This is the sort of politics we need

[StMarks]

Hey, Blade wrote that not me.

Child benefit has always been a non-means-tested benefit until only a few years ago. I used to pay it into the kid's trust funds but now I claim it through the year and then pay it back in January.

Really pisses me off, and it's another example of the Boomer generation pissing on the next one.

Don't know what happened with the quotes there Monty, sorry.

Anyway, re: the "blame the Boomers", I think you'll find that child benefit was introduced in the late 70's .

At the time, given general knowledge on global issues, it may have seemed a socially responsible & morally upstanding move.?

Now, with the benefit of our enhanced understanding of the plight we find ourselves in, it seems entirely inappropriate imho.

[Blade]

Doing a walking tour of Berlin and one thing is very obvious the roads are deserted. I would estimate the road traffic to be 10% of Manchester or London.

There are electric scooters you scan a QR code on to activate and pay for, same tech for push bikes, there are buses and trams galore and most taxi are electric vehicles.

Plenty we can learn from European cities.

[duke63]

Copenhagen, Amsterdam. Milan, Barcelona.........the UK is years behind in public transport.

[C00kiemonster]

We can learn a lot from Europe full stop...

[Kwacky]

We can learn a lot from Europe full stop...

Traitor

[C00kiemonster]

We can learn a lot from Europe full stop...

Traitor

[StMarks]

.....Plenty we can learn from European cities.

Now if only we were part of some sort of organisation who's core purpose was to implement "best practice" legislation to ensure that all it's member states adopted such schemes harmoniously.
Just imagine what that sort of general improvements that sort of federation could theoretically make for all of us.

[Jack]

If that was the case then surely , as we have been a member of such an organisation for 47 years , we too would have the wondrous transport etc that they do ?

[duke63]

But no rather than common sense, we have more cars and trucks than the roads can cope with.

And what genius answer do the Govt come up with? Let's build more roads.

[Blade]

Truth is we dont need other nations to tell us what to do.

We are a developed and resourceful country and more than capable of doing the right thing of our own accord or even setting the bench mark for others to follow.

This is nothing to do with being part of a Union, it's a choice that as a nation we have decided not to embrace the best we are capable off.

If we have failed we only have ourselves to be responsible.

[D6Nutz]

But no rather than common sense, we have more cars and trucks than the roads can cope with.

And what genius answer do the Govt come up with? Let's build more roads.

No, come on.. be fair..

They did decide on one public transport project which seems to be purely about lining the pockets of a few already rich individuals.

Even though it's hugely over budget and way behind on time, they still continue to support lining the pockets.

HS2...

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

[Blade]

But no rather than common sense, we have more cars and trucks than the roads can cope with.

And what genius answer do the Govt come up with? Let's build more roads.

So basically as Jack says being part of the EU hasn't helped deliver a unified transport standard across europe. We are currently part of the EU and have poorer transport policies than other European cities is the undeniable truth.

[Blade]

But no rather than common sense, we have more cars and trucks than the roads can cope with.

And what genius answer do the Govt come up with? Let's build more roads.

No, come on.. be fair..

They did decide on one public transport project which seems to be purely about lining the pockets of a few already rich individuals.

Even though it's hugely over budget and way behind on time, they still continue to support lining the pockets.

HS2...

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Agree but the argument we would have better transport if we part of the EU can have no truth.

We have poor transport systems and have been part of the EU for decades.

The shoes doesnt even remotely fit here guys

[D6Nutz]

But no rather than common sense, we have more cars and trucks than the roads can cope with.

And what genius answer do the Govt come up with? Let's build more roads.

No, come on.. be fair..

They did decide on one public transport project which seems to be purely about lining the pockets of a few already rich individuals.

Even though it's hugely over budget and way behind on time, they still continue to support lining the pockets.

HS2...

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

Agree but the argument we would have better transport if we part of the EU can have no truth.

We have poor transport systems and have been part of the EU for decades.

The shoes doesnt even remotely fit here guys

You are correct (IMO) membership of the EU has not helped, but then again I doubt it has helped any of the other member states, apart from the is grant here and there.

This country is far too obsessed with profit and liking is own pockets to do what the other nations have and invest. Investment reduces profit and fat pension schemes.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

[Blade]

There has been some investment to be fair. We have a tram system here in Manchester and they did trial the push bikes scheme but it didn't work out.

I do fully agree on a national scale, much more could and should be done. I just dont accept the fantasy that Brexit is to blame for poor UK transport policy.

I do fully agree HS2 is a total waste of money which could be used much more effectively. It will cut journey time from manchester to London from 2 hours to 1 hour. Its fixing a problem that doesnt exist. The current virgin franchise is reliable and faster enough at 2 hours door to door with plenty of seats, good refreshments and fast wifi if people wish to work whilst travelling.

[Kwacky]

Truth is we dont need other nations to tell us what to do.

We are a developed and resourceful country and more than capable of doing the right thing of our own accord or even setting the bench mark for others to follow.

If we have failed we only have ourselves to be responsible.

We don't appear to be very capable of much at the moment. Maybe we do need a hand?

[StMarks]

Fwiw it seems to me that our own successive governments are largely to blame for the state of our transport systems. Imho that's another illustration of why "taking back control" actually translates to : hand power & control over us to our home-grown self-serving politicians.

Besides if the EU had had the power to introduce those sorts of EU transport models into our cities, I dare say they would be criticised as "dictating their wishes onto us".?

[Blade]

Haven't we had a hand for 40 odd years and it didn't help by the sounds of people responses

[Blade]

Fwiw it seems to me that our own successive governments are largely to blame for the state of our transport systems. Imho that's another illustration of why "taking back control" actually translates to : hand power & control over us to our home-grown self-serving politicians.

Besides if the EU had had the power to introduce those sorts of EU transport models into our cities, I dare say they would be criticised as "dictating their wishes onto us".?

So we agree the EU hasn't made British transport better

We can "if" and "but" for ever but the reality is the past proves being part of the EU has not helped deliver a quality transport system in the UK.

[Kwacky]

Thatcher told the public that a man using public transport to get to work is a failure.

We've also been conditioned to believe that nationalised is expensive and something unions and socialists demand.

Our privately owned transport costs the government billions.

So it's not the fault of the EU we do or do not have a decent transport system. The blame lies at our own door.