Politics Thread 5

[KK]

Plans to cap the costs of buying domestic goods such as TVs and fridges through rent-to-own shops have been welcomed by the stores' customers.

Michele Jacques, from Droylsden in Manchester, ended up spending £700 on a cooker as a result of interest rates that can reach 99% a year.

Had she gone to a High Street shop, it could have cost her as little as £250.

The proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) mean rent-to-own customers would pay much less.

Rent-to-own customers make monthly payments, in effect renting goods until they have paid in full.

"Interest rates should be capped. They shouldn't be allowed to make so much profit from vulnerable people," said Ms Jacques.

"It does make you frustrated. It makes you angry."

She said the cap proposed by the FCA was "the correct thing to do".

How will the proposed cap work?

First, the FCA will limit the amount of interest that customers pay.

From April 2019, they will pay no more in interest than the cost of the product itself. So if a cooker costs £300, they will pay no more than £600 in total, including the cost of credit.

However, rent-to-own shops will still be able to charge for insurance and warranties on top of that.

Second, the cost of the goods themselves will be limited.

Shops will be able to charge no more than the median - i.e the middle price - of three mainstream retailers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46289853

Reminds me when I went into Shithouse Brighthouse because they were the only ones stocking the fridge freezer I wanted and the strawberry floaters wouldn't let me buy it outright. 'No sir, you have to pay for it in 400 monthly installments'...

For poor families, and it's usually the credit aspect that stops them from using more reasonable finance plans from the likes of Very and Argos, the government should offer up some sort of scheme where essential products such as fridges and cookers can be purchased at fair rates.

[Cheeky Devlin]

Plans to cap the costs of buying domestic goods such as TVs and fridges through rent-to-own shops have been welcomed by the stores' customers.

Michele Jacques, from Droylsden in Manchester, ended up spending £700 on a cooker as a result of interest rates that can reach 99% a year.

Had she gone to a High Street shop, it could have cost her as little as £250.

The proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) mean rent-to-own customers would pay much less.

Rent-to-own customers make monthly payments, in effect renting goods until they have paid in full.

"Interest rates should be capped. They shouldn't be allowed to make so much profit from vulnerable people," said Ms Jacques.

"It does make you frustrated. It makes you angry."

She said the cap proposed by the FCA was "the correct thing to do".

How will the proposed cap work?

First, the FCA will limit the amount of interest that customers pay.

From April 2019, they will pay no more in interest than the cost of the product itself. So if a cooker costs £300, they will pay no more than £600 in total, including the cost of credit.

However, rent-to-own shops will still be able to charge for insurance and warranties on top of that.

Second, the cost of the goods themselves will be limited.

Shops will be able to charge no more than the median - i.e the middle price - of three mainstream retailers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46289853

Reminds me when I went into Shithouse Brighthouse because they were the only ones stocking the fridge freezer I wanted and the strawberry floaters wouldn't let me buy it outright. 'No sir, you have to pay for it in 400 monthly installments'...

For poor families, and it's usually the credit aspect that stops them from using more reasonable finance plans from the likes of Very and Argos, the government should offer up some sort of scheme where essential products such as fridges and cookers can be purchased at fair rates.

Yeah I read that article. Good for the families and people who need these businesses in order to afford the appliances they need.

Some of the comments beneath it are utterly disgusting though. Thoroughly contemptible as you might expect really.

[Lagamorph]

There should be more publicity for things like Freecycle as well. Too often people will buy a new Fridge/Cooker/Washing Machine/Dish Washer just because they want something new or are having their kitchen done, so a perfectly working machine gets sent to the tip.

[BID0]

last weekends protest didn't go to plan so they're planning another one

[Preezy]

If Hypernormalisation taught me anything, it's that mass protests don't work anymore. It's just a mass of people screaming into a black hole.

[Squinty]

Just seen this Yvette Cooper select committee video where she totally strawberry floating owns Nokes. BRUTAL.

[Squinty]

Just seen this Yvette Cooper select committee video where she totally strawberry floating owns Nokes. BRUTAL.

Here's the video for it.

[KK]

America’s equivalent of Blair has been speaking to the Guardian...

Hillary Clinton: Europe must curb immigration to stop rightwing populists

Europe must get a handle on immigration to combat a growing threat from rightwing populists, Hillary Clinton has said, calling on the continent’s leaders to send out a stronger signal showing they are “not going to be able to continue to provide refuge and support”.

In an interview with the Guardian, the former Democratic presidential candidate praised the generosity shown by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, but suggested immigration was inflaming voters and contributed to the election of Donald Trump and Britain’s vote to leave the EU.

“I think Europe needs to get a handle on migration because that is what lit the flame,” Clinton said, speaking as part of a series of interviews with senior centrist political figures about the rise of populists, particularly on the right, in Europe and the Americas.

“I admire the very generous and compassionate approaches that were taken particularly by leaders like Angela Merkel, but I think it is fair to say Europe has done its part, and must send a very clear message – ‘we are not going to be able to continue provide refuge and support’ – because if we don’t deal with the migration issue it will continue to roil the body politic.”

Clinton’s remarks are likely to prove controversial across Europe, which has struggled to form a unified position ever since more than 1 million migrants and refugees arrived in the EU in 2015.

While some countries who have borne the brunt, such as Germany, Italy and Greece, have argued for the burden to be shared more evenly, some, particularly in central and eastern Europe, have rejected demands to take in refugees.

Migration numbers have fallen sharply since 2015, while a series of initiatives have been tabled, from a 10,000-member European border and coastguard agency to an overhaul of EU asylum procedures.

Oh no wait, here actually IS Blair...

“You’ve got to deal with the legitimate grievances and answer them, which is why today in Europe you cannot possibly stand for election unless you’ve got a strong position on immigration because people are worried about it,” Blair said. “You’ve got to answer those problems. If you don’t answer them then … you leave a large space into which the populists can march.”

The rest at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... ump-brexit

[Moggy]

The best way to deal with racists is to give them exactly what they want.

[Errkal]

The best way to deal with racists is to give them exactly what they want.

Is a racist racist if you accept what they are saying as ok.

[Cuttooth]

Institutional racism is being comfortable enough to throw immigrants and minorities under the bus to chase the vote of the wilfully bigoted.

[Winckle]

America’s equivalent of Blair has been speaking to the Guardian...

Hillary Clinton: Europe must curb immigration to stop rightwing populists

Europe must get a handle on immigration to combat a growing threat from rightwing populists, Hillary Clinton has said, calling on the continent’s leaders to send out a stronger signal showing they are “not going to be able to continue to provide refuge and support”.

In an interview with the Guardian, the former Democratic presidential candidate praised the generosity shown by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, but suggested immigration was inflaming voters and contributed to the election of Donald Trump and Britain’s vote to leave the EU.

“I think Europe needs to get a handle on migration because that is what lit the flame,” Clinton said, speaking as part of a series of interviews with senior centrist political figures about the rise of populists, particularly on the right, in Europe and the Americas.

“I admire the very generous and compassionate approaches that were taken particularly by leaders like Angela Merkel, but I think it is fair to say Europe has done its part, and must send a very clear message – ‘we are not going to be able to continue provide refuge and support’ – because if we don’t deal with the migration issue it will continue to roil the body politic.”

Clinton’s remarks are likely to prove controversial across Europe, which has struggled to form a unified position ever since more than 1 million migrants and refugees arrived in the EU in 2015.

While some countries who have borne the brunt, such as Germany, Italy and Greece, have argued for the burden to be shared more evenly, some, particularly in central and eastern Europe, have rejected demands to take in refugees.

Migration numbers have fallen sharply since 2015, while a series of initiatives have been tabled, from a 10,000-member European border and coastguard agency to an overhaul of EU asylum procedures.

Oh no wait, here actually IS Blair...

“You’ve got to deal with the legitimate grievances and answer them, which is why today in Europe you cannot possibly stand for election unless you’ve got a strong position on immigration because people are worried about it,” Blair said. “You’ve got to answer those problems. If you don’t answer them then … you leave a large space into which the populists can march.”

The rest at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/ ... ump-brexit

twitter.com/dril/status/841892608788041732

[KK]

UKIP should "get rid" of leader Gerard Batten for appointing Tommy Robinson as an adviser, says Nigel Farage.

Hiring the ex-English Defence League leader "goes against all the things I did as [UKIP] leader", Mr Farage said.

He accused Mr Batten of "dragging us in a shameful direction" - some UKIP members have opposed allowing Mr Robinson to join the party.

Mr Batten is the fourth person to lead UKIP since Mr Farage quit in the wake of the 2016 EU referendum.

Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, will advise on rape gangs and prison reform.

Mr Batten said on Thursday he "looked forward to working with him" and that he would be advising him on subjects about which "he has great knowledge".

On Sunday, UKIP's NEC deferred a decision on allowing members to vote on Mr Robinson joining the party.

The decision was postponed until after 29 March 2019 - the day the UK is due to leave the EU - with the NEC arguing the party should be focused on Brexit.

Currently, UKIP has a blanket ban on allowing former members of the British National Party and the EDL from joining the party - meaning Mr Robinson is barred.

Mr Batten added: "It is not necessary for him to be a party member in order to assist me in this role. I am looking forward to working with him".

But Mr Farage told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It goes against all the things I did as leader to say we will talk about immigration, we will talk about the extreme forms of Islam. But, we will do it as a non-racist, non-sectarian party.

"This blows a hole in all of that."

Asked if it spelled the end for UKIP, he added: "Well, I haven't given up yet.

"I will be writing to the National Executive Committee of the party today and urging that we have a vote of no confidence in Gerard Batten as leader. That we get rid of him.

"We can have one last go at getting rid of somebody who as leader is dragging us in a shameful direction."

Last week, UKIP members of the Welsh Assembly said Mr Robinson should not be allowed to join.

In May, Mr Robinson, 35, was jailed for 13 months for contempt of court, which sparked a series of #freeTommy protests.

His conviction was later quashed over procedural concerns and the case has now been referred to the attorney general.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46308160

[Moggy]

Imagine being too racist for Farage.

[Drumstick]

So, basically, Farage wants to come back as leader.

[Moggy]

So, basically, Farage wants to come back as leader.

His job in Brussels is coming to an end soon and so he will be looking to get elected (8th time lucky eh Nige?) to Westminster so that he can continue to not turn up for his pay packet.

[Squinty]

Hopefully a man in a dolphin costume doesn't stand against him this time.

[Lex-Man]

We should get lord bucket head to run against him.

[KK]

Or a man dressed as a Battenburg.

[Moggy]

Farage v Dolphin Man v Lord Buckethead.

It would be impossible to tell who was the joke candidate.