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Another point which i feel is lost in all this is business resilience, we run a six to nine months resilience model, which means we can pay people while we adjust to market changes/recession etc. If you extract this level of cash from SMEs they can't build resilience and end up.hand to mouth, making people redundant and going bust.
True, there are a surprising number fully committed to the neoliberal ideology.
True, there are a surprising number fully committed to the neoliberal ideology.
I always find it amazing that those of us who would like our economy and politics to be organised differently are accused of being ideologues by those who think there is no alternative to the way things currently are. There’s nothing more ideological than sticking with something that doesn’t work.
With Labour under Starmer now being about as popular as the Tories were under Liz Truss, something which the Tories never fully recovered from, is it too early to start speculating what Cabinet post Nigel Farage might be given in the Tory-Reform coalition government?
That's quite a jump. You've obviously ruled out the possibility that SKS will offer him a job before then.
I am a socialist/capitalist (awaits howls of derision) i understand that to have a functioning society and there are plenty in the world we need to take social responsibility for the people that live here and contribute, then those who can not contribute need to be supported. This social responsibility requires money (taxes) plenty of tax take requires a fair and equitable contributions from those who make profit. This is not the case in the UK my business probably contributes twice as much as The Boots of this world by percentage. While the Rees Moggs of this world take "loans" water companies pay dividends from their organisation's that never make a profit.
I don't give much of a **** anymore as my life in work is just about over, I agree with Labour about Pensioners and Farmers but sorry folks this needs to go much much deeper than two minority groups taking a relatively small hit. The tax avoidance exercised by thousands of companies needs to be sorted. Look at the extremes Microsoft has 100 billion dollars cash on hand, so has Amazon, so has Facebook, the tech sector alone is sat on over 1 trillion dollars probably a lot more. There is so much cash in private sector organisations it's insane. This is not socialist capitalist it's profiteering.
This is not socialist capitalist it’s profiteering.
I understand your disappointment but we don't seem to have a Left Right government.
Well current government is neither, Blair was probably Left Right.
Twitter is rumoured to be ready to spaff $100 million at Reform to have a regime change.
But they only earn £32 million in the UK and pay sod all tax.
Why would this be legal?
It isn't legal. Foreign nationals cant make donations to UK political parties. It should be that straightforwrd.
However, there are potentially ways they could work around it, due to Reform not actually being a political party. Its a private company owned by one Mr N Farage. Conflicts of interest all over the shop there though. A foreign national making a huge donation to a private company owned entirely by a sitting MP, albeit one who never actually shows up in either parliament or his constituency
More migrants removed from UK since Labour elected than in any six months since 2019 - Home Office
Labour shows the Tories how to get tough on illegal immigrants:
Ms Cooper, who visited Rome yesterday for talks with her Italian counterpart on people-smuggling, pledged a crackdown on "exploitative" illegal working to address "the promise of illegal jobs that are used by criminal smuggling gangs to sell spaces in small boats".
It's always good to ask the far-right Italian government for advice on tackling illegal immigrants because like Nigel Farage they hate them.
Political speech in Italy 'xenophobic': Europe's anti-racism body
The Council of Europe's anti-racism body charged Tuesday that political speech in Italy had become xenophobic and divisive, often targeted at "refugees, asylum seekers and migrants".
I am sure that Farage would love the same accolade from the Council of Europe to apply to the UK.
Anyway since Labour appear to doing well in tackling illegals, well apparently better than the Tories, I wonder if incoming US president Donald Trump might ask them for advice on the matter?
Minister named in Bangladesh corruption probe
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3zqen209go
A source close to Siddiq said these were "trumped up charges".
The source also said the allegations were "completely politically motivated" and designed to damage her aunt.
It seems strange that Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission should be motivated to make trumped up charges to damage a British government politician.
Why are they apparently so corrupt and what is there in it for them to damage a British government politician? I haven't seen that explained.
Luckily for the loyal right-winger she enjoys Starmer's full confidence :
"Downing Street said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had confidence in Siddiq, and she will continue her responsibility as the minister overseeing anti-corruption efforts"
Yet another apparent example of the current government lacking faith in their own convictions :
Ministers resist calls to block Musk donations to Farage’s Reform UK
Despite the fact that they don't need to convince voters, just themselves :
The latest Opinium poll for the Observer shows that most voters believe there should be a cap on political donations. It found that 56% believe there should be such a limit, while only 16% think there should be no cap. A third wrongly believed a cap was already in place.
And that they had told voters during the election campaign 6 months ago that rules around donations needed to be tightened up. :
"Labour promised in their manifesto to protect democracy by strengthening the rules around donations to political parties"
They're afraid of his potential influence. If they don't let him donate, he'll just turn ****ter into (even more of) Labour-hating, far right cesspit.
The way to deal with Musk is a quiet word in his shell-like. Remind him that whilst he has the platform to subvert UK democracy he doesn't possess (currently) a military with a special forces capability. And remind him that, at some point, Trump and him will fall out because they're a pair of big-heads.
They also don’t want the man-frog, with his mates in the press, to have a field day with a ‘they’re changing the laws to deny you democracy’ narrative, which they’ll instantly weaponise to portray the government as Stalinist overlords
They also don’t want the man-frog, with his mates in the press, to have a field day with a ‘they’re changing the laws to deny you democracy’
Why not ...... what are they scared of?
The argument in support for a cap on political donations is a powerful one and one which is backed by the majority of voters. It was also a Labour manifesto commitment 6 months ago.
So Nigel Farage gets to decide Labour government policy now? That should help to ensure that he does badly in the 2029 general election!
Great article Beeb - I mean the figures start before labour was elected and then go on to cover the first few weeks in office then stop just before the first Labour budget you then go on to disparage but anyway....
How about just reporting the figures, you know like you used to do.
How about just reporting the figures, you know like you used to do.
The BBC has always gone beyond just reporting figures. They have always reported comments made by chancellors, shadow chancellors, and others, as they have in that article.
It is standard practice by all news providers.
Why not …… what are they scared of?
I’ve just told you. Giving Farage, Musk and the press distorting this completely into an ‘Enemies of The People’ narrative. They’re quite good at that
The argument in support for a cap on political donations is a powerful one and one which is backed by the majority of voters
Once again… It’s an issue that most voters have never given a seconds thought to, so you might as well ask them if they think baked beans should remain orange
The government have decided, probably correctly, that to change the law now would simply provide the usual suspects with another stick to beat them with. They’ve got enough on their plate without opening up another front.
As it is the present laws means that Musk is going to have to do some serious gymnastics to be able to make the rumoured huge payment to Farage
I’ve just told you
Yeah but I couldn't believe that it was really because you were worried about what "the man-frog, with his mates in the press" would have to say.
So any legislation that the current Labour government passes must not upset the man-frog and his mates in the press?
Well I guess that it is a natural progression from saying that Labour shouldn't say anything to upset the column writers of the Daily Mail when they were in opposition.
Apparently the only way to win the general election was by not upsetting Daily Mail columnists. Now in government it is important for Labour not to upset Nigel Farage and his mates. Presumably letting Nigel Farage set the agenda will help to defeat him in 4 years time. How's it going so far.btw?
Giving Farage, Musk and the press distorting this completely into an ‘Enemies of The People’ narrative. They’re quite good at that
God help me but I'm about to agree with ernie.
It was talked about pre-election. Only a (noisy, admittedly) minority oppose it. And it would be a Good Thing.
I was happy to go along with "playing nicely" to not scare the centre ground in the run up to the election, but it clearly isn't delivering what the country needs. So it's time to see bollocks, and racism, and dodgy donations called out for what they are, and that includes calling out the press for their role in it as well.
I've no doubt there will be plenty of ammunition to have a go back at Labour regarding their donations. They need to show some backbone, hold their hands up and show they are trying to fix the problem.
We need a government that is prepared to do "Good Things" and not just politically expedient things, and explain clearly and honestly why. There's more support for that, and the party that does that, than many people realise.
Failing to call out lies and disinformation is what got us Brexit, and Boris and all that shit. It needs to end now.
So any legislation that the current Labour government passes must not upset the man-frog and his mates in the press?
Strawman. (but you knew that)
On this particular issue, it smacks of bolting the stable door. X has just been very successfully used as a bully pulpit, It's an arena in which Labour cannot win. The only winning strategy is not to play.
Labour said one of Brown’s recommendations would be the abolition of the Lords, as well as new rules to “end the undue influence of wealth and foreign money, and prevent MPs part-timing the job”.
Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, said on Sunday that Labour will make sure there is an elected second chamber, and the plan is for it to be done in the first term.
So Labour were actually more radical when they were in opposition than they are now in government.
And yet binners I distinctly remember the centrists on here claiming that Labour could not implement radical policies without first winning the general election, which is why they allegedly had to tone down any radical stuff.
It turns out that they were more radical in opposition than they are now in government, how surprising is that? Or perhaps it isn't?
X has just been very successfully used as a bully pulpit
Not standing up to liars and bullies, politically or literally, really is not a sensible or safe option, and history can provide plenty of examples, many quite recent.
God help us, Hugh Grant is remembered as being the best PM of the 21st century precisely because he stood up to bullying and unacceptable behaviour. And I'm only half joking.
Strawman. (but you knew that)
Not really. I double checked and that is exactly what binners has said - that he is concerned that the man-frog and his right-wing mates will not approve of legislation placing a donation cap (despite voter approval)
Admittedly I have assumed that this will extend to other legislation which the man-frog and his right-wing mates in the press don't approve of, but that is a perfectly reasonable assumption since binners hasn't explained where he draws the line and why the same logic should not apply to other legislation.
Perhaps he might care to do so now?
Not standing up to liars and bullies, politically or literally, really is not a sensible or safe option
Many many folks in this country and across the Atlantic don't think that either Trump or Musk , or Farage are liars and bullies, they have an audience who think that they speak truth to power.
At some point in the past, between Labour immediately taking office and last week, they could've done something about political donations - although I'm willing to bet money that folks on this site and other places would just have accused them of not concentrating on 'proper issues that effect working people', but that's probably for another time and thread.
Looking to close this loophole now for this already unpopular govt is not an available option. It just makes them look scared. Which is exactly the whole point of the donation in the first place.
They haven’t said there won’t be Lords Reform Ernesto
No of course not, everyone talks about House of Lords reform. We are talking about abolition of the House of Lords, but you knew that
Not really.
Oh, OK, I'll tell you what, every tine you do it, I'll helpfully point it out to you, so you'll learn, and not do it in the future. How's that for Yule-tide giving? Cool, no
Not really. I double checked and that is exactly what binners has said – that he is concerned that the man-frog and his right-wing mates will not approve of legislation placing a donation cap (despite voter approval)
Not approve? That’s not what I’m saying at all. Farage will never ‘approve’ of anything that this government does, but they’re quite happy to upset him with pretty much everything they’ve done so far ie: tax on farms
What they’ve said about the cap on donations is that there are laws in place already and to change this now would play straight into Farage/Musks hands as they would weaponise it to portray the government as some sort of dictatorship. A narrative they’ve already been busy building
Like I said… choose your battles.
Not sure £80 million will make that much of an impact on the Reform bandwagon. By the time Farage and chums skim 25% £60 million over 4.5 years so about £33,000 a day not actually that much.
The other problem is middle England who don't like Farage or the people he attracts. Shifting the 5% right wing nutters to 25% of the electorate is going to be difficult.
However Reform could wipe the slate clean and rebuild as "ToryRight" using the Andrea Jenkins type people then they may get somewhere.
Also anything that bleeds Musk, Trump is good.
Badenoch was on R4 earlier. My God her tone is grating.
"What people don't realise is..."
**** off you arrogant arse.
She comes across appallingly. Unbelievably condescending and patronising. She’s an absolute gift to Labour.
I can imagine the Tory press team will have been listening to that interview this morning with their heads in their hands.
I’m sure they all want her to undertake some sort of media training, but nobody is prepared to actually have that conversation with her
The next scheduled US election is before the next scheduled UK election so Musk could be politically exposed, discredited and out of power by then.
So much still could happen, I think for now labour need to just focus on carrying on making improvements and let the right wing commentariat and their new-found impeccable standards - nowhere to be seen during their 14 years of complete failure - bore themselves to death with their intellectually dishonest gibberish.
The way to deal with Musk is a quiet word in his shell-like.
When has that worked before? You're dealing with the world's richest man. (Also the world's most divorced, midlife crisised man). He didn't get where he is by being reasonable and listening to people that disagree with him.
She’s an absolute gift to Labour.
They are going to need a much better gift than that. People don't care about Badenoch, they care about how Labour are not changing anything for the better with their lack of ambition and doom and gloom nonsense.
Like I said… choose your battles.
Choose your battles....... what are you talking about? You place a cap on political donations and job done. Labour have a huge massive majority and the public would support the move, there is no need for any "battle".
Why do you give a monkeys what Nigel Farage and his right-wing mates in the press think? As far as I'm concerned they can moan about it as much as they want. If they didn't moan about that they would be moaning about something else such as asylum seekers or Muslims or some other bollox
You place a cap on political donations and job done.
And then face a narrative of "they changed to rules to stop our grass roots democratic movement" ... (it's not a democratic movement, it's a company owned and run by conmen sowing destruction and chaos, but hey).
Why do you give a monkeys what Nigel Farage and his right-wing mates in the press think?
Because... "the voters"... we can all see where things are headed if Reform (or whatever they're called at the time) get into government.
And then face a narrative of “they changed to rules to stop our grass roots democratic movement” …
You mean changed the rules to comply with the wishes of voters :
The latest Opinium poll for the Observer shows that most voters believe there should be a cap on political donations. It found that 56% believe there should be such a limit, while only 16% think there should be no cap. A third wrongly believed a cap was already in place.
Even if you allow for huge margin of error it is very clear that the public support a cap on political donations. It's an open and shut case. What Nigel Farage thinks is totally irrelevant.
And then face a narrative of “they changed to rules to stop our grass roots democratic movement” … (it’s not a democratic movement, it’s a company owned and run by conmen sowing destruction and chaos
Then you simply point out that there is nothing to stop their grass roots movement fundraising in the same way all the other parties will have to, within the new rules. And if the frog faced turd whines about having to do the same as other political parties, repeat the facts, loudly.
When has that worked before? You’re dealing with the world’s richest man. (Also the world’s most divorced, midlife crisised man). He didn’t get where he is by being reasonable and listening to people that disagree with him.
So he get popped.