The Spring of Discontent

[Which Tyler]

A general thread for the strike actions, and reactions to them.
The Winter option has already been taken, and I really can't see this being resolved before Spring.
Oh, and there hasn't been a snap general election called...

[cashead]

Yes, but have you considered

[Which Tyler]

"Work harder"

[Puja]

"Work harder"

It's utterly broken, isn't it? To the extent that it's pretty much not worth phoning an ambulance if you have a car, even in the case of something massive like a heart attack.

It's criminal that any government could let it get to this level. And then to have the gall to claim that they're instituting anti-strike laws because they're "worried about people's safety if there's not adequate coverage." Fuck all the way off.

At this rate, fuck COVID deaths as a badge of shame for the Conservatives - start a count on how many people have died waiting for an ambulance - it'll probably get to a higher number.

Puja

[Sandydragon]

The Tories cant work outhow to respond to this. Sunak doesnt want to spend money but that is reinforced by the tory right who hate strikers a d want to beat them down before negotiating at all. They are hoping public sympathy will erode, but no sign of that. Rather the whole mess is being laid at their door. They have no ideas and Sunak cant force through anything vaguely contentious as he has no authority.

Time for a new government.

[Which Tyler]

This week in tory:
Wants to sack nurses for demanding equitable pay.
Doesn't want to sack MPs for tax fraud.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... y-finances

[Which Tyler]

Oh look - more strikes
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64457843

[Which Tyler]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -customers

UK mobile and broadband firms plan huge price rise for existing customers

[Mikey Brown]

Oh goody.

[Banquo]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -customers

UK mobile and broadband firms plan huge price rise for existing customers

They just lifted mine 21%, and claimed it was 14.4% somehow, justified by 10.5% cpi plus their own 3.9% inflationary normal rise. Huge pi55 take.

[Which Tyler]

[Puja]

Gosh, I sure am glad that we privatised everything for all the efficiency that it's brought us.

Puja

[Son of Mathonwy]

Gosh, I sure am glad that we privatised everything for all the efficiency that it's brought us.

Puja

It's okay, we have a great regulator to keep them in line.

[morepork]

The majick of trickledown economics.


Eat the fucking rich.

[Which Tyler]

Eat the fucking rich.

Cannibalism may be a little extreme - but I've a suggestion for the rich that might help with the "we can't afford heating" millions out there - it involves bonfires...

[morepork]

Break their spines, take all their money, then deny them a benefit because they are "perfectly able to work".

[Sandydragon]

Gosh, I sure am glad that we privatised everything for all the efficiency that it's brought us.

Puja

The snag here is they can’t use their profits from gas extraction to reduce customer prices because that would break competition law.

But perhaps the government can consider a one off profit tax to top up the utility bill reduction fund.

[Puja]

Gosh, I sure am glad that we privatised everything for all the efficiency that it's brought us.

Puja

The snag here is they can’t use their profits from gas extraction to reduce customer prices because that would break competition law.

But perhaps the government can consider a one off profit tax to top up the utility bill reduction fund.

Would you be able to ELI5? If they're making such ridiculous profits from gas extraction, why is the price that they're selling to themselves at still so high?

Puja

[Sandydragon]

Gosh, I sure am glad that we privatised everything for all the efficiency that it's brought us.

Puja

The snag here is they can’t use their profits from gas extraction to reduce customer prices because that would break competition law.

But perhaps the government can consider a one off profit tax to top up the utility bill reduction fund.

Would you be able to ELI5? If they're making such ridiculous profits from gas extraction, why is the price that they're selling to themselves at still so high?

Puja

They sell to everyone at the same price, so British Gas can’t get a preferential rate. The spot rate o believe is set across Europe, I do t know what issue there would be if centricas production arm sold its has cheaper, although the market is hugely unpredictable and there are times where they extract for a loss.

I’d suggest a one off tax or donation would be the most appropriate mechanism in this event.

[Banquo]

The snag here is they can’t use their profits from gas extraction to reduce customer prices because that would break competition law.

But perhaps the government can consider a one off profit tax to top up the utility bill reduction fund.

Would you be able to ELI5? If they're making such ridiculous profits from gas extraction, why is the price that they're selling to themselves at still so high?

Puja

They sell to everyone at the same price, so British Gas can’t get a preferential rate. The spot rate o believe is set across Europe, I do t know what issue there would be if centricas production arm sold its has cheaper, although the market is hugely unpredictable and there are times where they extract for a loss.

I’d suggest a one off tax or donation would be the most appropriate mechanism in this event.

arent british gas donating 75m alongside corp and windfall taxes?

[Sandydragon]

Would you be able to ELI5? If they're making such ridiculous profits from gas extraction, why is the price that they're selling to themselves at still so high?

Puja

They sell to everyone at the same price, so British Gas can’t get a preferential rate. The spot rate o believe is set across Europe, I do t know what issue there would be if centricas production arm sold its has cheaper, although the market is hugely unpredictable and there are times where they extract for a loss.

I’d suggest a one off tax or donation would be the most appropriate mechanism in this event.

arent british gas donating 75m alongside corp and windfall taxes?

I think you're right.

[Mellsblue]

Would you be able to ELI5? If they're making such ridiculous profits from gas extraction, why is the price that they're selling to themselves at still so high?

Puja

They sell to everyone at the same price, so British Gas can’t get a preferential rate. The spot rate o believe is set across Europe, I do t know what issue there would be if centricas production arm sold its has cheaper, although the market is hugely unpredictable and there are times where they extract for a loss.

I’d suggest a one off tax or donation would be the most appropriate mechanism in this event.

arent british gas donating 75m alongside corp and windfall taxes?

Capitalist bastards.

[Son of Mathonwy]

They sell to everyone at the same price, so British Gas can’t get a preferential rate. The spot rate o believe is set across Europe, I do t know what issue there would be if centricas production arm sold its has cheaper, although the market is hugely unpredictable and there are times where they extract for a loss.

I’d suggest a one off tax or donation would be the most appropriate mechanism in this event.

arent british gas donating 75m alongside corp and windfall taxes?

I think you're right.

75m is just 2.3% of Centrica's 3.3BN 2022 profit.

[Mellsblue]

arent british gas donating 75m alongside corp and windfall taxes?

I think you're right.

75m is just 2.3% of Centrica's 3.3BN 2022 profit.

Not really that simple. That’s their profit before interest and taxes, and their effective tax rate is currently 65%.
I’m also fairly sure that figure includes overseas subsidiaries.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I think you're right.

75m is just 2.3% of Centrica's 3.3BN 2022 profit.

Not really that simple. That’s their profit before interest and taxes, and their effective tax rate is currently 65%.
I’m also fairly sure that figure includes overseas subsidiaries.

Okay, their profit after tax is 2.1 BN, their effective tax rate is 34% and geographic split of UK to total is 74% for revenue, 85% for assets.

https://www.centrica.com/media/6020/cen ... cement.pdf