So what the hell is going on, Labour are slumping in the polls and yet those most naturally in their shadow able to take their place (the Lib Dems) are failing to capitalise in the polls. And even though the Tories are enjoying high times so much they must think it's the 80's all over again (in more ways than one) they have failed to deliver one serious or credible attack against the government that would show them to be the true heir's to the throne. So to speak. Anyway, on with this weeks Politalks. NSFW as usual, transcript can be found if you go through to read more!

Here is the most recent Politalks, let us know what you think. NSFW as usual, and transcript when you read more below!

Labour have pulled a u-turn today with the announcement from everyone's favourite housing overlord, Caroline Flint, that they are now going to try and tackle the "problem" of "studentification". This is an issue that manages to branch all of the main parties as reprehensible with even supposedly student friendly MP for Bristol West, Stephen Williams, signing an EDM to tackle "studentification" through excessive planning regulations that would see local residents able to put a stop to student housing being created, certainly affordably so.

It's back, Politalks returns with its 8th episode belatedly tackling last weeks news. As usual it's not safe for work (NSFW) so make sure you've got headphones in if you're listening in the office! Transcript below the video, as usual any comments to the email.

Green taxes, apparently they will save the world. I on the other hand think that they are being mishandled and misused as a means for generating income off of people unfairly. Green taxes, at their best, are a means of penalising those that make active choices to do environmentally unfriendly things and to take money from them to actually go about solving this country's climate change issues.

At their worst, however, they are used to plug gaps in local governance finances with disregard to reality and to simply make it looks like something is being done to tackle climate change...even if it means telling supermarkets to generate more profits without a set plan on how to spend those profits on green initiatives.

As it happens David Cameron has wised up to this and becomes the only party leader so far to actually start thinking sensibly on the issue of climate change when it comes to Green Taxes, for whatever means that is.

Obviously I need to step carefully with this post given that the parents of Madeline McCann find plenty of time in their search of their missing daughter to sue the pants off of anyone that can help fund their mortgage repayments, but I'm surprised at myself for not having yet made a posting about this couple. The reason for the posting is news that a set of papers are giving the McCann's over £500,000 in a libel settlement and apologising to them for what they've reported.

Now I would usually be the first to say that firstly the tabloids deserve all that they get on this sort of issue and that secondly it serves them right for being speculative rumour mills rather than reporters of the news. However, I have to wonder what exactly it is they are apologising for?

Yes, it is not great, but after a delayed flight back in to the UK and generally being knackered by the time I finished the last week's Politalks it would be time to release next week's. So instead check out the site next week and see what me and Gavin have for you then!

So common sense, or rather legal sense, has prevailed. Manhunt 2, after being restricted and restricted again is now finally able to be purchased as an 18+ game as it should always have been. The BBFC tried to step above it's station with this one, as they have with other games and films in the past, and to try and restrict adults from being able to get the game because of rather weak arguments about children still being able to get hold of them. As it's been widely criticised for, it's not really the BBFC's position to state that parents and people are so shit at self censorship that they are allowed to become overlords of entertainment where they decide what is and isn't good for us. That doesn't stop them sounding particularly peeved at this fact though...

Quick note also, click the link below to continue reading my thoughts, but I am now off for a weekend break and haven't had time, unfortunately, to write up some articles to be published over the weekend. I'll be back with Politalks some time on Tuesday and hopefully some more on the inside of the budget report.

So the first part of my thoughts goes to Environmentally charged changes in the budget, potentially one of the biggest political areas in the budget that turned out to be more than a damp squib.

All in all I don't think that the budget we witnessed today was especially ground breaking. Commentators have already said about how most of it was expected and about the tone, my only interest is what the effects mean for people in the long run. Personally I don't think it is as bad as it could have been but it's certainly not favourable, certainly some of the "positives" are barely positives at all in more historical context and it's not within me to congratulate people for offering piecemeal as if it is a huge concession.