The big fuss from the budget turned out not to be the cut of the highest rate of tax, from 50% to 45%, but instead the freezing of age related personal allowances (let's call them APAs) for those over 65, or the 'Granny Tax' as it was so quickly dubbed.
When you think about it, the removal of the APAs was probably inevitable. My theory would be that the reason that they were in place was to ensure that, when personal allowances were low, those that received the state pension alone, with no other income, were not required to pay tax. This would be sensible, making people pay tax on a state pension would cost too much to administer for starters, not withstanding that it is patently unfair.
Now that the personal allowances have risen to a level where this is no longer an issue (basic state pension, £140 pw, £7280 pa) then it makes sense to remove the disparity, and a Government of any hue was going to do it sometime.
What makes it look so bad is the juxtoposition with the tax cut for the richest 1% in society. Surely it should not have gone un-noticed in Tory central office that they were taking money from pensioners and giving it to their mates? The politics of cutting that rate were bad enough (and for what it's worth I think it should have stayed for the length of this Parliament) but to couple it with APAs removal...crazy!
This surely presents an opportunity for Lib Dems to gain back some ground? Pre-budget Tim Farron made it very clear to BBC2 that the cut in the top rate was Tory policy, hinting they were somehow obsessed by it. This division must be drawn again and again, as well as pointing out that the allowance has been withdrawn only because it's intention is now obsolete thanks to a Lib Dem policy. It's certainly the argument I'd be making.
Friday, 23 March 2012
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Silsden 1, Glossop North End 0
This surprise defeat in Yorkshire on Saturday saw Glossop North End’s title credentials take a blow almost as quickly as people had finally noticed that they had those credentials in the first place.
After spending most of the season hovering around 5th place, the Hillmen had largely been under the radar of those talking about the race for the North West Counties crown, but a 4-0 victory over Stone Dominoes the previous Wednesday had lifted them to 3rd and into championship thoughts. This might explain why Silsden raised their game.
What was perplexing was that having won their last two matches after showing great fighting spirit – playing at least half of each game with 10 men following a sending off – that spirit was elusive on Saturday as they struggled to assert themselves.
It might have been different had Sam Hind taken a 3rd minute opportunity when a quick free kick put him clear, but his attempted lob went over the bar. But Silsden were causing headaches for the Glossop back four with their willing runners up front providing outlets for direct balls. McEneaney, Nettleton & Palfrey all had half chances that went the wrong side of the post whilst Jason Gorton cleared a Palfrey shot off the line.
Glossop created too though, and Oakes’ free kick was tipped over the bar by James Mann, whilst the goalkeeper again saved brilliantly from Chetcuti, who swivel shot from six yards, perhaps connecting too well as Mann anticipated the shot by diving full length to his right and pushing the ball around the post.
The goal came in the 36th minute, and again it was a direct ball that allowed Palfrey to get behind the Glossop defence. Whilst they claimed offside, Palfrey slipped the ball past Proctor to give his side the lead.
Chetcuti and Gorton were providing North End’s main threat and the former did well to jink past three players only to shoot weakly at the keeper before the break, although he forced another diving save from Mann into the second half with a shot from the edge of the box that took a firm hand to push wide. Gorton, meanwhile, hit the bar with a header from a throw in.
However as the game went on, Glossop ran out of inspiration, and chances fell more to the home side as Proctor was forced into a number of saves from Palfrey in particular. There were a couple in injury time from the very top drawer, including when the striker shot with fierce pace from 6 yards but Proctor not only saved, but held the shot.
It could not inspire a Glossop reply though, and not for the first time this season, just as it looked as though The Hillmen were mounting a bid to go top, things have gone awry. There is a feeling among supporters that this fine team is just a touch short of what it takes to win the league. They have 11 games left to prove them wrong.
After spending most of the season hovering around 5th place, the Hillmen had largely been under the radar of those talking about the race for the North West Counties crown, but a 4-0 victory over Stone Dominoes the previous Wednesday had lifted them to 3rd and into championship thoughts. This might explain why Silsden raised their game.
What was perplexing was that having won their last two matches after showing great fighting spirit – playing at least half of each game with 10 men following a sending off – that spirit was elusive on Saturday as they struggled to assert themselves.
It might have been different had Sam Hind taken a 3rd minute opportunity when a quick free kick put him clear, but his attempted lob went over the bar. But Silsden were causing headaches for the Glossop back four with their willing runners up front providing outlets for direct balls. McEneaney, Nettleton & Palfrey all had half chances that went the wrong side of the post whilst Jason Gorton cleared a Palfrey shot off the line.
Glossop created too though, and Oakes’ free kick was tipped over the bar by James Mann, whilst the goalkeeper again saved brilliantly from Chetcuti, who swivel shot from six yards, perhaps connecting too well as Mann anticipated the shot by diving full length to his right and pushing the ball around the post.
The goal came in the 36th minute, and again it was a direct ball that allowed Palfrey to get behind the Glossop defence. Whilst they claimed offside, Palfrey slipped the ball past Proctor to give his side the lead.
Chetcuti and Gorton were providing North End’s main threat and the former did well to jink past three players only to shoot weakly at the keeper before the break, although he forced another diving save from Mann into the second half with a shot from the edge of the box that took a firm hand to push wide. Gorton, meanwhile, hit the bar with a header from a throw in.
However as the game went on, Glossop ran out of inspiration, and chances fell more to the home side as Proctor was forced into a number of saves from Palfrey in particular. There were a couple in injury time from the very top drawer, including when the striker shot with fierce pace from 6 yards but Proctor not only saved, but held the shot.
It could not inspire a Glossop reply though, and not for the first time this season, just as it looked as though The Hillmen were mounting a bid to go top, things have gone awry. There is a feeling among supporters that this fine team is just a touch short of what it takes to win the league. They have 11 games left to prove them wrong.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Expect the worst, don’t hope for the best.
The other day I heard the above phrase when I spent a Saturday morning on a Drivesafe course, having been caught out driving at 38mph on an empty dual carriageway at 7:30 on a Sunday morning and issued with a penalty under the ‘accident reduction scheme’. Not that I’m bitter about it.
Anyway, the instructor had shown us a scenario on a road and asked us to point out the hazards, and looking into the distance, with the DVD on pause of course, the group spotted over 20 potential problems that might pop up, and how these would be exacerbated should our speed be over the 30mph limit. “Expect the worst, don’t hope for the best”, he said “and you won’t end up haunted by something you’ll regret for the rest of your life”. It was a fair point I suppose.
And whilst I don’t think the latter half of his sentence applies, the phrase certainly can be transferred to football. This first came to mind when I heard New Mills AFC chairman Ray Coverley moaning on High Peak Radio’s Football Fantime show about his team having to play at Grantham on a Tuesday night. This in turn reminded me of a former Glossop manager who in the space of a minute blasted the club for lack of ambition and then moaned about having to go to Silsden on a week night.
Yes, these trips are the worst, but that is what you have to account for in your planning when signing up for any league. Even in the NWCFL, you run the risk of a trip to Holker on a Wednesday, but once you apply for promotion you surely have to plan for the worst case scenario so that you are ready for it.
For Glossop North End, who undergo their ground grading today, that means putting plans in place for being placed into the Evo-Stik South, including what that entails for Manchester based players and management with potential midweek trips to Lincoln, Stamford and indeed, Grantham.
New Mills must surely have expected this, and therefore their vociferous complaints are hollow. Similarly, if Glossop do win this league (and how good is it still to be typing that in March?) and have the opportunity to progress they will have to think very carefully about whether or not they accept. Hoping for the best would mean Evo-Stik North and very little upheaval, but we should expect, and plan for, the worst. Then if it happens, we won't be knocked off our stride.
Anyway, the instructor had shown us a scenario on a road and asked us to point out the hazards, and looking into the distance, with the DVD on pause of course, the group spotted over 20 potential problems that might pop up, and how these would be exacerbated should our speed be over the 30mph limit. “Expect the worst, don’t hope for the best”, he said “and you won’t end up haunted by something you’ll regret for the rest of your life”. It was a fair point I suppose.
And whilst I don’t think the latter half of his sentence applies, the phrase certainly can be transferred to football. This first came to mind when I heard New Mills AFC chairman Ray Coverley moaning on High Peak Radio’s Football Fantime show about his team having to play at Grantham on a Tuesday night. This in turn reminded me of a former Glossop manager who in the space of a minute blasted the club for lack of ambition and then moaned about having to go to Silsden on a week night.
Yes, these trips are the worst, but that is what you have to account for in your planning when signing up for any league. Even in the NWCFL, you run the risk of a trip to Holker on a Wednesday, but once you apply for promotion you surely have to plan for the worst case scenario so that you are ready for it.
For Glossop North End, who undergo their ground grading today, that means putting plans in place for being placed into the Evo-Stik South, including what that entails for Manchester based players and management with potential midweek trips to Lincoln, Stamford and indeed, Grantham.
New Mills must surely have expected this, and therefore their vociferous complaints are hollow. Similarly, if Glossop do win this league (and how good is it still to be typing that in March?) and have the opportunity to progress they will have to think very carefully about whether or not they accept. Hoping for the best would mean Evo-Stik North and very little upheaval, but we should expect, and plan for, the worst. Then if it happens, we won't be knocked off our stride.
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