General News

[Sly]

Just now, Daggers said:

I'm still available and might consider another interview if you sort my expenses for it this time.

 

I’ll ask the team the pencil you in for 9AM on Friday? Or is that too early? 

[Daggers]

1 minute ago, Sly said:

I’ll ask the team the pencil you in for 9AM on Friday? Or is that too early? 

Some time around 4pm would be better, I can call in at Spoons on the way.

[Sly]

Just now, Daggers said:

Some time around 4pm would be better, I can call in at Spoons on the way.

No worries, if you please come in semi sober, so you could ideally pass the the drugs and alcohol test upon arrival, I’d appreciate that. 

[Daggers]

Just now, Sly said:

No worries, if you please come in semi sober, so you could ideally pass the the drugs and alcohol test upon arrival, I’d appreciate that. 

 

Don't need to be sober, I've a pot of piss from one of our dogs. 

[Daggers]

It's not like I'd ever work without drugs and alcohol - who would?

[Sly]

1 minute ago, Daggers said:

It's not like I'd ever work without drugs and alcohol - who would?

Performance Enhancing Drugs.

[Daggers]

1 minute ago, Sly said:

Performance Enhancing Drugs.

Err, yeh, if you like. You're the boss.

 

Anyway, book me in for holidays from now till December, I've got something important on with Barry Fingers and it's probably going to be big. If it goes wrong then I may need to extend the holiday by 18 months.

[Lionator]

1 hour ago, Sly said:

What’s the consensus from everyone so far on how labour are getting on? 

I know I’m a Tory standing in a mostly labour field when I say this, however I think they’re definitely more centre right than what most people were expecting. 

 

By the way, I don’t agree with the cutting of fuel payments. I’d bloody means test everyone! If you’re a two person family living in a 10 bedroom house and can’t afford it, as you’ve had to put fuel in your yacht, it’s different to being 2 people in a 1 bedroom flat etc etc Same as a single parent grafting to put food on table working 50+ hours a week, compared to the people who won’t even attempt to find a job. 
 

And I shiz you not, we had someone turn up for an interview last year in a dressing gown and slippers! Seriously! Clearly didn’t want the job. 

 

 

They’re further to the right because they’re allowing Reeves to dictate policy, she is arguably as right as Osbourne was. We don’t need radical socialism but we do need investment in the state, infrastructure and housing, and it’s going to take out of the box thinking that they just don’t have. 
 

It’s the same old growth before investment rather than investing to grow. Basically reinforcing every problem that has kept Western European economies stagnant for decades. 
 

 

[Sampson]

33 minutes ago, Lionator said:

They’re further to the right because they’re allowing Reeves to dictate policy, she is arguably as right as Osbourne was. We don’t need radical socialism but we do need investment in the state, infrastructure and housing, and it’s going to take out of the box thinking that they just don’t have. 
 

It’s the same old growth before investment rather than investing to grow. Basically reinforcing every problem that has kept Western European economies stagnant for decades. 
 

 

The way Starmer back peddled on a lot of things made me also think populism wins in the end through all these cycles.

 

Think of the most populist ideas the post-2019 Tory government did - giving yhe home sec the total power to shut down any protests the government doesn’t like, making certain people into literal second class citizens and giving the government powers to revoke citizenship in the borders and nationality bill, making it much harder for British citizens to bring their foreign partners over, needlessly brutal hard Brexit - all the things the moderates hated and planned to reverse but as soon as they got in power and things you’d expect Starmer would never support. But things Starmer ended up talking himself out of and won’t change back because he got too scared of Sunak’s attacks during the election.

Edited 11 September by Sampson

[EastAnglianFox]

Christ 

 

 

[Super_horns]

Sounds like he is going to be hammering the NHS tomorrow.

 

Guess most people have had good and bad experience using the system .

Often the problems start with the GPs and not getting appointments then all the usual issues with lack of beds etc .

[Tommy G]

4 hours ago, Sly said:

What’s the consensus from everyone so far on how labour are getting on? 

I know I’m a Tory standing in a mostly labour field when I say this, however I think they’re definitely more centre right than what most people were expecting. 

 

By the way, I don’t agree with the cutting of fuel payments. I’d bloody means test everyone! If you’re a two person family living in a 10 bedroom house and can’t afford it, as you’ve had to put fuel in your yacht, it’s different to being 2 people in a 1 bedroom flat etc etc Same as a single parent grafting to put food on table working 50+ hours a week, compared to the people who won’t even attempt to find a job. 
 

And I shiz you not, we had someone turn up for an interview last year in a dressing gown and slippers! Seriously! Clearly didn’t want the job. 

 

 

Poor - but I did bleat on about this pre election, he is weak and has no plan - and proven to be a centrist, he hoodwinked a majority and is now a rabbit in the headlights - bent over on public sector pay, daft decision on the winter fuel allowance and no news on the horizon on wealth tax - the budget will be depressing.

 

I fear he will talk about the previous government not only for 3 months but for 3 years and people will get sick of it. Brian Badonde won’t make it til the end of his term. 

[leicsmac]

Starmer has hardly set the world alight with his decision making so far, but then there's a long way to go and of course the press and social media talking heads would jump on him for the slightest infraction from minute one, no matter how well-meaning - the press have done the same with every Labour leader apart from Blair, that's just the way things are.

[Sly]

18 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Starmer has hardly set the world alight with his decision making so far, but then there's a long way to go and of course the press and social media talking heads would jump on him for the slightest infraction from minute one, no matter how well-meaning - the press have done the same with every Labour leader apart from Blair, that's just the way things are.

I don’t think he can do wrong for doing right, as with every politician. Ultimately whatever decision they make, it will be perceived to be incorrect by a % of the population. 

[leicsmac]

8 minutes ago, Sly said:

I don’t think he can do wrong for doing right, as with every politician. Ultimately whatever decision they make, it will be perceived to be incorrect by a % of the population. 

Agreed.

 

And in this digital era, that percentage can cast a very long shadow.

 

It's darkly amusing that the advent of such tech was viewed as a social leveller when it first became big (by me too); now it appears clear it just grants power to a different kind of "few".

[Sly]

Just now, leicsmac said:

Agreed.

 

And in this digital era, that percentage can cast a very long shadow.

 

It's darkly amusing that the advent of such tech was viewed as a social leveller when it first became big (by me too); now it appears clear it just grants power to a different kind of "few".

Social media’s greatest power, is the art of manipulation.

 

 

[RobHawk]

I think it's too early days really. We knew the mess they inherited would take years to sort not 2 months.  

 

The talk the day after the election was a term to fix and a term to really get stuck into the good stuff. 

 

I actually don't have an issue with winter fuel payments, not a vote winner but the Tories cut the shit out of everyone except the pensioners, so it's a tiny bit of pain for very few of them. All the pensioners I know will either still get it, or certainly won't miss it. Even if it doesn't save money, it's targeting the money to those who do actually need it. 

 

I would like to see more of a wealth tax for the very top of the scale as well and I don't think that will come, but I'll reserve overall judgement for this time next year when we have a bigger picture of how things are going. 

[Zear0]

2 hours ago, Sly said:

I don’t think he can do wrong for doing right, as with every politician. Ultimately whatever decision they make, it will be perceived to be incorrect by a % of the population. 

Agree he's up against it. Inherited a situation so dire yet people have this expectation we'd all be skipping along on gold plated roads by now. 

 

At least we're back to people disagreeing about policies and now the absolute circus we were living in during Boris onwards. 

 

I thought they dealt with the riots in a grown up way. Deployed more police and threw these scumbags away so quickly it gave the rest of the clowns second thoughts and stopped it dead. Also didn't crack and recall parliament to give the "whilst I condemn the rioters, they do have a point" crew (Farage, Suella etc.) a grandstanding opportunity.

 

Unfortunately for Labour, they seem to just be fixing the mess that means they can't really do anything positive until they've found out what was swept under the rug. 

 

The prisons shambles is a disgrace as the previous lot sat on this knowing it was a problem but felt the only solution was unpopular so buried it. Same for Hunt and his inept budgeting where he'd allocate £300mil to a department whilst promising several billions of output. 

 

I found @Tommy Gpost slightly cringe tbh as the Conservatives were blaming Labour for 14 years on global financial crash that want even their fault. To criticise them for blaming the previous incumbents whilst only a week beyond the summer recess is a bit desperate.

 

The winter fuel payment thing is a bit weird too. Given previous form from the Tories, to criticise means tested benefits is so rich it makes me laugh. These were the people withholding benefits to the dying when they couldn't work so the idea they're now the compassionate ones is just plain daft. They're just standing up for their only remaining voter base that they've shielded from their destruction of society for 14 years for purely political means. As I posted earlier, to be against the winter fuel payment being means tested, yet in favour of the two-child benefit is illogical. I said previously that Labour not abolishing that policy immediately is shameful even if I suspect it's coming after this review. 

 

I'm actually pleased with how it's going. Their just getting on and fixing the problems in a grown up manner. People can moan about the payrises, but it's cost far less than the damage the strikes are done and the country is better for it. Unfortunately it will take some time for the right wing rags and the remaining Tory apologists to remember what competent government looks like as they've spent so long defending the most corrupt and incompetent government we've had in generations. 

 

*Edit* I aim to please

Edited 12 September by Zear0

[Tommy G]

1 hour ago, Zear0 said:

Agree he's up against it. Inherited a situation so dire yet people have this expectation we'd all be skipping along on gold plated roads by now. 

 

At least we're back to people disagreeing about policies and now the absolute circus we were living in during Boris onwards. 

 

I thought they dealt with the riots in a grown up way. Deployed more police and threw these scumbags away so quickly it gave the rest of the clowns second thoughts and stopped it dead. Also didn't crack and recall parliament to give the "whilst I condemn the rioters, they do have a point" crew (Farage, Suella etc.) a grandstanding opportunity.

 

Unfortunately for Labour, they seem to just be fixing the mess that means they can't really do anything positive until they've found out what was swept under the rug. 

 

The prisons shambles is a disgrace as the previous lot sat on this knowing it was a problem but felt the only solution was unpopular so buried it. Same for Hunt and his inept budgeting where he'd allocate £300mil to a department whilst promising several billions of output. 

 

I found Tommy's post slightly cringe tbh as the Conservatives were blaming Labour for 14 years on global financial crash that want even their fault. To criticise them for blaming the previous incumbents whilst only a week beyond the summer recess is a bit desperate.

 

The winter fuel payment thing is a bit weird too. Given previous form from the Tories, to criticise means tested benefits is so rich it makes me laugh. These were the people withholding benefits to the dying when they couldn't work so the idea they're now the compassionate ones is just plain daft. They're just standing up for their only remaining voter base that they've shielded from their destruction of society for 14 years for purely political means. As I posted earlier, to be against the winter fuel payment being means tested, yet in favour of the two-child benefit is illogical. I said previously that Labour not abolishing that policy immediately is shameful even if I suspect it's coming after this review. 

 

I'm actually pleased with how it's going. Their just getting on and fixing the problems in a grown up manner. People can moan about the payrises, but it's cost far less than the damage the strikes are done and the country is better for it. Unfortunately it will take some time for the right wing rags and the remaining Tory apologists to remember what competent government looks like as they've spent so long defending the most corrupt and incompetent government we've had in generations. 

 

 

If you are going to mention me, at least do this @Zear0

 

I said I thought the Pension decision was wrong (even some of his own MPs will agree, just pick up a paper or read the news) but they don't want to lose the whip so voted in favour, furthermore wasn't something he discussed in the manifesto. I think he baulked at some of the above inflation wage increases in the public sector to a tune of £9bn.

 

What I can agree with you on is talking about policies rather than scandal - if he makes a string of political mistakes you would at least expect him to hold his position with integrity. 

 

Time will tell, it's too early - there needs to be a wealth tax in the budget 100%, Blair would of done this without thinking and I think that just shows you the creep to the centre.  

[Super_horns]

2 hours ago, Sly said:

I don’t think he can do wrong for doing right, as with every politician. Ultimately whatever decision they make, it will be perceived to be incorrect by a % of the population. 

I guess the problem is they can never please everyone?

 

Maybe tax the very rich more to help others who need the money?

Or on the other hand make sure those who are claiming and getting benefits actually need to.

[Foxdiamond]

From this forum and others it does often seem there is a need by some to divide between the age groups in the country that would cause outrage if trying to divide along other differences in the community. Pensioners are not all the same. A mix of wealthy, poor and everything in between. Often with younger members of their family that they support financially and practically or simply care and worry about. Of course some older people are as guilty of division as others. As for the Labour government I understand that there is a difficult balance to be made and WFA is not a sacred cow. Just a bit surprised that it was one of the first targets especially when no mention going into election. I suspect if only a majority of say 15 seats or so than it would not have happened at least not yet.

[izzymuzzet]

I'm disappointed by the poor arguments Labour is putting up for means testing the winter fuel allowance to be honest.

 

There's a fairly straightforward and reasonable justifcation for withdrawing it from all but the poorest pensioners. When it was introduced in 1997, the UK pension was one of the least generous in Europe, now it's about average. Pensioners in 1997 were the age cohort most likely to be in poverty, now they're the age group least likely to be in poverty. The introduction of the triple lock in 2010 means the state pension has risen above the level of inflation for almost 15 years. Last year the state pension went up by £900 a year and next year will go up by almost £500. In this context there is a good argument to means test the allowance.

 

I feel people would be much more receptive to this message than the nonsense 'we have to do this otherwise the bond markets will crash' stuff we've heard from ministers in the last couple of weeks.

[Dahnsouff]

9 hours ago, Sly said:

I don’t think he can do wrong for doing right, as with every politician. Ultimately whatever decision they make, it will be perceived to be incorrect by a % of the population. 

Feels very disingenuous to be honest, as he is punishing a section of the population who cannot strike, cannot withhold their labour, and all that for a recouped value which makes little effort to plug this fiscal gap.

[Daggers]

6 hours ago, Foxdiamond said:

From this forum and others it does often seem there is a need by some to divide between the age groups in the country that would cause outrage if trying to divide along other differences in the community. Pensioners are not all the same. A mix of wealthy, poor and everything in between. Often with younger members of their family that they support financially and practically or simply care and worry about. Of course some older people are as guilty of division as others. As for the Labour government I understand that there is a difficult balance to be made and WFA is not a sacred cow. Just a bit surprised that it was one of the first targets especially when no mention going into election. I suspect if only a majority of say 15 seats or so than it would not have happened at least not yet.

It’s not about it being a sacred cow. It’s about logic. If the party is serious about encouraging all onto pension credits that are entitled, thereby boosting their ability to meet fuel bills, then the ensuing saving from scrapping the WFA is all but wiped out. So what is the point?

 

Upset pensioners, upset MPs, incensed party members, and a nonplussed public for no financial or political gain. It’s lunacy.

[davieG]

2 hours ago, izzymuzzet said:

Last year the state pension went up by £900 a year and next year will go up by almost £500. In this context there is a good argument to means test the allowance.

Not for all pensioners.