Sir Ralph

I said (oh and lots of economists) that inflation in the Euro Zone was much lower and the UK government policies has had a role in that. Economies aren't simple (obviously) but it doesnt take away from the point about inflation specifically. Obviously if a country has a significant debt that it is struggling to repay (which has accumulated over years) then having a lower level of inflation for a year or so isnt going to resolve that as there are structural issues with the economy. Your point is a bizarre one, dont worry you havent had a eureka moment! France has a more socialist political and economic system than us with an increased role of the state. Maybe look at that....

The comment I made was that France and the Euro Zone has lower inflation than us at the current time. What relevance is that to their national debt which has accumulated over years? It doesnt invalidate the point at all. France has a more socialist political and economic system than us with an increased role of the state. If anything France's position should sound as a warning to reduce our spending.

“They” - transphobe 😆

It would be transphobic though. 😆What an utterly weird thing to do. https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/portsmouth-fc-fan-john-westwood-banned-for-fourth-time-this-season-after-going-into-ladies-toilets-claiming-he-was-transgender-4062862

The point I made was I’ve never heard anybody at a football game sing about a PM which shows how unpopular he is. Very simple point. You dismissed it by essentially calling them all right wing nutters. I called you out and I’m a nutcase. Somehow you have got onto John Barnes, Danny Wallace, the IRA, the England Supporters Club, Brexit and Reform. You missed out Trump though, which I’m sure is coming 😉

You’ve basically tarred any England fan that doesn’t like Kier Starmer with this brush which is a ridiculous statement. “If you chanted about Kier you’re a right wing facist and racist” - it’s a poor comment. We don’t live in the 1980s anymore and this was a home game against Andorra. Anyway it’s immaterial - the polls are what matter. The England fans reflected what the wider country thinks. You can ignore it all you want but that doesn’t matter. It reflects the level of dissatisfaction.

It’s a different crowd now at England. Can’t remember England fans singing about any other PM. Maybe he has come in for special treatment because he is hugely disliked. Again, whatever is put as evidence you will try to rebut rather than just accepting the public really don’t like this Government one year in. Just because people are anti Labour / Starmer it doesn’t mean they are right wing. Also the polls don’t lie, including the dramatic decline of the Labour Party, and the polls are the most accurate reflection of society. Today’s signing is a reflection of that. The majority don’t support them or their policies. It’s ok to accept that rather than blindly standing up for them whenever anyone says something negative about them.

England fans paying their “compliments” to Kier Starmer during the Andorra game. Can’t remember for a long time England fans singing derogatory songs about a PM. These lot really are unpopular

I did complain about that so fair enough. Have a good evening.

He didnt mention anyone specifically. Why so defensive? I didn’t get offended.

Good summary 😆

Don’t be too harsh - I’m sure running was a typo

I agree they need to be paid more to get better quality in, and potentially fewer of them, particularly in key decision making roles around education, health and the economy. Some of the people in parliament really shouldnt be there, particularly having votes in more complex issues. In Germany I think they have a system where some matters (e.g. health) have cross party bodies that make decisions, to ensure a long term strategy and that these matters dont become so politicised, which is sensible. You have to remember that to come through the local political system, its already a dog eat dog / backstabbing environment to make it anywhere there, let alone to progress to an MP and then through Westminster to rise to the top. This is what these career politicians live in day to day, so its no wonder we have the poor quality moral compass and lack of backbone in charge and they spend their days trying to look good and shaft each other (not all of them I hasten to add)

Unfortunately this appears to be systemic. Until there is some sort of overhaul of the system or the types of people that are elected, we are going to bounce from crap party to crap party. Whilst there are some good individuals, none of the parties are fit to run the country as their ethics and backbone are sadly lacking.

Like I said PPE was a big scandal and the Tories suffered because of it. I'm no fan of them nowadays. Proportionality the impact of PPE was greater in terms of financial financial impact than the Labour issues to date of course. This is also about confidence in Government and its judgement - multiple cabinet ministers have lied and been caught only within the space of one year. The Governments actions instil little confidence in them (Rayners actions included), particularly with a critical budget coming up which, if they continue to make a mess of things, will cost the country far more than the PPE scandal. To the outside world we must look like things are out of control and unstable, much more so than under the tories.

One year into Government only and all these scandals. I agree that PPE was a big scandal but you need to compare this to the Tories who were in power for 14 years, when referring to their scandals (scandal per year ratio). I think its naive to think they are any better than other parties.

Based on the article in the Telegraph, it appears they are denying ever given her the advice and the records show they dont have the relevant advice in-house. She did say she got advice from 3 sources though. Joanna Verrico, the managing director, told The Telegraph: “We acted for Ms Rayner when she purchased the flat in Hove. We did not and never have given tax or trust advice. It’s something we always refer our clients to an accountant or tax expert for. “The stamp duty for the Hove flat was calculated using HMRC’s own online calculator, based on the figures and the information provided by Ms Rayner. That’s what we used, and it told us we had to pay £30,000 based on the information provided to us. We believe that we did everything correctly and in good faith. Everything was exactly as it should be. “We probably are being made scapegoats for all this, and I have got the arrows stuck in my back to show it. We are not an inexperienced firm, but we’re not qualified to give advice on trust and tax matters and we advise clients to seek expert advice on these.”

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/798031/can-you-really-think-your-boobs-bigger/ This is genuinely him from 2013. Maybe he can use hypnotherapy to get the economy going

Congratulations and good luck to her - Tell her to avoid advising politicians on property transactions though 😆

It’s not unreasonable to seek a second legal opinion at all. It happens regularly and not even in the context of being Deputy PM on a matter that that will be scrutinised so I respectfully disagree. The point about footballers is largely irrelevant to what happens to Rayner. If you can’t see it’s hypocritical then I’m surprised but we will leave it at disagreeing on that

I said before I hope they do well. I would even vote for them if i thought they were up to it. It’s not about being partisan. When they got in I wasn’t enamoured but not overly concerned.I’ve become more anti Labour because they are terrible. My response above acknowledged the relevance of the legal opinion but it doesn’t remove the hypocrisy. Its always depressing when you get caught for doing the wrong thing but that doesn’t get you off the hook

I take your point and agree if you take legal advice and it’s incorrect that it means there is an explanation for what you did, if indeed that was the case. I find it unusual that she then took subsequent legal advice that contradicted that only after she got caught. As Deputy PM I would make sure that the advice I received was 100% certain and probably seek second opinions. It appears that the second opinion was obtained once she got caught. However, whatever happened she went to lengths to minimise her tax bill in relation to stamps duty otherwise owed. She is the housing minister in a government who has barked on about the need for everyone to share the tax burden and now wants to rinse people through a property tax. However she wants to avoid it. As someone in public office surely you then agree that’s hypocritical?

These politicians are preaching at us about the need to pay tax and how they want to tax us till we are bled dry. It’s hypocritical at best. She also holds public office. If this was a Tory or Reform MP would people hold the same view and defend them? I wouldn’t

I agree, benefit of the doubt she is a hypocrite who the PM is happy to support and sit alongside. I can’t see how her position is tenable but it says a lot that the PM thinks that’s ok.