Conservative Conference

Thank you Bridgett, I get that they have a finite amount of money, raised from council tax and government. I think I also read that a few councils lost money when they invested in a foreign bank (Iceland I believe), which lends me to believe they have the powers to use/put money where/as they see fit.

The government has not got its own money, surely it is the countries money raised from our taxes. If they put more money into circulation (by printing more), which I think is what Labour intend to do, surely that will devalue the £. Isn't that what happened in some European countries in WW2 and happening now in Venezuela.

I am not trying to be awkward, just trying to get to grips with the current situation.

Many Local councils did not plough the monies raised through the right to buy scheme back into building more social housing as they were supposed to do. Those that did only built a token amount, with the surplus monies going towards other projects, some of which were of no benifit to the local population.

I am struggling to understand why The Councils will not be able to borrow / repay to finance this, when surely this is exactly what the Labour Party have said they will do.

First of all, there is a difference between a government, which is able to control the supply of money in the economy, and a local council which exists partly on money raised by council tax and partly by money doled out to it by the government. The local council is like a household. It has a finite (i.e. limited) amount of money to spend. If it borrows it has to repay and if its income is static (or even reduced by central government cuts) and every penny of it is being spent on running essential services where is it going to find the money to repay what it has borrowed, or even the interest on what it has borrowed?

Whereas the central government has no need to borrow any money (it is not a household and doesn't have a finite amount of money), it can increase the amount of money in the economy at will and by whatever quantity it likes. So central government could, if it so wished, increase the grant to local councils so that they can build more council housing. Which is what Labour plans, I believe.

Granny23 you live in an SNP bubble and only see what you want to see and only hear opinions that echo your own. There's a big world outside the nationalist bubble. You might not like it but it's there!

I appreciate your replies, thank you.

I am struggling to understand why The Councils will not be able to borrow / repay to finance this, when surely this is exactly what the Labour Party have said they will do.

I am not being contentious with my post.

Therefore the councils will find that the finance they can raise for new build will be extremely limited,

Even if they can raise the finance how will they be able to repay loans if they've no money? Then, of course, the tories will accuse them of being profligate with their money. It's all so illogical...

I know that these political threads "often" get heated, but I try to appreciate and understand both sides of the political divide.

As I have stated previously I come late to politics, and I am trying to bolster my knowledge, which is why when I post it's usually more from experience.

Thank you MaizieD due to circumstances beyond my control I have been unable to listen to most of the CPC, and I have only heard snippets on the news.

GrannyGravy13, the problem is that the councils have to raise the money to build new houses against the value of their existing stock.

The best of what was a huge council house stock has now been sold off (right to buy). Therefore the councils will find that the finance they can raise for new build will be extremely limited, certainly not enough to in any way eliminate the housing crisis.

Pie in the sky again from the Tories

It will be all jolly hockey stick Maizie - oh how lucky we are.

Lifting the cap on council spending was only for building more social housing. though as the Chancellor is intent on cutting money to councils I'm not sure that the two ideas are compatible.

I think she came over well.

I have a question that I hope some of you with more political knowledge than I can answer.

TM said she was lifting the cap on Council spending to ease the situation caused by the years of austerity. Labour Party spokesman immediately announced that this was not credible. Surely that is what they have been asking for the past 10 years?

Yes, I'm really looking forward to her no deal Brexit. Planes grounded, food shortages, medicine shortages, NHS sold off to the highest bidder, manufacturers leaving for the EU, businesses going bust, more austerity. Fabulous. I can't wait...

TM poking fun at herself!! brilliant! ? To those of you who sneer, not many politicians would do that!! Thought her speech was really excellent and feel much happier about the country's future prospects under her leadership.

I applaud her for the dancing, a woman who can respond to the mocking she received in that way. After Corbyn singing with his audience. ‘Oh Jeremy Corbyn’ ?

Jane10 The Scotsman? The well known Unionist Labour mouthpiece and serial purveyor of SNPbad fake News?

Have you ever read the utter drivel, misogyny, racism and filth that passes as reader's comments?

Paddyann with fewer and fewer voters. So many years in govt so little achieved apart from vanity projects and grievance manufacture! Read some other papers. The Scotsman for example.

Oh God! Who's idea was the "dancing" No doubt some of the old farts in the audience thought it was really cool. Removing the cap for council housing will be good - if it ever happens! How she expects to improve cancer diagnosis when they are cutting immigration and deporting doctors is beyond me.

Mmmm, I thought TMs applause was polite but Bojos was enthusiastic, as if that's what they really wanted but not what was likely to be achieved.

still an SNP majority here Jane10 ,they have more seats than the rest put together and the only issue I hear about them is the fact Ms Sturgen wont commit to a date for Indy 2.Poll in the Evening times is 84% for Independence and its Unionist paper .

And the same crowd that cheered Boris the Buffoon to the rafters yesterday were applauding talking up May today. What a two faced backstabbing mess the Tory party has become.

Johnson and May are poles apart on Brexit and other policies, so, how can anyone support both.

Spot on Maw

Jane10 I admire her staying power, it cannot be easy round the cabinet table.

I agree with your last post Jane10

What a brilliant recovery!
I am reminded of the lyrics of “Whistle a happy tune” (google it if you must)
A brave and uplifting performance to show Bojo ???