Sir Ralph

The problem with Labour is exactly this - they are seen as untrustworthy- they have u-turned on so many policies that people don’t trust them anymore. Thats another reason why Farage will get elected. So it’s fine to say you think he’s untrustworthy but to the man on the street why is Starmer and cabinet any more trustworthy? My opinion is they haven’t demonstrated this. If they had they would be in less trouble in the polls. Indeed the reason that Reform is doing well and Labour not so well isn’t just because of “popularism” it’s because people don’t trust Labour. So they have themselves to blame to some degree. I agree that you need a rationale long term strategy to address the country’s issues. I disagree about needing to tax significantly more as the go to solution, noting that Reeves has already raised taxes for businesses significantly. Even if you did, the problem with this Government is currently they are only interested taxing and not about reforming or cutting, which is also needed. Keeping taxing more and you won’t improve the economy - that’s not the solution. Starmer and Cabinet does not have back bench support for policies that might be unpopular as was shown with their failure to cut welfare costs. Therefore they aren’t making unpopular decisions that are needed….at least yet.

I agree that one of the concerns with Reform is how coherent they will be as a party and whether they can manage in government. They have a lack of people who understand how government works. On the flip side one of the issues with two main political parties is that they have too many “seasoned” politicians that have don’t real world experience. If Reform did secure a substantial number of seats a coalition with the conservatives might be an outcome which at least moves in the right direction to addressing this. I think they might win an outright majority anyway

It’s hardly the most unlikely story. Regardless the NHS does need significant reform to stop it draining money as, if it doesn’t, I can’t see it being sustainable in the longer term. Lots of people working in the NHS say the same about it needing to be reformed. Needs political will and a lack of fear about backlash for doing so.

Before the 2024 election this was a summary of the key issues that the Electorate were concerned with: The cost of living tops the list, with 45% of Britons saying it is one of the most important issues in deciding their vote. Health comes in a distant second, on 34%, followed closely by ‘the economy in general’ on 32%, and then immigration in fourth on 26%. Whilst the Tories lost heavily because they didn’t address these matters, most people’s view is that healthcare is probably the only thing that has improved under Labour (I appreciate they are only one year in). Unless they address economic issues and immigration (which I think they will struggle on both), the electorate will keep looking g for a party that can move the country in the right direction on these matters. Thats not a party political statement it’s just what I expect to happen.

Putting a fiver on them going down then😆

You would have made a much more rationale response than normal, if that was the case.😉

@badgerx16 why are you laughing? I wasn’t blaming Labour - I said they are in trouble over it but they had no choice but to defend their position.

Politically the Bell Hotel issue is a nightmare for Labour. They had to defend the position as there is no alternative for relocating the asylum seekers got removed from hotels. However, to most people, despite what Starmer has says, it looks like he and his cabinet has sent the Home Office out to defend asylum seekers over locals and won. This is going to be a big problem for him that is going to rumble on the more and more media attention this gets.

Being a top dog in the Championship is so much better than being a PL whipping boy!

Finn Azaz - rare to find a man whose first name and last name only constitute 5 different letters. Imagine if the deal is done already he could be on the bench for Watford

Ok I got that bit wrong - 20 shot rather than killed The point I was making was that someone was focusing on what Trump would say about it because the person is trans and I was pointing out that was an unusual point to highlight and the application of double standards that would have been applied on here if someone of a different profile had done the shooting. It highlights the bias that was being applied. That was the key point and the 20 shot or killed by no means invalidates the point I made. I have often noted that when people don’t have a response to a point they pick up a secondary point to highlight as a distraction tactic to the key point they can’t respond to. Just an observation.

Sold Fernandes Signed BBDs twin brother and Guido Carrillo’s back

Where did you get those stats from please? The Club Brugge striker managed those figures in the first half alone last night. 😆

Only one player (roerslav) from outside the UK and Ireland. Very much a home based team. In fact in our squad only Quarsie, roerslav and downs are non British or Irish. Quite interesting and maybe a tactic of the board / still?

Kid was one of the few that kept going and gave 100% last season. Shouldn’t be forgotten as there were plenty of others who didn’t. I’ll remember him for that rather than going to WH training ground, if that’s what he did We are going to make £25 - £30m and reinvest the money anyway. We wouldn’t have got that if his attitude hadn’t been spot on. With the players we are purchasing it ain’t the end of the world anyway

Great deal. I don’t understand why so cheap for top assist provider in the champ last season

Agreed

True - forgot about him. On that basis maybe the Lens guy isn’t needed. It does appear that Still might see Fraser as more of a central midfielder particularly with age?

BBD needs to go regardless. Suppose it depends how Still wants to play. If you want 'proper' wingers to supply the forwards I dont think Armstrong is that. I suspect he will change formation over the season but we will only have two out and out wingers - Fellows and Robinson - so I could understand getting one more to cover absences

If they do sign him it seems like he would be a back up winger behind Robinson and Fellows possibly? If he has a good work rate you can understand why Still would want him with the high pressing game but at a lesser cost.

On the face of it, great business. If it all happens, you would have to conclude that Spors and the Board have done well. Whether those players succeed or not, time will tell, but at the current time you would say well done.

I acknowledge the Tories have u-turned and made some bad decisions in power. Like we both said, all politicians do u-turn unfortunately. Are you seriously taking the line that in one year of Government, the Tories u-turned more than this Government in its first year though? Really? I'm happy to be proven wrong by the way. Every Labour U-turn after Starmer reverses welfare cuts | The Independent