my wife like to see the xmas lights it brightens up her day knowing that she has mad some other people and children happy and as she pays the leccy bill i do not mind because she is happy. we have been doing this for some years now and we are pleased that it gets noticed I know a few years ago people complained about the man on the A4 putting his lights up during a recession but we are happy doing this and like I said it makes some people happy then why not

We are in a recession and what we spend on Christmas lights shouldn't be an issue. Personally I think they are ok. Questions marks should be raised on those that have lavish decorations up in times of Austerity. Hats off to our council for their lack of spending on such trivia trinkets. More should be spent on the poor and those that haven't got a home to go to. Higher taxes would solve that problem.

Like it did in the late 70s.

Indeed, I can remember Denis Healey as Chancellor (1974-79) and a top rate of tax of 83%! Many wealthy people simply left the UK to work overseas. Then him having to go cap in hand to the IMF for a bailout as the UK was just about bankrupt under Labour.

As usual

Can you jog my memory? When was the triple recession under Labour?

Indeed, I can remember Denis Healey as Chancellor (1974-79) and a top rate of tax of 83%! Many wealthy people simply left the UK to work overseas. Then him having to go cap in hand to the IMF for a bailout as the UK was just about bankrupt under Labour.

Can you jog my memory? When was the triple recession under Labour?

Funny how the old memory goes isn't it?

Would that be the Healy about whom one newspaper wrote:

"As Chancellor, in 1974 he inherited an even worse picture. Oil prices had quintupled overnight (before Britain had any of her own). The world economy was in turmoil, Britain was on a three-day week and on the edge of hyper-inflation.

All of these problems had to be faced by a minority Labour Government, in the face of a Labour Party haunted by memories of past "betrayal" and congenitally opposed to spending cuts imposed by foreign bankers. (Denis Healey envied Gordon Brown for his inheritance of a benign economy and a docile party).

As Chancellor, he faced down five years of uninterrupted economic and political crisis. For good or ill, he made more policy decisions and introduced more economic measures and packages than any previous Chancellor. At the end of his term, the British economy was intact and out of debt, inflation contained, unemployment falling each month (without the aid of statistical manipulations) and living standards improving, especially for poor and disabled people."

Funny how the old memory goes isn't it?

Funny how the old memory goes. I had forgotten it was so great a time.

a.k.a. "My memory's perfect don't confuse me with the facts"

This may help: Tory Tax

Would that be the Healy about whom one newspaper wrote:

At the end of his term, the British economy was intact and out of debt....

Funny how the old memory goes isn't it?

What?!You cut and paste "the British economy was intact and out of debt" - in 1979....Really? Not according to the figures I see. Try some reputable sources of information such as www.parliament.uk. UK national debt in 1979 was around 45% of GDP.

I can't help it if you can't remember that labour always leave us broke!