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My Letter Published Today
#1600842
18/05/2017 22:08
18/05/2017 22:08
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095 Berkshire
AnnieMac
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095
Berkshire
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i had this letter published today in my local paper. I thought you might like to see it...
A General Election is looming and Theresa May is expecting to increase her majority. I would just like to point out a few things that will happen if the Tories win this election.
Homelessness will continue to increase. I don't know about you, but I am appalled at the numbers of homeless people in our towns and cities.
Our state schools will continue to be badly underfunded. The education system is in crisis, and it's entirely due to lack of money. Parents are being asked to set up a monthly direct debit to help schools to survive.
Our young people will continue to struggle to pay off enormous debts from having the audacity to be bright and hard-working and wanting to go to University.
Our beloved NHS which is being deliberately underfunded so that we think it can't ever work, will be replaced with a broken up, sold-off system where private companies profit. In America this has meant lining the pockets of unscrupulous corporations which have free rein to overcharge for vital medication and procedures.
The sick, the disabled, and the dying will continue to be subject to genocide by stealth. The so-called welfare "reforms" have resulted in these already unfortunate people having their lives reduced to a kind of hell on earth. People are committing suicide in droves, and our media is ignoring this scandal so you probably don't even know about it. 50,000 disabled people have lost their mobility cars. How are they supposed to get to work? The United Nations has investigated the Tories' treatment of the disabled and has concluded that their human rights are being violated.
Public services such as children's centres, libraries, old folk's homes, they will all be underfunded or closed altogether. Everything that can be, will be privatised. And we can see from our railway system how efficient privatisation makes things!
Big corporations (hello Vodafone) will continue to be allowed to get away with paying hardly any corporation tax. Ensuring they pay up would raise £BILLIONS more than robbing people on welfare of the pittance they get.
Zero hours contracts, which mean people don't know from one week to the next what their wages will be, will continue to be the employment method of choice for exploitative companies. They result in people having to claim benefits on top of their wages, so the tax payer is indirectly subsidising these employers and helping them to make huge profits at the expense of job security. Wages for everyone have been stagnating and not keeping up with the cost of living. Nurses are having to use food banks!
Child poverty will continue to rise, foodbank use will continue to go through the roof, pensions will remain a pittance. The benefits sanctions system is cruel and inhumane and results in people having literally NOTHING to live on for sometimes months at a time.
Sustainable, clean energy has lost all its subsidies while we pay through the roof for gas and electricity that harms the environment.
Police services and fire services will continue to face cuts. More people are dying now in fires than ever before.
But at least the Tories have a good record regarding the country's finances, right? Wrong! The national debt has gone up not down, in spite of austerity. So we are all suffering for nothing!
I could go on - do you want to bring back fox hunting? Theresa May does.
We are told that Labour want to take us back to the 1970s. Well, the Tories seem to want to go back to the 1870s!
If you believe our media is free and unbiased you probably think Jeremy Corbyn is the devil incarnate but please, before you decide he is not worthy to be Prime Minister, take a look at his speeches on YouTube, and find out what the man actually has to say. You may find that in reality he makes a lot of sense.
Thank you for reading my letter.
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: srm6]
#1600874
19/05/2017 11:16
19/05/2017 11:16
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,927 The Faringdon Folly
oxfordSteve
Forum is my job
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Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,927
The Faringdon Folly
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Finances are the area I can talk most knowledgeably about, and whilst I wouldn't suggest the Tories have done a good job, what Corbyn and his joker of a shadow chancellor are suggesting is frankly terrifying.
And I say that as somebody who has always voted Labour in the past. Labour's plans are terrifying? Have you been paying attention to the Tories economic record since 2010? Target after target to meet deficit targets have been missed, and have added the best part of £600Bn to the national debt, more than all Labour governments combined. Pretty well all Budgets since 2010 have been leaked, announced, then u-turned. Not to mention taking a wrecking ball to sensible pension management. They are financially and economically useless. Then yesterdays great big idea for old age care - buy an insurance policy to cover your costs, payable from the funds of your estate - with a charge on your property. You want terrifying? Another 5 years of the Tories is exactly what it looks like.
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1600884
19/05/2017 12:36
19/05/2017 12:36
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,302 Pontefract, West Yorkshire
andyps
My job on the forum
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My job on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,302
Pontefract, West Yorkshire
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I've tried to avoid commenting on politics but one thing that really struck me in Labour's fully costed manifesto is the amount which will be raised by putting VAT on private school fees. First, it was based on 2011 data so could be quite inaccurate but the main point it seems to miss is that if a price is increased by 20% demand falls. With that fall in demand the full level of expected tax take will not occur, therefore leaving a hole in the fully costed element. The trouble then is this has a double whammy because those who can't afford the fees with VAT revert to the state education system (which they were already paying for anyway but not taking advantage) and add to the cost there. Correct me if I'm wrong but that doesn't look fully costed to me.
I could mention the effect of increasing tax on receipts in terms of top levels and corporation tax but will only say that without a global agreement from all countries and tax jurisdictions those figures don't add up either.
But just remember, whoever we vote for the government will get in.
Last edited by andyps; 19/05/2017 12:36.
Andy
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: oxfordSteve]
#1600891
19/05/2017 13:15
19/05/2017 13:15
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367 Staffordshire
Nigel
Forum veteran
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Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367
Staffordshire
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Have you been paying attention to the Tories economic record since 2010? Target after target to meet deficit targets have been missed, and have added the best part of £600Bn to the national debt... .... They are financially and economically useless. Do you not recall how we got into the financial mire in the first place? Clue - first name = Gordon.... Tories have spent seven years trying to cope with the utter mess they inherited. Do you really think the deficit would have been smaller under a Labour government? Labour's perma-solution to hard economic times appears to be spend more and tax the wealthy to pay for it. They have definitely become the jealousy party, who don't like people having "more than their fair share". Some bloke in a funny hat running around Sherwood Forest had the same idea...
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1600892
19/05/2017 13:26
19/05/2017 13:26
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 479 Northampton
srm6
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 479
Northampton
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Blimey - lots of strongly held views ...!
Like andy I generally avoid commenting on politics, but couldn't help myself this time. Couple of thoughts though:
- Steve: I partly agree as I said - the Tories have done a terrible job. Not least of all, given they are not planning to balance the books until 2025 now, then we will almost certainly have had a recession by then (we are statistically overdue already) - have these guys not heard of fixing the roof whilst the sun shines? It might not have felt like it for many, but the economy has been growing for best part of 7 years now.
That doesn't mean that an alternative can't be scarier though.
Annie - I don't like the assertion that the media has made my mind up for me - it's got nothing to do with that. I'm sorry, but they aren't fully costed at all. They are based on a series of assumptions that don't stack up - they assume that you can do things in a vacuum without people changing in response. andy has given a few good examples. Another would be privatising plans - using what money? And do they genuinely believe this can be done without impacting on overseas investors willingness to lend to the UK, and companies choosing to invest in opening new businesses in other, more pro-business, economies instead of the UK??
It also bothers me that you regard them as radical plans - they are not radical at all - they are a rehash of a previous system.
Confining myself to finances, I'd say a genuinely radical approach would be to dramatically simplify the tax system - get rid of corporation tax (it's horribly inefficient to collect compared to VAT and PAYE), get rid of the spurious distinction between NI and income tax and have one combined tax on income (wrapping capital gains and dividend income into that whilst we're at it), and wipe away all of the gimmicks and special interest group appeasements. Married couples allowance for anyone born before 1935 anyone?
The minimum wage should be set at the same level as when income support kicks in - nobody should be in full time work, but not earning enough for the taxpayer to not need to "top up" - companies need to cover this.
With a properly structured and very simple tax and benefits system, we could then have a sensible debate as to how much tax we want to pay. Because the one certainty (as Richard has said) is we need to pay more than we are now if we are to have the levels of service that people say they want.
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: Nigel]
#1600894
19/05/2017 13:44
19/05/2017 13:44
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,927 The Faringdon Folly
oxfordSteve
Forum is my job
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Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,927
The Faringdon Folly
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Have you been paying attention to the Tories economic record since 2010? Target after target to meet deficit targets have been missed, and have added the best part of £600Bn to the national debt... .... They are financially and economically useless. Do you not recall how we got into the financial mire in the first place? Clue - first name = Gordon.... Tories have spent seven years trying to cope with the utter mess they inherited. Do you really think the deficit would have been smaller under a Labour government? Labour's perma-solution to hard economic times appears to be spend more and tax the wealthy to pay for it. They have definitely become the jealousy party, who don't like people having "more than their fair share". Some bloke in a funny hat running around Sherwood Forest had the same idea... I am sure Gordon Brown would be flattered to think he could have caused a global financial crisis, but that's just plain rubbish! I have no idea if the deficit would have been smaller under Labour, but in 2010, the Coalition were handed a growing economy, which was totally choked to death by the infliction of Austerity. As for the rich being taxed more, who was it, in 2010 claimed that "The heaviest lifting would be done by those with the broadest shoulders"??
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: srm6]
#1600895
19/05/2017 14:05
19/05/2017 14:05
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367 Staffordshire
Nigel
Forum veteran
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Forum veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,367
Staffordshire
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get rid of corporation tax (it's horribly inefficient to collect compared to VAT and PAYE), Eh? If that was done, one of two things would have to happen:- 1) Reduce government spending by about £44Bn 2) Increase personal taxation by £44Bn Can't see either of those going down well with the electorate... Think of the country as a business, or even a family unit - it should only spend what it earns. Under Labour, the country did what many businesses and many families did - it spent more than it was earning and had to borrow. In these circumstances, a country, a business or a family has two choices. Earn more, or spend less. Under Labour, the deficit (ie the annual "overspend") grew from under £10Bn to over £100Bn in two years - so which party is guilty of financial mismanagement? The Tories have spent several years trying to regain control of the deficit without breaking the economy at the same time (a delicate balancing act if ever there was) and the annual "over-spend" is now down to about £15Bn. Because there is still an annual deficit, the UK debt continues to grow. Eventually, just as with an overspending business or family, the country needs to earn more than it spends, in order to reduce the national debt. That point is now estimated at 2025. Labour seem to be happy to increase spending, without much though of how to earn more. Its a natural conclusion that under Labour, the annual deficit will rise again, undoing seven years of austerity. Surely, its blindingly obvious that the only way to get out of debt is to earn more or spend less. For a government, earning more can only come from taxing the current population more heavily (not a vote-winner) or by generating greater tax receipts by stimulating the economy so that businesses and people spend more. The Tories are (gradually) delivering by spending less (painful but prudent) as well as trying to stimulate the economy (as evidenced by the UK being one of the strongest economies in the western world over the last seven years) If you distil it down to the basics. If the man on the street gets himself into a financial pickle by spending too much, he should tighten his belt. The LAST thing he should do is borrow more to go on a spending spree. Labour seem intent on spending their way out of debt - I just can't see how it can work.
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: oxfordSteve]
#1600896
19/05/2017 14:13
19/05/2017 14:13
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,244 Watford, Herts.
Hyperlink
Forum is my life
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Forum is my life
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,244
Watford, Herts.
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Have you been paying attention to the Tories economic record since 2010? Target after target to meet deficit targets have been missed, and have added the best part of £600Bn to the national debt... .... They are financially and economically useless. Do you not recall how we got into the financial mire in the first place? Clue - first name = Gordon.... Tories have spent seven years trying to cope with the utter mess they inherited. Do you really think the deficit would have been smaller under a Labour government? Labour's perma-solution to hard economic times appears to be spend more and tax the wealthy to pay for it. They have definitely become the jealousy party, who don't like people having "more than their fair share". Some bloke in a funny hat running around Sherwood Forest had the same idea... I am sure Gordon Brown would be flattered to think he could have caused a global financial crisis, but that's just plain rubbish! I have no idea if the deficit would have been smaller under Labour, but in 2010, the Coalition were handed a growing economy, which was totally choked to death by the infliction of Austerity. As for the rich being taxed more, who was it, in 2010 claimed that "The heaviest lifting would be done by those with the broadest shoulders"?? Surely by the same token the Tories are not responsible for the global issues either.
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: srm6]
#1600898
19/05/2017 14:32
19/05/2017 14:32
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,302 Pontefract, West Yorkshire
andyps
My job on the forum
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My job on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,302
Pontefract, West Yorkshire
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Confining myself to finances, I'd say a genuinely radical approach would be to dramatically simplify the tax system - get rid of corporation tax (it's horribly inefficient to collect compared to VAT and PAYE), get rid of the spurious distinction between NI and income tax and have one combined tax on income (wrapping capital gains and dividend income into that whilst we're at it), and wipe away all of the gimmicks and special interest group appeasements. Married couples allowance for anyone born before 1935 anyone?
The minimum wage should be set at the same level as when income support kicks in - nobody should be in full time work, but not earning enough for the taxpayer to not need to "top up" - companies need to cover this.
With a properly structured and very simple tax and benefits system, we could then have a sensible debate as to how much tax we want to pay. Because the one certainty (as Richard has said) is we need to pay more than we are now if we are to have the levels of service that people say they want. A simpler tax system is needed, single rate for everyone over a certain level (tied to a minimum wage as you suggest, it could work) which still means the wealthy pay more, but ensuring no way to avoid it - simply you earn whatever, take £20k allowance off and pay 20% on all the rest (or whatever levels are appropriate). Corporations pay 5% (or whatever) on all income received in the UK, regardless of expenditure - no tax avoidance that way asit would only look at UK receipts.
Andy
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: Hyperlink]
#1600899
19/05/2017 14:41
19/05/2017 14:41
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,927 The Faringdon Folly
oxfordSteve
Forum is my job
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Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,927
The Faringdon Folly
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Surely by the same token the Tories are not responsible for the global issues either.
Perhaps, but they have had 7 years to do something about it, and we are no further forward, other than trashed public services, and any only growth in the economy is driven by household debt. The banks are as badly regulated a bunch of cowboys as they ever were, the economy is all but stagnant, wages are static or falling, gig jobs and zero hour contracts are rife. As an aside, add the Brexit sh*tstorm into the mix and we get all the excuse the Tories need to sell off and dismantle the rest of the public services.
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1600901
19/05/2017 14:56
19/05/2017 14:56
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 479 Northampton
srm6
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 479
Northampton
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Nigel - I wasn't suggesting that other taxes wouldn't need to rise to cover getting rid of Corporation tax. VAT would be the most obvious place to start.
Companies would need to charge less for their goods as they don't have to tax their profits so in principle (though admitting it's never that straight-forward) the selling price is unchanged.
From a tax perspective you collect the same amount, but with something that can't be evaded / debated / planned around and costs fractions of a pence per pound collected compared to several pence for corporation tax
Absolutely agree that you have to live within your means though. Borrowing more when you are already overspending is not that far removed from sticking a loan on red and hoping it works out
Last edited by srm6; 19/05/2017 14:57.
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: Nigel]
#1600907
19/05/2017 17:21
19/05/2017 17:21
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,643 Watford
MarioCirillo
Ex El Presidente
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Ex El Presidente
I AM a Coop
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,643
Watford
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Labour seem intent on spending their way out of debt - I just can't see how it can work.
Agreed
Proud Owner of Rosso Speed LE041
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: MarioCirillo]
#1600920
19/05/2017 19:18
19/05/2017 19:18
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,144 Southampton, Hants
Roadking
Club member 1809
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Club member 1809
Forum is my life
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,144
Southampton, Hants
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Labour seem intent on spending their way out of debt - I just can't see how it can work.
Agreed We could always sell off our gold reserves. We just need to make sure the market price is high. Oh wait... As for Corbyn and his constant bleating about Tories attacking pensioners, maybe someone should remind him who raided the pension funds and made companies put final salary pensions on the scrap heap to the detriment of millions of employees.
"RK's way seems the most sensible to me". ali_hire 16 Dec 2010
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: oxfordSteve]
#1600923
19/05/2017 19:47
19/05/2017 19:47
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,144 Southampton, Hants
Roadking
Club member 1809
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Club member 1809
Forum is my life
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,144
Southampton, Hants
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Well I was lucky enough to move into an FS scheme in 99, luckily although my employer closed it about 3 - 4 years later they are still honouring it. There were no issues with it until Brown's tax raid.
Alistair Darling warned that it would undermine confidence in pensions among the young, who it was becoming increasingly obvious the government needed to self fund pensions. Incidentally, who first introduced women working to 65, then the creeping pension age?. I guess Brown had some Labour spending to fund.
"RK's way seems the most sensible to me". ali_hire 16 Dec 2010
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: skeandubh]
#1600935
19/05/2017 21:33
19/05/2017 21:33
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,144 Southampton, Hants
Roadking
Club member 1809
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Club member 1809
Forum is my life
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,144
Southampton, Hants
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I think they may lose some North of the border. Which is why Sturgeon flipped from complaining May wouldn't call an election, to whinging that she had.
"RK's way seems the most sensible to me". ali_hire 16 Dec 2010
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Re: My Letter Published Today
[Re: MeanRedSpider]
#1601006
20/05/2017 19:56
20/05/2017 19:56
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,200 england
came2dance
I AM a Coop
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I AM a Coop
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,200
england
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a surprise guest on stage going down a bomb (not a nuclear one of course :D) Yes - it's Jeremy Corbin. Is that a Jeremy Corbyn tribute act? Tah Dah. I wouldn't mind - I pondered over that for ages (well several seconds)
www.chrisdoyle-photography.co.uk
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