text:
Energy prices could be 'final nail in the coffin' for Brits' finances
Looming price rises could see struggling households asked to cough up an extra £100 per year
by Martin Ellis on
Rising energy bills in the UK could be the final nail in the financial coffin for many Brits who are already struggling to meet the cost of living, Citizens Advice has said.
Earlier this week, it was suggested that British Gas could be increasing prices for its 12 million customers by an average of £100 per year in the coming weeks.
And with this just the start of what is expected to be a uniform increase from the big six energy companies, homeowners' finances will be squeezed ever tighter.
'Perfect storm of price rises, wage freezes and benefit curbs'
Citizens Advice Chief executive Gillian Guy said that the latest round of increases could see Brits' financial health significantly damaged, with many who have been struggling to stay afloat finally being pushed over the edge and not being able to afford their bills.
"A fresh round of energy price rises could be the nail in the coffin for people's household budgets – many are already being pushed to breaking point by a perfect storm of price rises, wage freezes and benefit curbs.
"As hard-pressed consumers brace themselves for higher costs, it's clear that energy companies must do more to make bills more affordable," Guy said.
High profits are 'hard to justify'
Guy went on to add that the prices being charged by energy companies are serving to increase their profit margins further. It was recently reported that the profit made by the big six from each UK household doubled in the space of the last 12 months.
She said that it was difficult to see the reasoning behind this when there was little change in what is on offer to consumers as a result of ever increasing prices.
"It's hard to justify high profits when rising bills mean that many families have to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table. Energy firms must keep price rises to a minimum and make sure that any drops in wholesale costs are passed on to customers," she concluded.
Read more
Energy myths keep Brits from switching
British Gas expected to raise prices by 8%
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218 comments
Happybrian123 on October 11, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Go back to coal fires!
bob on October 12, 2013 at 2:01 am
These latest rises are to pay for the new power stations that are needed, w e pay for them and the private utilities own them,
sydney hobson on October 12, 2013 at 3:56 pm
Re-Nationise them with no compensation whatsoever
Narotam Lathia on October 12, 2013 at 6:17 pm
My energy company (SSE) has admitted to making a profit of £2 per/week/household. Based on my yearly bill for both gas + electricity, they made 13% profit, perhaps greater! Why are profits not tied to RPI/CPI?
Honest on October 12, 2013 at 9:22 pm
The profit figure is based on the average bill.
Your bill appears to be just under 63% of average ( 2012 figure = £1,279 )
Misleading statements do tend to undermine your point.
weecg on October 13, 2013 at 12:34 am
We also compensate them for the profit they would have made on the electrciity actually generated by windfarms (because they always have to have the capacity available to cover the intermittent wind). The system is broken and the consumers are the losers.
Frank Turmoil on October 13, 2013 at 12:59 pm
We're surviving at present, we're paying the bills… but it is surviving not living.
The UK has become along with the PIIGS a seriously horrible country to live in
Narotam Lathia on October 13, 2013 at 4:33 pm
So that means the profits are 8% and not 13%. The ONS says "The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) grew by 2.8% in the year to July 2013, down from 2.9% in June". 8% profit is 3.5 times the CPI. Hope you get my point now. Hope you are not an employee/'share holder' of SSE!
julianzzz on October 13, 2013 at 8:42 pm
What's a Brit? And who is the foreigner using the term?
phil-o-sopher on October 13, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Renationalise all Utilities, Transporttation and call ALL Chairman, Directors of the Board of these outfits, to account for the bullying tactics and avaricious policies used to dominate in the very priveleged positions they have enjoyed during the past twenty years or more. Their poicies have screwed both the Customers/Consumers and the Tax Payers. Their remuneration packages are a disgrace when compared with the average income amongst all of working age, employed or not.
If you have a chimney use it or have one installed.
Robin once of Spain on October 14, 2013 at 12:32 am
It's not just the UK. I have been living in Spain for the last 10 years and have come back to the UK because bills there were rising faster than the UK. I was paying over £100 per month for telephone and broadband (£25 in the UK) over £100 pm for electricity, £40 pm for water – all cheaper here. There is one exception – rates, they were around £300 per annum, but even that was a 50% rise over the last few years and is still rising. Food has almost doubled and fuel costs have tripled. However, the main question is why are Europeans putting up with all this? – most of the electorate in Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece want out of the EU, but it is never going to happen – why? Because of peoples apathy, complacency and their inability to get up off their behinds and demand democracy – 'The greatest menace to freedom is an inert people!' Justice Louis D Brandeis.
Robin on October 14, 2013 at 12:36 am
Oh, do tell us where we can buy cheap coal then?
Princess Clare Bear on October 14, 2013 at 7:05 am
When are people going to wake up and realise heating their home is a luxury not an essential?! My grandmother grew up without central heating, my ancestors certainly grew up without central heating and the human race will most certainly survive without the use of central heating!
Sheryl Hepworth on October 14, 2013 at 11:16 am
As a pensioner getting the basic State Pension and nothing else I have, this morning, received the notification of my price increase as from November 15th. I will be looking at a rise of electricity in the region of £40 a month over what Im currently paying. Living in a council bungalow, with total electric heating and cooking I have no choice but to accept any and every increase thrown at us. As my pension won't be increasing at all to assist me cover this rise something will have to be cut. Im trying to 'treat' myself to some winter boots this year but it looks like they'll have to be forgotten or I'll need to take a trip round the local charity shops (local being, at the closest, an 11 mile trip) It is slowly getting to the stage that I'll have to look at re-homing my dog even though he doesn't take a lot to feed, about 60-80 pence a day. Bad times for fixed income people, families or single.I do have a small private pension, payed annually, this year, on my birthday, I received my yearly pay-out….. £53.68p. Don't think I'll be going on a cruise with that do you??
Blzbob on October 14, 2013 at 2:55 pm
So instead of getting the french and chinese to build nuclear power stations and charge us the earth for power, why don't this shower of s*** bunch of clowns use the money they are going to waste on a new toy train set, to build two or three and give us cheaper energy
Patrice on October 14, 2013 at 3:14 pm
Sheryl so sorry for your economic trouble. As a psychologist, I implore you to consider the harm and trauma that your faithful companion will suffer through no fault of his own should you re-home him. Some may think he is a "non-essential" but considering the dividends he has probably paid off to you for such little input, he is the probably one of the best investments you have. He will likely suffer emotionally from having been removed from his home, plus possibly euthenised. I hope you will reconsider, perhaps cut out some other small expense per day that will not cause suffering, rather than the dog. Best of luck
Sheryl Hepworth on October 14, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Patrice please!! Ive had dogs all my life 4 of them rescues as is my present lad!! Do you really think Id let him go back to rescue after nearly 6 years?? Come on!! My point was that if this government have their way many people WILL have to make the choice, feed the kids or the dog?? Id feed him before myself believe me!!
Sheryl Hepworth on October 14, 2013 at 4:13 pm
I am 66 years old and never had central heating till the last few years either! Always had an open fire and was always cosy! Most older houses were built for open fires which warm the whole house via the chimney stack through the house BUT the councils, in their 'wisdom', have removed open fires from the majority of the houses in our area giving people no choice but to use the electric central heating they install!! When the fires were in, folks could go to the many woods around us and take windfalls to fuel their winter fires but you can't do that now.. H & S put a stop to it for the danger it posed and there are no fires to light anyway! I'd LOVE an open fire again!! Endless hot water and you save on lighting as well with the glow from a good fire!!
bob on October 14, 2013 at 6:56 pm
E.U seeks to increase VAT on all energy bills
Responsible department: Her Majesty's Treasury
The EU is seeking to increase VAT on all energy bills
from 5% to 20% this would cause a great deal of further hardship to an already very large essential expense of a neccessity for basic human need.
The government should not accept this proposal from
the EU who once again want how dictate what the UK runs it`s own affairs.
Now you know where the problems lay
John on October 14, 2013 at 7:28 pm
I'm going to have to make more use of my woodburning stove (must get chimney swept) and I am thinking about using a parraffin heater for short bursts of heat and maybe start using some of those old oil lamps I collected years ago. What has this country come to?
eagle eye on October 14, 2013 at 8:10 pm
tell us how you warm yourself then or you are among those born with golden spoon?
my ancestors grew up without technology doesn't mean i should follow their steps, thus why we call something 'development'
Sam on October 14, 2013 at 8:25 pm
When did they do that ? and where ?
Joe Smith on October 15, 2013 at 12:17 am
Wigan. There's tonnes of coal under our feet. 😛
Joe Smith on October 15, 2013 at 12:21 am
I remember a time when it was VAT free and VAT was only charged on non-essentials.
Joe Smith on October 15, 2013 at 12:26 am
The price is going up because global warming taxes are needed to make solar and wind power look economical. There is no free market in energy, it's currently controlled by central planners coming up with schemes to nobble the most efficient ways of producing power!
Sara on October 15, 2013 at 12:43 am
I remember when my kids were little a fiver in the gas and another in the electric would last all week and we were never cold, then id get a rebate and go on a shopping trip buying the kids their winter coats and boots, theres nothing like this now since they were privatised. The prices are ridiculous and being warm is certainly not a luxury its a human right even in the stone ages i guess they had fires to warm themselves, what a silly comment to make Princess Clare Bear .
Sara on October 15, 2013 at 12:46 am
What a ridiculous comment its a human right to be warm…! even in the stone ages people had fire to keep themselves warm……!!! did your ancestors not have fireplaces…? what sort of houses did they live in….?
Phil Armond on October 15, 2013 at 5:57 am
We are now experiencing the legacy of Thatcher selling the family silver and her personal vendeta with the minors, everything owned by foreigners and prices out of control. The tory government has just added R Mail so expect £2 a letter next year.
GT1 on October 15, 2013 at 6:25 am
The Government needs to tax the oil companies and provide rebates to the consumer. Every time they try to raise their prices the Government should tax them accordingly and pay the extra back.
blessyz on October 15, 2013 at 7:14 am
I bet you anything they won't build any new power stations
adsdlite on October 15, 2013 at 11:12 am
Don't get rid of your dog love, he's good company & can keep you warm.
I'll help you with the bills even though I'm disabled & struggle myself.
prover on October 15, 2013 at 11:33 am
So – what did you expect. This countries people have been exploited since Thatcher.
Those stupid "green" people have done as much damage, (do they not use gas, electric
and central heating.)
Be careful I see trouble ahead.
johno on October 15, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Move all the indirect tax collecting to central taxation. Then all income earners will contribute to saving the planet not just bill payers. It will also halve the profit per account that the energy suppliers make because they charge the gov to collect the indirect taxes. This will take £50 of of the average bill
daniel on October 15, 2013 at 5:22 pm
well done maggie thatcher,may you rot in your grave you callous selfish american brain washed person(mis-spelt obviously)you ruined britain period!
Growlybear on October 15, 2013 at 5:50 pm
My Electricty bill gas been frozen for the past 2 years and the freeze has run out . Now a new freeze for 2 years is to cost 26 percent more . Obviously I'm not alone in this . My electrity usage keeps going down but it doe sent keep pace with my income .heating or eating is the name of the game for millions , whilst the energy companies profits go up by billions . What is needed is a windfall tax on these excessive increased profits
tafmmac on October 15, 2013 at 9:39 pm
The big green taxes dreamedbny barmy Labour should be scrapped as well as useless wind turbines.
Shareholder Steve on October 16, 2013 at 7:53 am
About time people took some responsibiliy for their own situations. Stop whinging and get a second job if you need to.
Shareholder Steve on October 16, 2013 at 8:03 am
Shame you didn`t bother to prepare for your retirement when you were younger. Oh well.
Thor on October 16, 2013 at 11:52 am
If the general public have to make cuts then so should all the corporate companies make cuts in their profits. Crime is going to soar!
Mike on October 16, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Yes Joe there is and we are floating in a sea of oil. Why when we produce so much oil are being taxed to the hilt? To support an ailing economy? The Norwegians are now possibly the richest, the happiest people in Europe with a fantastic health and education system…What do we spend our oil revenues on?
jim on October 16, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Re-nationalise them and the prices would be even higher.
sydney hobson on October 16, 2013 at 2:29 pm
NOT if they were run right how could there be No high wages and shareholders to pay AND the politicians would be held to account
sydney hobson on October 16, 2013 at 2:31 pm
exactly why I say there should be NO compensation we have already paid for them once, time the public woke up
the reluctant messiah on October 16, 2013 at 6:55 pm
its this goverments job to protect us from these profiteers, in this and every other country, they are responsible. what have they done ? nuffin ! shameful !! why do u fink they joined the EU !! if they don't do it then we must !? what affect would 10 million peeps not paying their bills have ?? that'd shake them up ! economic revolution is essential ! show them who's boss ! power to the people ! wunda what the yahoo censors will do wif dis !!??
Sodthisgovernment on October 16, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Just remember, you don't have to accept the rise in payments. They tried this with me and I said no way. I told them to take an extra £10 per month! You tell them, they don't tell you remember that guys!
jmac on October 16, 2013 at 7:07 pm
simple ! wer thers a will ders a way !! politicians wont do it !! the peeps wif de powa r the peeps wif de money !! wakin up u bunch of losers
jmac on October 16, 2013 at 7:20 pm
oops wer did my post go ?? censors at it again !! told you !! oh dear !! we're doomed !!
PC NOT! on October 16, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Well most of us suffer (31yrs old) due to the past generations culture of spend spend spend! Thanks for allowing public service sector members having nice big fat pensions and retiring at 55yrs old. Well whilst we suffer and pick the pieces up. You think were going to get a second job??! we're working twice as hard as the old folks did back in the day. Plus we have all the paperwork to comprehend. Thanks
the reluctant messiah on October 16, 2013 at 7:28 pm
hard enuff trying to get 1 job ! ur solution is 2 get 2 ??!! wow ! dats profound ! get a life !
Sheryl Hepworth on October 16, 2013 at 8:15 pm
Oh but I did. I and my late husband both took out private pensions when we were self employed in our own business, at the age of 48, but he was taken seriously ill and we had to sell up. He was, after that, to ill to work again but I returned to full time work. I had a pension with my last 2 jobs but at the age (50+) I was, I would have had to put away about £300 a month which was impossible. Had I/we been younger then we/I would have been in a better position now. So please do not be so high and mighty with your comments. I have worked all my life apart from 6 years when I had the children at home. I have never been unemployed nor was my husband. To finish, when I was younger, as you put, there was NO private pensions or the like so your stuffy, self righteous comment, was made from an obvious lack of knowledge about this countrys past pension arrangements.
Walter Prenter on October 16, 2013 at 8:38 pm
They (the government) are now bleeding the stones!
radical bill on October 16, 2013 at 9:11 pm
simple tax any increase in profits percentage compared to 1995 at 100%
Tim on October 16, 2013 at 9:25 pm
Better idea,
Re-nationalise them with no compensation and then re-privatise them and get billions in the float.
Government pays down the national debt without the cuts.
cry wolf on October 16, 2013 at 9:59 pm
So the re home the dog bit was all for effect.
This is the problem. Everyone exaggerates.
You pretend that its come to this when in fact it hasn't.
You may not get to read this. You may well be on a cruise.
little bill on October 16, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Nice one. You should try the same tactic in Tesco. When the nice lady at the till asks you for £60 for the goods you bought you should say "no way", you tell em, tell them they can have £30 but no more.
What I suspect is happening is that by using an extra £20 a month of fuel and only paying an extra £10 a month in payments you might find that you are building up a big unpaid bill. They don't tell you, remember that guys!
mike on October 16, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Did she have a problem with the under-18s?
tim on October 16, 2013 at 10:16 pm
Narotam, when you say 8% and 13 % profits, do you mean they have gone up by that percentage or do you mean that is the profit margin they make on the turnover?
kate on October 16, 2013 at 10:19 pm
You have overlooked one crucial detail.
You still have to buy paraffin and oil.
norrie on October 16, 2013 at 11:13 pm
The Gas and Electric companies have been told by successive governments to keep increasing the cost of to fuel to make 'green' energy, solar power and wind etc., more attractive.
chinkron UK on October 17, 2013 at 1:16 am
Does that mean you're currently paying £500 per month then? Are you sure there's not a cannabis farm next door, erroneously powered by siphoning off your electricity supply??!! Given that SSE are the only suppliers to confirm a price rise for 15 November at approximately 8% and as you've stated your increase will be £40 per month above the £6000 per year you must already be paying….I would seriously start investigating!! I would wager your increase is more in the region of £40 per year…however, your woeful tale of re-homing poor Lassie while trekking the 22 mile round trip…no doubt in the snow…and in only your threadbare, hole riddled summer sandals, to forage the nearest Oxfam/Help the Aged/Red Cross charity outlet, for that bargain 25p pair of winter boots…undoubtedly….makes for much more emotionally provocative reading!! (But let's not forget the £135 per year, Warm Home Discount, you undoubtedly receive from your electricity supplier…oh and the £200-£300 Winter Fuel Payment from the Government…ooh and the additional Cold Weather Payments of £25 per week should temperatures dip this year…in the spirit of 'balance' of course need to be mentioned!) But good luck with those boots…hey just a thought but you should try and keep hold of Lassie..might come in useful…if needs must!! 😉
Sheryl Hepworth on October 17, 2013 at 3:42 am
I would if I could!! Council won't re-open the chimney and take out this heating. Would love a coal/wood burning stove!
Sheryl Hepworth on October 17, 2013 at 3:46 am
Love this talk of 'percentage increases'. Tell me percentage of what? My friend has just increased her staff in her business by 100%… mind you she only had 1 other!! Percentages can mean what you want them to. Without knowing percentage of what they mean nothing!!
Sheryl Hepworth on October 17, 2013 at 3:53 am
No not for effect! I personally know 3 families that have had to make that choice AND they are working families!! One of them has had to use a food bank in the last few months too so take a good look around and you will find it's a real possibility for many people! I haven't had a holiday of any sort since I finished work 4 years ago. YES I did work beyond retirement age to try and build a bit more credit but through ill health had to give up. That I didn't say anything about though, so don't try and make out I'm a moaning scounger, read some of my other comments to people!! I would really love for some folks including some of our 'caring' government to try living for 6 months on a fixed income!! We're all in this together??? Don't make me laugh!!
Phil Armond on October 17, 2013 at 5:52 am
Yeh, this damn coal dust keeps you looking soo young !!! ( early morning typo haha)
cry wolf on October 17, 2013 at 8:39 am
But you said that you were so hard up that YOU were considering re housing your dog.
That wasn't true.
peter on October 17, 2013 at 8:47 am
If you only have the basic state pension and no private pension, which is your position you should be getting an additional means tested top up called the "Pension credit".
Nobody is expected to only live on the basic state pension.
Sheryl Hepworth on October 17, 2013 at 9:26 am
Oh yes they are peter!! I am £2 over the eligible level of pension so do not qualify for pension credits and because I don't, neither am I eligible for the refund payment of £135 a year from my supplier. The only extra I do get is the WFP of £150 in November!!
Sheryl Hepworth on October 17, 2013 at 9:27 am
No if you read it properly I said it MAY come to that!!
cry wolf on October 17, 2013 at 11:44 am
No it doesn't.
Nowhere does it say MAY.
What you actually said was that it was, I quote:
"getting to the stage that I'll HAVE to look at re-homing my dog"
And even if you had said may, which you didn't, it wouldn't have been true because you later ruled out the possibility.
Which is why I said that you only put it in for effect.
peter on October 17, 2013 at 12:39 pm
But you cant be £2 over the eligible limit if your only other income is £53.68 per year. If it were £53.68 per week private pension you are getting then I understand, but that is £2,800 /year but if you only get £53.68 per year then you do qualify for pension credit. You should go to your Citizens Advice Bureau and get them to help you claim it.
Nobody in this country is expected just to live on the basic state pension. That is what Pension credit is for.
fortyminstofive on October 17, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Private profits. I bet if they lost money, they would be socialised losses. Renationalise please.
vince on October 17, 2013 at 2:06 pm
I think I am right that if you are over 65 then you should get some pension credit as long as your total income (basic state pension plus private pension) is less than £190 per week which means that Mrs H will certainly qualify for pension credits. I think it is called savings credit or something. Anyway, peter is right. If you only have a very small private pension the government will top it up with pension credits.
vince on October 17, 2013 at 2:18 pm
If you put money into a private pension when you were self employed it is still there whether you sold up the business or not. You cant take money out of a pension until it is drawn. Also, the pensions you had with your last 2 jobs is either still there or if you only paid in for less than 2 years the money would have been paid back into SERPS. Either way you should be getting something from either your old private pension schemes or in additional state pension from SERPS.
You just cant just be on the basic state pension if you have been in 3 different private pension schemes.
enough is enough on October 17, 2013 at 2:20 pm
if have setup a website asking everyone to sign up to just 1 energy company (british gas) on 3rd november, if everyone signs up to just 1 company the rest will go bust overnight, the gov will panic, useless ofgem will be screwed, the switching companies will also be screwed. WE HAVE TO ACT….i cannot post links here, but everyone just do it…they have been taking the p.. for years, ITS TIME PEOPLE POWER (which is free btw) TOOK ACTION……or just keep sucking it up. i have no affiliation to BG but we have to choose 1….DO IT, all they will say is the usual switch/get insulation…how many more times can we put up with this bs…
Toby on October 17, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Actually, being warm isn't a human right. Its a basic human need I grant you but nobody has the right to demand someone else provide it.
Jim Clark on October 17, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Did anyone else hear the Energy Secretary in his statement to the House today say that if people cant keep up with their energy payments to their supplier just go and change their supplier? Its a pity we cant do the same with Energy Secretaries when we know were getting hit with another tax to go with the other taxes that are knocking the stuffing out of the working people of this country. Come on Cameron get a grip the suicide rate is going up faster than you and yer cronies pay rises……..
Doomsayer on October 17, 2013 at 8:54 pm
David Cameron and his government ministers don't have to worry about energy process they get their energy paid for in their ridiculous expense accounts..
mo on October 17, 2013 at 9:14 pm
its greed from the rich .09% of the rich goes towards utility bills whilst over 36.00 % goes to utility bills for the poor or those who are on benefits. and those who voted for this gov really needs to think
Narotam Lathia on October 17, 2013 at 9:21 pm
The profit I talk about is not what SSE may show on their books.
I have received a letter from SSE saying "On the average dual fuel energy bill we make less than £2 profit per week". This is £104/ year. Considering an average energy bill of £1280/year this is 8% profit. This is 3.5 times the CPI/RPI index. Now we hear British Gas jumping on the 'Unrestricted Price Rise' bandwagon. My own local MP has assured me that the energy companies can charge what "they wish"!!!!!!!! From now it'll really be "………and the devil take the hindmost."
Gerontius on October 17, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Our government is against our state ownership of public utilities and is therefore selling them to other states. So we have French government owned EDF raising energy prices here by far more than they are permitted to do in France. And EDF will be part financed by the Chinese government to build new nuclear plants in UK. Meanwhile our government continues to suck up to anyone with money while trashing their own poor citizens. Is it because I am so old that I find it difficult to understand why we put up with this?
Sootie on October 17, 2013 at 11:35 pm
We are getting more like a third world country by the day! A far cry away from GREAT BRITAIN. Who would have thought in todays world we would be having to choose between heating our homes or putting food on the table and that is people working not scroungers as it suits our poloticians to call us. One energy company made a 2billion pound proffit while many of us are really feeling the pinch. It's immoral and i don't know how they can justify what they are doing. Just remember when its time to vote, we are NOT all in it together.
Billy Bob on October 18, 2013 at 7:25 am
Who'd buy the shares second time round genius?
tim on October 18, 2013 at 7:50 am
But what has the percentage of the bill that is profit have anything to do with the rate at which general prices have gone up?
Tim on October 18, 2013 at 7:53 am
What was mis-spelt?
PJ12 on October 18, 2013 at 10:29 am
How can you nationalise foreign companies? Even if you nationalised our own two, Centrica (British Gas), and SSE, there is nothing that can be done to reduce the price they pay for gas, or the ridiculous subsidies in our bills (£114 per year) we pay for decommissioning the coal power stations, for 'green levies' or towards wind farms that don't work.
Or the tax the government takes.
Or the much higher costs the energy companies are charged by National Grid for upgrading the distribution networks.
Presumably you are saying that state ownership means lower prices?
Well I have news for you: the energy companies in Europe are state-owned, and it is they who supply almost all the wholesale energy to us and to British Gas. They also charge their own public much more than we are paying.
So much for state ownership.
pj12 on October 18, 2013 at 10:31 am
With gross profits running at 5%, I don't know why they bother being in this business at all. Most large companies make 10-15%
pj12 on October 18, 2013 at 10:35 am
no, it's the fact that western governments have spent too much on welfare and other waste for many years, and now our nations are competing in a globalised market. We are still wasting £180 billion a year on welfare, and it is unsustainable because the public can no longer afford the taxes EG we pay £4 tax on a bottle of wine, 70p tax on a litre of petrol.
pj12 on October 18, 2013 at 10:49 am
Sheryl, you seem to be one of the many who saved for their own pension, only to find that the drinking classes spent all their money and now get means-tested top-ups, making them much better off than you. I know people in both categories, and I think it is diabolical.
The new pension system, however, means everyone gets about £140 a week, although I think they make a small deduction for time you were contracted out of NI, if that applies. And nobody will get the means-tested top-up, so it seems to me to be a great deal fairer as it rewards people for saving.
pj12 on October 18, 2013 at 10:54 am
it was all wasted on welfare; £180 billion a year
Narotam Lathia on October 18, 2013 at 10:58 am
If the portion of the bill that is profit goes up then the overall bill goes up! All I suggest is that the energy PROFITS be the same level as RPI/CPI. The energy companies are free to push the profit margins UP every year. My own local MP (Conservative) has replied to me on this subject and stated that the energy companies are allowed to profit as much as they " WISH "!
pj12 on October 18, 2013 at 11:16 am
Just imagine if some of them were still nationalized. If you are a luddite trade union member you might not like some of these unpalatable truths.
BP wouldn't be doing £100 billion deal to pipe gas from an Eastern European country to western Europe. The British government collects huge amounts of corporation tax from such business. And the largely British shareholders collect a healhy dividend, which is also good for our economy because they spend it or save it.
National Grid wouldn't be a major utility company in NE USA. If Europe had any sense they would let National Grid build a grid like ours for them, enabling them to avoid the power outages and overloads they are famous for.
BG Group wouldn't have contributed so much to the American shale gas industry, and in the process became a global leader in this relatively new technology.
British Road Services would still be doing most of our road haulage, and be on strike every day.
British Leyland would be building Rover cars at a state-of-the-art factory that the taxpayer paid for in the 70's, but that never ran at more than 50% capacity because of strikes. And its cars were truly terrible…. I knew people who worked there and told me the awful details. Now, of course, we export countless Land Rovers and Minis to China.
The rivers would still be heavily polluted because the water companies would not be able to afford to clean them up.
BT would still take six months (yes it really was like this) to put you a new line in. And we'd never have got broadband if the government had to pay for it!
The old lead pipes that are falling apart in housing estates all over eastern England would not be replaced until they completely failed. There has been an upgrade program running for a decade, involving private companies.
To summarise, if our infrastructure was still dependent upon publicly owned companies, they would all have had to compete for government investment funding against the Police, Armed Services, Education, and most of all welfare. So no improvements would ever happen.
Basically, there are no votes in replacing a pipeline or building a reservoir.
Not to mention the fact that the trade unions would still be demanding incredible pay deals for all of those public sector workers the rest of us would have to pay for out of our taxes.
pj12 on October 18, 2013 at 11:21 am
I doubt it is 8%, and that is hardly an excessive return, considering that they have to pay shareholder dividends out of it, and they also have to fund upgrades and new developments. It really isn't just a matter of sitting there and counting your money as it arrives.
cry wolf on October 18, 2013 at 5:34 pm
But if she is only on the State pension and gets no other income as she says she didn't actually save anything for her retirement.
Sheryl Hepworth on October 19, 2013 at 12:00 pm
I am getting an annuity from the 'investment' of the total in my private pensions… pay-out of 'profits' this year……. £53.68 I think it was!! So small a pay-out that the council ignore it for working out my rent and council tax rebates!!! Someone is making money out of these pension investments but it isn't the pensioners!! Im even expected to pay income tax on thsi pension at source!
pdb951 on October 19, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Imigrants and hangers on!
pdb951 on October 19, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Forget the green lobby. Open some new coal mines to generate power.
peter on October 19, 2013 at 4:16 pm
But Sheryl, if you only get £53.68 a year( £1/week) in addition to the basic state pension, you are not £2 over the limit for pension credits. How could you be. You should be claiming the pension top up.
peter on October 19, 2013 at 4:22 pm
Also Sheryl, the basic state pension is £110.15/ week which is £5,727.80 /year. This is way below the personal income tax allowance of £9,440/ year. You should not be paying any income tax at all.
Go and speak with someone at the Citizens Advice Bureau they will sort you out.
vanbar on October 19, 2013 at 5:50 pm
pobinr on October 19, 2013 at 11:11 pm
Another £2 a week is too much!
not2posh on October 20, 2013 at 7:52 pm
I am with Coop Energy. Their prices for existing customers do not go up until 8th Jan 2014 and then by only 4.5%. They are a not for profit outfit so get off of you backsides and change – it's easy peasy.
Dennis Goodwin on October 21, 2013 at 10:52 am
We are now living with the legacy of the Thatcher years, privatisation certainly gave us a competitive market to choose from (choose the company which rob us the least).We appear to have sold off all our assets or maybe given the away the recent floatation of the Post Office being a prime example.
Kirbster on October 21, 2013 at 11:26 am
chinkron UK, Sheryl says she is getting an increase of £40 per month not per week, which is entirely possible. Electricity has gone up much more than gas in recent years and because I like long term fixes, our bill has just gone from £1220 per year to £1660 (coming off a 2 year fix and going on to a 3 year fix with Scottish Power) and that is for dual fuel so if she has done the same and is a high user which if she heats by electricity she probably is. I know some pensioners are well off but for those who could only save a little and kept thier savings in cash, they are now getting 20% of the interest they got 7-8 years ago with few or no ways of increasing their income. Thankfully I am self employed so am the master of my own destiny but many pensioners and low paid are trapped and need compassion not condemnation.
jud on October 21, 2013 at 11:28 am
I have just decided to change supplier to one who does not have a standing charge. IT is the only company and as a very low user I find it much cheaper. So anyone on their own who is frugal with gas and electric consider going over to a different supplier. That said I am on a very low income, looking for a job at 58 having just given up being a midwife due to stress. It could be argued I have a brain and am reasonably intelligent but I still cannot get another job. I am too old in many cases. Or if I am honest and say I left because of shift work they assume I am not able to work hard. I have no idea what to do because my £500 pension will not keep my head above water and I am not entitled to any help with job seeking or money.
So my home is at risk, my mental health is at risk, my life is at risk. If things continue it hardly seems worth living. I often ask what is the point yet I know from years of helping women give birth their is or has to be more than this to life. I want a complete change and am willing to move from the south coast for a job.
diarmid lyle on October 21, 2013 at 11:53 am
I dread to think what might happen when the interest rates start rising. People who took one out when rates were low will really feel it , on top of energy prices.
JohnnieB on October 21, 2013 at 5:12 pm
We used to have coal powered generators, when oil was cheap we decommissioned the coal stations, smashed them up and sent the scrap to Europe who sold it back as white goods. It would be much cheaper to scrub the toxic smoke they made. We are sitting on coal that would have made us independent.
ray on October 21, 2013 at 5:41 pm
THIS IS A MESSAGE TO EVERY ONE ,[dont pay ur bills collapse the system]
person on October 21, 2013 at 8:03 pm
£100 a year increase isn't going to make a massive difference for most British people. That's an increase of £1.92 a week. £1.92 a week less that people can pay on weekly food shops that cost £30-£50 isn't going to break many banks. This is just scare-mongering.
LBD on October 21, 2013 at 8:20 pm
How about just get rid of the VAT tax of 20% added to the bill first.
georg on October 22, 2013 at 10:27 am
I was going to write and say the obvious answer is re-nationalise and get rid of the shareholding fraternity without compensation, but many more have beaten me to that It may well be that if our and many of the other governments involved continue to pander to the "haves at the expense of have nots" the masses pushed hard enough themselves might just repeat history,, we have witness it all before mutinies and revolutions, Recent events in the middle east show how contagious such action can be when it is ignited
I would also ask why we are no longer capable of building our own power stations ?
Is this the legacy of past governments fear of unions that compelled them to break up our self sufficient industries ? taking the Great of Britain
Horus Thelemite on October 22, 2013 at 11:24 am
One word, Venezuela. If you have the popular support then it takes no time to remove an unjust multinational from your borders. I would like anyone to tell me that a nationalised company cannot make as much profit than a private company, when one that has to give it's profits to share holds.
Even Saatchi, is starting to see the light that capitalism is on it's last legs and is going down fast, real fast. Newsnight 30mins or so in 21-10-2013.
clubrob6 on October 22, 2013 at 4:31 pm
We are too dependant on imports,we have massive supplies of shale gas but the government are letting a few protesters get in the way.Fracking if managed correctly will solve our gas crisis for now until we develop other energy sources.I worked offshoe on the rigs for 14 years its all foreign investment so the profits are going abroad.Even new nuclear plants are relying on foreign investment.The foreign companys are just bleeding us dry for high profits we need to get our energy RE-NATIONALISED so we can once again use the profit to build our future energy sources,instead of it going abroad.
Daz on October 22, 2013 at 4:55 pm
they have to build the HS2 because the EU says so. The real name of the HS2 is the Warsaw to Leeds Express
Narotam Lathia on October 22, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Best comment so far and fully agree with Horus Thelemite :-
"One word, Venezuela. If you have the popular support then it takes no time to remove an unjust multinational from your borders. I would like anyone to tell me that a nationalised company cannot make as much profit than a private company,
when one that has to give it's profits to share holds.
Even Saatchi, is starting to see the light that capitalism is on
it's last legs and is going down fast, real fast. Newsnight 30mins or so
in 21-10-2013."
Down with the CONDEMned policies!
Mike on October 22, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Perhaps the head of British Gas could help out the pensioner who is struggling with her energy bill. He receives £3.8million per year plus £5million per year bonus. As usual, the working class seeking to destroy each other by drivel regarding re-homing a dog! For heavens sake, address the real issue which is we are being robbed by an energy cartel which makes huge profits and pays it's senior staff obscene level of pay. It's simply not a free market with ANY real competition
murphydog on October 22, 2013 at 6:18 pm
It is nice to see that all the privatisation brought in by Mrs T is coming back to bite the balls of this tory government, but they let us get ripped off, while taxpayers pay billions to subsidise a so called privatised rail network(where I work]
russell55 on October 22, 2013 at 6:44 pm
murphydog on October 22, 2013 at 6:46 pm
I use to have an uncle called Sydney hobson(RIP), he could always talk sense on any subject, just like the one on here.
murphydog on October 22, 2013 at 6:53 pm
it is time for the revolution, everybody stops paying. they can cut us off but but they cannot get us all to court cos there aint enough to cope.
What? on October 22, 2013 at 7:07 pm
Cry Wolf, get a life, or better yet listen to the real message, the person is really worried about the amount they have to pay out and having to spend the winter very cold. If you were my psychologist I'd be asking to see your certificate, I suspect it's a photocopy with a bit of tip-ex. Get the money back for the rip off internet course you took.
kotsreveb on October 22, 2013 at 9:18 pm
Yes we can, if we really want to. Ultimately the government can do as it wishes, if it has the guts to do so…
Gerry on October 23, 2013 at 8:55 am
i'm so tired of wearing my coat in the house or going back to bed to stay warm. At 57 i thought i was past all this crap. I have spinal arthritis but i don't receive benefits. I turn off everything and have nothing on standby. I use economy 7 for my washing and dishwasher and i fill both machines to to the brim before i use them. Luckily we invested in a woodburner so keep warm at night when we sit down. How miserable to grow old in this country where we treat our own people as a cash cow to fund aid abroad and give billions to the wasteful EU.x
Larissa on October 23, 2013 at 9:27 pm
Tell SID THAT HE IS A GREEDY ROBBING ba@@@@@d TORY SOLD ALL OUR UTILITIES TO MAINLY FOREIGN OWNERS. THIS IS THE RESULT TORIES BELIEVE PRIVATE COMPANIES SHOULD MAKE PROFITS and THAT COMES BEFORE THE WELL BEING OF THE POOR OLD AND DISABLED. All this and still they want more.Time will come when people rise up against these ROBBER BARON's.
Larissa on October 23, 2013 at 9:32 pm
I remember when Private companies mostly USA business went into to Norway to drill for oil. The NORWEIGAN's allowed them to drill then no sooner did they strike oil a short while after they NATIONALISED THE OIL FIELDS.They put their own people first. Something OUR GOVERNMENTS never did, Sems the only Socialism the tories bekeive in is giving OUR MONEY TO THE THEIVING BANKERS
Larissa on October 23, 2013 at 9:42 pm
What a horrible thing to say. Calling those unemployed and disabled and pensioners a WASTE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO CLAIM BENEFITS.WE SPEND BILLIONS ON THE EU CORRUPT GRAVY TRAIN BILLIONS ON OVERSEAS AID and BILLIONS ON THE BANKERS. YET YOU CALL THE POOREST PEOPLE A WASTE. YOU DISGUST ME. MAYBER ONE FINE DAY YOU TOO MAYBE IN THIS CATAGORY YOURSELF!!
Larissa on October 23, 2013 at 9:50 pm
And I bet you are A TORY you know the CARING TORY PARTY THAT SOLD OFF THE WATER SUPPLY THAT IS FREELY GIVEN TO US BY NATURE. Why not suggest the WORKHOUSE. Or as the Tory TOffs used to do SEND THE PENSIONER TO BE TRANSPORTRED OVERSEAS LIKE THE TORIEDS DID TO 6year old children for the
Larissa on October 23, 2013 at 10:00 pm
Yes because the TORIES ALL GIVE THE TAXES YOU PAY TO THEM as fat salaries TO PRIVATE COMPAMIES AS SHAREHOLDERS. Tories and Lib Labs are all looking after number 1. Always was the same its the RICH THAT GETS THE PLEASURE ITS THE POOR THAT FEELS THE PAIN.
Larissa on October 23, 2013 at 10:06 pm
Why did we BOTHER FIGHTING TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY FROM BEING INVADED BY GERMANY? They now own our companies who charge a fortune for energy. What a disaster these Bloody politicians have caused ALL PARTIES. So now I intend to vote UKIP. Get all these foreign scroungers out and claim back our daily £58 million quid we pay to be in this CORRUPT CLUB. That could help the poorest to keep warm.
Larissa on October 23, 2013 at 10:09 pm
Yes and SUBSIDISED FOOD IN THE COMMONS RESTAURANTS. CAMORON SHOULD GIVE BACK CASH TO THE PEOPLE. THEY ARE ALL LIKE PARASITES THEY LIVE ON US. Imagine a Martian asking him what do you do to earn your keep? Why I talk old bean and they give me thousands of pounds to make a mess of my country,. But I am a MILIONAIRE so it doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Larissa on October 23, 2013 at 10:16 pm
God as everyone knows Chinese stuff falls to bit's bad quality etc. And the French coming here to carryout FRACKING will RUIN OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE FRANCE DOES NORT ALLOW IT as it is TOO DANGEROUS. B
Anastasia Fardella on October 23, 2013 at 10:29 pm
Hey, at my workplace we switched to Opus Energy. I really like them and they are a lot cheaper than British Gas and EDF!!
Horus Thelemite on October 24, 2013 at 9:38 am
Can you tie your own shoe laces? If so do you really believe the numbers these companies publish? Do you think that say Starbucks over ten years made no profit in the UK? Also remember these companies own the wholesale and retail divisions of the same product gas/electricity, so can set prices and profits accordingly. So the profit margins they actually publish have less to do with reality than a Scientologist.
The last thing I would like to post about all this BS from the big six energy firms was a statement from Stephen Fitzpatrick, of OVO energy. He stated on the BBC Breakfast show (Don't ask why I was watching it, I think I had a hang over and needed something light and meaningless on in the background). Anyhows, Stephen Fitzpatrick, sated that the wholesale price of Gas has not risen in the last 2 years and had actually dropped by a few pence a therm from 74p to 68p. So how come the large energy firms are stating the opposite?
briang on October 24, 2013 at 11:07 am
now that british gas have put their prices up notice how many times they advertise on television. they have to spend some of the price rise,to reduce the astronomical profite they make.
Jock Lord on October 24, 2013 at 11:07 am
It seems that every day / week something else comes along to make it harder for ordinary folks to get by . Christ knows it's too hard for pensioners and the disabled but they dont matter (Well not according to the gov anyway) whats next after this ? Are we going to see film of the bosses enjoying a holiday in the Bahamas enjoying themselves on ouyr money .It is time to make a stand Have a revolution .We have had enough !
Toro on October 24, 2013 at 1:01 pm
As a Canadian from British Columbia, were all electricity is generated from water, and were they have unlimited reserves of natural gas, the cost is the same, or more than in United Kingdom.
Jim O'Toole on October 24, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Cry Wolf is not the psychologist, Patrice is. YOU maybe need to read the post properly. But I agree with him that she exaggerated, as she claims that her monthly electric will rise by £40 a month, which at a 10% rise in energy cost means she must be paying £400 a month at the moment, which I don't believe.
Jim O'Toole on October 24, 2013 at 10:18 pm
Sheryl, either you are confused or are holding information back.
Sad that you husband was unable to work at age 48.
Your situation stems from the fact that as self employed business people you should have been saving into a pension fund ALL the time you were self employed, or paid the full stamp as employed people did. The history of state pensions were: Graduated pension, SERPS, and now 2nd state pension. Any of these would have given you an extra pension as well as your meagre annuity of £58 ?? As you said you worked all your life apart from 6 years, then surely you must have paid into serps or a company scheme or saved for your old age if in business ? Same for your husband? Are you sure you are not entitled to more state pension? Contact the Pensions Agency and ask for a history of your contributions, if any, towards additional pension.
But as others have said, if you only receive the basic of £105 ish a week, then you should be able to claim pension credit, it's a no brainer, contact the pension agency .
It might not apply to you but, a lot of women never pay into a pension because they expect their husband's pension to be enough, sadly your husbands wasn't. If your energy bill is too high, consider looking online at uSwitch to see if you can get cheaper. Good luck.
Sheryl Hepworth on October 25, 2013 at 3:52 am
Jim thanks for the comment but the £58 is the annuity from both our private pensions. We were one of the unlucky folks that trusted a financial advisor who got us, supposedly, a second mortgage on our house to get us into business but did a runner with £60,000 so we not only lost the business but the house too!! I transfered my company pension into the private fund and get graduated pension too of £17,00 on top of the basic pension. If I apply now for pension credits, which with poor payout I would be entitled to, I would loose some of my rent and council tax rebate which, stupidly, would leave me with even less per week than I get now!!! The credits system is supposed to 'top up' allowances to the top but in truth what they give you with one hand the take away with the other! Please don't think Im stupid and haven't looked in to all the avenues you mention, I have and both my husband and I did do and pay in all you suggest but this is just the way it's come out for me. I do know a few other folk in the same position as myself so it isn't just me!! Thanks again for your comments and wishes. Happy Christmas (when it arrives)!!
JayEss on October 25, 2013 at 8:35 am
I think I'll try NOT putting my clocks back this weekend – re the article in Yahoo News – we are retired so time doesn't mean so much, and it will be interesting to see if it helps paying for the heating bills.
Michael Owen on October 25, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Any government that sells its Gas/Electric/Water/Nuclear/oil/coal companies to overseas buyers is "Not fit to govern" so that covers Labour and Conservatives.The only party left who will put country first is UKIP. But I bet the gullible people of the UK will vote for the Labour or Conservatives again, will voters never learn?
Jim O'Toole on October 25, 2013 at 10:49 pm
Oh my, that is awful. I now understand your situation. Your company and private pension only served to keep you just above benefit level and to be cheated out of what could have been your retirement savings on top of your husband's ill health is more than your share of misfortune. I was contracted out of state pension for 20 years, I took the governments advice and took out private pensions, which like yours are pretty worthless, waste of money they were. Luckily I will have a small NHS pension when I retire or I would be struggling. When the energy companies put their charges up , they don't consider that some people have no way of increasing their income. I changed my tariff today with nPower to a fixed rate but am still faced with a 10% rise. The government are so wet and tied up with large businesses that they haven't got the guts to challenge them. I confidently predict that energy companies will report large profit rises next year once again. Wish you better luck and a happy Christmas , let's hope its not a cold winter.
horsechestnuttree on October 27, 2013 at 4:41 pm
FOR DECADES NOW we have lacked the leadership of anyone who would gel and stimulate the majority of TRUE BRITS, the sad fact is that we are already LOST. Such a cosmopolitan mix of nation INTEGRATED into our country have no need to openly complain(They are not ruining THEIR homeland after all),and if it becomes intolerable they can always go back home. This IS what is happening , our devious duplitious political elite of all three parties have only their own pot to fill and stop any way of enabling the nation to join together in helping Britain to be great. Sure they have crucially agreed to overtly SWITCH the blame onto the scandalous treasonable treaties with EUROPA but at the cost of selling our manufacturing base and the health. education and welfare of the elderly .OUR QUEEN should DEMAND the immediate national takeover of ALL utility services…A national service to unite the young in welfare duties for the vulnerable, OR reinvest in POOR LAW INSTITUTIONS, or Kibbuttz style communities……
mark on October 27, 2013 at 7:48 pm
If i could some how get your address i would buy you your boots and help with your dog. Seriously
Gary Smith on October 28, 2013 at 2:33 am
you guys should move to castro's cuba. see what poverty his expropriation of the united fruit co and others has done for their economy.
Gary Smith on October 28, 2013 at 2:34 am
£2 tax on a bottle of wine. get your facts right.
MTH on October 28, 2013 at 3:05 am
Profit is in excess of £7+Billion per annum, more than the GDP of half the countries on this planet… As for "Green Levies", those might add £114 per year to every household's bill, but pale into significance when compared to the 20-23% combined average price rise…
bob on October 28, 2013 at 10:34 am
when the people snap and they will soon the riots will not stop until the govt is overthrown. people have nothing to live for in the uk and the people are ready to snap again
Uptonmanor on October 28, 2013 at 10:50 am
50% plus inflation and empty supermarket shelves is a real winner with the public Horus. Long live communism/socialism Latino style.LOL
goldfieldsolar on October 28, 2013 at 6:38 pm
Gross profits are way higher than 5% – they have hidden about double that in ludicrous "investments" and the like.
goldfieldsolar on October 28, 2013 at 6:39 pm
The Green issue is but a smokescreen – Solar for example adds only about 1% to the bills but employs over 150,000 in the UK.
goldfieldsolar on October 28, 2013 at 6:41 pm
Oh grow up – every time some suggests renationalisation some clown points to Cuba or South America as if they are in any way comparable!
goldfieldsolar on October 28, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Most of the benifits goes on Pensions genius – look it up
Gary Smith on October 28, 2013 at 8:01 pm
you're the clown for suggesting renationalization. never. gonna. happen.
no no on October 29, 2013 at 6:14 am
Just say no to the increase—pay your normal bills–But stop your bank from paying the increase– that is all it takes–they can not switch you off–it's against the law–So if you all stick together you will win — Just like the big ones who never paid any tax–after all the ballu the taxman said this said that still no tax paid — A law onto them selfs–like the MPs making false claims –Still in the jobs doing the same thing only under a new banner .?
Gonna be there on October 29, 2013 at 10:51 am
Not only households are being marched to the guillotine, the remainder of English industry is to follow !!!
carol on October 29, 2013 at 4:06 pm
Wow somebody with guts.I have decided to keep warm this winter by spending my time in public buildings i.e the town hall which will be beautifully warm for all the employees.Its a public space so I am entitled to use it.Theres also the library. I will take my knitting in and my book and my laptop and use all there facilities. Anyone think of anywhere else let me know and your all welcome to join me in the Derbyshire area.
Maxisdad on October 29, 2013 at 10:34 pm
we have the most chaotic energy policy in the civilised world. No proper plan in place. No intention to actually do something useful. A breathtakingly short sighted and ignorant government who only know how to line the pockets of landowners. It is shameful bordering on criminally negligent.
Pensioner on November 1, 2013 at 10:54 am
goldfieldsolar…get ur facts right…….Pensioners have paid taxes, and towards their pensions for over 40 years….I am one of them, and would you like to know….I am still paying taxes on the pensions, I receive now……one day you will reach my age, and you will find out…….PENSIONS ARE NOT BENIFITS FOR MOST OF US……We have paid into them for most of our life.
And all this business, about GREEN TAX….Most of us know, that this planet does what it wants…as it has done all its life….Its what we call NATURE.?????
dogdays1 on November 1, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Have you ever noticed that governments that use socialist economics world wide, always end in poverty for all. Even the China had to give up on it in the end.
D C on November 1, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Did you know that the UK has the lowest energy cost in Europe AND the energy cost as a percentage of average income is also the lowest. Just get real and if you want costs to go down, swap to the lowest cost supplier instead of winging.
goldfieldsolar on November 1, 2013 at 4:14 pm
Have you ever noticed that our Capitalistic driven system with our FIAT monetary system is a complete and utter shambles? It is going to collapse – not IF but WHEN. The US economy is nearly $18 Trillion in debt and their derivatives market is over $700 Trillion in debt and growing. Its crazy. Whats needed is a completely different approach and whether you like it or not we will ultimately be forced to face it.
goldfieldsolar on November 1, 2013 at 4:17 pm
@Pensioner – you are missinhg the point – people blame the welfare system. I merely stated that the bulk of our welfare goes to pay pensioners such as yourself – so you get your facts right – its a FACT – look it up!!. Fact is that when the system was devised no one expected the old to frankly live so long! Your other silly comment about climate change is not even worth responding to.
dogdays1 on November 1, 2013 at 5:20 pm
I doubt it, as most of those who hate capitalism do so because they are not mentally capable of participating in the capitalist game. Even if you go to a socialist system they are always manipulated by those who are "champagne socialist" who milk them for all they are worth.
Wake up; this is human nature,the sooner you catch on the better for you. As Darwin so capably pointed out, its survival of the fittest. It may not be ethical, but it's how this world works and alas you will not change it. They have been trying for centuries and always failed.
goldfieldsolar on November 1, 2013 at 5:33 pm
This isn't about hating anything – its about facing reality. We have a completely broken system with nothing but debt as its foundation. back in 2008 we should have let the banks go to the wall. it would have been hard – but not as hard as its about to get. Socialism is no better – that fell first – as will our system shortly.There is nothing to doubt my friend – even in the USA FEMA know what is going on (hence the 800 camps they have built and the 2 billion rounds of ammunition they have just taken delivery of). I take no comfort in telling you this. Look in to what I am saying. Unfortunately our FIAT monetary system hasnt got much longer – as I said – its a matter of time.
goldfieldsolar on November 1, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Well Gary – Labour have stated they might well renationlise not only the energy companies but other core service sectors. It also appears that they would have the support of the majority of the British public if they did. It might well happen me old fruit
goldfieldsolar on November 1, 2013 at 5:55 pm
One other thing dogdays1 – our current FIAT system is relatively new – the Fed Reserve (which is neither Federal nor a reserve!) was "invented" back in 1913
old dodderie on November 1, 2013 at 9:49 pm
here is the crack.. the energy companies put the price up…the government fines them for being naughty….they the put the prices up a bit more to pay the fines….the government fines them again….they put the prices up….and so on and so forth. you wait till we get the bill for the sun shining. glad i'm old. sort it out you youngsters…or you wont get old.
Iain Stewart on November 2, 2013 at 12:28 am
Any government can nationalise a foreign company, all they are doing is taking into state ownership the part of the company that is operated within it's own borders, from that fact given that any state institution is extremely innefficient, due to the number of civil servants(numpties) it takes to run it prices could either rise or fall based on the subsidy from the state.
cwauk1971 on November 3, 2013 at 10:54 am
maybe normal people for their old age rather than profiteers
John on November 4, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Someone being clever – a final nail in the coffin…..
Unfortunately it is likely to be literally that for some people.
Keep an eye on the news over the winter – or possibly hope for a mild winter and save a few lives.
morgantindale on November 5, 2013 at 1:25 am
Do you seriously believe that British Gas, now owned by Centrica, which I think is an American company, only makes 5% on its UK operation? BG is what is known as a vertically integrated company . This means that BG extracts gas and oil from the North Sea, and then sells that gas and oil to itself, perhaps to a company called BG Storage, (I,m making this up), then it sells that oil and gas to itself again, (perhaps BG Distribution, again, I'm making this up), then it sells it to you and me. In between these processes, £millions and £millions are made in profit, but because of the company structure, and the fact that Bg borrows money from BG, to invest in infrastructure,all profits are not taxed. This country loses £billions every year because of companies like BG.
Lou Ferrigno II on November 6, 2013 at 8:02 am
i picked up on the point Robin made about the cost of living in Spain – as you can see its happening not just at home but elsewhere too – prices UP UP UP, from energy to utilities to fuel etc etc, now this i have NO PROBLEM with, so long as its in line with inflation and that my annual wages/salary is also going UP UP UP. I think the real issue here is not that costs of living are going UP but that they are going UP too fast and too often and that INCOMES are not following suit and hence the SQUEEZE. My own hunch on it for the last few years is that the UK and Spain etc etc are in SO MUCH BLOODY DEBT the government are now using whatever channels they can to pay down that debt, i.e energy, fuel, etc etc, technically all just stealth taxes…. i doubt we would be having this debate if the country was in a SURPLUS. thats the ideal ! we can only dream! one day one day!
grandma on November 6, 2013 at 11:01 am
Just had info from Scottish Power that as well as the proposed hike in energy prices of approx 9% I will have another £199.95 to pay. As I was on a standard package with no standing charge Ofgem has implemented that I be changed onto a daily service charge of 27.39pence per day, per fuel. this amounts to £199.95 per year without switching anything on. How can that be right??
MrsPicky on November 7, 2013 at 9:57 pm
…er…did you mean 'winging it' or 'whinging'…? maybe the latter…
MrsPicky on November 7, 2013 at 10:01 pm
it's all clever stuff, isn't it? Wheels within wheels, etc… and when their time is done, how do you think ex-prime ministers and ministers will fill their time and earn a bit of pocket money. That's right, sitting on the board of the plethora of all the ('hypothetical') companies you've mentioned above… We are but pawns…
MrsPicky on November 7, 2013 at 10:06 pm
I think you might find that those who are reaching their 80s & 90s are essentially taking out what they have paid in to! Many started paying tax and insurance at 14 years old until their retirement 50 years later!! Look that up, perhaps?
MrsPicky on November 7, 2013 at 10:07 pm
100% agree with that…
MrsPicky on November 7, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Ooooer….I did….
cjazz on November 7, 2013 at 11:02 pm
Why aren't the new nuclear power stations being manufactured with UK investors and not Chinese and French? There will never be cheap energy with foreign investors! The HS2 white elephant project should have been scrapped and the money put to this project instead..
Timbo on November 10, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Patrice, as a psychologist you probably have a steady Middle class income and the affluent lifestyle that goes with it. It is obvious that though you mean well, and are speaking from the heart, you just do not understand the plight many poor people, single mothers, pensioners, families, unemployed people and even people who work on pathetic low wages and zero hours contracts are going through with this present Tory government. 500,000 people are going to foodbanks in the UK, yes the UK, the 7th wealthiest country in the world!!!!!! And 2/3 of these people are working or come from a family where someone is working.
The growing divisions between the affluent Middle class and the poorer Working class now is a scandal enough which few seem to remark on, as long as it doesn't affect their cosy lifestyle, but the divisions between the very wealthy and the very poorest is an obscenity of almost biblical proportions. This government are like the Roman Empire of yesterday.
Timbo on November 10, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Exactly Larissa. Notice that whenever someone Right whinger talks about scroungers it's always the poor, never the royal family or billionaire tax dodgers or the Boris Johnson class, oh no, we mustn't talk about THEM must we, after all they are our betters and were born to rule dontchaknow?????!!!!!!
Timbo on November 10, 2013 at 8:52 pm
Phil. You said it all mate. No such thing as society translated as no such thing as poor people. In other words, if you were poor you didn't exist and still don't. Tony Blair said the same thing in a roundabout way: 'We're all Middle class now!' which tacitly meant that he was appealing to the Middle class and above and the poor and Working classes were to be sidelined, marginalised and airbrushed out of society, or to be ruthlessly exploited to keep the chattering classes and the champagne socialists and our betters in the wealth they are accustomed to.
Timbo on November 10, 2013 at 8:53 pm
She had a problem with everyone in the end, because ultimately people like that hate everyone because at heart they hate themselves.
Phil Armond on November 10, 2013 at 11:07 pm
Yes PJ, but if it's state owned, the profit goes back to the country to be spent for everyone, not stashed away in private tax havens…see the difference?
Phil Armond on November 10, 2013 at 11:09 pm
problem is that there is only 6 suppliers and they are all in bed together
banksie22 on November 13, 2013 at 3:00 am
I cannot believe that nobody,gov or pundits are mentioning that stupid daily standing charge that every power company.even the little ones charge each day for nothing in return,it is like stealing money off us.What and why is a standing charge,why don't the government ban it,thats a start isnt it
Frankus on November 13, 2013 at 3:19 am
renationalise… then go on strike. Remember the 3 day working week ??
Steve Bateman on November 14, 2013 at 7:24 pm
Energy company bosses should take a pay cut for the next 5 years and NO bonuses.
SMITH on November 17, 2013 at 9:48 pm
simon on November 19, 2013 at 9:54 am
The reason that more people are going to food banks is because there are more food banks. There will always be plenty of people willing to take free food. What determines how much food is given out by food banks is how much food is given to them not how many people want free food. So don't make the mistake of thinking that because more people are given free food there must be more poverty. It is precisely because we are the 7th richest country that we can give 500,000 people free food. There aren't many people given free food in Kenya but it isn't because they are all rich and don't need it.
Gary on November 19, 2013 at 10:01 am
Water is indeed free. At least the dirty stuff that you can get out of a river or collect in a bucket. But if you want it filtered and piped to your house then I am afraid you have to pay for it because in nature water isn't filtered and piped to your house.
I bet you're a socialist that has not the slightest understanding of basic economics and defines a caring sharing society as one that gives you stuff for free.
Simon on November 20, 2013 at 11:49 am
In the meantime the Times with it's "cloud cuckoo land" editing is once again preaching "economic recovery". We all know the reality from personal experience, and recovery most certainly is not it. Besides, if we believed every "recovery" headline they printed, there would be nothing to have a "recovery" from would there, branding the who things spin and lies. As is wishful thinking can glue the economy together, or lying and pretending it's all good.
Energy bills are one problem. Child benefits another. Caps another. Tightening mortgage rates another. Interest rates for credit are inflated horribly, filling bankers pockets, yet in the meantime we see ridiculous levels of interest for savers – those able to are moving money abroad, fuelling the downward spiral. Where did this all go wrong? Well greed started it. Spiralling property prices didn't help a great deal, but greed meant everything that could be done to apply the brakes to the sinking market was done. And still they cling on for dear life, yet to no avail. The end is inevitable. Better to accept it and allow a recovery than sink the country for the far longer term inflicting such damage.
Simon on November 20, 2013 at 11:49 am
In the meantime the Times with it's "cloud cuckoo land" editing is once again preaching "economic recovery". We all know the reality from personal experience, and recovery most certainly is not it. Besides, if we believed every "recovery" headline they printed, there would be nothing to have a "recovery" from would there, branding the who things spin and lies. As is wishful thinking can glue the economy together, or lying and pretending it's all good.
Energy bills are one problem. Child benefits another. Caps another. Tightening mortgage rates another. Interest rates for credit are inflated horribly, filling bankers pockets, yet in the meantime we see ridiculous levels of interest for savers – those able to are moving money abroad, fuelling the downward spiral. Where did this all go wrong? Well greed started it. Spiralling property prices didn't help a great deal, but greed meant everything that could be done to apply the brakes to the sinking market was done. And still they cling on for dear life, yet to no avail. The end is inevitable. Better to accept it and allow a recovery than sink the country for the far longer term inflicting such damage.
Tom on November 20, 2013 at 2:31 pm
It costs the companies the same to send out a bill, read the meter and take an enquiry from a customer who uses £500/month as it does for a customer who uses £5/ month. So it seems to me perfectly fair to make a small basic charge for all customers to cover these costs and then charge each out according to how much they use.
It is perfectly fair which is why they have always done it and why nobody is complaining.
j dennison on November 20, 2013 at 7:09 pm
5% ha a good accountant can make a balance sheet say what
it wants and these company's employ hundreds of them.
j dennison on November 20, 2013 at 7:26 pm
so when you grow up you will be happy not to receive your old age benefit
j dennison on November 20, 2013 at 7:44 pm
so when you grow up you will be happy not to receive your
old age benefit .Are you a climate change expert you seem to know a lot about it , or is it you just think you do.
rojouk on November 22, 2013 at 4:47 pm
Saddat nationalised the Suez Canal (French and British owned at the time).
Graham on November 23, 2013 at 10:56 am
What about the normal people who bought them for their retirement first time round?. No compensation?. Is that fair?
Graham on November 23, 2013 at 11:01 am
If you sell something to someone and then when they have paid you, you just take it back from them. Isn't that called stealing?
If you bought a car from someone and the very next night they came around to your house and took it back off the drive with a spare key they had kept, is that something you think is right?
cwauk1971 on November 23, 2013 at 11:17 am
maybe those people should be given shares….its the middle men that have sucked the life out of this
0ldfart1 on November 23, 2013 at 1:23 pm
No One thats the idea stupid
0ldfart1 on November 23, 2013 at 1:25 pm
You would save all the money from paying dividends out to shareholders or am I missing something?
0ldfart1 on November 23, 2013 at 1:30 pm
Yes you are perfectly right stealing it is and I and my generation that bought and sustained these utilities paid for them through our taxes and I have not had any money paid to me nor has anyone I know so we have had the utilities stolen from us for the conservatives friends and that's why I say NO COMPENSATION we will only be taking back what we have paid for
Graham on November 23, 2013 at 3:39 pm
But if you didn't buy the shares in the float you haven't "bought and sustained those Utilities".
You just bought the energy they generated and provided to you. Just because you take the bus ever morning to work doesn't mean you own the bus.
And as a taxpayer you benefited from the money that investors paid to the Treasury for the shares when they were floated.
You want to sell the same thing twice. That's stealing.
Will on November 23, 2013 at 3:48 pm
As 30% of income tax is paid by the top 1% of taxpayers and 90% of income tax is paid by the top 50% of taxpayers the truth is that very few pensioners who claim to deserve their state welfare payments because they have paid in all their lives have in fact paid in anything like as much as they have taken out.
Most pensioners don't like to admit it but they get out much much more than they have ever put in if you add up all the medical care etc they get as well as state pensions.
sydney hobson on November 24, 2013 at 2:53 pm
YOUR QUITE OBVIOUSLY too young to understand about buying , selling and stealing, fraud etc sosuggest you brush up on your education
Graham on November 24, 2013 at 10:30 pm
Enlighten me oh great one.
0ldfart1 on November 25, 2013 at 8:56 am
Well you say "you didn't buy the shares in the float" wht pray would I wish to Buy something stolen from me it really is quite simple perhaps too simple for you to understand theft is theft and should be returned to the rightful owners ie my generation
Graham on November 26, 2013 at 2:51 pm
You clearly are a simpleton so I shall explain in what I regard as simple terms:
You the taxpayer owned the Utilities BEFORE they were floated.
When they were floated on the stock market you the taxpayer SOLD them and got paid MONEY for them and so didn't own them anymore.
You the taxpayer didn't give them away you SOLD them.
The money the Government got by SELLING them allowed welfare payments to be made and Hospitals to operate.
So they were not stolen from you, the government sold them for you and you were happy to receive the pensions etc that that money provided.
sydney hobson on November 26, 2013 at 7:36 pm
your are the simpleton (your name should be simon) I GAVE NOTHING AWAY NOR DID I RECEIVE ANY MONEY I realy think you need to go back to school
Graham on November 26, 2013 at 8:40 pm
If you are a taxpayer or receive any pension or healthcare provision or any kind of Government service whatsoever then you have received money because the Government who received it on your behalf by SELLING the Utilities either spent it on you, reduced your tax below what it otherwise would have been or didn't borrow as much on your behalf. There is no other way this money can go.
I know this advanced economics is difficult for you to grasp but perhaps if you have a dictionary (big assumption I suspect) you could perhaps look up the two words "Sell" and "Steal".
You will find that "sell" means to receive compensation (that's money) in exchange for something and "Steal" means to receive NO compensation for something.
You, as a British resident DID receive the money from the sale.
You sold the Utilities and you received compensation in exchange.
If you do not get it then you are indeed a simpleton (a stupid or ignorant person).
0ldfart1 on November 26, 2013 at 10:44 pm
You really are hard work aren't you for your information I have paid national insurance stamps all my life these were meant to take care of all the things you mention and once again I did not sell anything nor indeed would I have as even a numskull like you must see how we are being ripped off big time ( but there again perhaps i am expecting too much from some one who professes to understand "economics" but obviously lacks common sense) no need to reply if you don't understand now you never will no wonder the country is in the mess were in
Graham on November 27, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Is "Oldfart1″ and "Sydney Hobson" one of the same or do the two of you take it in turns to answer with the same grammatical errors and incoherent arguments.
Well oldfart why don't you add up all the national insurance you have paid over the years and then compare it to all the pensions, free healthcare, free education, free prescriptions, winter fuel payments, free bus passes, free TV licenses, roads , street lights, maybe you have claimed unemployment benefits or housing benefits in the past. Then perhaps throw in a reasonable contribution for the Police, Army, coast guard etc and then tell me how much extra you must have paid for the Utilities that were "stolen" from you.
The top 1% of taxpayers in this country pay 30% of the tax. The top 50% of taxpayers pay 90% of the tax and neither group gets much back as they don't tend to claim benefits.
So if you are in the bottom half of income tax payers oldfart then you haven't actually made much of a contribution even if you have paid a few farthings in National insurance.
But are you grateful, of course not.
And don't forget to tell Sid!
0ldfart1 on November 27, 2013 at 6:17 pm
I give up on you Graham what part of didn't sell (o give permission for anyone else to sell) nor received any tax back and I have paid into the taxation system and NI all my life for the "benefits I get ) don't bother replying ii don't have time to waste on simpletons
Graham on November 27, 2013 at 7:45 pm
The Government bought the Utilities on your behalf and they SOLD them on your behalf. The permission they had to do so is called Democracy. The Government won a Democratic vote to pursue a policy of Privatisation and more people voted for them than any other party. I am sure you believe in Democracy Sydney ,sorry Oldfart.
You clearly struggle to understand how the receipt of billions of pounds that the government received when they sold the Utilities benefited you, you seem unable to connect the dots between what the Government is able to spend on welfare and services and what they receive from taxation and asset sales. I give up on that, you're just too stupid.
I would guess Oldfart that you have paid nothing like into the system compared to what you have got out. Like a lot of people in this country, you pay diddly squit into the tax system and then use that to justify being looked after for life.
You are very lucky Oldfart that you live a system where the top 50% effectively carry the bottom 50%. Ungrateful Oldfart.
P.S Tell Sid if you see him!
Madseller01 on November 29, 2013 at 3:09 pm
What is wrong with you people – the Facts are there – if you don't believe me then look them up for yourself!! My views on Climate Change are based on what 95% of the worlds climate scientists think – not those that merely work or are paid for by the petrochemical companies
jason gains on January 10, 2014 at 2:19 pm
British gas american??? i dont think so lol
British gas – french owned (Centrica is french majority share holders are british)
EDF- French
Eon- German
Npower- German
Scottish power – Spanish who i work for
SSE- British
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The Voice
The Voice 2013: 5 Battle Round Songs Season 4 Contestants Should Perform
The Voice's 2013 battle rounds are terrifying place where two team members will hop into an arena and battle against each other while singing the same song. Only one of these tender souls gets advanced to the knockout rounds (unless the loser is stolen), so as you might expect the competition is fierce.
It's vital that contestants perform hits that will showcase their vocal range, and we've picked five powerful singles that would be perfect for the battle rounds! And yes, most of these are extremely '90s. The glory years, guys –– we just can't get enough.
1. "I Knew I Loved You" by Savage Garden
This song is emotional, evocative, and has an amazing build up. And yes, you might end up falling in love with Adam Levine while singing along. We knew we loved you before we met you, Adam. Also, we've never met you.
2. "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler
We're already getting inspired by this hit, and it hasn't even been performed on The Voice yet. We've basically never been more excited about anything. Other than Christina Aguilera's weave.
3. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day
Excuse us while we go sob at the prospect of two amazing Voice contestants singing this song at each other. The coaches will be so emotional, they won't even know who to vote off!
4. "Wonderwall" by Oasis
This might just be the most romantic melody of our generation, and would be perfect for The Voice 2013's battle rounds. Unless the contestants break into ugly-crying while singing it.
5. "Don't Speak" by No Doubt
As far as we're concerned, a battle round without No Doubt is like pizza without cheese. Completely tragic. This hit single is amazing, and will get the coaches totally pumped!
Which songs do you think should be performed in battle rounds? Hit the comments!


text:
Meghan McCain calls Joe Biden an 'idiot' for latest gaffe
Vice President Joe Biden is no stranger to controversial comments.
Tuesday happened to be no different.
At an event in Virginia, Biden was going along with his speech and attacking presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his budget plans when he got a little off track. Or at least we think.
"Romney said in the first 100 days he's going to let the big banks once again write their own rules. Unchain Wall Street!" Biden then continued with, "He's going to put y'all back in chains."
It led to a mixed response from the crowd that included hundreds of African-American people.
What exactly did he mean with those comments?
Meghan McCain joined KTAR's Mac & Gaydos on Tuesday and gave her thoughts on the latest Biden gaffe.
"I'm so sick of this BS from [Biden]," McCain said when answering what she thought he meant. "I can't stand Joe Biden because I think stupid is worse than being mean."
McCain didn't stop there.
"I just think any insinuation that in America we're going to go back to slavery times is delusional," she said. "It's ridiculous and it's ignorant. ... If I were Obama I would've never picked Joe Biden in the first place. I think he's an idiot. And I know people think it's cute because he's like crazy grandpa and they like his gaffes but I think it's offensive."


text:
Full Title
Visfauna - Juvenile and adult fishes in riparian habitats along the river Yser
This dataset contains occurrences of juvenile and adult fish in riparian habitats along the river Yser. For many years, navigable lowland rivers have been embanked artificially or suffered from substantial shipping wave action, leading to habitat degradation. Recently, riparian habitats were restored by creating foreshores and spawning grounds in the river Yser, a lowland river in Flanders, Belgium. The aim of the research was to evaluate the role of these restored habitats for spawning and nursery of juvenile fish. To cover a wide range of anthropogenic disruption, four riparian mesohabitat types were selected and compared, ranging from semi ‐ natural over artificial spawning grounds and foreshores to artificial embankments. Juvenile fish were subjected to sampling by using electrofishing between June and September 2009 at different microhabitats located in five sites of each riparian mesohabitat type. Juvenile fish strongly preferred natural riparian habitats, whereas artificial embankments showed the lowest species richness, abundance and functional organization of juvenile fish species. Restored riparian habitats appeared to be an appropriate alternative for artificial embankments in navigable lowland rivers but still score significantly less than natural habitats. Juvenile fish avoided bare microhabitats but did not prefer any other microhabitat type (reed, woody or grassy vegetation), emphasizing the importance of microhabitat diversity. This paper provides valuable insights into riparian habitat restoration to river managers and stakeholders.
Temporal coverages
Date range: Jun 1, 2008 - Oct 16, 2008
Language of Metadata
Language of Data
Published by
Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
Publication Date
Apr 24, 2014
Registration Date
Jan 10, 2013
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- Source webpage http://data.inbo.be/ipt/resour…
- UUID 0ac24b3c-feb9-48d5-bf02-da4a10…
- GBIF Portal ID http://data.gbif.org/datasets/…
External Data


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Quality Assurance/Testers
Participants are senior QA managers and Testers working in Greater Victoria high-technology companies. They possess years of practical experience/training and are able to participate and contribute at a strategic level.
What: Participants discuss best practices, practical solution, quality and innovative ideas. Regular attendance is expected to allow participants to contribute to the discussions, analysis and problem-solving process. This creates a group of recognizable and reliable contacts within the tech community to assist with decisions and assessments in a complex working environment.
Examples of Topics Covered:
- Discussion of Lessons Learned (Good and Bad)
When: This group meets monthly.
How to Join: If you are qualified (see 'Who') and employed by a VIATeC member company, please send a brief professional bio (3-4 sentences) to Robert Bennett, Program Director. He will forward your bio to the Chair of the group for consideration.


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SERIES: Brookings Doha Center Publications
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SERIES: Brookings Doha Center – Stanford University "Project on Arab Transitions" Paper Series
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Brookings Doha Center
March 2012
By: Tamir Moustafa
With parliamentary elections now complete, Egypt moves to the next major step in its fitful political transition -- drafting a new constitution for the republic. As the fundamental document establishing a framework for governance, the new Egyptian constitution will have a lasting effect on Egyptian law, politics, and society. However, Egypt's transition is shaping up to be a case study in how not to initiate a constitution-writing process.
At a time when the shortcomings of a mismanaged transition threaten to undermine the constitution-writing process, author Tamir Moustafa identifies the most important issues to be tackled by the country's Constituent Assembly. Focusing on questions that range from the place of Islamic law to women's rights to the role of the military, he offers recommendations on how each area should be addressed.
The paper – the first to be published under the new Brookings Doha Center-Stanford Project on Arab Transitions – concludes that while constitution writing must be treated as an organic process, the international community should work to ensure that Egypt's military does not entrench a role for itself in domestic governance.
SERIES: Brookings Doha Center Publications | No. 11
Liberalizing Monarchies? How Gulf Monarchies Manage Education Reform
The Beginnings of Transition: Politics and Polarization in Egypt and Tunisia
SERIES: Brookings Doha Center – Stanford University "Project on Arab Transitions" Paper Series | Number 1
Voting for Change: The Pitfalls and Possibilities of First Elections in Arab Transitions
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text:
Happy Birthday, President George HW Bush.
The first President Bush turns 90 today!
He plans to celebrate in Maine tonight with a dinner for 200 family and friends, topped off with a performance by irish tenor Ronan Tynan.
It is a far cry from a year and a half ago.
On January 14, 2013, Mister Bush was released from a Houston hospital after seven weeks of treatment for bronchitis, an infection and a persistent cough.
While he was already suffering from a form of Parkinson's Disease, some people weren't sure how much he would be able to bounce back after the hospitalization.
But not only has he been able to travel, he has also seen a political resurgence.
And here's some fun facts about the 41st President:
He's the second US President to be the father of a US President, after John Adams.
Mister Bush celebrated his 75th, 80th and 85th birthdays by skydiving.


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The first floor wall framing is 2x6. The second and third floor wall framing is 2x4.


text:
Receiver seeks buyer for Tillymints Day Nursery in Winterton
Posted: April 09, 2014|
The Joint Fixed Receiver is seeking a buyer for the Tillymints Day Nursery premises in King Street, Winterton, which closed late last year.
It employed 10 staff and was used by about 70 children.
The Receiver says a long leasehold is for sale and suggests the premises will be "ready to trade" after limited investment.
The guide price is £265,000 and the sale is being handled by CBRE. Call 0113 3948873.
Related content
In December, bosses at Tillymints Nursery said the decision to close was made as the nursery was no longer "financially sustainable."


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In InDesign CS4 Power Shortcuts, Adobe product manager and designer Michael Ninness reveals hundreds of tips to boost productivity, including the top 20 power shortcuts every InDesign user must know. From placing multiple images to the hidden power of Quick Apply, each one of these videos covers an important topic, and includes just the right amount of information to make anyone a true InDesign power user. InDesign users are always looking for faster, more efficient ways to do everything, and this course offers just what they're looking for. Exercise files accompany the course.
All right, let's cover some shortcuts for dealing with selecting multiple items and turning them into a group. So I want these five objects to be treated as one thing, as one page item selected, move them around the page quickly without having to select all of them every single time I want to act on them. The textbook method is to hold down the Shift key and select by clicking all five of those items, fair enough. Another way to do a quicker selection in InDesign is to start when there's nothing selected, just click anywhere with the regular Selection tool and drag out a selection rectangle.
The cool thing about this is that you don't have to surround the item completely. You just have to touch the item you want to select with that little dashed line. Some products actually require you to surround the entire object. Like here, if I were to do this in some other product, I would be selecting the green rectangle, but not the orange one, because I didn't completely enclose the orange one with this little dash line. In InDesign, you just have to touch the object with that and the objects will select. So in this case it's a lot easier. Instead of the Shift-click, Shift-click, Shift-click, Shift-click, Shift-click, it might actually be easier to just click and drag to select those items and then Shift-click on the items you don't want selected.
So Shift-click works both ways. It's a toggle. So now I have got those five objects selected, I want to group them into a single page item called a group, and that keyboard shortcut is real simple. It's Command+G/Ctrl+G. I now get a different bounding box around those five objects. You can see it's a dashed line to indicate that it's a group. Then if you want to ungroup something, you just add Shift to it. So Command+Shift+G or Ctrl+Shift+G and they go back to being individual page items. Let's go back and group them again, Command+G or Ctrl+G. I will go ahead and deselect by clicking somewhere else and then anytime I want to select any item in that group, I just click on any of those items and with one click the whole thing becomes selected.
So grouping is a great way just to keep a document organized without actually going to layers yet. Then of course, you can have multiple groups and multiple layers and it's all completely up to you how you organize your document, but groups are pretty useful page item, if you will.
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