Do you want to discuss boring politics? (18 Viewers)

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Let’s be honest with the Tories at a low ebb one element of the party would have been preying he was fined

He's boring and a sneer but he's not stupid. He'll clearly have done his homework before making a pledge like that.
 

Ian1779

Well-Known Member
Great news about Starmer.

Whatever you think of his politics he's clearly a smart bloke and with his legal expertise he would have made sure his position was watertight before making the resignation promise. Tories did their best to lean on the police mind you.

I'd have been very disappointed if he'd had to resign, so I'm very happy with the news.

The Corbynites will be seething though.
Yeah I’m really seething waiting for Keith to deliver 9.5m votes at the next GE.
 

skybluetony176

Well-Known Member
Not that I am particularly keen to defend the 6th form debating captain but he was managing the economy through a pandemic from pretty much the beginning of his time in office.
You’re right of course but you don’t have to look hard to see some basic mistakes that has cost the public purse billions. Failing to insure debt against rising interest rates has cost the country an estimated £11B for instance and writing off an estimated lost £4B in stolen covid support money just for starters.
 
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Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
You’re right of course but you don’t have to look hard to see some basic mistakes that has cost the public purse billions. Failing to insure debt against rising interest rates for inflation has cost the country an estimated £11B for instance and writing off an estimated lost £4B in stolen covid support money just for starters.

Which is also true, but the ordinary person would probably agree with him if he went 'but we had a pandemic'.
 

skybluetony176

Well-Known Member
Which is also true, but the ordinary person would probably agree with him if he went 'but we had a pandemic'.
I’m hoping following the last few weeks people are starting to wise up and question these empty excuses that have become the go to for this administration and everyone who’s been involved in it.

Just watching the 10 O’clock news report from Leigh and there were no shortage of people who voted Tory in 2019 who feel lied too, especially regarding levelling up.
 
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Philosoraptor

Well-Known Member
I'm a great believer of the great Douglas Adams quote;

“Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.”

Also, anyone too eager to do the job should be avoided like the plague.

Wish list for the final two to include Jeremy Hunt, to give media the maximum opportunity to get his surname wrong, and the Margaret Thatcher tribute act.

liz-truss.gif
 

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
Shy Tory tactic no 1 "don't talk about politics"

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Poor old dear, probably can’t get a word in due to her gobby lefty mate 😉

Love the fact that they’re obviously great mates whatever their leanings though

Not that I am particularly keen to defend the 6th form debating captain but he was managing the economy through a pandemic from pretty much the beginning of his time in office.

Agreed. Although also see where NW is coming from. The interesting thing will be how much was Boris haphazard spending commitments impacting Sunaks wider plans. By all accounts Sunak wanted all commitments to be funded by increase in taxes, was that because he didn’t believe they were good/best ways of spending public money..or he’s just fiscally tight ?? (probably a bit of both)

I’d hope that all contenders will set out their proper plans. It’s such a fine balance at the moment between trying to stem inflation and investing for growth. To try to reduce inflation pressure direct personal assistance might have to be parked (apart from those worst off) which won’t go down well in short term and not ideal if there could be an election soon.

I just want to see some innovative ideas and clear plans to get through what will be a tricky couple of years whoever’s in charge. My concern is they all just focus on pleasing their base
 

clint van damme

Well-Known Member
Poor old dear, probably can’t get a word in due to her gobby lefty mate 😉

Love the fact that they’re obviously great mates whatever their leanings though



Agreed. Although also see where NW is coming from. The interesting thing will be how much was Boris haphazard spending commitments impacting Sunaks wider plans. By all accounts Sunak wanted all commitments to be funded by increase in taxes, was that because he didn’t believe they were good/best ways of spending public money..or he’s just fiscally tight ?? (probably a bit of both)

I’d hope that all contenders will set out their proper plans. It’s such a fine balance at the moment between trying to stem inflation and investing for growth. To try to reduce inflation pressure direct personal assistance might have to be parked (apart from those worst off) which won’t go down well in short term and not ideal if there could be an election soon.

I just want to see some innovative ideas and clear plans to get through what will be a tricky couple of years whoever’s in charge. My concern is they all just focus on pleasing their base

Well they couldstart by doing what the French have done and cap energy rises but they wouldn't want to upset the shareholders so screw everyone else.
 

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
Well they couldstart by doing what the French have done and cap energy rises but they wouldn't want to upset the shareholders so screw everyone else.

There's no doubt energy security/costs should be top of the list at the moment. I think EDF is pretty much already state owned already so they can cap and government pick up the tab. This will still cost the government though. We don’t quite have that but have the Ofgem price cap and government have been doing the additional rebates instead

The problem with this is it doesn’t help businesses who’s energy costs have gone through the roof (doubling and tripling in some cases) this is passed onto customers through inflated goods prices/inflation. I’ve said before I don’t think the energy companies will be making much if anything from retail/public at the moment …but will be from businesses

The government needs to find a solution to fuel and energy pressure quick though. Fortunately oil has dropped a bit recently but still not showing in pump prices, which is a disgrace. That’s why I wouldn’t have done the windfall tax immediately and said to BP and Shell stop profiteering or we’ll introduce windfall taxes, that could’ve reduced prices at pump for public and businesses…. if they reduce, other petrol stations will have to follow follow and this helps inflation across the board. If not, threaten to calculate what super profit you’ve made and do a windfall tax

The whole of Europe has got a massive issue with energy over winter due to Russian sanctions/war. Parking France I’m not sure any will be in much better position that us. Everyone’s been focussed on green energy (understandable) but without recognising that puts us all beholden to people like Putin for the time being. Just look at Germany

Sorry for the long ramble but just trying to show there’s a number of things at play here. There’s no simple answers unfortunately
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Agreed. Although also see where NW is coming from. The interesting thing will be how much was Boris haphazard spending commitments impacting Sunaks wider plans. By all accounts Sunak wanted all commitments to be funded by increase in taxes, was that because he didn’t believe they were good/best ways of spending public money..or he’s just fiscally tight ?? (probably a bit of both)

I’d hope that all contenders will set out their proper plans. It’s such a fine balance at the moment between trying to stem inflation and investing for growth. To try to reduce inflation pressure direct personal assistance might have to be parked (apart from those worst off) which won’t go down well in short term and not ideal if there could be an election soon.

I just want to see some innovative ideas and clear plans to get through what will be a tricky couple of years whoever’s in charge. My concern is they all just focus on pleasing their base

My concern is that this like other problems facing society at large requires expertise, nuance and long term thinking. We don’t have a political system or dare I say an electorate that encourages that but instead encourages short term promises and flashy slogans.

I would very much like to see VAT scrapped or substantially lowered and the minimum wage to go up but beyond that one has to look at the root cause of the inflation. Lowering trade barriers with the EU would likely help but be unpopular with people who conflate that with wanting to rejoin. The energy price crisis could be eased by switching to nuclear, but instead the government is focused on coal mines instead because it wins votes.

It’s a time for technocrats to be in office but our system makes it very hard for such people to get elected.
 

clint van damme

Well-Known Member
There's no doubt energy security/costs should be top of the list at the moment. I think EDF is pretty much already state owned already so they can cap and government pick up the tab. This will still cost the government though. We don’t quite have that but have the Ofgem price cap and government have been doing the additional rebates instead

The problem with this is it doesn’t help businesses who’s energy costs have gone through the roof (doubling and tripling in some cases) this is passed onto customers through inflated goods prices/inflation. I’ve said before I don’t think the energy companies will be making much if anything from retail/public at the moment …but will be from businesses

The government needs to find a solution to fuel and energy pressure quick though. Fortunately oil has dropped a bit recently but still not showing in pump prices, which is a disgrace. That’s why I wouldn’t have done the windfall tax immediately and said to BP and Shell stop profiteering or we’ll introduce windfall taxes, that could’ve reduced prices at pump for public and businesses…. if they reduce, other petrol stations will have to follow follow and this helps inflation across the board. If not, threaten to calculate what super profit you’ve made and do a windfall tax

The whole of Europe has got a massive issue with energy over winter due to Russian sanctions/war. Parking France I’m not sure any will be in much better position that us. Everyone’s been focussed on green energy (understandable) but without recognising that puts us all beholden to people like Putin for the time being. Just look at Germany

Sorry for the long ramble but just trying to show there’s a number of things at play here. There’s no simple answers unfortunately

We have totally mismanaged our energy, (and water) for years with privatisation playing a big part of it.
Its time to go back to the drawing board. Martin Lewis claims these latest price rises will push 10 million people into poverty. I don't know if that's true but even if it's a tenth of that its scandalous.
(Cue some tory fan boy waffling on about how badly Germany are doing as if that makes our situation OK).
 

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