Conservative-DUP Deal - £1bn the price for strong and stable government?

Goooner

How?

Ruperts slippers

If it has, why hasn't this Government, or the previous Labour one that left the note saying there was no money, just printed loads of money, job done, as much money as we need, no more austerity.

IronGiant

Define basic economics?
As with any policy, the key is striking a balance, atm, this deal, yes it had to be done, however continuing to claim there is no money for Public service staff is now under scrutiny, there are social and economic forces with the labour market, to continue on the current course is not beneficial for society, the 'Well of Goodwill' is running dry, and people are being forced to make other choices.

rustybin

That's a bit verbose TB, can you summarise?   

Ruperts slippers

In my profession the Government has well and truly shot itself in the foot. Absolutely hammered our pay to the point that people are leaving in their thousands. Recruitment is a major, major issue. Not enough teachers to go around and schools have been privatised by the back-door. The National Teacher Collective Pay structure is being destroyed.

As a result, when I was looking for work last year, I managed to get a school to match my senior leadership salary for a middle leadership position. Same salary, same pension, more benefits, less responsibility, less hours, less value for the tax payer. Market forces. Thanks austerity.

IronGiant

That's what happens, my wife is thinking of leaving, to work for a medical company teaching, she doesn't want to but the working environment has changed, the pay is poor, stretching the good will..

Ruperts slippers

A 1% Public Sector payrise costs £1.7 billion. If that increments year on year that's ~£24 billion over the life (standard) of a Government.
I'm not suggesting the Public Sector don't deserve a good pay rise, but it's not a case of just slipping a billion quid in their pay packets as a one off gesture.

rustybin

You rotter..

IronGiant

But you've got to look at the cost of 'not' doing it. If it costs £24 billion to do it over the cost of the Government, but then £50 billion* (*clutched from the sky) further down to road as a result of not doing it, then it's a false economy.

To apply that argument to the OT - the cost of doing the deal with the DUP is a huge amount of money I was under the impression we didn't have as a country, but the decision was obviously taken that the cost of not doing it would be higher (certainly to the PM's career ).

domtheone

Personally, i'd give some in the PS a one off 5-10% rise.  I'd also cut some 10% mind (to pay for it).

Then there are their pensions....