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A badly run contract that results in a hospital or new schools is still better off for everyone than containers full of PPE sitting uselessly
Great. Celebrate the fact that Labour are bad, but just not as bad as the Tories.
What more could anyone ask for?
I feel spoilt.
Armrest has been busily expelling any socialists whose aim was to raise the bar. Progress will only come from industrial action and will be opposed Westmister whoever's residing at No 10.
I was picking up on the assumption that economically we would be in the same boat if we'd had either party for the last 13 years, which I disagreed with.
I do also think it's a simplification to say Labour will continue down the same path as the current lot. They're taking the approach to cost their manifesto rather than promise the unicorns and sunshine like the usual approach. Do I wish they'd be a bit bolder? Yes. Would that get them elected? No.
There's this fallacy that the conservatives are the party of growth and the economy, unfortunately that means placating the swing voters.
Read into the labour approach and it's scalable, get the income and invest it. They're going to inherit a frankly ludicrous borrowing position with high inflation. Even if you buy into MMT, that creates a situation where generation of additional capital for investment would devalue the currency and potentially drive inflation up again.
labour have made clear they will stick with the same sort of spending levels as the Tories.
As much as that? In an article for the Financial Times John Hutton and Alan Millburn boasted that New Labour had spent less than the Tories:
"Public spending accounted for about 40 per cent of gross domestic product during Margaret Thatcher’s years as prime minister. Under John Major it was 38 per cent; since 2010 it has been almost 41 per cent. Under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, the figure was 37 per cent."
https://www.ft.com/content/3ea5fbaa-a625-11e4-9bd3-00144feab7de
They’re taking the approach to cost their manifesto rather than promise the unicorns and sunshine like the usual approach. Do I wish they’d be a bit bolder? Yes. Would that get them elected? No.
Well it's not likely to get them elected if it is repeatedly claimed that it is unachievable and talk of unicorns is thrown into the argument.
No great surprise there.
close down another thread.
The thread doesn't appear closed. You are free to carry on complaining how vile Rishi Sunak and all Tories are.
What's the problem, someone posted an opinion that you don't agree with?
I've written to my MP (Labour), we shall see if I get a response, but at least I can try and add my voice to show that people do want a greener environment, better rail links and to row back from the car is king culture.
The current staffing crisis in FE has been caused by him and his Conservative colleagues.
Cut and paste this response into the Police, the NHS, Dentistry, the Courts, the prisons, and so on and on. That Sunak is posing as the "Change candidate" is clearly a deliberate ploy to separate himself from previous Tory administrations destruction of the funding of these things. I don't think folks are going to be fooled TBH.
I don’t think folks are going to be fooled TBH.
Thats the issue here. He can promise gold-plated unicorns, unlimited free Greggs and a kitten to every home in the country, but we've been listening to the same bollocks for years and they never ever deliver. Everything you've mentioned - the Police, the NHS, Dentistry, the Courts, the prisons, and so on and on - just keeps getting worse, depite us having the highest tax rates since the 1950's, so that its difficult to get away from the impression that nothing works any more
With all those Transport schemes that Sunak reeled off yesterday... does anyone believe for a second that any of that will be built? What about these 40 hospitals? You'd have to be pretty bloody gullible to believe any of it after a decade of broken promises
That Sunak is posing as the “Change candidate” is clearly a deliberate ploy to separate himself from previous Tory administrations destruction of the funding of these things.
He certainly seemed pissed off at the people who've been running the country recently...
That Sunak is posing as the “Change candidate” is clearly a deliberate ploy to separate himself from previous Tory administrations destruction of the funding of these things.
He has obviously seen the polls which show an overwhelming desire by the electorate for "change".
Not only did 75% of people tell More in Common that they thought it was time for a change of government, that figure also included 47% of those who voted Conservative in 2019 and 79% of voters in the “Red Wall” that helped deliver Boris Johnson’s victory four years ago.
The crumb of hope for Sunak is that the polls suggest that voters aren't entirely convinced that change will come Labour, so he is attempting to offer himself as the man to deliver change.
He said: “We know that when there’s a ‘time for change’ mood in the electorate, it’s very hard to push against that.”
However, he added, voters were “not necessarily convinced that Labour would do a better job of running the country”, with 32% saying the opposition would do better and 27% saying Labour would do worse.
Only 32% are convinced that Labour would do a better job? The overwhelming majority believe that it is a case of 'two cheeks of the same arse'?
And here lies the problem:
Mr Tryl pointed to recent focus groups in which voters had said they were “sick to death” of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticising the Government and not setting out what he would do instead.
Rishi Sunak is obviously exploiting this and saying "never mind Starmer, I am the man to deliver change....here are all my great ideas ".
I can't see it saving him from losing the next general election but Labour's ineptitude is the only lifeline he has which he can cling to.
You’d have to be pretty bloody gullible to believe any of it after a decade of broken promises
And here is the nub. I am not convinced that the great British voters won't be lulled in by tory lies promises again because you know, Corbyn and all that.
Habitual arsonist turns up to offer renovation services for burnt-out houses.
I'm sure there are plenty of people gullible enough to believe it because they were already reluctant Labour voters, and it won't take much window-dressing to tip them back over to either not voting or voting Tory.
I just tried to book a follow up appointment at my docs for ongoing depression/anxiety issues. I was told that there wasn't one available, not even a telephone consultation. I'm used to having to wait 4-5 weeks for one of these but nothing.When I reminded the receptionist of the reason for my call and what would be the situation if I was calling because I was in crisis, I was advised to make an E-Consult and try ringing back tomorrow.
Absolutely broken system.
Do I have any hope that Labour would improve the situation ? None whatsoever. In fact if Starmer set out a plan to resolve these issues, I'd fully expect him to reverse ferret on it eventually anyway
he is attempting to offer himself as the man to deliver change.
So, my money's on a Spring election then, because if you're setting yourself up as a change candidate, that's going to be pretty much past it's sell by date in a year's time when nothing has happened.
Apparently he has been reported to the police, regarding his remarks about Nicola Sturgeon.
They've just said on the news that average rents have gone up by 12% in the last 12 months. Thats no doubt caused by the huge rises in mortgage payments being passed on to tenants. Liz and Kwasi's comedically stupid mini-budget carries on echoing through the real economy a year later, yet she's still the golden girl with the Tory faithful
I don't know about anyone else but I worryingly have every faith that the general public will swallow the Tory lies and bullshit and vote them back in. It all hinges on the Labour conference and which way the press swing in the weeks leading up to the vote.
Apparently he has been reported to the police, regarding his remarks about Nicola Sturgeon.
Excellent, although it'll just be an investigation followed by no action.
Do I have any hope that Labour would improve the situation ? None whatsoever. In fact if Starmer set out a plan to resolve these issues, I’d fully expect him to reverse ferret on it eventually anyway
Then you're ignoring the historical fact that the NHS has always been better under Labour.
They’ve just said on the news that average rents have gone up by 12% in the last 12 months. Thats no doubt caused by the huge rises in mortgage payments being passed on to tenants.
That's the average, city rents are well above that. Over the summer rents in Bristol and Cardiff were going up 5% every month at minimum with most places going for more than advertised thanks to bidding wars. It is so bad I had to give up my job as I couldn't move close enough to not have a massive commute, I'm not the only one.
@reluctantjumper - its just another sign of a totally dysfunctional housing market that neither Rishi or any other Tory even mentioned at conference this week. And we all know why... because most Tory MPs are landlords themselves, sat on nice property portfolios and represent only the interests of property owners and landlords
I just find it unfathomable that anyone can look at these increases in mortgages and rents, as well as other cost of living increases and even consider voting for these sharks
See landlords just pass the cost on to renters. What about home owners? Have to swallow the extra cost. along with being told pay rises are inflationary.
I hope Labour have a plan to get us out of this hole
rent rises capped in Scotland. 3% but you can apply for up to 6% in case of financial hardship.
Then you’re ignoring the historical fact that the NHS has always been better under Labour.
No, I'm just aware that historically, Labour was a left leaning party that would prioritise public services and nothing that they say now makes me think that they still are.
Or, for that matter that they are any more trustworthy than the Tories, given Starmer's own history of abandoning promises and pledges.
Absolutely broken system.
Do I have any hope that Labour would improve the situation ? None whatsoever. In fact if Starmer set out a plan to resolve these issues, I’d fully expect him to reverse ferret on it eventually anyway
It's broken because of 13 years of Tory rule - austerity, Brexit, general politics and the desire to see most of the NHS sold off to private healthcare - to achieve that you defund it until it falls to bits, claim you have the ideal way of fixing it and then sell it to your mate who just happens to be in private health...
Same across a lot of areas - education, defence, transport, health... Underpay / undervalue the workers, blame them when it all breaks, carve it up and sell it off in order to "inject the necessary funding". Funding that you took away from them in the first place.
There is no easy fix. It takes a decade of hard work to get back to where you were at which point the public get bored of a Labour Government, bored of waiting for this promised land and vote the Tories back in who then go about systematically dismantling it all again. Every bloody time.
Some examples (NHS being one) are so complicated and have so many facets elsewhere that they can basically never be fixed. You don't necessarily need to throw money into the black hole of NHS to "fix" it - if you build better active travel infrastructure, more people walk and cycle and are generally healthier plus there are fewer crashes (because you've separated out the cyclists and the cars) so - long term - it saves the NHS a lot of money in terms of better overall health and fewer traumatic injuries to mend.
Funding community schemes and social care means fewer mental health and palliative care issues being referred into the NHS so again, a cost saving there.
But none of that really comes across well in election pledges. "We'll send the NHS £350 a week" is a nice easy one - you can paint that on the side of a bus...
Apparently he has been reported to the police, regarding his remarks about Nicola Sturgeon.
It's a nonsense complaint by a member of a fringe political party. A total waste of Police Scotland’s time.
rent rises capped in Scotland. 3% but you can apply for up to 6% in case of financial hardship.
That only applies to existing Tenants.We’ve just got a rented hoose, the old Tenants paid £500 a month, we have to pay £600, and 3 months upfront (+ deposit) . the 3 months upfront was to stop us walking out after a month (no minimum term here).
"Or, for that matter that they are any more trustworthy than the Tories, given Starmer’s own history of abandoning promises and pledges."
Hook, line and sinker...
Which bit of they're not in Govt and until they get the keys (Sunak calling a GE and then they're briefed by the Civil Service) they'll not know the actually state of either the economy or country are you missing?
It’s a nonsense complaint by a member of a fringe political party. A total waste of Police Scotland’s time.
Or a slanderous statement made by the political leader of a country who should know better
44 seats is not fringe
Is it me, or does everyone at the Tory conference, including Mr Sunak, seem to be very angry about the way the country has been run for the past 13 years?
“Or, for that matter that they are any more trustworthy than the Tories, given Starmer’s own history of abandoning promises and pledges.”
Hook, line and sinker…
Which bit of they’re not in Govt and until they get the keys (Sunak calling a GE and then they’re briefed by the Civil Service) they’ll not know the actually state of either the economy or country are you missing?
So why are they abandoning promises and pledges without even knowing the actually state of either the economy or country?
It seems a strange thing to do.
Politicians usually wait until they have actually won an election before carrying out U-turns.
Perhaps he feels he doesn't need to wait because he is so confident that he will win?
Politicians usually wait until they have actually won an election before carrying out U-turns
Less than 24hrs after Sunak declared a load of extra investment in the North including reopening the Leamside Line (rail line in County Durham) there was a small U-turn to them announcing that they wouldn't be reopening the Leamside Line.
Even a Boris Promise lasted longer than 24hrs!
He's not waiting because he's making it very clear he's following a conservative agenda. At the beginning of lockdown in response to pleas for rent and mortgage holidays he came out in support of the banks and landlords, and that was in opposition. Getting the money in before spending it is a euphemism for neoliberal trickle down, despite it never working, anywhere.
that they wouldn’t be reopening the Leamside Line.
That would of made a massive difference to public transport in the NE. Commuter trains on the ECML don't really work.
The A1 and A19 are always congested and the bus services are painfully slow.
For those asking what Labour would do differently...well Labour have to be very careful about stating policies.
Case in point, the graduated smoking ban announced yesterday - announced by Labour in January of this year. (Labour stole it from the NZ gov no doubt.)
predictably
https://twitter.com/danhollandnews/status/1709908649177461048?t=w5k9pqbK4TpxdzV33Tq62w&s=19
Polite camera action
Scots law is different. Sunank has technically broken the law
But yes it is grandstanding by an irrelevant noise from a fringe oarty that has never won a seat Alba
Entertainingly, they promised an extension to the Manchester tram network to serve Manchester Airport. Manchester Evening News have taken great delight in pointing out that it already exists and opened in 2014.
They did the same with Nottingham, suggesting that the ££££ they were going to throw at the region could be used to extend the tram to Clifton South - an extension which has been in full service for 8 years already.
Someone at DfT hasn't been doing their homework, they've simply put together a list of things that £1bn could buy.
And then the ones they've discovered are valid (like reopening Leamside which the region has been begging for for a decade), they've U-turned on.
Zombie Government. No-one has a clue.
BBC website reporting that HS2 will not extend from Old Oak Common to Euston without private sector investment.
I must have missed that caveat when sunak said ...HS2 will go to Euston.
If the reporting is correct that, after reducing the number of platforms from 11 to 6 and announcing intentions to 'simplify the design', will reinforce the view that sunak and his goverment are duplicitous, untrustworthy, don't have a shred of
credibility and have no concept of honesty.
In fact, none of them could even spell honesty let alone practice it.
No wonder sunak has scuttled off to some conference in the Caribbean Spain.
Is it me, or does everyone at the Tory conference, including Mr Sunak, seem to be very angry about the way the country has been run for the past 13 years?
Which is reasonable. As the self professed party of personal responsibility it must be really aggravating for them to have to deal not only with the mess whoever has been running it for 13 years has caused but also how they avoid taking responsibility.
BBC website reporting that HS2 will not extend from Old Oak Common to Euston without private sector investment.
So they are actually going to spend all those billions on a complete white elephant then
So they are actually going to spend all those billions on a complete white elephant then
They spent billions on substandard PPE during Covid then billions more to store it then dispose of it later... 🤷🏻♂️
What'll happen here is they'll eventually decide to grub up the bits of HS2 that they've built and convert it all to a big motorway.
For all the very important drivers because everyone knows we're a nation of drivers.
Entertainingly, they promised an extension to the Manchester tram network to serve Manchester Airport. Manchester Evening News have taken great delight in pointing out that it already exists and opened in 2014.
Bloody hell that's insane.
If it only gets as far as old oak common it will be utterly pointless
Faisal Islam has just been on R4 pulling sunak's proposals to bits.
I hope he's on Newsnight later to expand on the 'inconsistencies' in Network North which, as he rightly pointed out, isn't a network.
One of his comments, repeating what he heard from a source, was along the lines of...it's as if a civil servant had been given a map and a box of crayons; a reasonable summary, I think.
This is falling apart as it doesn't stand up to any meaningful scrutiny.