You know Britain is becoming poorer, the people broke, when

[Zero Liability]

Wealth is measured in assets. Your flat screen telly isn't going to do you much good when you can no longer earn a living.

[tomtomagain]

... and we have more people employed than ever before. There's a reason why the UK is the #1 destination for the Roma. And it aint 'cos we're friendly.

Are you poor? Are your friends poor? You can read the doom-and-gloom and lap it up if you want ( "Its the wrong type of recovery" boo hoo hoo ) but look around and take in the reality of your life.

There are defiantly pockets of poverty and problems. Some of them very deep-rooted. And serious.

But actually most of us have never had it so good.

My flat screen will be worthless when there's nothing worth watching on it. If I cannot find a job then there is a safety net to ensure that I can afford the power to keep running it.

[scooterscot]

Poorer ... are we really poorer? .

Yes. Permies have seen their income fall in real terms since 2008 whilst inflation on food has ran out of control. So perhaps a better words would be 'worse off'.

You say free elections... well then our democracy is broken. I've been a life long liberal, voted every time as much as all my peers in Scotland and still our voice goes unheard. We're quite miffed.

[Zero Liability]

... and we have more people employed than ever before.

So does the US. Do you know how? By massaging unemployment statistics. You are still employed, even if you move from a higher paid full time job to a part time, zero hours etc. contract. As for those who have become discouraged and fallen out of the labour market? Don't count them.

Are you poor? Are your friends poor? You can read the doom-and-gloom and lap it up if you want ( "Its the wrong type of recovery" boo hoo hoo ) but look around and take in the reality of your life.

Anecdotes don't make for good economics, and neither do resurgent property markets (due to nothing other than cheap bank credit), which were not allowed to correct in the first place.

My flat screen will be worthless when there's nothing worth watching on it. If I cannot find a job then there is a safety net to ensure that I can afford the power to keep running it.

What safety net do you envision in the next twenty to thirty years?

I am not saying Britain is doomed or in a hopeless situation, I am simply not convinced that there has been a recovery or that the mess left by the last boom has been purged from the economy, as opposed to extended.

[tomtomagain]

I am not saying Britain is doomed or in a hopeless situation,

And what I am saying is that it is easy to be pessimistic.

But the reality for for vast majority of citizens of the UK ( and of Western Europe ) is that life today, is better, easier, safer and healthier than at any time in the history of humanity.

Of course it's not guaranteed to be that way forever ever.

But I know one thing. We won't give it up without a fight.

[xoggoth]

Or maybe we are just getting meaner. Mean is good. Who cares about quality, happiness and crap like that when you can save a bit of money?

[BigRed]

no other supermaket does Jaipur IPA.

It has to be draught for me, the bottles are too gassy.

[BjornMorg]

I'd say it is all about Lidl and Aldi playing to those that just want to buy what is needed at a decent price.

Tesco and co. offer so much product duplication (via competing brands) that their consumers pay for it due to extra floor space and product wastage. Not to mention the 'premium store look and feel' bull tulip they spend money on that we fund when shopping there.

I favour buying fresh and cooking dishes myself.

The German stores get my vote.

[darmstadt]

I was in Iceland tonight, clocked a 75 piece dessert platter for 5 quid. I was awestruck.

That sounds the bollocks. I've never been to Iceland, ever. I have been to Bejam though. Found a picture of it as well:

[scooterscot]

Peckham's

When living in Edinburgh Peckham's was my favourite delicatessen. I thought they were country wide but could never find one outside Scotland. If you're ever up that way I would recommend getting a snack in store.