Fares

[Quizmonster]

ind.pn/OlrnhM
One Kent MP – Sir John Stanley, the member for Tonbridge and Malling – accused ministers of "exploiting commuters" and using rail fares as "a disguised form of taxation".
That wouldn’t be, by any chance, what Tories always delighted in calling a “stealth tax”, would it?

[sandyRoe]

No. That's altogether a different thing. A stealth tax is something that's imposed by Labour Governments.

[Quizmonster]

The shortened url appears not to have worked, so here it is in full...I hope!

[Quizmonster]

Oops! Maybe AnswerBank just isn't 'doing' links today. It's from today's Observer, but I won't provide a link this time...just find it yourself if you're interested!

[bibblebub]

you need to include the http:// at the start of the address for it to become a clickable link

[Gromit]

Conservative MPs in rural marginals think there will be a backlash against the fare rises and will become an election issue. They are in fear of losing their seats. That is why they have gone into self preservation mode and are prepared to attack Government Policy.

[emmie]

tried to get the link but can't seem to, it seems as though Tory, Lib Dems not in favour of these hikes. As to stealth tax that is something you don't tell people about - a good Labour ploy, but no matter. No one wants these massive hikes, they will see people flocking back to their cars.

http://www.guardian.c...e-osborne-mps-revolt1

[Quizmonster]

I've been providing clickable links for years, B, but - when using an url-shortening site - all I've had to do up until now is simply copy what the site presents. That's what I did twice above to no avail. In future, I'll make sure to add the http bit if it is not already there. Thank you.

[Quizmonster]

That's the very site, Em, but I'm still puzzled as to why it didn't work for me, given that the url-shortening site was not even involved on that occasion!

[Gromit]

Why do you need to use URL shortening anyway. Answerbank automatically shortens links anyway. It seems like a unnecessary long way of providing a link.

[Gromit]

h ttp://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/aug/18
/rail-fare-hike-george-osborne-mps-revolt1


Becomes

http://www.guardian.c...e-osborne-mps-revolt1

[bibblebub]

sorry for going on about the link but the shortened url at the very start of your question is for http://www.independen...egations-8053869.html which is the independent not the guardian...

[Quizmonster]

I didn't know AB shortened links.G, and the one I got stretched halfway across the address-bar. I thought I was doing AB a favour!

[emmie]

i just click copy and then paste, does seem to work

[Quizmonster]

Obviously, B, I am not responsible for what the url-site people offer. The fact is, as you will see if you go to the Observer online website, that I got it from there, not the Independent.

Right...no more about my url-travails...let's just concentrate on the question, shall we? My apoloies for the confusion.

[emmie]

the problem is you need investment on whatever type of business, so where do you get that money from.

[albaqwerty]

When I hear what people have been, and are expected to pay for the privelege of travelling in overcrowded trains just to earn a crust makes my blood boil. There has not been any upgrading of any carriages as far as I can see.
On a visit to London once, I couldn't find any helpful bus driver or 'assistant' in the train stations.

[emmie]

alba not finding a helpful member of staff is nothing new, it's not that they don't exist but are rarely helpful. Perhaps it is time to look at different ways of working if one can. Obviously doctors, nurses, emergency services need to be on site, but how many office workers could do their work at home, or at a nearer base than slogging into a city, say London, with all the technology available, wouldn't that save the person a small fortune in the long run. The argument has always been will the person slope off to pub, or take kids out etc, but if the work can be done in a time allowed by the company, then surely that is a better way of working.

[albaqwerty]

I'm sure there are lots of jobs which could be done from home, especially, as you say, with modern technology. Some jobs might involve say, a journey to their place of employment on a Monday, collect items, work on them at home, then return on the Friday for example.

[emmie]

we have such advanced technology now, that it would be possible to do work without ever resorting to slogging in to the office. Some of my colleagues had such long journeys, up to 4-5 hours of travelling back and forth each day, they were tired long before being able to do any work. Not saying it could work for everyone, but time to ditch that long haul commute, we have remote video link, computers, mobile phone, fax and all sorts of other gubbins to make one's working life better, if only companies would take it.

[albaqwerty]

Exactly, and I think it insulting to suggest that their employees would dodge work. Boris, I believe, suggested that they would skive during the 'lympics if folk worked from home.