Is true socialism possible?

[Lateralthinking1]

He used his perceived 'northernness' to work his way up the Labour Party hierarchy, where inverted snobbery counts for so much. In actual fact, he's about as northern as Frankie Howerd (on the same street as whom he was born), though a lot less funny.

Undoubtedly, the worst Prime Minister that never was.

John Moore, George Brown, Ken Clarke, Iain Duncan Smith, Roy Hattersley, David Owen, Bryan Gould, Michael Howard etc etc.

[scottycelt]

Undoubtedly, the worst Prime Minister that never was.

Undoubtedly some achievement considering the sheer scale of the competition ...

[scottycelt]

John Moore, George Brown, Ken Clarke, Iain Duncan Smith, Roy Hattersley, David Owen, Bryan Gould, Michael Howard etc etc.

I rather like Ken, but I admit I would not have seen him as PM potential.

David Owen, on the other hand, might have made a thoroughly excellent PM ... IMHO!!

[Lateralthinking1]

Jethro Tulll's Ian Anderson waged a war of words with Robert Plant via the music mags in the 70s. This originated when IA claimed that Zep would be a great band, 'if they could write proper songs' - forgetting that Plant was responsible for most of Zeppelin's lyrics (which tended to be dreadful). Plant took great umbrage at this.

Later on, when Percy was complaining about his tax issues, Anderson berated him for 'misleading' his fans over the amount he was making. 'I earn as much in a week as a very successful bricklayer', said Anderson, somehwhat mysteriously, 'which is a lot.' To which, Plant responded: 'Well, he writes songs like a bricklayer, too.'

Personally, I think Led Zeppelin provided a rather marvellous and colourful soundtrack to the drabness of 70s Britain and, for that, they deserved to be rewarded. :)

Great story but wouldn't, say, £25 million be sufficient reward? Or does he worry that it would not be enough to pay for immediate funeral expenses?

Scottycelt - I don't know if you ever heard the one about the senior politician who used to take off his shoe and smack his chauffeur on the head with it? Can't name names here of course - but not a Tory.

[teamsaint]

I rather like Ken, but I admit I would not have seen him as PM potential.

David Owen, on the other hand, might have made a thoroughly excellent PM ... IMHO!!

Ken Clarke has a great public persona and is undoubtedly capable. He also keeps some very interesting (and high level) company.
This has nothing to do with the OP , really. But worth checking out.

[scottycelt]

Scottycelt - I don't know if you ever heard the one about the senior politician who used to take off his shoe and smack his chauffeur on the head with it? Can't name names here of course - but not a Tory.

But if the chauffeur was himself a Tory (I presume in the good old days it was a 'he') why on earth not, Lateralthinking1 ... ?

[Lateralthinking1]

Ian Macleod, Anthony Crosland, William Hague, Eric Heffer, Enoch Powell, Neil Kinnock, Liam Fox, Ruth Kelly, Harriet Harman

[Flosshilde]

'No' to which of the two available options, Flossie ... ?

No to both.

[scottycelt]

No to both.

So, presumably, we might have a cunning alternative tax-plan in mind that we might wish to share with interested forum members ... ?

[MrGongGong]

So, presumably, we might have a cunning alternative tax-plan in mind that we might wish to share with interested forum members ... ?

Blimey , you sky fairy followers really DO divide everything into two possibilities ........

[Beef Oven]

So, presumably, we might have a cunning alternative tax-plan in mind that we might wish to share with interested forum members ... ?

I gotta great idea. How about a free-pay of 12k (that'll take the low paid out of tax altogether) and a flat rate of 30% (N.I.Included).

AND we make sure everyone pays what they are meant to and any anomalies/loopholes are dealt with as soon as they arrive!!!

Gotta be the fairest system possible!!!

[scottycelt]

I gotta great idea. How about a free-pay of 12k (that'll take the low paid out of tax altogether) and a flat rate of 30% (N.I.Included).

AND we make sure everyone pays what they are meant to and any anomalies/loopholes are dealt with as soon as they arrive!!!

Gotta be the fairest system possible!!!

Excellent, Beefy! ... you have come up with an absolutely wonderful answer ... and justice for the poor included!

And we would almost certainly get more off those rich ******** as well!

[teamsaint]

I gotta great idea. How about a free-pay of 12k (that'll take the low paid out of tax altogether) and a flat rate of 30% (N.I.Included).

AND we make sure everyone pays what they are meant to and any anomalies/loopholes are dealt with as soon as they arrive!!!

Gotta be the fairest system possible!!!

Actually, I pretty much agree. Although a really penal rate for people we don't like, such as bankers, would be great.
A wealth tax would help too.

(Beefy, you know this isn't that far from libdem "policy", don't you !!)

[MrGongGong]

(Beefy, you know this isn't that far from libdem "policy", don't you !!)

Do they still have "policies" ?

[Tony Halstead]

Re message #286

"Bryan Gould"

Who he?