tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post3241835160561921833..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: What About Jobs in Halifax, Mr Darling?Iain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-90503170175928409212008-09-22T23:11:00.000+01:002008-09-22T23:11:00.000+01:00Does anyone else see the parallel between modern c...Does anyone else see the parallel between modern captalism and the control the aristocracy had on us before the advent of inheritance tax?<BR/><BR/>Perhaps it's time to do the same to and tax them into line. Oh wait...I said the Windfall Tax thing. Damn...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-24956398756106743762008-09-19T20:07:00.000+01:002008-09-19T20:07:00.000+01:00Terry Heath, we are in agreement on the general as...Terry Heath, <BR/><BR/>we are in agreement on the general aspects of your points. Again, look to London for changes on how England's people are best represented. I only find it (in reality, not very) suprising that these commenators wish bad for the Scots because have they obtained (almost) what these commentators seem to wish for themselves.<BR/><BR/>The WLothian Qn and the current power distribution between Edinburgh and Westminster that you allude to is often brought up and needs addressing, but here Scotland's hands are tied. <BR/><BR/>Where I disagee is that this 'krappola' has landed, at England's door. We are not dealing with parochial, family-run businesses here (I exagerate). Their scope, influence and presence is much wider. We are living in times where we can see that the financial consenquences of any bank in trouble has global consequences on a daily basis, whether or not they have a head office in Edinburgh, Birmingham, London, NY, Tokyo, .... It lands at all our doors (and our doors [mine anway] are paid for - in a large proportion by HBOS, though more H than BOS). I also continue to maintain that because Lloyds TSB has waded in (seeing a good deal) has saved more institutions facing similar situations as HBOS.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, long and short is, don't blame the Scots for doing just that within the limited scope offered to them (some time ago), as the result of a pledge you may even have voted for.<BR/><BR/>Womble. I could see that GBrown could benefit from the situation. Who can blame him, the situation could used for some + points. But leverage hmm, would it not be more likely any leverage or any deal was sold in the opposite direction, to GBrown? Are Lloyds going to be bullied into a bum-deal by a PM on the way out? No, they are more likely to have proposed the deal. Methinks the PM's position was ripe for using rather a case of the PM abusing his position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-73864619514871342972008-09-19T07:37:00.000+01:002008-09-19T07:37:00.000+01:00BOS is the majority partner in the HBOS thing. Yet...BOS is the majority partner in the HBOS thing. Yet, in the cold light of day the Halifax folk are more special to the new group. So the emphasis is correct. But watch out Cheltenham.<BR/><BR/>The greatest overlap in staff and overheads must be in the retail branch network?<BR/><BR/>Obviously the Scottish end is the hot potato with Salmond on the march.Chris Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-80146210547343191342008-09-19T01:31:00.000+01:002008-09-19T01:31:00.000+01:00Iain those other jobs are 'only' English jobs!!! i...Iain those other jobs are 'only' English jobs!!! it doesnt matter if theyre lost!, England is just the piggy bank of scotland, wales and N ireland.<BR/><BR/>The laughably titled "United Kingdom" is all about give and take!.<BR/><BR/>England gives, scotland wales and N ireland take!, and why are we surprised, Broon and Darling (and the rest of the scottish mafia that has hijjocked England are all signaturies to the "Scottish claim of Right" and have swore on oath/record that in "all their deliberations the interests of Scotland and the scottish people shall be paramount".<BR/><BR/>This oath they swore has never been rescinded.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-51129577986524739832008-09-19T00:06:00.000+01:002008-09-19T00:06:00.000+01:00HBOS is (or was) Scotland's second largest company...HBOS is (or was) Scotland's second largest company. Of course it is more important to prioritise Edinburgh jobs than Halifax jobs. Could you imagine any government favouring a city other than London if England's second largest company was in trouble? Of course not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-91628633747174649222008-09-18T23:26:00.000+01:002008-09-18T23:26:00.000+01:00trevorsden said... Are you saying Edinburgh SW is ...<I>trevorsden said... <BR/>Are you saying Edinburgh SW is less vulnerable to the Scot Nats than Halifax is to the Tories? </I><BR/><BR/>Yes.<BR/><BR/>Edinburg SW 2005 result<BR/><BR/>Labour: 17476 (39.8%)<BR/>Conservative: 10234 (23.3%)<BR/>Liberal Democrat: 9252 (21.1%)<BR/>SNP: 4654 (10.6%)<BR/>Other: 2310 (5.3%)<BR/>Majority: 7242 (16.5%)<BR/><BR/>Halifax notional 2005 result<BR/><BR/>Labour: 16620 (41.8%)<BR/>Conservative: 13182 (33.2%)<BR/>Liberal Democrat: 7112 (17.9%)<BR/>Other: 2825 (7.1%)<BR/>Majority: 3438 (8.7%)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17361347457176770652008-09-18T23:20:00.000+01:002008-09-18T23:20:00.000+01:00More deregulation of the market pleasedont go back...More deregulation of the market please<BR/><BR/>dont go back on the best Conservative pledge yet<BR/><BR/>its called capitalismAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-50447239464591038512008-09-18T23:19:00.000+01:002008-09-18T23:19:00.000+01:00you can turn Northern Towns into a museumnow who s...you can turn Northern Towns into a museum<BR/><BR/>now who said thatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-19936689911740667452008-09-18T23:17:00.000+01:002008-09-18T23:17:00.000+01:00More deregulation of the market pleasedont go back...More deregulation of the market please<BR/><BR/>dont go back on the best Conservative pledge yet<BR/><BR/>its called capitalismAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-2440766641050723492008-09-18T23:15:00.000+01:002008-09-18T23:15:00.000+01:00were going to leave it a few daysthen we are going...were going to leave it a few days<BR/>then we are going to knock over another bank<BR/><BR/>just watch us<BR/><BR/>join the get rich scheme<BR/><BR/>capitalism I love itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-71927671233497530182008-09-18T21:26:00.000+01:002008-09-18T21:26:00.000+01:00TJ Newton: you have utterly missed the point. This...TJ Newton: you have utterly missed the point. This has got nothing to do with devolution, and the point at issue is not whether HBOS should or should not have been saved. It IS to do with a Scottish PM and a Scottish Chancellor, occupying Scottish seat, and about to fight a Scottish by-election, apparently leaning on a a company to prioritise jobs in Scotland ahead of jobs in England. The allegation is that they abused their positions.AloneManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17435048420998106381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-252585152474752182008-09-18T21:08:00.000+01:002008-09-18T21:08:00.000+01:00TJThe fault lies with partial devolution and denia...TJ<BR/><BR/>The fault lies with partial devolution and denial for some Britons (English) what has been granted for others (Scots).<BR/><BR/>You and I might understand this, but Brown/Darling/Falconer/Campbell/Menzies/Cameron et al don't. <BR/><BR/>You have your Parliament to represent your national interest and you have disproportionate power in the UK one to ensure this kind of krappola lands at England's door.<BR/><BR/>Give us a UK election; and/or give England a referendum along the same lines as that given to Scotland ten years ago whilst Labour has at least half a chance of being a political force in the next election. That, or cut to the chase and break up the Union now because this is where Mr Bean is taking us.<BR/><BR/>I don't care which, but this situation really cannot continue! It is wrong and anyone with half a conscience knows it!Terry Heathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08613235351379818011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84668646070786921272008-09-18T21:02:00.000+01:002008-09-18T21:02:00.000+01:00The founding fathers of the Halifax will be spinni...The founding fathers of the Halifax will be spinning in their graves. If you include the nearby data centre I reckon there are about 6,000 working for HBOS in the area.<BR/>Freedom to ProsperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36882732587900049042008-09-18T20:48:00.000+01:002008-09-18T20:48:00.000+01:00Anonymous 12.57:Do you actually know where Halifax...Anonymous 12.57:<BR/><BR/>Do you actually know where Halifax is?"<BR/><BR/>Course I do-its the capital of Nova Scotia, isn't it??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-27448676552051675162008-09-18T19:57:00.000+01:002008-09-18T19:57:00.000+01:00alfie...You've hit the nail right on the head (re ...alfie...<BR/><BR/>You've hit the nail right on the head (re free this, that and the next thing), it IS the right of the Scots to the benefits that have resulted from a empowering a self-governing parliment. What is wrong with that, they have had the good sense to vote and put in place a government that responds to their needs and wants. What is so astounding about that? Your grievence lies with the Westminster government, not the Scots'. Please don't mix these up. You want independence from the Scots, go ahead, the Scots will not stop this, London will. Focus on that. Is not the problem of the Scots if they have limited independence (and the benefits that come from this) - the origin of this disparity lies squarely in London. <BR/><BR/>Some others...<BR/><BR/>For those (Mr Dale included), you must be being ironic... are you really so naive to think this is a problem caused by HBOS (FSA say they are sound) and this result has anything to do with the Glenrothes by-election or the PM's current predicament? Come on. No presence in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Halifax... the presence of HBOS is world-wide. If HBOS did go down, the presence would be felt at places further afield than Yorkshire, or even London. It is, after all a rather large bank - and everybody would be further up the creek. The responsible action has stemmed the flow and you can thank the PM (if he did anything) for intervening, coz it might have been your bank branch next, your mortgage, your savings. <BR/><BR/>I have no doubt that any one of our large banks would have happily stepped in to save another (at bargain price)... its a no-brainer. That it happens to be HBOS, great, I'm glad it was a bank with a diverse range of 'interest' (no pun intended) that it was considered worth taking-over, rather than left to go to the wall - risking, aside from further instability in an already weak market, my branch, my mortgage, my savings. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, get over your anti-Scots resentment/jealousy, focus on our UK government for your problems (same as the Scots do!). Perhaps next time we can all vote for and decide a government that looks after its people as well as the mandate of the government voted by Scots' people requires.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-81003415264083540902008-09-18T19:27:00.000+01:002008-09-18T19:27:00.000+01:00Are you saying Edinburgh SW is less vulnerable to ...Are you saying Edinburgh SW is less vulnerable to the Scot Nats than Halifax is to the Tories? <BR/><BR/>I repeat that surely the real scandal would be if jobs went is safe secure (up till now!) Lloyds TSB all because Gordon Brown encouraged them to take over HBOS. And that means jobs in Scotland as well as England.<BR/><BR/>And elewhere? Can it really be long before two other banks want to merge to compete with this new giant? Could such a merger (and job losses) be resisted on competition grounds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-59756485379825573582008-09-18T18:38:00.000+01:002008-09-18T18:38:00.000+01:00Another day, another great deal for the people of ...Another day, another great deal for the people of Scotland at the expense of their hard pressed English neighbours. What is it about Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling? Oh yeah, that's right - they look after their own at the expense of us!<BR/><BR/>What a rubbish totem of corruption this supposed 'union of equals' actually is. It ain't equal. it ain't fair and it ain't democratic for the people of England. The sooner we have our English Parliament restored so it can look after the affairs of the English people, the better. And if the beloved 'union of equals' goes belly up because of it, then bring it on - because it isn't worth saving in the first place.<BR/><BR/>For now, let's just add 'job favouritism at the expense of the English' to the long list of stuff that the Scots get as of right that we in England don't (free cancer drugs, free residential care, no tuition fees, higher public spending per individual, free prescriptions, diminishing council taxes, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc).<BR/><BR/>Hush, is that the sound of outraged Halifax Labour MPs screaming out about how unfair it all is? Naw, just the sound of them sitting on their hands and whistling dixie, too timid to actually do their jobs and fight for the rights of their English constituents.<BR/><BR/>What a bunch of idle tossers.Alfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04135869751268396259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-9709423537847171352008-09-18T18:17:00.000+01:002008-09-18T18:17:00.000+01:00http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/e...http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/edinburghsouthwest<BR/><BR/>http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/halifax<BR/><BR/>I think you will find Halifax is far more vulnerable than Edinburgh South West.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps Labour have already written off Halifax as a lost seat and are hoping to hang on in ESW?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23902077999617501202008-09-18T17:37:00.000+01:002008-09-18T17:37:00.000+01:00A curious take-over, not the last second deal it i...A curious take-over, not the last second deal it is being made out to be. Like a lot of things in politics, not all is what it seems to be. Was Gordo stitched up I wonder by two CE's who saw a way of growing their empires that avoided competition rules?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28129267106066017072008-09-18T17:34:00.000+01:002008-09-18T17:34:00.000+01:00Things are much worse than what you think.I got st...Things are much worse than what you think.I got stopped at Gatwick Airport to make sure I wasn't taking out a bag of Lewes pounds with me.Manfaranghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16672026288937285646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-6172379710350239552008-09-18T17:32:00.000+01:002008-09-18T17:32:00.000+01:00I can see David Donald "I've got lots of Scottish ...I can see David Donald "I've got lots of Scottish blood slopping around my veins" Cameron saying exactly the same thing as Darling.<BR/><BR/>Cameron won't give the "sour little Englanders" anything. He wants to preserve the "Union" (stop laughing) no matter how imperfect it is. Provided the imperfections disadvantage England and the English, that is.<BR/><BR/>I'm not holding my breath for George Osbourne to ask what Iain's asking.<BR/><BR/>Is there an MP at Westminster who actually cares about England?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-68470099347023508982008-09-18T16:55:00.000+01:002008-09-18T16:55:00.000+01:00Protecting Scottish jobs? Wait for the squealing f...Protecting Scottish jobs? Wait for the squealing from Scottish Labour when the incoming Tory government decides to cancel one or both of the Navy's new aircraft carriers because we can't afford them, thanks to the profligacy of Brown (and those supine non-entities at the MOD, Hoon and Browne). Now why was it again that Rosyth was so favoured?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84423029041616237392008-09-18T16:53:00.001+01:002008-09-18T16:53:00.001+01:00Anon said"Most people would accept that the conseq...Anon said<BR/>"Most people would accept that the consequences on the Edinburgh financial sector, the area of most economic growth to Scotland just as London is to England, will be a hammer blow to the entire economic prospects of the Scottish nation. "<BR/><BR/>yep thats it , the Scottish NATION must be looked after above all <BR/><BR/><BR/> and to hell with England - which is a nation too - <BR/>occupied by the BritishScottish government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-60874646772165077772008-09-18T16:53:00.000+01:002008-09-18T16:53:00.000+01:00Where the axe falls deepens on the bottom line. Ob...Where the axe falls deepens on the bottom line. Obviously any politician is going to lobby for cuts other than in his own back yard. This is a dog chases cat story.<BR/><BR/>The irony here is that some people are focusing on the fallout from one shotgun wedding. The wider impact of this crisis will be more than a few thousand job losses. We should be more worried about that.Richard Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02021997075923737760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28807604849866617642008-09-18T16:48:00.000+01:002008-09-18T16:48:00.000+01:00Trinity Mirror shareholders were quite right to co...Trinity Mirror shareholders were quite right to complain about Sir Victor Blank's donation of £75,000 of their money to the Labour Party. It didn't do them much good. But it did wonders for his career.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com