaning to be answered appears to be whether and/or how it might affect self-employed musicians.

Given that the vast majority of musicians are self-employed and don't earn over the ridiculous £35,000 i'm not hopeful.
The £35,000 limit will (and it's proposed to apply it retrospectively) affect many salaried orchestral players as well.
I guess as the mantra of "multiculturalism isn't working" seems popular we can't see ensembles where there are people who obviously come from overseas playing in harmony can we?

Not sure what the MU take on this is?

[cloughie]

Maybe not so
Are the buses likely to be cut because pensioners arnt paying fares they could afford to pay but they get a free pass so bus companies cant make money on the pittance they get for each of these journeys
I am saying that because where I live pensioners with a higher income than me ride on the bus for free when I have to pay and they dont realise how little the bus companies get for doing this


Hope they manage to keep the buses running

It all comes down to funding from local councils and they are been starved by central government. As a result anything which is not a statutory requirement is in the firing line to be cut. Bus services, public toilets and libraries are all threatened.

[ahinton]

Indeed, but it's hardly ever clear to the electorate what the impact of such policies might be until it's too late. That's half the problem - plausible policy statements that will end up having a deleterious effect (as per the example on how it will affect musicians).

Quite; the problems remains, however, that if there's no obviously credible opposition it becomes a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't.