MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
No errors in the points in my link, Ernie. It doesn't much matter who th emessenger is the facts are there. As STW's chief Brexity person you know that. We agree on many things but Europe has never been one of them and Corbyn is another.
There are no easy fixes to our current economic system, inequality is entrenched and the gaps are widening, it will take more than one term to lay down some proper improvements and Im moderately hopeful to see what comes out in the budget
Inequality is key. Changes to taxation is a fundamental part of addressing it. The push back to anything that taxes the rich more throughly and the poor more equitably is going to be huge though. Look at how the small change made to inheritance tax for estate owners was received. Something much further reaching will be painted as unfair, if not down right evil. It's going to be tough. [ cue claims that we don't need to tax the rich to reduce inequality... well, we do ]
Well the Lords aren't going to be keen on approving legislation that would increase taxes on them and all their mates. Most MPs neither, and as for the people who pay these pipers...
One of my economic options was the British tax system. The starting point was that to be fair taxes must be progressive and take into account the ability to pay. Almost evey aspect of taxation we looked at failed to meet that goal. The rich and powerful have rigged the system to further their own interests - for just about every tax that looks fair there's a way for the very rich to avoid paying.
The most regressive tax? VAT, and yet it's at the heart of the European and British tax system. Zero progessivity, it takes no account of ability to pay and the poor pay the most as a proportion of their income and wealth.
Look at how the small change made to inheritance tax for estate owners was received.
The inheritance tax (and the public school VAT) was exactly what I had in mind when I mentioned a sham change, it is barely a grain of sand on a hundred mile beach of tax inequality, with a fabricated resistance that was as grass roots as the tea party in the US, it was a political slight of hand to use the fake objections as an excuse to prevent real meaningful change.
Sorry, are you claiming Labour orchestrated the push back against their own initial tax changes to use as a defence in future for not implementing any tax changes that go further??
No I am saying they had a reasonable idea what the response would be not that they co-ordinated it, so they could use it as an excuse for not implementing further tax changes. It is how Morgan McSweeny operates, he has a track record of such actions and is just now playing with a bigger train set.
We can quite clearly see similar games being played out in the US, where the Trump administration are hoping to use the resistance to change to further their longer term goals, they can't exactly predict how it will play out, and they don't need to but as long as they keep pushing the right buttons the responses are just going to happen. We shouldn't be blind to similar practises being used to abuse our own fragile democracy.
I think your are simultaneously overestimating and underestimating people. And the Trump comparisons, with his second round of huge tax breaks for the richest, are laughable. Let’s wait and see what the next four budgets contain…
Ah its wait and see what the next four budgets contain now, its always just around the corner. It was wait until they get elected, then it was wait for the first budget, its always wait for another point in the future, they will deal with the 2 child cap sometime in the future, wasn't that meant to be in the first budget there have been so many excuses for inaction they are all starting to roll into one big fog of obscurity, just kick another can down the road.
Personally, I’m thinking 10 years rather than 5 to make the changes needed, and definitely not 1 … but with so many buying into the idea of quick fixes… I accept that Labour are unlikely to get another term. How/if they choose a way to accelerate things in their first/only term without risking a break down (economically and socially)… I have no idea.
what the response would be not that they co-ordinated it, so they could use it as an excuse for not implementing further tax changes.
thats not really whats happening here though theres more inheritance tax changes coming, council tax , this is now changes to council as well,
the fact is they did VAT on schools and non-dom changes despite heavy pushback from the usual suspects and have proven those scare stories to be wrong
and yes there will be push back again, but our tax system is massively complex, skewed hugely by assets it will take years to properly change things but it looks like they are seriously being looked at for the first time in many years
accept that Labour are unlikely to get another term. How/if they choose a way to accelerate things in their first/only term without risking a break down (economically and socially)… I have no idea.
that's the issue , the only way i can see them getting another term is if it n 4 years time people see more money in their pockets and feel that services around them are improving.
Id like to think that the cultlike following of Farage would also wilt under scrutiny (hence those attack adds) of an election campaign
the desperately need kinds of systemic changes to taxation and entrenched inequality will take many years to fix , theres no doubt that Farage would be doing the opposite - he shafted the poorest with his Brexit , ut would be no different a second time round
but with so many buying into the idea of quick fixes
You mean like how the NHS was created from scratch in just 3 years because there was an obvious urgency ?
but with so many buying into the idea of quick fixes
No one has ever demanded quick - most just wanted something bold.
We just want the right path laid out in front of us with the correct progressive intentions needed to initiate fixes for the foundations of society.
I mean, for sure if you want quick this government has squandered everything quicker than I thought possible.
Putting in place a serious of random, badly disconnected ideas (GBEnergy and the third runway at Heathrow for example!) So much harmony.
Take off your blinkers and look at what was offered up before the election compared to now. There are no fixes being offered - just a race to the bottom and doing whatever they believe it takes to win the next election. (Managing to tank their polling to below 20% in the process.)
Also remember this - they've had years to plan and work out to do once in power. Is this the best they could come up with for a desperate electorate? Starting with a pointless black-hole narrative that led to the WFA debacle ending in a shambles - all for 1.5bn? It's basic basic stuff to believe was a sound move.
Does that look like a government that is carefully calibrating its political choices?
(Look at EVs - many fall into the over £40,000 category so what did Labour do - slap a 'luxury' VED increase on cars over that figure. How does that encourage take up for people with less money? It won't be a problem for those with the cash. But it's the exact opposite thing you need to do with taxation to encourage behaviour.)
It's not the speed that's the problem it's dreadful policy making. Losing their identity as a party that supports the bottom rung of the ladder. Playing into the Reform narrative and letting Reform get away with by emboldening the same message.
We don't want quick fixes - we want actual fixes and Starmer's government is falling apart with everything they touch - looking desperately now to shore up support with all this authoritarian roll-out.
The reality is they haven't got much time anyway. So it has to be quick in an electoral sense.
but with so many buying into the idea of quick fixes…
Do you have any examples of this?
Its something often trotted out by those who seem to be endless hopeful that Starmers chase of the right is just a temporary thing but I havent seen any evidence for it.
They seem to confuse people saying that Labour should have had a plan, aside from attack the left, and started enacting it on day 1 so that come the next election hopefully some of the benefits will have become apparent and, even if not, it would be harder for the tories/reform to back out.
Instead though, as all but the most fervent believers in the glorious leader accept, the first year has been mostly wasted and there arent even any obvious plans for fixing things letting alone starting on the task. When they arent even starting to look at adult care until next year its obvious that we wont start to fix that in this parliament and given that addressing that would be a massive stress reliever for the NHS you should be able to see the problem.
1.5 million homes over the parliament was one of the key manifesto promises I noted. Housing starts for the last two quarters reported under Labour are around 30 000 with a slight decline quarter on quarter. Now 1.5 million divided by 20 quarters is 75 000 and given the backlog from the first year even more over the next 4 years. If they'd promised a reduction in housing starts the figures and graphs would look quite good:
https://bcis.co.uk/news/latest-uk-housing-starts-and-completions-figures/
So the Labour Home Secretary hasn't even managed to convince members of her own party...... that's really quite something!
https://labourlist.org/2025/08/palestine-action-ban-wrong-polling-survation/
Although I am sure that she has probably managed to convince Daily Mail readers, and I suspect that is more important to her.
This really is a nasty right-wing authoritarian government.
That's a direct knock on of shrinking the state and money transfer to assets. That's basically where the money went that the government put into the economy.
It definitely didn't get into most people's pockets.
It's also at the root of many issues. People think stuff went wrong with leaving the EU. This is why people voted as such. They know their own circumstances are not good but can't see why. Note this period coincides with the collapse of the financial sector and the liquidity shoring up the system.
This is the source of the real problems within our country.
A systematic diversion of money flow to the wealthy at the expense of everyone else.
This is why we need really high taxation in some areas but crucially money pumping into the bits that have gotten left behind.
Starmer and Reeves are at the centre of this in terms of offering almost nothing in way of fixes. They are operating an even more regressive economic situation than the Tories because we're further down the damage chain.
- CPI up again. 3.8
UK central bank rate 4%
It's almost as if those rises in interest income actually contribute to inflation. 🤪
The cuts so far will take well over a year to do a thing.
EU cpi yoy 2.0%
ECB 2.15%
Anyway I doubt we will get anything useful from Reeves on this. Same old useless ways of running an economy.
Reeves in April.
Speaking about the latest inflation figures, chancellor Rachel Reeves said there were “encouraging signs that our plan for change is working.”
UK inflation dropped to 2.6% in March, meaning prices are rising slightly more slowly. Reeves said:
"Inflation falling for two months in a row, wages growing faster than prices, and positive growth figures are encouraging signs that our plan for change is working, but there is more to be done."
It's almost as if those rises in interest income actually contribute to inflation
It's food (commodity) prices mostly. Coffee up 17%, chocolate 18%, meat 25%. And air fares 30% - school holidays increases in July
Reform UK has a 15% lead over Labour in the very latest opinion poll out today.
That's the bad news for Labour. The good news for them is that they are one point in front of the Tories so if there was a general election tomorrow Labour would likely be His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition.
https://twitter.com/FindoutnowUK/status/1958457690469827013
Now that the centrists have consolidated their grip and power over the Party under Starmer through suspensions, expulsions, exclusions, and fear, I think it is probably safe to say that nothing much is likely to change, even if they do the obvious thing and get shot of the total disaster that is Starmer.
So I guess they need to hope and pray that whoever replaces Kemi Badenoch in a few months time that it won't provide any boost for the Tories and Labour will still remain very slightly more popular than them.
It will be interesting to see what happens after the Sultana-Corbyn party has been officially registered as a political party and pollsters start including them in their polls.
It isn't totally impossible that the Sultana-Corbyn party could exceed 18% in a poll potentially knocking Labour into 4th place or even 5th after the LibDems.
A lot of people seem to think to the Sultana-Corbyn party can only win support from Labour, certainly a few in here do. If that is the case then it is reasonable to assume that with support for Labour currently below 20% that when the new party arrives on the scene support for Labour could drop below 15%
If that happens then centrists would in effect have managed to reduce the once mighty Labour Party into a fringe party.
Interesting times!
It's food (commodity) prices mostly. Coffee up 17%, chocolate 18%, meat 25%. And air fares 30% - school holidays increases in July
Yep I saw that.
Air fares surprises me. People with plenty of money driving inflation eh?
Those getting paid interest .... Maybe?
Either way the public and government hate inflation and it was celebrated as going downwards back in April.
Air fares surprises me. People with plenty of money driving inflation eh?
I think more like people who want to go somewhere hot and sunny with their kids having little choice but to fork out the extra the airlines are asking. Lots of the additional costs is 'dynamic pricing' and hidden extras like seat choices, luggage, y'know, the nonsense that EasyJet and Ryanair pull after they've got you so far into the order process.
It strikes me that the thing that Starmer needs to do is change the electoral system for something proportional and change it fast.
The more I think about it (dangerous I know! ) the more I think we need PR.
Sure there will be some teething problems, especially in terms of the electorate realising they can vote 'for' something rather than basing their vote on keeping certain parties out .. but ultimately I think it would work out for the best.
For example I don't want to feel I have vote Labour when I might well prefer lib dems or greens, etc. Because I hate reform and the Conservatives.
The more I think about it, FPTP only just qualifies as 'democratic' by the string of its teeth and so is very problematic
It strikes me that the thing that Starmer needs to do is change the electoral system for something proportional and change it fast.
The problem there is PR can benefit opposition parties to some extent.. But once in power, FPTP has its advantages for reelection.... So then it somewhat predictably drops off the agenda!
I can't see the attraction of FPTP for Labour at present, they aren't going to be in power again in my lifetime.
It strikes me that the thing that Starmer needs to do is change the electoral system for something proportional and change it fast.
It's not Starmer's decision to make. Last time this was raised at the NEC, the unions blocked it.
The sitting Prime Minister decides UK government policies, not the Labour Party's National Executive Committee.
And the Idea that someone like Starmer gives a monkeys what the trade unions think is hilarious.
It's not Starmer's decision to make.
The NEC is now stacked with Starmer supporters: if he wants something, he will get it.
Not that it makes any difference but I am not sure if there are any trade unions which still support FPTP. The following trade unions all oppose it, include the two trade unions which are by far the largest - Unison and Unite
https://www.labourforanewdemocracy.org.uk/unions
This point even from the USA's pespective has a lot of reach.
https://twitter.com/Scotonomics1/status/1960274585942704171
My parents live in a fairly big 4 bed house, on a cul-de-sac with a dozen or so other fairly big 4 bed houses. Almost all of them are inhabited by old couples. Meanwhile the families with young kids all live in small houses on the next street. That's not right, is it? That's promoting the wealth gap.
This point even from the USA's pespective has a lot of reach.
Im not sure that Trump going full on banana republic dictator and trying to install cronys into government posts because the incumbents wont lie for him is the best thing for America or the ROW
likewise if the government did that here the markets would kick off and we'd be in even bigger trouble
I read an article about Farage, and the basic gist is, he's taking advantage of the grievances of the English about a lack of specific English Government policies, it is kind of never specifically spoken about or referred to by the British government. I think it's interesting given the conversations on here about immigrants/racism/patriotism/thickos, it's a parallel take on it, not denying racism. Most people in the country reside somewhere in the middle between the racist right and the woke left, and don't belong to either of these extreme sides.
https://theconversation.com/nigel-farage-and-the-political-power-of-english-grievance-264065
I read it, make sense to me, but I'm not particularly politically literate.
Perhaps, then, the English are aggrieved and angry, not because foreigners have undermined their influence and stolen their resources but, in part at least, because they and their views are a perpetual afterthought in the UK’s governance arrangements
This is where the article falls down. Given the size of the electorate in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compared to that in all of England, it is difficult to argue that the latter are an afterthought. UK Government policies address English issues first (one needs look no further than Brexit). Perhaps this just needs better communication.
Let me present exhibits a-z. When I have said there are alternative ways to do something politically and use Scotland as an example I am told " scottish electorate is just a rounding error, it doesn't matter" or "no one cares what happens in Scotland"
PR would not only allow people to vote for who they really align with and get a wider range of parties in the HOC, surely it would also raise the standard of politicians in the HOC, especially those in cabinets.
It's going to take a miracle for Starmer to stay at #10 after the next General Election likely in 2029 under FPTP, as things look now.
Labour would have to do something radical and go whole hog, such as scrap Brexit and see rewards for doing so before 2029.
Current Labour govt will only last for one term, IMO.
Reason: Many small businesses are suffering from increased tax, and we are only at the start of the govt full term. By the time this govt reaches their full term, most small businesses will have been decimated. If increasing tax is their only option, they have already run out of ideas.
Small businesses failing are nothing to do with Labour's downfall, plus many small business owners probably vote Tory anyway being such entrepreneurs and all.
Labours downfall is squarely because they are just another tory party and people didn't want that. Some people that voted Labour will go back to Tory party (the proper one), some will find an actual Labour Party (Greens or "your party") and racists ****s will just vote Reform. Oh and Scotland (not that it matters in big scheme of things of course) will go back to SNP.
surely it would also raise the standard of politicians in the HOC, especially those in cabinets.
Im not convinced by that as an argument for PR. If you have list votes as PR really needs even in a hybrid system like Scotlands folk who cannot get in in a constituency because they are useless can still get in on the list vote if they are high enough in the parties hierarchy. We certainly have no shortage of useless idiots north of the border
I do not know what the answer is to getting a higher quality of parliamentarian Minimum ages? Fixed terms? No doubt at all the quality of those we have now is far lower than 40 years ago in all parties
The UK government is the financial land of the stupid. Always remember the Treasury is an arm of government (and shouldn't have an opinion) and the BoE is the government's bank and the OBR doesn't serve public purpose (what would you expect from the Cameron government?)
Everything is about constraining for the public good - but money makes its way out of the system when institutions demand it.
https://twitter.com/NEF/status/1961386708106191310?t=aoXsMy0pqWkSblCpJ7XCVA&s=19
What is this stupidity we hear from Badenoch about maximising UK oil and gas production? Of course it is stupid in and of itself - it's climate vandalism (which the Tories obviously don't care about) but it also has no beneficial effect on the price of energy, for reasons that have been explained so many times that she surely must be aware of them. But is it not also stupid from a political point of view, since it's doomed to fail, and goes against the wishes of a clear majority of the electorate?
But is it not also stupid from a political point of view, since it's doomed to fail, and goes against the wishes of a clear majority of the electorate?
Going by the current trends in politics, this is all irrelevant.
edit: not sure why I snipped the rest of your comment out, the current political direction appear to consider all that irrelevant too.
Unfortunately I know not why, other than probably scheming robbing control freak bastards.
goes against the wishes of a clear majority of the electorate?
Does it though? I guess we'll know for sure when folk get a chance to actually vote.
I think that one depends on how the question is asked Scotroutes. Also elections are not generally about single issues. ask if they want to help prevent global warming get a yes, Ask if they will accept lifestyle change to do so get a no
However I very much doubt a majority of the electorate are prepared to reduce their standard of living and I am certain that very few actually care about the extraction of what is in global terms a small amount of oil
IIRC SNP are in favour of extracting and are expected to get 30+ % of the vote. Greens are against it and expected to get 15% of the vote ( holyrood election)
Badenoch is trying to keep her job - that's it, any thoughts about general elections four year away are a long way down the list.
If she doesn't perform over the next few weeks and have a good conference she is toast.
Bad Enoch would be out of her depth in a puddle.
It's going to take a miracle for Starmer to stay at #10 after the next General Election likely in 2029 under FPTP, as things look now.
Labour would have to do something radical and go whole hog, such as scrap Brexit and see rewards for doing so before 2029.
Absolutely. But McSweeney won't let him.
McSweeney has managed to position himself to Starmer as his gammon-whisperer. Whereas anyone objective knows that Labour winning GE 2024 was simply a case of anyone but the Tories.
Starmer has zero interest in fixing anything useful for his voters.
Anyone with half a brain can see that there's so many possible options he could take that would be a positive , real-world change to our country.
But let's push on with this terrible reactive nonsense.
I mean it's not as if climate change, lack of housing, energy cost, crime and decimated infrastructure are at all an issue.
It's amazing how's he's united the left and right on despising the government - that's some incredible achievement.
The right believe he's a socialist and he's blowing all the money and creating a debt implosion 🤪and soft on migration.
The left have hated him from pretty much they start for his inability to do anything resembling a plan.
The 'mission-led government.'
Has GB Energy lowered my bill yet?
https://twitter.com/ZoeJardiniere/status/1962166212814655854?t=5GhQxfH9dl839Iq2Ujywvw&s=19
According to research by Merlin Strategy for 5654 & Company, the cost of living is still the overwhelming priority for 66 per cent of British voters.
That’s followed by the economy (46%), healthcare (45%), immigration (44%), and housing (18%).
but yet ...
The Chancellor’s rumoured to be looking at a string of policies to try and fill a black hole that some economists say is up to £40billion.
so so stupid. We really didn't need this self-imposed line of logic - it will always sink choices for public purpose. And deliver a dying economy.
Ask if they will accept lifestyle change to do so get a no
Yeah, I guess that's my point. Taking the deniers aside, climate change provokes a range of responses. As you say, most folk just don't care enough. Quite apart from voting, I see it in the amount, and speed, of car travel, and that most folk are still flying regularly. Leaving resources untapped isn't really compatible with this so folk aren't going to vote for that sort of change. Throw up a few headlines about the cost of electricity produced by wind turbines and that's that.
There's a whole bunch of people who would actually say 'yes', but then start backtracking when any detail came out.
"What? You want to make MY four litre SUV illegal?"...
There has been a complete denial from successive governments about the action needed to tackle climate change (throughout the western world).
Energy needs nationalising, that is the only way we can start to tackle it without it just being an excuse for corporate subsidies and higher energy bills (which is what the GBenergy farce is).
Urban planning needs to tackle the needs for journeys, with business and residential districts being integrated and smaller local centres and less out of town shopping and malls.
Massive investment in public transport to give real options to use it as an alternative to cars.
Instead all we get it punishing the consumer who mostly don't have many real choices, congestion charges, fuel duty escalators etc should come after the above, not as the only policy.
As well as taking steps to reduce carbon emmissions as above western particularly european governments need to start real planning for what is to come. We are at the tipping point, southern europe is starting to really feel the effects of drought, harvests are down and if you think the migrant issue is big now its going to increase exponentially with many many millions arriving on europes shores each year due to water shortages and crop failures elsewhere as well as people migrating north within europe.
What are the europ0ean governments going to do? Barbed wire and machine guns at the border?
you think the migrant issue is big now its going to increase exponentially with many many millions arriving on europes shores each year due to water shortages and crop failures elsewhere
This is a definite.
What are the europ0ean governments going to do? Barbed wire and machine guns at the border?
Develop a new breed of super midge.
https://twitter.com/labourpress/status/1962824250076569646
Labour: making bigger tits of themselves than Zack Polanski ever will.
Just heard Tory in a red tie Streeting on R4. He's got his little soundbite for the Graham Linehan situation already sorted.
"We want them [the police] to police streets, not tweets".
What a ****.
I don't actually disagree totally with that, but the mere fact he's got a little gobbet worked out just makes me despise him a little bit more. You just know the inward (and probably outward) smirk he will have had trotting that one out.
🤮
It's just another adoption of far right US principles, freedom of speech as long as you align with our right wing hate doctrine. They don't want to police incitement to violently attack trans, but speak out against genocide and you are a terrorist.
Labour have attacked ZP more in the last 24hrs than they ever have Farage.
Good luck with that one.
BBC Have Your Say sections are depressing this morning. Thousands of people clamouring for "trim the welfare state". Considering that they're all decrepit racist pensioners and that by the far biggest / quickest / easiest way to do this is to scrap the pensions triple-lock, I hope it turns around and bites them in October.
"We want them [the police] to police streets, not tweets".
Politicians the world over need to get to grips with the fact that social media IS the streets.
PMQs the usual circus from what I heard.
The Tory MP Sir John Hayes tried to score a cheap point about the flagging craze but, unfortunately, the silly old **** said the cross of St Patrick should be flown in Wales.
At least panto tends to be restricted to a 5-6 week period.
Raynor caught avoiding tax on a second home purchase. ~Tried to hide it in a trust, didn't even do that properly.
Why are politicians such absolute fools. Did it not occur to that bonehead that she might come under a little scrutiny for buying an £800k house at the other end of the country from her constituency, you know what with her being HOUSING SECRETARY as well as deputy PM!!! I mean the optics of her doing it at all whilst in office, what with her having 2 homes to go to already seems a little stupid given the party she represents and the state of the economy but to then blatantly underpay tax.....I mean FFS labour, you really are doing your best to ensure nobody votes labour again for the foreseeable future aren't you.
Idiots.
Not quite right what I said above - the trust is for the other home she shares with an ex and her children
She is just turning out to be an utter venal money grubber
Oh and she’s a woman?
I can't see this going away so I suspect it will end up being a resignation level issue despite what the govt are saying at the moment - which makes her even more stupid.
She is just turning out to be an utter venal money grubber
Maybe, or perhaps trying to ensure a suitable long term home for her kids (especially the one with care needs) while giving up her own financial claim to the home after the breakdown of her relationship with their father. That she kept it registered as her main residence looks very much like "cake and eat it", so it does all end up looking dodgy.
Took legal advice. Followed it. Turns out legal advice was wrong. Could not clarify until now because of a court order, now has.
Jesus - Labour are not capable of looking after anything other than themselves are they?
(Sounds just like an excuse a Tory would make.)
Took legal advice. Followed it. Turns out legal advice was wrong. Could not clarify until now because of a court order, now has.
That is pretty much my take. There's a lot of reasons to not like the current Labour party but this isn't one of them IMO. Not great optics (again) but not a big issue
She was still ( for the second time) attempting to avoid tax on a house purchase. Its a huge issue because it goes to trust and competence
No, she paid tax on a house purchase, at the rate she was advised appropriate.
Its not a huge issue but it does question the trust and competence of the legal advisor that provided the incorrect advice.
FTFY
It's another mis-step. End of Story.
No one really cares if she's did it correctly. What we care about is government staffers enjoying the benefits of the rentier economy that is ****ing stuff up for everyone else
It's the same defense when the Labour lot had their hands in the honey pot near the beginning. This won't age well with an already busted government.
They really cannot go quick enough this disgraceful bunch of chancers.
Its the second time she has been caught avoiding tax on a house. Its not her legal advisors fault she was attempting to avoid tax by using the trust. I also simply doubt her story - throwing her lawyer under a bus is a bad look. Being caught for the second time avoiding tax on a house is not a good look particularly for the housing minister.