Value for money?

Well it's time to start on the Labour conference and their determination to put the past so far behind them that no one will remember the last time they were in power. It was as ever the usual platitudes, a bit of news candy and a slight emphasis on economic reality... the reality of the left, not reality itself.
They did announce that they would scrap HS2 if they don't think it's good value for money and costs rise, just a shame that they never seem to do this for other Labour flagship projects in the past...
BBC.

Labour is questioning whether the HS2 rail project is "the best way to spend £50bn for the future of our country".
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls told the party conference they still backed the idea of a new north-south rail link, but there could be no blank cheque.
Supporters say the project will provide much needed extra rail capacity.
The Labour leader of Manchester City Council criticised his party for raising doubts about its viability, accusing Mr Balls of a "cheap shot".
Sir Richard Leese - head of the Labour council since 1996 - said the high-speed line was "essential" to prevent the North and Midlands "slowly grinding to a halt".

Basically it was just words, the ground support of the Labour movement in whom 'Ballsy' would end up having to answer too has already said no way are you stopping this. A cheap shot indeed so beloved of politicians when it comes to heading off the spending of money on something they think the public might not support.
Still, there's always option two for getting the comrades on board...
BBC.

Working parents of three and four-year-olds in England would get 25 hours of free childcare a week if Labour wins the next general election.
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls plans to raise the banking levy by £800m a year to fund the move.
Three and four-year-olds currently receive 15 hours of free care a week, but Mr Balls wants to increase this.
Meanwhile, he has asked the government's spending watchdog to review his party's economic plans.

Now this is socialist thinking at its worst, the comrades will think that the public will support a raid on the bank, indeed many might do so until they realise that the banks won't lose anything by this. Essentially this is a stealth tax by a roundabout way as the banks will immediately look to recoup their cash by charging more for their services. You may avoid this if you don't have an overdraft, go into the red, don't take out a loan or save. because the bank is likely to increase the hidden charges involved with all these factors and we the public (everyone who has a bank account) is liable to feel the pinch if at some stage we fall foul of the bank.
Still, you can expect the comrades to crow about this as it looks on the surface to be good news, though as ever the term 'there's no such thing as a free lunch' should be very much at the fore of anyone looking at a politicians promises. In the end we all end up paying for their hubris...