Thread: British Economy 2010

August/September 2010 - Overheard in a conversation between economists in London. 'If the British economy does not go into meltdown around August/September of this year I'm a Dutchman'.

(This corresponds with a proposed Inflation Report Meeting scheduled at the Bank of England around that time).

Turcan Connell (which caters to rich families), expects the Pound to lose between 20 percent and 30 percent against the dollar once investors turn their sights on Britain as the government sells a record amount of debt. Sterling slides to a 10- month low versus the U.S. currency.
. . .
“The U.K. is in a similar predicament. It could be hit very hard.”
. . .
Bruce Stout, whose Murray International Trust Plc in Edinburgh has doubled over the past five years, said the chance of a plummeting pound are “better than even” . . . He called sterling a “very vulnerable currency.”
. . .
Zurich-based UBS, the world’s second- biggest currency trader has predicted the Pound could fall “quickly back” to $1.05 or below.

Were they Dutch economists?

No, they were those who, shortly before the notorious banker bailout, and contrary to the mass media, said the economy was NOT well positioned to withstand any recessionary pressures in the UK.

Just keep believing the spin, won't you ? The 'recession' is over, right ?

Not at all, we are all totally ******. I just like winding you up, lol.

Why not predict the percentage of the electorate who vote at the coming General Election ?

Originally Posted by Bateman

Not at all, we are all totally ******. I just like winding you up, lol.

Hard to predict, I think it was about 60% last time round and it's been on a downward trend for a while. Cameron doesn't seem to be inspiring any great support and I think Labour is going to have a hard time getting the vote out. Smaller parties are unlikely to make much impact on turnout so all things said I think it's likely to be down on last time. Rather than motivate the public to get rid of this miserable crop of what might laughably be described as 'public servants', recent events have served to make people even more apathetic than usual.

I estimate overall turnout at between 55-60%.