State Pension

Critical Thinking · **Joined:** Fri Jul 03, 2020 11:50 am **Posts:** 2309

It appears that our Pension (us old buggers) will rise by 8.5% next April.

Can't complain about that can we? Unless Sunak changes the rules.

derwent · **Joined:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:59 pm **Posts:** 12320

On the face of it it is very good news but the value of the percentage increase always depends on where you start from.
This next increase is supposed to reflect the average pay rise at around 8.5 % but, in real terms, those in work getting that percentage rise will get a lot more cash than a pensioner receiving the same percentage rise. So the gap in buying power increases.
At the moment, based on a 35 hour week, the state pension is around £5.80 per hour and it is added to any private pension a person mat be drawing. So if the total income exceeds the basic tax allowance we pay tax on it.
In my opinion the state pension should be tax free and not added on to any other private income.
If the state paid a realistic living wage to pensioners they could reduce the gimmicks like bus passes. Or keep the gimmicks and increase the state pension to say 75% of the minimum wage and lock it in.
There are other ways of doing it but it needs to be fairer whichever way they choose.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

Critical Thinking wrote:

It appears that our Pension (us old buggers) will rise by 8.5% next April.

Can't complain about that can we? Unless Sunak changes the rules.

And there are some of the media say it’s unfair as public sector workers won’t be getting the same pay rise and some pensioners don’t need it as they are already well off.
I can agree that there a few who might not need it but the U.K. has one of the lowest State Pensions in Europe. Sunak won’t stop it as the Tories need the grey rinse brigade votes. If you have a Private Pension it will be subject to a higher deduction in income tax as the State Pension is part of your income. The threshold has been frozen until 2027 meaning every year you get a rise in the State Pension you will pay more in income tax on your Private Pension meaning more income for the government.

Critical Thinking · **Joined:** Fri Jul 03, 2020 11:50 am **Posts:** 2309

Technically the state pension is tax free Mr. D. as our allowance is £12570 per year.

My s.p. works out at £6.45 per hour which if you take into account the tax & n.i. you would pay if working comes in at over £8.30 per hour. You also have no expenses going to and from work, so more like £10 per hour which I think isn't too bad?

I am one of the more fortunate ones having 2 private pensions (I did pay into them over 40 years) so with no mortgage can live quite comfortably.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

Critical Thinking wrote:

Technically the state pension is tax free Mr. D. as our allowance is £12570 per year.

My s.p. works out at £6.45 per hour which if you take into account the tax & n.i. you would pay if working comes in at over £8.30 per hour. You also have no expenses going to and from work, so more like £10 per hour which I think isn't too bad?

I am one of the more fortunate ones having 2 private pensions (I did pay into them over 40 years) so with no mortgage can live quite comfortably.

£10 an hour, how far are you travelling to work, £10.18 is the minimum wage, you are fortunate you have PPs, my parents didn’t and relied on top ups yet worked all their lives like many pensioners of today. You only have to have a small amount of savings and qualify for F.A.benefits.

Critical Thinking · **Joined:** Fri Jul 03, 2020 11:50 am **Posts:** 2309

I wouldn't say I was fortunate to have 2 private pensions as I paid into them all my working life - surely most people have/had that opportunity?

That was a lesson drummed into me from my very first job at 16 working for Barclays Bank way back before England won the World Cup!

derwent · **Joined:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:59 pm **Posts:** 12320

[quote="Critical Thinking"]Technically the state pension is tax free Mr. D. as our allowance is £12570 per year.

My s.p. works out at £6.45 per hour which if you take into account the tax & n.i. you would pay if working comes in at over £8.30 per hour. You also have no expenses going to and from work, so more like £10 per hour which I think isn't too bad?

I am one of the more fortunate ones having 2 private pensions (I did pay into them over 40 years) so with no mortgage can live quite comfortably.[/quote

Yes on it's own it is tax free because it is lower than the basic tax allowance. What I am suggesting is that it is made separate from any other income such as private pensions etc., thus remaining actually tax free in any circumstance. Because a person is prudent and prepares for years to add to his/her potential retirement income shouldn't be a reason for the state pension to then become taxable. Just tax the extra income with the basic allowance, having ignored the state pension side of it. Make it like a payment with complete tax exemption.
I'm glad you are happy with your circumstance but others have to apply for pension credits etc to supplement their income, so that in itself is evidence of further attention.
It is the less fortunate ones that I'm trying to address.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

Critical Thinking wrote:

Technically the state pension is tax free Mr. D. as our allowance is £12570 per year.

My s.p. works out at £6.45 per hour which if you take into account the tax & n.i. you would pay if working comes in at over £8.30 per hour. You also have no expenses going to and from work, so more like £10 per hour which I think isn't too bad?

I am one of the more fortunate ones having 2 private pensions (I did pay into them over 40 years) so with no mortgage can live quite comfortably.

Er,…. When you finish work you travel more than ever, you don’t sit in th house and wait to die. I’m busier than when I was at work and the wife has her dreaded sayings like “ do you fancy going to…” or “ We’ve never been to…”….the state pension is shite, if anyone had to live on that alone I pity them.
That said if you’re only on state pension, you can apply for a supplement which is an indicator the pension is too low. Doh!

derwent · **Joined:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:59 pm **Posts:** 12320

Critical Thinking wrote:

I wouldn't say I was fortunate to have 2 private pensions as I paid into them all my working life - surely most people have/had that opportunity?

That was a lesson drummed into me from my very first job at 16 working for Barclays Bank way back before England won the World Cup!

With respect Mr C. you did actually say that you were one of the fortunate ones and now you say you wouldn't say that.

derwent · **Joined:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:59 pm **Posts:** 12320

Snowy wrote:

Critical Thinking wrote:

Technically the state pension is tax free Mr. D. as our allowance is £12570 per year.

My s.p. works out at £6.45 per hour which if you take into account the tax & n.i. you would pay if working comes in at over £8.30 per hour. You also have no expenses going to and from work, so more like £10 per hour which I think isn't too bad?

I am one of the more fortunate ones having 2 private pensions (I did pay into them over 40 years) so with no mortgage can live quite comfortably.

Er,…. When you finish work you travel more than ever, you don’t sit in th house and wait to die. I’m busier than when I was at work and the wife has her dreaded sayings like “ do you fancy going to…” or “ We’ve never been to…”….the state pension is shite, if anyone had to live on that alone I pity them.
That said if you’re only on state pension, you can apply for a supplement which is an indicator the pension is too low. Doh!

What you say is very true Snowy. The number of times you hear retirees say that they wonder where they found the time for work.
As for going out you make a very good point.

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 3918

There's something fundamentally wrong when we have old folk on the breadline having grafted for 50 years or so and we have young uns on the breadline with barely any prospect of earning a reasonable living.
Work should be compulsory after leaving school and retirement should be earlier to allow for the school leavers to find work. Simple to say I know, but I don't think it's rocket science to make society fairer all round and to reduce the amount of folk who won't work a day in their life but want a good living standard.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

Having worked in contracting all my life, my choice I didn’t have in the early years enough income to contribute to a PP. no employer pension scheme In later years I opted out of SERPS and topped up with a small amount of my own money, the only option I had was to take an annuity fortunately at the time the rate was decent but I doubt very much I will ever get back what I paid into it. Because of my PP I doubt I could claim Pension Credits and if it wasn’t for my savings I would be struggling to survive in the U.K.

Sussex UK · **Joined:** Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:34 pm **Posts:** 3455

For anybody who's got a bit tucked away .. NS&I are paying out 6.2% on a 1 year fixed rate bond..

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

derwent wrote:

Snowy wrote:

Critical Thinking wrote:

Technically the state pension is tax free Mr. D. as our allowance is £12570 per year.

My s.p. works out at £6.45 per hour which if you take into account the tax & n.i. you would pay if working comes in at over £8.30 per hour. You also have no expenses going to and from work, so more like £10 per hour which I think isn't too bad?

I am one of the more fortunate ones having 2 private pensions (I did pay into them over 40 years) so with no mortgage can live quite comfortably.

Er,…. When you finish work you travel more than ever, you don’t sit in th house and wait to die. I’m busier than when I was at work and the wife has her dreaded sayings like “ do you fancy going to…” or “ We’ve never been to…”….the state pension is shite, if anyone had to live on that alone I pity them.
That said if you’re only on state pension, you can apply for a supplement which is an indicator the pension is too low. Doh!

What you say is very true Snowy. The number of times you hear retirees say that they wonder where they found the time for work.
As for going out you make a very good point.

I pulled out of Stranraer on Monday morning, heading home after a week in Ayrshire and the wife ‘s first words were” Where do you fancy next”

…
So I went onto auto-pilot and by the time we’d reached Castle Douglas she’ pencilled in the East coast of Scotland Dundee to Inerness…..The Peak District and GermanySwitzerland, (probably a re-Union of her old Panzer Brigade

) and then said next year :pray:

yeeeees..but said we had tickets for the railway at Ravenscar and some two day hotel breaks vouchers sadx

Ratboy slept through it all.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

Snowy wrote:

derwent wrote:

Snowy wrote:

Critical Thinking wrote:

Technically the state pension is tax free Mr. D. as our allowance is £12570 per year.

My s.p. works out at £6.45 per hour which if you take into account the tax & n.i. you would pay if working comes in at over £8.30 per hour. You also have no expenses going to and from work, so more like £10 per hour which I think isn't too bad?

I am one of the more fortunate ones having 2 private pensions (I did pay into them over 40 years) so with no mortgage can live quite comfortably.

Er,…. When you finish work you travel more than ever, you don’t sit in th house and wait to die. I’m busier than when I was at work and the wife has her dreaded sayings like “ do you fancy going to…” or “ We’ve never been to…”….the state pension is shite, if anyone had to live on that alone I pity them.
That said if you’re only on state pension, you can apply for a supplement which is an indicator the pension is too low. Doh!

What you say is very true Snowy. The number of times you hear retirees say that they wonder where they found the time for work.
As for going out you make a very good point.

I pulled out of Stranraer on Monday morning, heading home after a week in Ayrshire and the wife ‘s first words were…..” Where do you fancy next”

…
So I went onto auto-pilot and by the time we’d reached Castle Douglas she’d pencilled in the East coast of Scotland Dundee to Inerness…..The Peak District and GermanySwitzerland, (probably a re-Union of her old Panzer Brigade

) BUT….then said that’s for next year :pray:

yeeeees..but said we had tickets for the railway at Ravenscar and some two day hotel breaks vouchers sadx

Ratboy slept through it all.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

Be a nice idea if they could pay it once a month on the same date instead of four weekly so it changes dates every month, what a stupid idea.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

Snowy wrote:

Be a nice idea if they could pay it once a month on the same date instead of four weekly so it changes dates every month, what a stupid idea.

Yes but you get 13 payments, if once a month only 12 not unless they multiply by 13 and divide by 12 giving you 12 payments.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

You still get exactly the same money and don’t have to perform some financial juggling act every month….if my employers have to pay my company pensions on the same day every month, the Government can.

derwent · **Joined:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:59 pm **Posts:** 12320

I get mine weekly....every Monday.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

Sussex UK wrote:

For anybody who's got a bit tucked away .. NS&I are paying out 6.2% on a 1 year fixed rate bond..

Still nowhere near the inflation rate, in real terms of your money will depreciate in a year.

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 3918

Probably as good as you'll get risk free though. And inflation may well be below 6.2% within the year.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18916

PTID wrote:

There's something fundamentally wrong when we have old folk on the breadline having grafted for 50 years or so and we have young uns on the breadline with barely any prospect of earning a reasonable living.
Work should be compulsory after leaving school and retirement should be earlier to allow for the school leavers to find work. Simple to say I know, but I don't think it's rocket science to make society fairer all round and to reduce the amount of folk who won't work a day in their life but want a good living standard.

all thats is fine if there are jobs to go to and they make work actually work and people see good reasons to do it and find it. back in the 60,s i did not know anybody who was not excited about leaving school and getting a job. the ones who stayed on longer only did so to find different types of work and only the top handful continued on to university for the ones that demanded that. once it was work, work, work and not education, education, education that the youngsters have been conned or brainwashed into thinking to fudge the unemployment figures.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

accrington fan wrote:

PTID wrote:

There's something fundamentally wrong when we have old folk on the breadline having grafted for 50 years or so and we have young uns on the breadline with barely any prospect of earning a reasonable living.
Work should be compulsory after leaving school and retirement should be earlier to allow for the school leavers to find work. Simple to say I know, but I don't think it's rocket science to make society fairer all round and to reduce the amount of folk who won't work a day in their life but want a good living standard.

all thats is fine if there are jobs to go to and they make work actually work and people see good reasons to do it and find it. back in the 60,s i did not know anybody who was not excited about leaving school and getting a job. the ones who stayed on longer only did so to find different types of work and only the top handful continued on to university for the ones that demanded that. once it was work, work, work and not education, education, education that the youngsters have been conned or brainwashed into thinking to fudge the unemployment figures.

When I left school in the late sixties every one was able to find a job as the U.K. was a great industrial country generating loads of jobs.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18916

Critical Thinking wrote:

It appears that our Pension (us old buggers) will rise by 8.5% next April.

Can't complain about that can we? Unless Sunak changes the rules.

its election year and that will be the first of the bribes. they,ll be studying public opinion from now onwards to try a few crumbs of comfort to keep us onside as they know many forget quickly the previous mistakes.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

Jamie1952 wrote:

accrington fan wrote:

PTID wrote:

There's something fundamentally wrong when we have old folk on the breadline having grafted for 50 years or so and we have young uns on the breadline with barely any prospect of earning a reasonable living.
Work should be compulsory after leaving school and retirement should be earlier to allow for the school leavers to find work. Simple to say I know, but I don't think it's rocket science to make society fairer all round and to reduce the amount of folk who won't work a day in their life but want a good living standard.

all thats is fine if there are jobs to go to and they make work actually work and people see good reasons to do it and find it. back in the 60,s i did not know anybody who was not excited about leaving school and getting a job. the ones who stayed on longer only did so to find different types of work and only the top handful continued on to university for the ones that demanded that. once it was work, work, work and not education, education, education that the youngsters have been conned or brainwashed into thinking to fudge the unemployment figures.

When I left school in the late sixties every one was able to find a job as the U.K. was a great industrial country generating loads of jobs.

I packed one job in on Seal sands in the 70’s (not contracting) after a row about contractors, stormed off on a Thursday and was back at work on the the Monday with a new job (not on Seal Sands), weird now when you think about it.

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 3918

Again it looks simple, let people retire earlier having already contributed to society and the government coffers thereby opening up opportunities for younger employees to do their bit.
Create more employment by bringing manufacturing back to the UK, destroyed by the Tory's during and since Thatcher years. We subsidise the likes of Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan to build factories here so why not British companies (we're not shackled by anti competition rules of the EU anymore).
Make work compulsory for education leavers, even if it's community work keeping our streets, Greenland's, and beaches clean and tidy. Make them feel valued for doing these types of jobs rather than demeaned.
I'm sure if there was a real desire by governments to level up then a fairer more compassionate and community centred society could be created, but it suits our fat cat governments of all parties to keep and grow the massive gulf between haves and have nots that we see today.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18916

one of the problems of making the retirement age longer is many never make the age and the lucky ones spend years on the sick before reaching the time they can retire. people may live longer but how many rely on the improvements made in medicine to allow this to happen. doubt there are many OAP.s that have no repeat prescription to fill in every month or so. they are the lucky ones as some ailments still have no cures.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18916

PTID wrote:

I'm sure if there was a real desire by governments to level up then a fairer more compassionate and community centred society could be created, but it suits our fat cat governments of all parties to keep and grow the massive gulf between haves and have nots that we see today.

a lot depends on which era you are comparing this to. doubt our ancestors would class todays have nots in the same way they had nothing. more of a case for me of the have nots having a have less than some who might be seen as having too much. i have never had a problem with anyone working who has far more than me. my gripe is inherited weath, the aristocracy and mainly the royal family and those who spend their lives fawning over them all.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

PTID wrote:

Again it looks simple, let people retire earlier having already contributed to society and the government coffers thereby opening up opportunities for younger employees to do their bit.

All well and good but the government don’t have the funds to let people retire early that’s why they keep increasing the retirement age. There are no trained up younger kids, they all go to uni now for worthless degrees.

Create more employment by bringing manufacturing back to the UK, destroyed by the Tory's during and since Thatcher years. We subsidise the likes of Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan to build factories here so why not British companies (we're not shackled by anti competition rules of the EU anymore).

Manufacturing what, we don’t have the skilled labour anymore, we were never shackled by the EU, the above factories were subsidised whilst the U.K. were in the EU. You can add BMW to the list, £75 million to build the new mini.

Make work compulsory for education leavers, even if it's community work keeping our streets, Greenland's, and beaches clean and tidy. Make them feel valued for doing these types of jobs rather than demeaned.

You mean drag a kid away from a keyboard on a cold wet windy winter morning, good luck with that one, the health and safety brigade would have a field day.

I'm sure if there was a real desire by governments to level up then a fairer more compassionate and community centred society could be created, but it suits our fat cat governments of all parties to keep and grow the massive gulf between haves and have nots that we see today.

We had communities during the days of shipbuilding, mining, steelworks etc that all disappeared in the post Thatcher years. The working men’s clubs in Hartlepool used to bouncing every night, it was a great community spirit then but the majority are now closed.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

They’re closed because times change and most people would rather spend their time in a nice pub or bar than a working men’s club.
They’ve had their day, people really aren’t turned on by bingo and a meat draw anymore…the cribbage league won’t set the hearts racing.
I’ll be honest, I hated the places, cliquey little worlds, nah.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

Snowy wrote:

They’re closed because times change and most people would rather spend their time in a nice pub or bar than a working men’s club.
They’ve had their day, people really aren’t turned on by bingo and a meat draw anymore…the cribbage league won’t set the hearts racing.
I’ll be honest, I hated the places, cliquey little worlds, nah.

Times changed because workers from the various industries and companies used to congregate in certain clubs, meeting places for them, the industry ceased and they closed. I frequented the clubs now and again not for the cribbage, bingo, meat draws etc but for the bands, there were some great ones, some memorable nights in various clubs through out the town.

When the longer drinking hours were introduced younger peoples habits changed going out later avoiding the clubs, some times meeting at each others house with supermarket alcohol getting topped up before going out on the town.

Bluestreak · **Posted:** Wed Sep 13, 2023 11:40 am

Great news for me in July 2024.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18916

Snowy wrote:

They’re closed because times change and most people would rather spend their time in a nice pub or bar than a working men’s club.
They’ve had their day, people really aren’t turned on by bingo and a meat draw anymore…the cribbage league won’t set the hearts racing.
I’ll be honest, I hated the places, cliquey little worlds, nah.

think your last few words summed em up more than the activities. go in with a popular regular the rest are all over you. go in on your own and be prepared to be invisible at the bar and eyed with suspicion after. local out of town pubs can equally be as bad where you feel you have entered a set from royston vasey where its a local place for local people and the rest can sod off.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18916

Jamie1952 wrote:

[

When the longer drinking hours were introduced younger peoples habits changed going out later avoiding the clubs, some times meeting at each others house with supermarket alcohol getting topped up before going out on the town.

something else we can lay the blame on blair and his mates for with his hope of creating a cafe/bar culture. preffered the days of going out befor 7 at night and catching the last bus home rather than going out in a taxi after the last bus is safely back in the garage as seems the case now.

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 3918

As I said simplistic, but none of it unachievable with the right thought processes and longer term commitment rather than this short termism thinking no further ahead than the next PM.
None of my thinking could be enacted overnight but they could over a 10 or 20 year period with some obvious light at the end of the tunnel along the way.
To restart manufacturing would be one of the easiest actually, start with a core of experienced overseas workforce and develop our home grown - longer term outlook, and the Chinese and Indians started their large manufacturing operations in exactly the same way.
One thing for certain is this country is going to the dogs because for too many living standards and sense of worth are being driven down by those in power on behalf of the already filthy rich and themselves (who aspire to be filthy rich).
They used to say if things dont change they'll stay the same, except it should be they'll get much worse.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

PTID wrote:

As I said simplistic, but none of it unachievable with the right thought processes and longer term commitment rather than this short termism thinking no further ahead than the next PM.
None of my thinking could be enacted overnight but they could over a 10 or 20 year period with some obvious light at the end of the tunnel along the way.
To restart manufacturing would be one of the easiest actually, start with a core of experienced overseas workforce and develop our home grown - longer term outlook, and the Chinese and Indians started their large manufacturing operations in exactly the same way.
One thing for certain is this country is going to the dogs because for too many living standards and sense of worth are being driven down by those in power on behalf of the already filthy rich and themselves (who aspire to be filthy rich).
They used to say if things dont change they'll stay the same, except it should be they'll get much worse.

What are we going to manufacture, it’s cheaper to manufacture stuff in China and Asia, here in Thailand they want to increase the daily wage by a £1 a day, just under £10 a day with the number of working hours could be up to 12 a day. That daily rate is the equivalent of the hourly rate in the U.K.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

Jamie1952 wrote:

Snowy wrote:

They’re closed because times change and most people would rather spend their time in a nice pub or bar than a working men’s club.
They’ve had their day, people really aren’t turned on by bingo and a meat draw anymore…the cribbage league won’t set the hearts racing.
I’ll be honest, I hated the places, cliquey little worlds, nah.

Times changed because workers from the various industries and companies used to congregate in certain clubs, meeting places for them, the industry ceased and they closed. I frequented the clubs now and again not for the cribbage, bingo, meat draws etc but for the bands, there were some great ones, some memorable nights in various clubs through out the town.

When the longer drinking hours were introduced younger peoples habits changed going out later avoiding the clubs, some times meeting at each others house with supermarket alcohol getting topped up before going out on the town.

Have you got kids…? Mine started going out in the late 90’s and later and wouldn’t have been seen dead in a social club, society moves on not because of longer drinking hours but because as far as they’re concerned they’re just naff.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

accrington fan wrote:

Jamie1952 wrote:

[

When the longer drinking hours were introduced younger peoples habits changed going out later avoiding the clubs, some times meeting at each others house with supermarket alcohol getting topped up before going out on the town.

something else we can lay the blame on blair and his mates for with his hope of creating a cafe/bar culture. preffered the days of going out befor 7 at night and catching the last bus home rather than going out in a taxi after the last bus is safely back in the garage as seems the case now.

I saw a feature on the decline of Working Men’s clubs in the North East about ten years ago and they interviewed the chairman of a club in North West Durham and he said he couldn’t understand why the ‘young uns’ weren’t coming into the club anymore…’he said they’re off into town and yet we’ve got darts, bingo, snooker, quizzes and turns on of a weekend’ he just couldn’t see his offerings were the problem.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18916

Snowy wrote:

[
I saw a feature on the decline of Working Men’s clubs in the North East about ten years ago and they interviewed the chairman of a club in North West Durham and he said he couldn’t understand why the ‘young uns’ weren’t coming into the club anymore…’he said they’re off into town and yet we’ve got darts, bingo, snooker, quizzes and turns on of a weekend’ he just couldn’t see his offerings were the problem.

did he ignore the fact of the younger end being tret like leppers by daring to speak during bingo and when the turn was on. in many ways they left the snooker and turns for similar with pool and live music in pubs where you got most of their own age group in.

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 3918

What can we manufacture, anything and everything, cost to manufacture in the far East might be low but add on transport, costs, middlemen fees, import duties, and not to mention the all important green impact.
Subsidised efficient manufacturing is happening at Nissan, Honda, Toyota, BMW / Mini, Hyundai to name a few, so why can't we do more?
Easy to say can't, won't, don't instead of finding ways to say can, will, and done.
Emerging markets are thriving due can do mindsets, whereas the old powerhouse economies are falling behind because they won't / don't innovate. Why can't Britain be great again?

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

accrington fan wrote:

Snowy wrote:

[
I saw a feature on the decline of Working Men’s clubs in the North East about ten years ago and they interviewed the chairman of a club in North West Durham and he said he couldn’t understand why the ‘young uns’ weren’t coming into the club anymore…’he said they’re off into town and yet we’ve got darts, bingo, snooker, quizzes and turns on of a weekend’ he just couldn’t see his offerings were the problem.

did he ignore the fact of the younger end being tret like leppers by daring to speak during bingo and when the turn was on. in many ways they left the snooker and turns for similar with pool and live music in pubs where you got most of their own age group in.

I remember going in a certain well known club age 19 with some friends because on us said we should give it a try….we sat around the tablre and noticed we were getting stares from around us as the place began to fill and assumed they thought we were a bot loud, but we weren’t, then a woman approached us and said we were sat in so and so’s table and they’re not happy and there they were eying us up, six of them, 70 + Soprano’s with faces like thunder and looking as though we’d walked in their house on Xmas Day and collectively pissed on the Turkey ..we left, never to return… and headed for the Clansman.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

PTID wrote:

What can we manufacture, anything and everything, cost to manufacture in the far East might be low but add on transport, costs, middlemen fees, import duties, and not to mention the all important green impact.
Subsidised efficient manufacturing is happening at Nissan, Honda, Toyota, BMW / Mini, Hyundai to name a few, so why can't we do more?
Easy to say can't, won't, don't instead of finding ways to say can, will, and done.
Emerging markets are thriving due can do mindsets, whereas the old powerhouse economies are falling behind because they won't / don't innovate. Why can't Britain be great again?

Trouble is, our investors are investing overseas. I nearly )bought a bottle of HP brown sauce, complete with Houses of Parliament logo..made in Holland now

….. so picked up a bottle of Daddies brown sauce and got home to find it’s now made in Poland… I thought brown sauce was made in Lancashire or some other County :laugh:

The people who have no faith in this country are the investors from this country. twats.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

PTID wrote:

What can we manufacture, anything and everything, cost to manufacture in the far East might be low but add on transport, costs, middlemen fees, import duties, and not to mention the all important green impact.
Subsidised efficient manufacturing is happening at Nissan, Honda, Toyota, BMW / Mini, Hyundai to name a few, so why can't we do more?
Easy to say can't, won't, don't instead of finding ways to say can, will, and done.
Emerging markets are thriving due can do mindsets, whereas the old powerhouse economies are falling behind because they won't / don't innovate. Why can't Britain be great again?

They build modules for oil and gas rigs and float them half way round the world whilst we can compete with the material costs the U.K. can’t compete with salaries being paid the workers there even allowing for transportation costs.
Apple used to manufacture iPhones in China, they have now moved production to India because it’s cheaper, no way could the U.K. compete with wage rates paid in India.
Why do U.K. companies have Call Centres in India, because it’s cheap labour, you can have as much innovation as you like but you need products you can produce at a lowered cost than the Asian which the U.K. can’t.

Jamie1952 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:56 pm **Posts:** 7064

Snowy wrote:

accrington fan wrote:

Snowy wrote:

[
I saw a feature on the decline of Working Men’s clubs in the North East about ten years ago and they interviewed the chairman of a club in North West Durham and he said he couldn’t understand why the ‘young uns’ weren’t coming into the club anymore…’he said they’re off into town and yet we’ve got darts, bingo, snooker, quizzes and turns on of a weekend’ he just couldn’t see his offerings were the problem.

did he ignore the fact of the younger end being tret like leppers by daring to speak during bingo and when the turn was on. in many ways they left the snooker and turns for similar with pool and live music in pubs where you got most of their own age group in.

I remember going in a certain well known club age 19 with some friends because on us said we should give it a try….we sat around the tablre and noticed we were getting stares from around us as the place began to fill and assumed they thought we were a bot loud, but we weren’t, then a woman approached us and said we were sat in so and so’s table and they’re not happy and there they were eying us up, six of them, 70 + Soprano’s with faces like thunder and looking as though we’d walked in their house on Xmas Day and collectively pissed on the Turkey ..we left, never to return… and headed for the Clansman.

Agreed Snowy, I only went to clubs to see a band otherwise it’s a pub, the Park was my local, I did have beer with my father in law in the Boilermakers now and again a huge soulless place.

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 3918

Let's put the Britain is closed for business signs up then!
Nissan et al build in Britain because it makes business sense to build close to the market they want to operate in otherwise they'd be India instead of Washington. It's more about the bigger picture than simple labour costs.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

The biggest spanner in the works was Tony telling us 50% of school leavers should go to Uni and get a degree, then we could become a service economy and spend our days like caged hens banging away at our collective Keyboards, I assume, under the impression no one in the Third World would also have the same prophetic idea

He wanted rid of all that boring industry that made or maintained things that people actually needed, I can only assume he overdosed on episodes of ‘The Jetsons’ as a visionary toddler and thought the cartoon was really a vision for life in the future.

Grayhoundend · **Joined:** Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:13 pm **Posts:** 6673

Critical Thinking wrote:

It appears that our Pension (us old buggers) will rise by 8.5% next April.

Can't complain about that can we? Unless Sunak changes the rules.

Theres an awful lot of shit stirring going on at the moment.
Some must really be dim, Don,t think one day they will be in need of ???

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36386

Grayhoundend wrote:

Critical Thinking wrote:

It appears that our Pension (us old buggers) will rise by 8.5% next April.

Can't complain about that can we? Unless Sunak changes the rules.

Theres an awful lot of shit stirring going on at the moment.
Some must really be dim, Don,t think one day they will be in need of ???

We live in an age of narcissism where they all think they’ll go to the gym and live forever. I get quite a quiet chuckle bumping in to the girls who were lookers and they knew it….and some of the lads too, the years have not been kind to them. :laugh:

kevin pooles gloves · **Joined:** Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:28 pm **Posts:** 8915

Critical Thinking wrote:

I wouldn't say I was fortunate to have 2 private pensions as I paid into them all my working life - surely most people have/had that opportunity?

That was a lesson drummed into me from my very first job at 16 working for Barclays Bank way back before England won the World Cup!

To live a decent retirement youve gone about it the rite way.
Try n live for the moment but plan for the future.
My advice for the younger generation use your cash isa as your future pension pot especially now interest rates should never drop down to 0.1%.
Tax free and not as risky as work pensions which can cause a load of shit if ya works goes pop.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18916

kevin pooles gloves wrote:

Critical Thinking wrote:

I wouldn't say I was fortunate to have 2 private pensions as I paid into them all my working life - surely most people have/had that opportunity?

That was a lesson drummed into me from my very first job at 16 working for Barclays Bank way back before England won the World Cup!

To live a decent retirement youve gone about it the rite way.
Try n live for the moment but plan for the future.
My advice for the younger generation use your cash isa as your future pension pot especially now interest rates should never drop down to 0.1%.
Tax free and not as risky as work pensions which can cause a load of shit if ya works goes pop.

the only problem with that is many need every penny they have got to to make ends meet. i do not meen the ones who overstretch themselves withh houses they cannot really afford, a holiday means a foreign one and a car must be as new as possible. never had much spare cash at the end of my working week to put away on anything. i was never away from work and picked up any overtime going. it all went on maintainance payments and starting a family in my early 40,s so when my lad was ready for work it was too late to bother trying to save anything. this is going to be a near norm now with lots you meet a second relationship with 2nd family,s.

State Pension

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