Archie Flockhart

I "do IT" in various forms: network admin, e-learning , programming, training. (when I'm not skiing or watching football).

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@bobdylansbarber They've beaten the same number of top 10 teams as Scotland in this world cup.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@MartinEgg3 @SafeSchools_UK A strange coincidence that the parent is a "they/them" and the child is trans. What are the odds ?

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@alexmassie Great what you can fund when you blow the unprecedented north sea oil windfall within a decade, and sell off public assets to top up the pot.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@tomhfh Except she meant it as incitement. She told us so herself when she pleaded guilty.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@stuey_beef "the numbers have doubled since 2012".

But the Tory and Reform politicians who governed for 14y only decided it was a problem once Labour were in power. And now demand that Labour do what they wouldn't.

Odd, that.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@jimdora98524906 @stuey_beef Easy to point to the top earners - head teachers, senior council execs, etc - to come up with a big headline number. But most of the pension costs relate to smaller pensions paid to large numbers of lower paid staff.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@jimdora98524906 @stuey_beef That's a fair argument, and maybe 5k on the salary would attract more than a pension costing 10k. But I don't see that argument being made here, just an attack on pensions.

Staffing issues also aren't just about recruitment. Pensions probably help retain more experienced staff.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@jimdora98524906 @stuey_beef Do we have people queuing up to become teachers. NHS doctors, care workers, etc, or do we have recruitment problems in these jobs?

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@JohnBuchan39 @stuey_beef Hard to muck about with your existing entitlement. Private sector schemes that were closed had to preserve existing benefits. Any changes would affect the next generations, the ones they are claiming to be helping.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@jilltowers Tomorrow, in a new twist, the solution will indeed be "WTF??"

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@Kelvin20910291 @elliboops It's exactly "knows how to draw a penalty" that he's objecting to. It's not the worst suggestion, but a bit complicated. I'd just make all penalties harder to score from - further away, or let the keeper move - and deal with 'preventing a goal' with a card.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@danny__kruger When are you having the by election?

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@HalfwayPost Big mistake not to use his tarp to hide it, but presumably it's still covering up the Kennedy Center.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@P_Polci @mlanetrain "back" ?

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@livaecw @ewangibbs It's not billionaire level, but it's high enough to be irrelevant for 96% of estates, and will still be irrelevant for over 90% after pensions are included.

Well-off people routinely underestimate how much more than average they earn and own.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@LauraEWebsterr I have never seen the made-up "Scots language" on any election materials, not even from those who claim it is a real language rather than multiple different mutually incomprehensible dialects of English.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@Macnessie None of it is used to supply the rest of the UK. Except maybe a few bottles of spring water. And the bit of Loch Katrine that gets turned into Tennants Lager.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@tomtweettime @AlanJLSmith This doesn't affect all pensions though, just those held by people sufficiently wealthy to be affected by IHT, so very likely to have been higher rate taxpayers for a long period, especially as many people ramp up pension contributions later in life after mortgage is paid.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@tomtweettime @AlanJLSmith And it's not 40% of the entire pot either: IHT allowances cover the first half million pounds, or a million for a couple, and the pension is covered by part of these allowances.

[Archie Flockhart @aflockhart]

@tomtweettime @AlanJLSmith It's also not "at risk" unless the holder chooses it to be. Pensions can be held in cash or in low risk funds or gilts.