The Starmer Years - Can The New Broom Sweep Clean?

[egg]

1 minute ago, Weston Super Saint said:

That's one of the issues though. We all know that black, Asian and anyone 'foreign' looking will be asked to prove their right to live in the country disproportionately more than white / European people, simply because of the demographics of those entering the country and working illegally.

Than there will be the endless hand wringing and accusations of brutality etc. 

 

For sure, that's inevitable. I'm not calling for ID cards btw, rather I don't see an issue in principle. Done well, they'll serve a useful purpose.

[Weston Super Saint]

3 minutes ago, egg said:

For sure, that's inevitable. I'm not calling for ID cards btw, rather I don't see an issue in principle. Done well, they'll serve a useful purpose.

I agree.

I disagree that the purpose will have much effect on illegal workers, let alone enough of an effect to justify the cost!

[Weston Super Saint]

23 hours ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Trouble is, there is a large portion of society who don't ask who is doing their McDelivery or Whooshing their groceries to them.

I'd challenge most deliveries aren't being delivered by the person pictured on the app!  Massive 'blackmarket' economy growing with almost zero checks and balances.

It looks like the Government are already monitoring this site

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgqy8v7ze0ko

[AlexLaw76]

How could ID cards stop the boats?

[hypochondriac]

1 hour ago, egg said:

For sure, that's inevitable. I'm not calling for ID cards btw, rather I don't see an issue in principle. Done well, they'll serve a useful purpose.

Maybe so. The done well bit is the bit I highly doubt. 

[hypochondriac]

Interesting tweet from Andrew Neil. Presumably these would be popular policies on here at least. I wonder if they would increase Labour's popularity. 

[egg]

25 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

How could ID cards stop the boats?

Nothing will stop the boats. The water ain't going anywhere, neither is our obligation to take in people seeking asylum, and our inability to just send them on their way. 

[egg]

24 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Interesting tweet from Andrew Neil. Presumably these would be popular policies on here at least. I wonder if they would increase Labour's popularity. 

Scrap the green push and I'm all for that. Whatever labour do or don't do, they need to pick the left, right or middle lane, and stop doing an unpopular version of populism. 

[hypochondriac]

21 minutes ago, egg said:

Scrap the green push and I'm all for that. Whatever labour do or don't do, they need to pick the left, right or middle lane, and stop doing an unpopular version of populism. 

Agree with that. Currently trying to be all things to all people means they are unpopular with everyone. At least if they went left it would be clear and they would have sort of an appeal with some people at least. 

[Farmer Saint]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Interesting tweet from Andrew Neil. Presumably these would be popular policies on here at least. I wonder if they would increase Labour's popularity. 

Yep, popular. Reform would never win a majority to allow it to properly reverse those policies.

It also depends on whether they make the average person richer. If people are better off they can put up with more brown people.

[rallyboy]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Interesting tweet from Andrew Neil. Presumably these would be popular policies on here at least. I wonder if they would increase Labour's popularity. 

 

With the state of his CV and his reputation I must confess I thought I would never see the words 'interesting' and Andrew Neil in the same sentence ever again.

[hypochondriac]

57 minutes ago, rallyboy said:

With the state of his CV and his reputation I must confess I thought I would never see the words 'interesting' and Andrew Neil in the same sentence ever again.

Unlike some I like to look at a wide range of sources in order to develop more balanced opinions. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

I wonder what Starmers defenders will say about the welfare bill they’re proposing tonight. The one that treats people with the same disability differently based on when they were diagnosed. By definition, it’ll end up accepting people need help with day to day living, but then deny them that help. God, imagine if Tories proposed this, yet the usual suspects will still be trotting out the usual lines. Their caring principles shown up for what they really are. Movable…

[egg]

2 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I wonder what Starmers defenders will say about the welfare bill they’re proposing tonight. The one that treats people with the same disability differently based on when they were diagnosed. By definition, it’ll end up accepting people need help with day to day living, but then deny them that help. God, imagine if Tories proposed this, yet the usual suspects will still be trotting out the usual lines. Their caring principles shown up for what they really are. Movable…

You sound like Soggy. 

Who are the Starmer supporters you complain of?

Anyways, I agree. The proposed 2 tier system is absurd. Hopefully it gets voted down. 

[Farmer Saint]

39 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I wonder what Starmers defenders will say about the welfare bill they’re proposing tonight. The one that treats people with the same disability differently based on when they were diagnosed. By definition, it’ll end up accepting people need help with day to day living, but then deny them that help. God, imagine if Tories proposed this, yet the usual suspects will still be trotting out the usual lines. Their caring principles shown up for what they really are. Movable…

I think most have said Starmer is doing pretty shit? Or are you just making stuff up?

[Whitey Grandad]

18 hours ago, whelk said:

I am still worried that Saintweb will leak my real identity as Lisa Smith, 42 yo mother of two who works in Shoezone and drinks too much

Best keep quiet about that. You wouldn't want it to leak out.

[Lord Duckhunter]

3 hours ago, egg said:

Anyways, I agree. The proposed 2 tier system is absurd. Hopefully it gets voted down

There’s an argument to be had as to who deserves PIP & I’m sure we’d be at different ends of that debate. But the fundamental principles of a welfare state is that it should be based on need, not timing. It’s quite shocking that a labour government is undermining that principle and that hundreds of labour MP’s will vote it through. For what end, to satisfy the OBR & for political purposes. As shameful and immoral as anything Boris ever did. 

[hypochondriac]

So the government have no conviction whatsoever, are slaves to their backbenchers and can't make any savings which means terrible news for autumn and my mortgage renewal. Useless. 

[egg]

7 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

There’s an argument to be had as to who deserves PIP & I’m sure we’d be at different ends of that debate. But the fundamental principles of a welfare state is that it should be based on need, not timing. It’s quite shocking that a labour government is undermining that principle and that hundreds of labour MP’s will vote it through. For what end, to satisfy the OBR & for political purposes. As shameful and immoral as anything Boris ever did. 

Where we agree is re need, not timing. The climb down just highlights their lack of authority, but doing nothing is better than a half cocked 2 tier system which was a daft compromise. 

Edited Tuesday at 17:42 by egg

[whelk]

1 minute ago, egg said:

Where we agree is re need, not timing. The climb down just highlights their lack of authority, but doing nothing is better than a half cocked 2 tier system which has a daft compromise. 

There is a load of entitled chancers on PIP fleecing the country’s finances. How to sort them I do not know and gets emotive as of course so many genuine. You literally got people in full time employment getting PIP for their asthma when they also get full sick pay if ill

[whelk]

13 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

So the government have no conviction whatsoever, are slaves to their backbenchers and can't make any savings which means terrible news for autumn and my mortgage renewal. Useless. 

Interesting Newsagent podcast yesterday with Tom Baldwin who worked with Starmer on his biography. Seems like lots of arrogance with his team and acknowledgement from hi that have made many mistakes

[egg]

Just now, whelk said:

There is a load of entitled chancers on PIP fleecing the country’s finances. How to sort them I do not know and gets emotive as of course so many genuine. You literally got people in full time employment getting PIP for their asthma when they also get full sick pay if ill

Yep, it needs looking at, but properly. What irritates me is people getting PiP based on a points system, but to meet one aspect of independence. If that, for example, is to get to/from work but they cease to work (or need to pay to get there) then the PiP should go irrespective of whether they've got the points.

The points test is quite a tough threshold though, so I'm staggered so many people get it. 

[whelk]

1 minute ago, egg said:

The points test is quite a tough threshold though, so I'm staggered so many people get it

I heard most of assessments are remote so not a true assessment face to face  rather trusting people to answer honestly - which many won’t 

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, whelk said:

Interesting Newsagent podcast yesterday with Tom Baldwin who worked with Starmer on his biography. Seems like lots of arrogance with his team and acknowledgement from hi that have made many mistakes

Thanks ill have a listen. That doesn't surprise me though. Imo labour have been shit in government but shit in different ways that I wasn't expecting when they started. 

[trousers]

21 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

terrible news for autumn and my mortgage renewal 

Interest rate rises? 

[egg]

3 minutes ago, whelk said:

I heard most of assessments are remote so not a true assessment face to face  rather trusting people to answer honestly - which many won’t 

I've been to several as a chaperone and they've all been face to face, but I suspect that's not always the case. They don't go easy on people in my experience, and don't roll over when challenged. The number of successful claims does surprise me. 

[Farmer Saint]

34 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

So the government have no conviction whatsoever, are slaves to their backbenchers and can't make any savings which means terrible news for autumn and my mortgage renewal. Useless. 

What's it got to do with mortgages?

[whelk]

20 minutes ago, egg said:

I've been to several as a chaperone and they've all been face to face, but I suspect that's not always the case. They don't go easy on people in my experience, and don't roll over when challenged. The number of successful claims does surprise me. 

Huge surge since Covid so assume some flimsy online reviews there. 

You see the type in fellow employees too - no stoicism which many youngster see as repression. Can’t comprehend I didn’t have one days sick in 15 years. Obviously there is huge fortune in that but wouldn’t underplay the mind over matter and work ethic 
 

 

 

[Baird of the land]

So basically zero reform resulting in even higher taxation. Not going to convince me to vote labour anytime soon.

[AlexLaw76]

Taxes can’t go up, Labour promised not to tax working people

council tax can’t go up, Labour promised not to raise it.

We are all in for ~£300 a year off our energy bills any day now…

[Weston Super Saint]

(almost) a year in and 'smashing the gangs' isn't making much difference - if it's happening at all?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dqqj0v1ndo

Quote

As of 30 June, 19,982 people had arrived in the UK in small boats in 2025 - up by 48% compared with the first six months of 2024.

To reduce the number of crossings, the government has pledged to disrupt the people-smuggling gangs behind them.

 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Weston Super Saint said:

(almost) a year in and 'smashing the gangs' isn't making much difference - if it's happening at all?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dqqj0v1ndo

 

Looks like we are making it less attractive to come… deary me!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/35639479/channel-migrants-eye-tests-wigs-nhs/

[Weston Super Saint]

10 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Looks like we are making it less attractive to come… deary me!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/35639479/channel-migrants-eye-tests-wigs-nhs/

I could do with a free wig to be fair.

I was in the gym today on the stationary bike next to another guy, someone commented we looked like two eggs boiling in a pan - cheeky bastard.

[hypochondriac]

38 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Looks like we are making it less attractive to come… deary me!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/35639479/channel-migrants-eye-tests-wigs-nhs/

We entice some and then encourage others to leave! Dearie dearie me. 

[whelk]

25 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

We entice some and then encourage others to leave! Dearie dearie me. 

Diddums, is it because their tax now is so high? Must have missed how all their wealth was depleting over the last year.

btw bots woudl be posting this regardless of what happens. Keeps the stupid working class in their place and grateful.

 

 

[hypochondriac]

54 minutes ago, whelk said:

Diddums, is it because their tax now is so high? Must have missed how all their wealth was depleting over the last year.

btw bots woudl be posting this regardless of what happens. Keeps the stupid working class in their place and grateful.

 

 

I don't care why they leave, it's hardly a positive sign whatever the reason. 

[AlexLaw76]

Obviously, not the same at all.

 

[hypochondriac]

22 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Obviously, not the same at all.

 

 

Edited 22 hours ago by hypochondriac

[egg]

52 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Obviously, not the same at all.

 

Their authority is thin, I think that's undeniable. 

[Weston Super Saint]

27 minutes ago, egg said:

Their authority is thin, I think that's undeniable. 

If they don't start bucking their ideas up and being the grown ups in the room that they want to be, they look like they'll be leaving the door wide open for Nigel - a couple of years of that and things really will only be able to get better.

[whelk]

2 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

If they don't start bucking their ideas up and being the grown ups in the room that they want to be, they look like they'll be leaving the door wide open for Nigel - a couple of years of that and things really will only be able to get better.

Nigel - FFS another convert

 

[Weston Super Saint]

1 minute ago, whelk said:

Nigel - FFS another convert

 

Are you insinuating I'm a convert to Reform?

[whelk]

Just now, Weston Super Saint said:

Are you insinuating I'm a convert to Reform?

No but stop referring to him as Nigel

There is a reason why commonly referred to by the press
Rishi, Liz and Boris, now Nigel contrasted with most often Starmer and Corbyn 

[whelk]

Like fucking ‘Trent’

[Weston Super Saint]

Just now, whelk said:

No but stop referring to him as Nigel

There is a reason why commonly referred to by the press
Rishi, Liz and Boris, now Nigel contrasted with most often Starmer and Corbyn 

How about 'Farage'?  is that acceptable?

Should I not refer to Sir Keir as Sir Keir either?

It may have escaped your attention, but I'm not the 'press'.  I'm happy to refer to people with their first names.  Doesn't mean I'm a 'convert'.  That's a ridiculous notion to hold.

[whelk]

Just now, Weston Super Saint said:

How about 'Farage'?  is that acceptable?

Only if you are pronouncing as ‘Faridge’ in your head

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, egg said:

Their authority is thin, I think that's undeniable. 

In office but not in power…

[Turkish]

58 minutes ago, whelk said:

Nigel - FFS another convert

 

What sort of parent names their kid Nigel FFS

[whelk]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

What sort of parent names their kid Nigel FFS

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

29 minutes ago, whelk said:

 

No one making plans for Nigel. 🙂