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Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse Tony Blair comes along and sticks his oar in.
https://twitter.com/ChaplainChloe/status/1725557445387329555
War raging in the Middle East? Labour in a moral crises? Quick....
call Tony Blair!
Apologies wrong thread^^
If anyone has avoided the "obesity in the UK" thread, I think it shows a perfect example of the "secret tories". People who no doubt rail against the tories in a public display on political threads, but when it becomes a subject where they don't realise their political actions are displayed they let their guards down and the right wing polemic flows, they become anti fact, anti science and display the "I'm alright jack anyone who isn't like me is stupid and lazy" attitude so loved by the far right propogandists.
It was ever thus. The sad fact is that we have the Lee Anderson’s, Gullis and Bravermans because large numbers of people voted for them and their lazy scapegoating and demonising of the weak and vulnerable
Meanwhile it looks like Jeremy Hunt is preparing a tax give away to the 4% of society that need it the very least, by abolishing inheritance tax, and paying for this by further slashing benefits to the very poorest in society
They’ll spin this grotesque inequality by parroting the myth that tax cuts for the rich somehow increases investment (it doesn’t) and that those at the bottom of the pile are scroungers who are undeserving of empathy, compassion or public support
It’s a depressingly familiar narrative that even more depressingly has a ready, receptive audience
but when it becomes a subject where they don’t realise their political actions are displayed they let their guards down and the right wing polemic flows
We're on a forum where a lot of discussions is on what opulent purchase shall i make this month, we list in the west and most of us live in the grey day to day, we 'hate' capitalism, but fuel it, we 'hate' poverty, but rarely do anything locally to help out and so on.
Meanwhile it looks like Jeremy Hunt is preparing a tax give away to the 4% of society that need it the very least, by abolishing inheritance tax, and paying for this by further slashing benefits to the very poorest in society
He's being driven to do this by metrics in some way, which means it's aimed, and whatever other carrot/stick policies are aimed to maximising voting output for tories. People will moan, but will be happy to get the benefit of these changes and spend it on more stuff.
People will moan, but will be happy to get the benefit of these changes and spend it on more stuff.
The 4% will moan about getting more money from inheritance when it happens?
As with so many things in life, the Boris Johnson argument for Hunt abolishing inheritance tax this week has more front than Blackpool
Mr Johnson said: “We had cushy pensions, we had free university education, we had cheaper mortgages, we were able to buy our homes. Things are so much harder for those who come after us in the UK.
“Isn’t it right, therefore, that of the colossal wealth we have been able to accumulate, we should be able to leave a little bit more behind? That’s why I’m calling for a cut to inheritance tax.”
And it seems that in vocalising that particular argument, if that’s what it is, he reflects the views of the moneyed classes that represent those at the top of the Tory party
Inequality has allowed me to become insanely rich for no good reason other than luck of birth, therefore I demand my god-given right to further entrench this inequality
Why anyone who isn’t part of this rich elite would vote for this is completely beyond me, but you’ll be unsurprised to hear that he published that in the Daily Mail where I’m sure it was well received
People will moan, but will be happy to get the benefit of these changes and spend it on more stuff.
Err… next to no one will be getting any benefits from these changes… and nearly everyone will be materially worse off if the government prioritises tax cuts for the rich over sorting this _______ country out. We’ll all keep finding that our incomes go less far as the cost of living in a crumbling country continues to rise.
Inheritance tax changes - do they really have nothing to do with this story about a Tory party donor facing a massive inheritance tax bill?
EDIT: I had not realised that this same guy paid for Johnson's wedding:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/27/who-is-anthony-bamford-the-billionaire-super-donor
Definitely nothing to see here.
Don't worry, we can more than afford the loss in IHT for those where it applies, because instead of increasing benefits in line with inflation using the Sept number as has been done previously, we're going to use the lower October one
Balance restored 🙄
Reverse Robin Hood. Again.
I often remind my son when bemoaning the state of pretty much every public service and government institution in the UK that it's not because there isn't enough money in the country to fund them. There is plenty of money in the UK, plenty, but it's mostly in too few people's hands and the government is actively ensuring that continues.
On a political level, the inheritance tax change is insanity. It just makes sure everyone knows where their true values lie and pretty much winds up the red wall "miracle" of 2019. Those Tory MP's face oblivion in the GE.
As many of you have said, this is aimed at historically safe seats to attempt to prevent a complete wipeout at the GE.
Just watching Hunt on channel 4 news and he’s said that they’re specifically targeting sick and disabled benefits to save themselves a few billion
They’ve had it too cushy for too long, sick and disabled people. They should rightly be prepared to make sacrifices so that rich people can hand on their wealth to their offspring without paying tax
They’ve had it too cushy for too long, sick and disabled people. They should rightly be prepared to make sacrifices so that rich people can hand on their wealth to their offspring without paying tax<br /><br />
Damn right, one less day in Wetherspoons or a couple of packet of fags a week less for the lazy layabouts!
I just don't drink in pubs any more unless I'm having a meal or passing through and need to kill half an hour, or it's a special occasion like seeing an old friend or whatever...
looking at over £4 a pint and that's the cheap stuff... gone are the days of dossing away a sunday afternoon with a few friends playing pool, almost like a social hub but if I look at it as easily blowing a weeks worth of shopping/food money in a couple of hours... I just can't justify it.
looking at over £4 a pint and that’s the cheap stuff… gone are the days of dossing away a sunday afternoon with a few friends playing pool, almost like a social hub but if I look at it as easily blowing a weeks worth of shopping/food money in a couple of hours… I just can’t justify it.
Just get a crisis loan, or some cash in hand work, like shoplifting or burglary
It looks like Sunak is burnishing his right wing credentials to the likes of Lee Anderson by doubling down on the Rwanda nonsense and seeking to ‘disapplying’ human rights legislation to allow them to ignore it.
Sunak could block Human Rights Act to force through Rwanda asylum plan
They really are becoming terrifyingly authoritarian in their intentions. Whether they can get any of this cobblers through parliament and the Lords is another thing entirely. I doubt it, but this is all about the message it sends out.
In other news Patrick Valance is about to give evidence to the Covid inquiry. More stories of chaos and dysfunction at the heart of the government that Sunak was very much part of. Lots of his diary content is about Sunaks vociferous objections to paying people to isolate or closing hospitality venues
I doubt this is going to make for comfortable listening for Lil Rishi, which is why he's organised a press conference to clash with it, where he will doubtless say absolutely nothing.
I doubt this is going to make for comfortable listening for Lil Rishi, which is why he’s organised a press conference to clash with it, where he will doubtless say absolutely nothing.
Boats, inflation, delivering on our promises, change, the hard-working British taxpayer, value for money, potholes, boats, the economy.
A good friend of mine that has grafted all her life is on benefits these days.
She's got MS and it's terrible to watch it take hold of her. Just to add insult to injury she lost her home after a no fault eviction recently.
Now she's being migrated onto UC and is worried sick that she is going to lose what to her and many other people is a substantial amount of money a month. She is already struggling.
She's currently in temporary accommodation along with her daughter and grand daughter. She can get moved at any point so all their clothes are just repacked in bags after washing.
She's fully aware that she is about to be demonised AGAIN by this government on the alter of "hard working families".... Many of which are forced to claim in work benefits too.
I f****** hate the Tories.
It does appear that they're widening their repertoire of scapegoats to blame for their failure. Immigrants is the standard one, obviously, but it now looks like anyone who is sick or disabled is about to be labelled a 'skiver', rendered 'undeserving' of public money and then targeted for benefits cuts.
The fact that they're about to actively make the lives of these people infinitely more difficult purely to fund tax cuts for those at the other end of the income spectrum is absolutely obscene
I ****ing despise them!
Bit of a readjustment in the polls, labour back to a 15pt lead
whether thats a gaza/labour issue or people just getting used to cameron being back in government after their initial shock, who knows!
Rumbles of Tory MPs wanting Sunak displaced will only make him more desperate, expect to be bombarded with lots more daft headline grabbing nonsense
She’s got MS and it’s terrible to watch it take hold of her. Just to add insult to injury she lost her home after a no fault eviction recently.
Now she’s being migrated onto UC and is worried sick that she is going to lose what to her and many other people is a substantial amount of money a month. She is already struggling.
I had similar a couple of years ago after being diagnosed with spms, they wanted me in to review my benefits so I called my consultant who wrote them a letter, quite an extremely shouty letter outlining my issues with walking/standing/limited limb movement/pain/muscle spasms/bladder/bowel issues etc and he stated in no uncertain terms that I would not be attending an interview due to my condition.
Tell her to leave all the paperwork to her MS support team as they'll know exactly who to shout at to get the correct result.
These total and utter idiots have not a clue about the economy - both parties talking up growing the economy. Don't they see it? Do they not realise you cannot harp on about government 'debt' reduction and grow the economy. They are two sides of the same coin. That is exactly why we are flat-lining. If they reduce government debt (remove money from the economy) the economy will contract.
And as for inflation - half a brain knew that inflation would rectify itself to a degree. The fact Sunak is taking the medal for this is total and utter garbage. They weren't in control of the inflation uptick and definitely not responsible for its reduction.
It's not linked to BoE rate rising either. It was always transitory due to as we know the effects of the supply chain post-pandemic/energy etc.
They are not at the controls - they simply react with a monetarist old school thinking - where, believe it or not there are no supporting papers for inflation reduction via interest rates at the the BoE in the last 30 years.
As bad as it was inflation was actually the least bad option to what we went through because it was transitory - now could the government have done more to support us - of course. But shifting interest rates will now add many bumps to the situation. Mostly in distribution for the rich.
And now - we are looking at tax cuts. The failed Tory play book out again.
We are now in a doom loop of misunderstanding government debt and expansion of the economy.
We need fiscal expansion to go anywhere.
(Some good news though a poll recently saw the Tories not seen as the low tax party any longer. Which has always been the case.)
They manage to spend money, tax us highly and destroy the economy.
They are ridiculous.
Thanks mate, I'll let her know what you said.
I'm not sure how much support she is getting at the moment, my memory is vague but I know they didn't have a dedicated MS nurse at her hospital for some time. In the end a retired one came back to help out for a while but I get the impression the department is in a bit of a crisis at the moment. I'll chat to her soon and see if things have improved.
Thanks again. 👍
Anyone thinking that Rishi is hoping the new Argentinian president is going to send some of his little boats to invade the falklands again?
It worked for the demon maggie after all
I’m more worried that there’s a lot of people that’ll have short memories after the tax costs have been announced today. There’s a lot that’ll accept the cuts - and those that have recieved the increased living wage - that could be tempted to vote for the nice Mt Sunak again.
Its not that I’d deny people the extra cash in thier pockets, but they know it sure fire vote winner for the less educated less opinionated voter who have forgotten it was the same party that subjugated us with the highest UK tax burden in history.
Anyone thinking that Rishi is hoping the new Argentinian president is going to send some of his little boats to invade the falklands again?<br />It worked for the demon maggie after all
I’m more worried that there’s a lot of people that’ll have short memories after the tax costs have been announced today.
Those short memories will also mean that if the election is in a years time they will have forgotten all about any tax cuts but guessing there is still time for further cuts nearer to the election, i.e. a few weeks before it.
Just remember later after hearing Hunt's 'statement' that in October UK Govt debt interest was £7.5bn, and as we're running a deficit, we're still increasing the overall debt (and the interest payable next month).
I know Rone, it doesn't matter etc etc but it's a number to put into perspective any of his 'giveaways'.
Also, frozen tax allowances have pushed millions into either paying income tax or into higher bands - he won't mention this and even if he knocked 1p of Income Tax folk would still be worse off this time next year due to the continuing freezing.
It's amazing that a Public Inquiry has heard that the current PM said 'let them die' about elderly COVID patients and it doesn't even make the Sunak thread because of all the other shitty things he's doing.
Well at least we now know for sure who’ll be picking up the tab for the electoral bribe Tax cuts. This must be that ‘compassionate conservatism’ that they’re so renowned for?
Summed up nicely by the daily Mash
Jeremy Hunt to personally garrotte the chronically ill
What an amazing coincidence!
https://twitter.com/Tom___Scott/status/1727105836089250248?t=5cikZvgwGFdDi6llkfD8fg&s=19
Going into an election with a strategist who also works on behalf of a billionaire advocate of NHS Privatisation...almost sounds like they make sure that absolutely everyone knows what the agenda is.
No doubt they will still trot out the 'NHS is safe in our hands' lie on telly and be totally unchallenged about it by every interviewer and pundit.
Yep, they’re definitely ‘rolling the pitch’ for NHS privatisation
It wouldn’t surprise me if they did something really drastic in a hurry, before they’re voted out, like Major did with rail privatisation in 97. That worked out well. They’ve still got over a year and it’s going to be scorched earth from now until then
It's scary that one of our legacies to future generations could be the Americanisation of our NHS, your kids got asthma, no healthcare, that'll be 200 quid for an inhaler please, it's probably a good one for the tories though, more profit for private companies, and life expectancy dropping, so less need to pay pensions, etc.
That bloke up there, let's not call him a "strategist', let's call him an 'activist', because if he was left-wing rather than right-wing that's how he'd be referred to by the media.
Oh, and he was given honours too in 2020 - does that mean he can be said to be a member of the elite?
it’s probably a good one for the tories though, more profit for private companies,
Wonder who'll own those private companies...? Oh gosh, let me think.
Oh yeah, that's right. Tories and Tory donors. Amazing how many Tories had friends who just so happened to be experts in PPE when that was needed.
It's remarkable that anyone can look at the US model, with exorbitant costs and millions excluded from healthcare almost entirely, and think it's the perfect fit for us.
Unless you're a sociopathic, capitalist vulture, of course. Looks great for them.
The Autumn Statement will be nothing more than polising a turd and applying a liberal coating of glitter.
Aimed at right wing media, committed tory voters and the gullible.
Inflation - sunak claimed the vertiginous rise was due to 'global factors outside UK's control' but it's fall '...shows his plan is working'; what plan would that be? The recent falls have been due to the same global factors. BoE governor is warning that inflation may not fall as quickly as expected and reaching the 2% target '...may take some time'.
NI changes - tinkering at the edges.
Minimum wage increase - necessary but inadequate.
Further squeeze on benefits - morally indefensible but a soft target; disability benefits should be increased and there should be more focus on getting able bodied unemployment benefit claimants back into work without penalising them.
Business tax allowance changes - good for those who can utilise 'full capital expensing' but it excludes the vast majority of self employed.
A plan for growth - I might be surprised but doubt it.
Fiscal drag and tax bands - no change expected.
Rate of benefit increases - likely to be based on October rate, not September as is usual, as the rate is lower.
State pension triple lock - will remain unchanged when it should be removed.
Increased funding for local authorities - nothing as will also be true in the budget.
None of what hunt announces will have much, if any effect, on the employed.
It will have an adverse effect on some of those who need more, not less, support.
The full capital expensing change is intended to increase productivity; let's see how that works out as UK productivity historically lags other first world economies.
In summary - it will be hot air, unsubstantiated claims, jam tomorrow, we're all in this together, no substance but delivered with 'sincerity' and lil rish! smirking.
Even the "halved inflation" claim is Bull****
I don't know about the integrity of the numbers shown but it certainly feels like Yanshin's telling the truth here. I'm terrified of my upcoming 50-100% mortgage increase.
The Autumn Statement will be nothing more than polising a turd and applying a liberal coating of glitter.<br />Aimed at right wing media, committed tory voters and the gullible.
+1
Looks like the usual 4 years bad, 1 year good cycle of government is starting 🤣
The constant chuckling, while name checking MPs (by seat name of course), seems particularly detached from what's happening outside the chamber on their watch.