Stimulating the British economy

It should be obvious to most of us, and we should hope, even more obvious to those we have elected to run this country, but we need to have a more balanced economy, with a lesser focus on the production of financial services, and a great focus on the production of real products.

As I have yet to see any plan from either this Government or The Opposition that creates more of a balance, I will offer an idea.

Fibre optic network covering the whole UK.

Solar panels on every home in the UK that want them

The companies that the Government contract to deliver both must be 100% British owned companies with no ownership outside the UK, employ only British workers to perform any activities of these products, must source all the components from British owned companies that employ only British workers. If companies do not exist in the UK that that supply all the components, then the Government should work with British investors to create these companies that are owned by the British people.

Of course this is going to cost money, and I guess several billion pounds. There is a simple way to get this money. Tell the banks that the British taxpayer bailed out, they have 5 days to return any outstanding bailout money and any bonuses paid to their staff over £2,000. They have the money.

I think you have the right idea. What you're really talking about is going back to Keynesian Economics i.e. economic growth by developing the infrastructure.

However there is a massive problem with your suggestion that only British companies be permitted to undertake this task. EUROPE. Europe and its ever intrusive legislation. EU rules mean that any big contracts must be open to companies from ANY member state.

Spanish workers’ average salary equates to roughly 2/3 of the UK’s (on paper at least) and our own indigenous companies just cannot compete e.g. A recent motorway extension was built in Glasgow. The contract went to a Spanish company. Ordinarily such a project would have generated many jobs for local people and injected much needed cash into the local economy, however, due to these crazy rules, the only benefit derived for the people of Glasgow is a shiny new road surface.

If you want to "Stimulate the British economy", the authorities could always add some type of tax on alcohol over there. That should give Brittan the BEST ECONOMY ON THE PLANET!!!

Once the economy is stimulated enough over there, then I suggest they BAN ALL ALCOHOL over there since Brits seem to like talking about BANNING things that cause problems in society such as when they always STICK THEIR NOSES in American affairs.

Tax alcohol over in Brittan, and then BAN it since Brits like to BAN things that may be dangerous.

If no ban, than that shows them to be hypocrites...

The appears to have been power shift at the top of the Country, with the Royals stamping down on corporatism.

It started back with the phone hacking scandal, taking down the news of the world, and removing some of Rupert Murdochs bite.

Gung Ho companies, like Google, Starbucks, and Amazon have been taken to task, considering this has been going on for years.

Barclays, and HSBC have been hauled over the coals, and fines imposed.

Britain not joining the European super bank.

But the one thing that stood out for me was the Queens big PR visit to the bank of England last week.

Instead of some sad old woman, watching a load of boats pass by, followed by a mini rock concert, for her birthday.

She acted just like those gold bars were hers, and the tone of her questions reflected that.

It could be coincidence, but it does appear that she is back in the saddle, what that does for the economy is anyones guess, but she did appear very interested.

reply to post by christina-66


As my idea is the stimulation the British economy, and not those of Europe, do what France does, ignore EU rules. And if Europe does try another, get an act of Parliament and then ask the British people if they still want to live under yoke of France and Germany.

It is sad that the road scheme you mentioned was won by a overseas company, we need to make those we elected, know we are not happy with this

reply to post by Freedom ERP


I agree that a return to production is key... but your suggestion is not a means for achieving this.

Every dollar or pound spend by the government is one less dollar to be spent by the people. When government is spending money it is spending other peoples money. It may do it through credit for money creation but it is the same thing.

The best way to increase production is not with government spending stolen money and making people poorer, but instead allowing people to keep what they produce. This will give people incentive for producing.

This will increase a countries production...

It is not a good time to fix the UK economy or financial problems as the current government is getting blamed for all the problems even though it was the Labour party that caused ALL this mess.....

If the current government was to fix this mess they would need to seriously cut benefits an services, as a result of that they would be hated and never voted in ever again..

So they need to do as little as possible, because we all KNOW Labour will be voted in next and they will need to fix the problem, once they do they will be deservedly hated.

Also.... Your suggestion to fix the economy.. is .... communist.

reply to post by dmsuse

It is not a good time to fix the UK economy or financial problems as the current government is getting blamed for all the problems even though it was the Labour party that caused ALL this mess.....

What about the rest of the world? Was that Labour's fault too?

reply to post by Wide-Eyes


The economy slowing is not the problem, the huge spending and borrowing Labour did during the boom is the problem.

You should always save during the boom and then you can spend during the bust. You can't do both. But no doubt that is the whole worlds fault too......

Also, we have an economy based on borrowed money, if another country suffers, we will suffer too.. Labour chose this way for us. They allowed the decline of our manufacturing industry.

reply to post by christina-66


This is correct but it can be manipulated by interpretation within each member country. In case you ever wondered, this is how Germany ensures that all major works to be carried out in Germany go to German companies. They include sections on benefits to the local economy, local workforce, etc. If Britain includes similar wording, Britain can give to British only companies without encroaching on any European laws - because of the above, Germany couldn't and wouldn't object (would actually have to support) this position.

reply to post by Wide-Eyes


Partly (deregulation of the Financial authorities in London that allowed toxic mortgages in the US and scandalous business practice through he City of London).

I don't see any point in flogging a dead horse. No amount of stimulation will get the nag back on it's feet.

The party politics are now irrelevant. The problem was foreseeable with the creation of a welfare state.

The future of Britain is one of anarchy or dictatorship.....

Unless the people as a whole can agree on a solution and that is unlikely to happen.

I will remain serenely detached from it all and will do all I can to assist my neighbours.

reply to post by crankySamurai


Will people spend money on production items or just on fancy things or services. A problem of this size requires a national focus and not a local one. How many people if they had the money would pay for solar panels or fibre optic broadband, or prefer a holiday?

reply to post by dmsuse


The conspiracy theorist in me says that the Labour party were always just puppets for the money masters. Hence, the global recession.

reply to post by dmsuse


Can we afford to wait until there is a good time to fix the economy? And when is a good time to fix the economy?

I have found that right leaning Governments in the UK are elected as the economy get worst, and then as soon as the economy has improved, a left leading Government is elected, and so the cycle continues. To fix the economy will be hard on the average person. Those in Government are typically more wealthy that the average person, yet it is this average person that has to bear the biggest burden as we fix the economy.

My idea is not communist but certainly socialist in nature and this has been the way that the UK economy has been run since 1945, some state intervention but with mainly a free market.