1 bn for cycling - but just for London

[deptfordmarmoset]

Before all our other great cities get up in arms, does anybody know how much of the money is coming out of central government funds? If Londoners are paying for it (or most of it) then surely it's a local (or mostly a local) choice as to how the spending is prioritised. And, though I don't know how the funding works, if it's local money then the lack of investment elsewhere needs to be addressed locally, i.e. in Leeds and Manchester and Glasgow, etc.

On the other hand, if Boris has a secret tunnel to the treasury's coffers, then moan away

 

[Paul99]

That's bollocks.

One reason the taxes paid in the London area appear disproportionate is that many (most?) large companies have their head offices there.
The money is EARNED elsewhere but ACCOUNTED for in London.
Another reason is that the ''big earners'' live there. Earning big money is not necessarily connected in any way to the worth or effectiveness of the individual.
Add to that the fact that Government spends a disproportional amount on projects in the SE/London area and it's not surprising more tax is paid (on the whole) by those living there.
Further, the vast proportion of government institutions are based in London. All of course funded by taxes paid across the whole country.
Get the powers that be to spend a similar amount per person in every part of the country and areas that are now impoverished would see growth almost overnight.

Lets see an equalisation of tax paid by every individual across the country. The result of an equalisation of wealth across the country.

It's not bollocks at all. Like it or not huge wealth is located in London and most of the tax earned in London is derived from the financial services that are based there.

I didn't say it was fair, right or anything else. I just said that if it were ringfenced then the rest of the country would be in a heap of trouble. If you can show me any economic studies that say different i'll be happy to retract my statement.

I don't live or cycle in London, so have no vested interest in this.

I wonder how long it will take somebody to blame Thatcher. Or Wiggle.

 

[byegad]

What a surprise; £1bn for London... What about everyone else?

You write as if you expect them to know the world doesn't stop at Watford Gap.

 

[colly]

It's not bollocks at all. Like it or not huge wealth is located in London and most of the tax earned in London is derived from the financial services that are based there.

I didn't say it was fair, right or anything else. I just said that if it were ringfenced then the rest of the country would be in a heap of trouble. If you can show me any economic studies that say different i'll be happy to retract my statement.

I don't live or cycle in London, so have no vested interest in this.

I wonder how long it will take somebody to blame Thatcher. Or Wiggle.

And those financial services companies such as banking, insurance, stock broking, etc trade with and on behalf of the rest of the country, and make tax returns in London. Site all the head offices in Franklin and suddenly the IOW will be the place to be. Cut them off from the funds and profits that the rest of the country provide and the picture would not look so rosy.

Sure lots of the financial sector trade and make big (huge) profits on international transactions, and that is all to the good. It makes for good profits for them to pay tax on, we can all benefit. But that doesn't mean that the they exist in isolation. Those taxes need to be spent in an equitable manner across the whole nation. Not as it seems at the moment, spend what we need to keep us high on the hog around here and the rest can have what's left over. ( OK slight exaggeration there)
The financial sector could be sited anywhere, London , Leicester, Manchester or Malton it's just a historical quirk that London is the place they are. If other centres in the world get their way London will be dumped PDQ. Let's hope that isn't so. But don't tell me London is the 'powerhouse' of the whole economy and that the rest of us should be grateful to scratch by on their droppings.

As for Thatcher getting the blame. Not really, it has always been thus. Even in the days when the country was a thriving mass of industrial production, the wealth was created in the provinces and accounted for and spent in the capital.

And you do have a vested interest in this, just like I do, and everyone in the country does. It is our money being spent, disproportionately.
It's no surprise that when an economic downturn arrives it's felt first, and most severely in the regions and lastly, and least in London. When the recovery comes it's the exact reverse. Until the countries resources are spent in a more equitable way the divide will always be there.
Stuff like 'local pay' will only make things even worse.

Don't imagine this is a 'left wing' rant. It isn't.

 

[Crankarm]

If London had independence, and were able to ringfence the taxes paid in London, the rest of the country would be in a whole heap of trouble.

Ermm ........ how many of those "working" in financial services in the City actually pay tax or the level of tax they should without elaborate tax avoidance schemes and also the banks, large corporations they work for actually pay their true share of corporation tax? Few I would think as they can afford weasal accountants and tax lawyers to minimise their tax liabilities. It is the mass of low and middle income workers and SMEs throughout the UK that make up most of the Revenue's income tax take as they are least able to evade avoid it.

 

[Crankarm]

And those financial services companies such as banking, insurance, stock broking, etc trade with and on behalf of the rest of the country, and make tax returns in London. Site all the head offices in Franklin and suddenly the IOW will be the place to be. Cut them off from the funds and profits that the rest of the country provide and the picture would not look so rosy.

Sure lots of the financial sector trade and make big (huge) profits on international transactions, and that is all to the good. It makes for good profits for them to pay tax on, we can all benefit. But that doesn't mean that the they exist in isolation. Those taxes need to be spent in an equitable manner across the whole nation. Not as it seems at the moment, spend what we need to keep us high on the hog around here and the rest can have what's left over. ( OK slight exaggeration there)
The financial sector could be sited anywhere, London , Leicester, Manchester or Malton it's just a historical quirk that London is the place they are. If other centres in the world get their way London will be dumped PDQ. Let's hope that isn't so. But don't tell me London is the 'powerhouse' of the whole economy and that the rest of us should be grateful to scratch by on their droppings.

As for Thatcher getting the blame. Not really, it has always been thus. Even in the days when the country was a thriving mass of industrial production, the wealth was created in the provinces and accounted for and spent in the capital.

And you do have a vested interest in this, just like I do, and everyone in the country does. It is our money being spent, disproportionately.
It's no surprise that when an economic downturn arrives it's felt first, and most severely in the regions and lastly, and least in London. When the recovery comes it's the exact reverse. Until the countries resources are spent in a more equitable way the divide will always be there.
Stuff like 'local pay' will only make things even worse.

Don't imagine this is a 'left wing' rant. It isn't.

Malton?? Where's that?

 

[Crankarm]

I've been cycling here (London and The Sticks) for forty-plus years and have so far managed to avoid any hatred from a cycle hater.

I do not find the UK a cycling-intolerant country. I'm sorry that you do, but I do not.

There are some unpleasant road users out there, but that will be the case the world over.

I find the UK a wonderful country to ride in (apart from just now when the weather isn't helping). I have always found it wonderful to ride in.

I fail to see the irony you find between Olympic successes and what you see as the ridiculing and marinalisation of cycling in the UK.

Your views on the danger of cycling may well fit your experiences very closely, but they do not fit mine or those of the other cyclists I know.

They are, however, very close to those of parents I know who do not let their children near a bicycle on the public highway.

Oh come on BB you can't really be suggesting that the UK is nirvana for cyclists ?

Have you cycled in either Holland, France, Denmark, Afghanistan, Sweden France or Germany? If you had then you would realise how crap and dangerous the UK is for cyclists.

(Ps I'm nearly always in agreement with your PoV but on this occasion I have to differ.)

 

[Cyclopathic]

If London had independence, and were able to ringfence the taxes paid in London, the rest of the country would be in a whole heap of trouble.

That's not true because I would be charging them an extortionate amount of rent seeing as their country would be entirely inside our country and as far as I can tell all the heavy munitions are on our side of the M25. Mwahahahaha

 

[Boris Bajic]

Oh come on BB you can't really be suggesting that the UK is nirvana for cyclists ?

Have you cycled in either Holland, France, Denmark, Afghanistan, Sweden France or Germany? If you had then you would realise how crap and dangerous the UK is for cyclists.

(Ps I'm nearly always in agreement with your PoV but on this occasion I have to differ.)

Mr C. Arm, the respect and concurrence in many matters are mutual.

I don't think it's a Nirvana, but I do think it's good. Very good. My prose gets away from me and I may have implied some Nirvana-like quality.

I cycle because I enjoy it, not because I have to or because I hate the motor car. On the contrary, I love the motor car.

But I also love to cycle and I love to do so on the Queen's highways.

My middle sprog is starting to train seriously and has raced a little (something I've never done) so we train together. I have to say I love those rides as much as I love whipping to Tesco or my 15-mile rides to meetings in nearby towns.

I've cycled a lot in France and the Western Balkans. I've cycled a little in the Low Countries. I've never cycled in Afghanistan. I'd agree that France (Paris and rural areas) is far better for cycling than the UK. The Low Countries too, but in a slightly dull, sanitised way. The Western Balkans are far, far worse than here.

You're right, it's not a cycling Nirvana here. But I do not recognise the cycling haters you see on your travels. I do not see an anti-cycling culture on our roads.

With hand on heart I can say that I thoroughly enjoy cycling on UK roads. I'm not obsessive about it, but almost no aspect of my life would be as good as it is without the squillions of miles I've enjoyed pedalling on Her Madge's Highways and occasionally on the hills and mountains that lie between them.

I think we'll have to end up differing on this, but I appreciate your friendly response nonetheless.

 

[Schneil]

No, it's exactly the same as nothing outside London. Obviously and continually proved to be the only place politicians ever seem to give a damn about. Never mind Scottish independence I think England should go for independence of London. A huge wall stretching the length of the M25 should sort it.

Sounds a bit like "Escape from New York"

 

[markharry66]

I think at the end of the day no matter what you invest or spend on the safety of cyclists in the north, south, midlands. Its not going to really matter until you sort the mindset of the mindless motorist. I hate to say it they dont want us there and treat us as if we shouldnt be there.
Until the law is enforced to the point were everyone is treated the same. Any spend on the safety of cyclists is wasted money.

 

[markharry66]

By that before anyone says anything I do not mean the Majority of drivers

 

[Cyclopathic]

Sounds a bit like "Escape from New York"

No. No escape I'm afraid. If the Pres' (Because Britain proper would be a republic) went down over London then that would be his hard cheese. Besides Ernest Borgnine is dad so there would be no none to drive the taxi.

 

[dellzeqq]

It's has to be good news, but will they actually listen to cyclists or just waste the cash on pointless cycle paths that go no where and are down right dangerous!

I think it's the opposite of good news. It's a billion quid down the drain. More and more consultants attempting to put a quart in to a pint pot. They want to 'smooth' car journeys and to encourage cycling at the same time. It can't be done.

 

[dellzeqq]

Oh come on BB you can't really be suggesting that the UK is nirvana for cyclists ?

London's pretty close