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UK General Election - 12th December 2019 | Con 365, Lab 203, LD 11, SNP 48, Other 23 - Tory Majority of 80

How do you intend to vote in the 2019 General Election if eligible?

  • Brexit Party

    Votes: 30 4.3%
  • Conservatives

    Votes: 73 10.6%
  • DUP

    Votes: 5 0.7%
  • Green

    Votes: 23 3.3%
  • Labour

    Votes: 355 51.4%
  • Liberal Democrats

    Votes: 58 8.4%
  • Plaid Cymru

    Votes: 3 0.4%
  • Sinn Fein

    Votes: 9 1.3%
  • SNP

    Votes: 19 2.8%
  • UKIP

    Votes: 6 0.9%
  • Independent

    Votes: 1 0.1%
  • Other (BNP, Change UK, UUP and anyone else that I have forgotten)

    Votes: 10 1.4%
  • Not voting

    Votes: 57 8.3%
  • Undecided

    Votes: 41 5.9%

  • Total voters
    690
  • Poll closed .
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Shamwow

listens to shit music & watches Mrs Brown's Boys
Joined
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Spiderpig
That can be said for just about anything that taxes are spent on. Take roads for example which are "free" for everyone to use and paid for by taxes. I'd argue that the internet is merely a digital transport network. It's essential in the modern day world to have access to it.
True we need to start thinking of it as infrastructure. You don't pay for the road that leads to you house. Good analogy.
 

11101

Full Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2014
Messages
21,367
Because we're served by our government, we're not their customers. Giving everyone in the country free access to the internet would be a huge boost towards greater prosperity for the entire country.

Most people here seem to have the mindset that the internet is merely a luxury entertainment tool. It's the backbone of the global economy and it's an invaluable source of information. Guaranteeing that adults and children alike have access to it no matter what their financial status is would be a huge advantage compared to other countries for whom it's still a luxury.
I can pretty much guarantee you nobody in the UK is avoiding the internet because of financial status. We have the world's highest smartphone penetration and a 99% internet usage rate amongst those under 45. Access issues aside, anybody who wants to use the internet can do so already. It's just an ill thought through giveaway to win votes.
 

711

Verified Bird Expert
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24,320
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Don't sign old players and cast offs
That can be said for just about anything that taxes are spent on. Take roads for example which are "free" for everyone to use and paid for by taxes. I'd argue that the internet is merely a digital transport network. It's essential in the modern day world to have access to it.
Yes it could be said about anything, but this is a new proposal to spend new taxes, so it is quite reasonable to debate what they should be spent on.

Once again, and I'm not the first to say it. I'm not questioning the importance of access I'm questioning why it should be free.
 

Ultimate Grib

Full Member
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2,102
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Static
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Tax is simple and anyone who is criticising Labour plans is being disingenuous to themselves. The more tax you get to keep the less government will get to spend on public services. The more tax you will pay the more government will have to spend on public services. Prioritise accordingly, do you want to live in a ghetto but you have more money or do you want to live in a better place but you have less money? You cannot have it both ways.
 

VeevaVee

The worst "V"
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46,264
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Imagine complaining about being offered the best internet for free. The alternatives for where the money could go offered here aren't going to be offered by whoever you're voting for either, so there's nothing to complain about. Also don't need to aim everything at the very poorest. There's nothing wrong with something good for the working class.
 

Jippy

Sleeps with tramps, bangs jacuzzis, dirty shoes
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Nov 19, 2009
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Jet fuel doesn't melt steel beams
Imagine complaining about being offered the best internet for free. The alternatives for where the money could go offered here aren't going to be offered by whoever you're voting for either, so there's nothing to complain about. Also don't need to aim everything at the very poorest. There's nothing wrong with something good for the working class.
I don't get why businesses get it free- surely get them to pay for it all?
 

VeevaVee

The worst "V"
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I don't get why businesses get it free- surely get them to pay for it all?
Yeah, I'd expect businesses to pay. If feasible it'd be good if they pay once they get to a certain size, to help small local business.
 

ZupZup

Full Member
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2,407
Location
W3104
What amuses me is this 30 billion or whatever it is... it's less than the cost of replacing Trident.

Yet people don't act like that is something we can't afford to do... replacing Trident isn't seem as some fanciful crazy waste of money. Yet massively improving our digital infrastructure and internet access for all? Madness! Just who is going to pay for it?
 

Shamwow

listens to shit music & watches Mrs Brown's Boys
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Messages
13,969
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Yeah, I'd expect businesses to pay. If feasible it'd be good if they pay once they get to a certain size, to help small local business.
Might cost more to administer that than just give it free to everyone.
 

EwanI Ted

Full Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2018
Messages
1,755
Tax is simple and anyone who is criticising Labour plans is being disingenuous to themselves. The more tax you get to keep the less government will get to spend on public services. The more tax you will pay the more government will have to spend on public services. Prioritise accordingly, do you want to live in a ghetto but you have more money or do you want to live in a better place but you have less money? You cannot have it both ways.
You're suggesting its a simple binary choice when it isnt, its a scale between two end points.
 

Abizzz

Full Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2014
Messages
7,664
Are people here seriously suggesting providing internet on a large scale is prohibitively expensive? How do the companies that do it now pay for it if not by through the payments of their customers?
 

EwanI Ted

Full Member
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Messages
1,755
Are people here seriously suggesting providing internet on a large scale is prohibitively expensive? How do the companies that do it now pay for it if not by through the payments of their customers?
By borrowing against future income.
 

Shamwow

listens to shit music & watches Mrs Brown's Boys
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Are people here seriously suggesting providing internet on a large scale is prohibitively expensive? How do the companies that do it now pay for it if not by through the payments of their customers?
Largely through government subsidies funnily enough.
 

Sassy Colin

Death or the gladioli!
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Aliens are in control of my tagline & location
Imagine complaining about being offered the best internet for free. The alternatives for where the money could go offered here aren't going to be offered by whoever you're voting for either, so there's nothing to complain about. Also don't need to aim everything at the very poorest. There's nothing wrong with something good for the working class.
I pay approximately the same for my water as I pay for my broadband. Why can't they give everyone free water, I could get on board with that. Offering free broadband is just a gimmick.
 

Shamwow

listens to shit music & watches Mrs Brown's Boys
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Messages
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I pay approximately the same for my water as I pay for my broadband. Why can't they give everyone free water, I could get on board with that. Offering free broadband is just a gimmick.
I just explained a reason why but you had a seizure so we don't know why you disagree.
 

EwanI Ted

Full Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2018
Messages
1,755
And where will that future income come from if not from their customers?
That and an appreciating balance sheet. Not saying its unaffordable, just saying its not done on a simple cash in cash out model.
 

VeevaVee

The worst "V"
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Messages
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Manchester
I pay approximately the same for my water as I pay for my broadband. Why can't they give everyone free water, I could get on board with that. Offering free broadband is just a gimmick.
So either way you save the same? It's a bit of a gimmicky idea, but it's not a gimmick to everyone who saves money. It's ridiculous that a country that considers itself one the 'best' in the world has such shoddy infrastructure and technology as we do anyway.
 

Shamwow

listens to shit music & watches Mrs Brown's Boys
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Messages
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Location
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So either way you save the same?
Doing one will also improve the infrastructure of the country whereas the water thing won't, it'll just save us money on our bills. Guess which one colin thinks is a gimmick.
 

FlawlessThaw

most 'know it all' poster
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
29,606
I pay approximately the same for my water as I pay for my broadband. Why can't they give everyone free water, I could get on board with that. Offering free broadband is just a gimmick.
Think @Shamwow has already highlighted it but giving everyone free water is a bad idea. While I agree it's a necessity we do need some form of financial payment for it as we definitely want to avoid water wastage.
 

Paul the Wolf

Full Member
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Apr 17, 2014
Messages
17,910
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France - can't win anything with Swedish turnips
Imagine complaining about being offered the best internet for free. The alternatives for where the money could go offered here aren't going to be offered by whoever you're voting for either, so there's nothing to complain about. Also don't need to aim everything at the very poorest. There's nothing wrong with something good for the working class.
The idea of having free fast internet for everyone isn't the problem, it's how the funding is going to be structured, how feasible the scheme is and the length of time it would take. Pie in the sky.
 

Pexbo

Winner of the 'I'm not reading that' medal.
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Brizzle
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I just couldn't cope with changing my email address again. So many people to tell, so many websites to change. Feck off McDonnell.
Please don’t tell me you’re using your ISP’s provided email address? :lol:
 

Kaos

Full Member
Joined
May 6, 2007
Messages
31,883
Location
Ginseng Strip
I would love to see Openreach nationalised. People don’t realise broadband is essentially a monopolised service (a bad one at that too) thanks to them.
 

Shamwow

listens to shit music & watches Mrs Brown's Boys
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Location
Spiderpig
I would love to see Openreach nationalised. People don’t realise broadband is essentially a monopolised service (a bad one at that too) thanks to them.
We also pay taxes into Openreach already as it is heavily subsidised.
 

Shamwow

listens to shit music & watches Mrs Brown's Boys
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Messages
13,969
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Spiderpig
The idea of having free fast internet for everyone isn't the problem, it's how the funding is going to be structured, how feasible the scheme is and the length of time it would take. Pie in the sky.
Nationalise Greggs and use it as the in-flight food on the newly nationalised British Airways. Now THERE'S an idea.
 

Honest John

Full Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2002
Messages
8,352
Location
Hampshire
I pay approximately the same for my water as I pay for my broadband. Why can't they give everyone free water, I could get on board with that. Offering free broadband is just a gimmick.
Free rail travel, free higher education, childcare, food, beer, holidays, trips to the brothel.....

Wage slip

Gross monthly pay: £2,500
NI: £500
Tax: £2,000
Net Pay £0

You don't need anything cos the State provides all.

But carry on making shite products that nobody wants to buy because you are all paying for your own government subsidised jobs.

And you can't work anywhere else because there is no competition.

"You are all individuals", "Yes we are all Individuals"
 

dumbo

Don't Just Fly…Soar!
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Thucydides nuts
Even if you hate the idea of poor people getting something for free, I would have thought the potential benefits to business, particularly small businesses would be supported. Certain types seem utterly incensed by the idea alone.
 

Ady87

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Jun 20, 2011
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Now Accepting Positive Reps.
BT share price down 2% at the moment, which I presume is based on the current chance of there being a Labour government.

If we can suddenly find £30b from wherever wouldn't it be better going to social care and the NHS? And what @11101 said.
We've just announced we've won CL rights till 2024 this morning so expecting that to offset some of the damage as news filters through. (Long standing BT employee here)

There is a lot of speculation about what Broadband actually costs. I wouldn't be surprised if both the cap ex and op ex costs banded about are inflated by a fair bit. Our CEO isn't exactly going to come out and say it costs bugger all as a few million people might well pull out their BT bill and have a thing to say about it. Some interesting comments in the office about all this today anyway.

There is a lot to be said about A) Openreach's performance/efficiency and B) The market's ability to get fast fibre all over the country, years after the tech being available when it's being delivered quicker in countries that do things differently.
 
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