You've never had it so good.......

[Bulletguy]

Tory peer and 'enterprise advisor' Lord Young made the comment "you've never had it so good" the other day.

 

Cameron has since accepted his resignation after calling his remarks 'unacceptable'.

 

Were Lord Young's remarks wide of the mark, insensitive, untrue, or what?

 

What do you think?

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11798366

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/comment/paulfarrow/8148384/Lord-Young-was-one-word-away-from-being-right.html

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/nov/19/lord-young-quits-over-never-had-it-so-good-gaffe

 

 

[BGD]

If you stop taking his comment OUT OF CONTEXT, it was totally true.

 

If you listen to all the rest of the paragraph, he was referring to the record low level of interest rates and thus mortgage rates.

 

It is true that so far as mortgage repyments are concerned, Britain has never had it so good.

 

 

 

But the Red-Tops took just the one phrase out of context and used it on its own to pillory him.

 

Just as you appear to be doing in this thread.........

[Mel B]

I actually agree with both of you! 8-)

 

The following is quoted from one of the links:

 

But today's Daily Telegraph reported Lord Young saying: "For the vast majority of people in the country today, they have never had it so good ever since this recession – this so-called recession – started, because anybody, most people with a mortgage who were paying a lot of money each month, suddenly started paying very little each month.

 

"That could make three, four, five, six hundred pounds a month difference, free of tax. That is why the retail sales have kept very good all the way through."

 

Whilst his comments were in relation to mortgage payments being at an all-time low (for which I particularly am very grateful as we are benefitting greatly), what he fails to take into account is that a quite a few of those people could have been put out of work because of the recession and lost their home because of it.

 

He should have thought more carefully before spouting these silly phrases and comments - with the position he is in he could not possibly understand what the 'little people' are having to go through now.

 

:-S

[Paul-]

Its interesting that Lord Young thinks that way,

 

Unfortunately those in the real world who have lost their jobs, they have to worry which bill to pay & then think about how much they can spend on their next meal

[Guest pelmetman]

I think he has a point :D

 

No doubt there are people who will lose their jobs, its inevitable if the state is to start living within its means *-)

 

Never the less the majority of people are in employment, and a lot of it well paid work, and with plenty of disposable income, if the media spent a bit less time on spreading doom and gloom, then perhaps the recession would end sooner rather than later , as all recessions are cured once Joe public has the confidence to spend :-D

[flicka]

I think he was mis-quoted & meant to say "I've never had it so good"

 

Whichever, he is rueing the utterance (lol) (lol) (lol)

[Bulletguy]

BGD - 2010-11-20 7:03 PM

 

If you stop taking his comment OUT OF CONTEXT, it was totally true.

 

But the Red-Tops took just the one phrase out of context and used it on its own to pillory him.

 

Just as you appear to be doing in this thread.........

 

 

If only you took the trouble to read posts first before jumping in with both feet (nothing unusual there) you would see that I was actually asking a question. *-)

 

Your suggestion that I 'appear' to be pilloring Young by taking his statement out of context is nothing short of crass nonsense.

 

The links in the opening post to this thread were purposely chosen not to be 'red top'. But to indulge your apparent choice of paper, here are three of them.

 

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/163594

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/11/20/you-ve-had-it-so-good-115875-22726562/

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3236812/Enterprise-tsar-Lord-Young-quits-over-row.html

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/sun_says/244723/The-Sun-Says.html

 

 

[nightrider]

BGD - 2010-11-20 7:03 PM

 

If you stop taking his comment OUT OF CONTEXT, it was totally true.

 

If you listen to all the rest of the paragraph, he was referring to the record low level of interest rates and thus mortgage rates.

 

It is true that so far as mortgage repyments are concerned, Britain has never had it so good.

 

 

 

But the Red-Tops took just the one phrase out of context and used it on its own to pillory him.

 

Just as you appear to be doing in this thread.........

Say that to all the people out of work and are in danger of losing their houses and see what they say.

[nightrider]

How can this man who is a multi millionaire know what it is like for the ordinary Joe public worrying about his job security and keeping his head above water. No dole queue for him is there?

[nightrider]

BGD - 2010-11-20 7:03 PM

 

If you stop taking his comment OUT OF CONTEXT, it was totally true.

 

If you listen to all the rest of the paragraph, he was referring to the record low level of interest rates and thus mortgage rates.

 

It is true that so far as mortgage repyments are concerned, Britain has never had it so good.

 

 

 

But the Red-Tops took just the one phrase out of context and used it on its own to pillory him.

 

Just as you appear to be doing in this thread.........

Bruce,

I think you are living in cloud cuckoo land.

[armstrongpiper]

Low interest rates also slam those who rely on savings for income, so those people have 'never had it so bad'.

 

Neil B

[Big Momma]

I took out a 'Fixed' deal on my Mortgage therefore I am not benefiting from the low interest rates. As a consequence of these low interest rates my savings are now suffering. I am sufering in both directions. However, I can understand the point he was trying to make, and not very well I may add, that those paying mortgages not tied in to 'Fixed' deals would have found that there Mortgage repayments would have dropped considerably due to the low interest rate. Now that is a fact ! However, as you have rightly stated, it's okay having a reduction in your monthly mortgage if all else remains the same but if, due to the economic situation, you then become unemployed or subject to 3 years wage freezes whilst all the other domestic bills rise (Gas, Electric, Water, Petrol/Diesel, Insurances, Food etc) then I don't think the phrase 'never had it so good' was a good one to use as he has now discovered (lol)

[Guest JudgeMental]

 

But it is true! the lower orders have never had it so good! universal benefits and free health service...the list goes on. What more do the buggers want! *-)

 

was having tiffin at the Savoy the other day with my cousin Lord Gascony O'Mally of .dundorke....he wept openly at the news of upcoming wedding and asked what more can the great unwashed sea of proles ask for! The gift of a royal wedding to divert attention away from the mediocrity of their existence, will be a real tonic for the retched mob *-)

[nightrider]

JudgeMental - 2010-11-21 12:46 PM

 

 

But it is true! the lower orders have never had it so good! universal benefits and free health service...the list goes on. What more do the buggers want! *-)

 

was having tiffin at the Savoy the other day with my cousin Lord Gascony O'Mally of .dundorke....he wept openly at the news of upcoming wedding and asked what more can the great unwashed sea of proles ask for! The gift of a royal wedding to divert attention away from the mediocrity of their existence, will be a real tonic for the retched mob *-)

The O'Mallys of Dundork I knew them well, wasn't it Seamus O'Malley who was caught in the act with a sheep? he had to go over the water to avoid the scandal.

[Guest JudgeMental]

knight of the road - 2010-11-21 1:45 PM

 

JudgeMental - 2010-11-21 12:46 PM

 

 

But it is true! the lower orders have never had it so good! universal benefits and free health service...the list goes on. What more do the buggers want! *-)

 

was having tiffin at the Savoy the other day with my cousin Lord Gascony O'Mally of .dundorke....he wept openly at the news of upcoming wedding and asked what more can the great unwashed sea of proles ask for! The gift of a royal wedding to divert attention away from the mediocrity of their existence, will be a real tonic for the retched mob *-)

The O'Mallys of Dundork I knew them well, wasn't it Seamus O'Malley who was caught in the act with a sheep? he had to go over the water to avoid the scandal.

 

 

yes and he landed in wales ...never to be seen again! :-S

[Big Momma]

JudgeMental - 2010-11-21 2:05 PM

 

knight of the road - 2010-11-21 1:45 PM

 

JudgeMental - 2010-11-21 12:46 PM

 

 

But it is true! the lower orders have never had it so good! universal benefits and free health service...the list goes on. What more do the buggers want! *-)

 

was having tiffin at the Savoy the other day with my cousin Lord Gascony O'Mally of .dundorke....he wept openly at the news of upcoming wedding and asked what more can the great unwashed sea of proles ask for! The gift of a royal wedding to divert attention away from the mediocrity of their existence, will be a real tonic for the retched mob *-)

The O'Mallys of Dundork I knew them well, wasn't it Seamus O'Malley who was caught in the act with a sheep? he had to go over the water to avoid the scandal.

 

 

yes and he landed in wales ...never to be seen again! :-S

 

But Seamus got re-employed as a plumber, apparantly in Wales he is never out of work as they have fields full of leaks and he was heard to have muutered thos immortal words "Bee Jeazous I've never had it so good" :D :D

[Guest JudgeMental]

to be sure..... to be sure.........

 

An old man said to me once (true this - he lived through 2 wars) " if I can afford egg and chips every day then life is damn good..."

[Guest pelmetman]

JudgeMental - 2010-11-21 4:14 PM

 

to be sure..... to be sure.........

 

An old man said to me once (true this - he lived through 2 wars) " if I can afford egg and chips every day then life is damn good..."

 

Nothing like ambition eh (?) :D ...........bit of a boring diet though (lol)

[Big Momma]

pelmetman - 2010-11-21 5:34 PM

 

Nothing like ambition eh (?) :D ...........bit of a boring diet though (lol)

 

Be fair, on Sundays he has Chips and Egg :D

[nightrider]

JudgeMental - 2010-11-21 4:14 PM

 

to be sure..... to be sure.........

 

An old man said to me once (true this - he lived through 2 wars) " if I can afford egg and chips every day then life is damn good..."

Egg chips and a couple of thick slices of corn beef, suits me down to the ground.

[Guest pelmetman]

I'm not adverse to egg and chips :D So long as the chips are twice cooked Maris Piper and the eggs free range B-)

[teflon2]

Strange but I read that claims for unemployment benefits have dropped recently, perhaps the fiddlers have got off the roof. Just to prove that I'm a total richard head you dont get freerange eggs they can't walk. John 8-)

[Guest pelmetman]

teflon2 - 2010-11-21 7:38 PM

 

Strange but I read that claims for unemployment benefits have dropped recently, perhaps the fiddlers have got off the roof. Just to prove that I'm a total richard head you dont get freerange eggs they can't walk. John 8-)

 

(!) eggclamation mark, they can't walk 8-) surely you eggagerate :D

 

Mind you Lord Young has ended up with egg on his face (lol)

[Guest Tracker]

Unfortunately we live in times of politically correct whingers running the media and looking for any excuse to have a go at anyone - and if that anyone happens to be Tory or/and well off then they get extra Brownie points it seems?

 

How can it be so wrong for any politician or civil servant to excerise his democratic right to free speech for telling it how he sees it or cracking a joke that most of us will smile at privately, but be incensed by in public, when it seems to be acceptable, if indeed not expected, for the media to pounce on anything that will score them their precious Brownie points without themselves being liable for some criticism?

 

Double standards at it's pompous and patronising worst methinks?

 

Lord Young is right - as a nation we've never had it so good and I for one am happy to proclaim it and enjoy it!

 

Mind you we did work bloody hard for a lot of years to be able to become a 'never had it so gooder' and along the way there were nasty surprises and setbacks!

 

Whilst I do have sympathy for those who have lost their jobs and/or homes I must say that ups and downs are all part of life's rich tapestry and what is important is how you handle and overcome these setbacks and learn to bounce back wiser, stronger, and more determined than ever not to let the bar stewards grind you down!

 

So why don't we as a nation all stop whingeing and reply in our own style instead of meekly following the Pied Pipers of the media giants because we think it is politically correct to do so?

 

I'm allright Jack thanks very much - but only because nobody gave me 'owt so I got of my bum and generated it myself!

 

I'm standing by now for all the howls of self righteous indignation - but do I care - what do you think!

 

And finally I'm not having a go at anyone on here - just exercising my right to express my own opinion!

[Guest JudgeMental]

move to america you will fit right in....