The Starmer Years - Can The New Broom Sweep Clean?

[Gloucester Saint]

The Eritrean AS who was trying to retrospectively claim he was a victim of modern slavery, having passed through several countries he could have claimed refuge in, is on a flight first thing tomorrow morning now. 👋 

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Gloucester Saint said:

The Eritrean AS who was trying to retrospectively claim he was a victim of modern slavery, having passed through several countries he could have claimed refuge in, is on a flight first thing tomorrow morning now. 👋 

Good news. Hopefully future cases will be resolved in a similarly speedy manner.

[AlexLaw76]

Not the Government, but this so not going well.

wonder if she wants to return

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

23 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Not the Government, but this so not going well.

wonder if she wants to return

 

Jumped the gun in announcing the party, not included in the way she expected, sets up unauthorised although not dodgy, just awkward, fundraiser and rather burns bridges with the "sexist boys club" or SBC as it will appear on ballots.

Great to see Comrade Corbyn's party getting off to solid party political beginnings of infighting and early purges to come.

[hypochondriac]

Quiz time. Who said:

"It was our government, this government, that restored Britain’s reputation as a beacon of stability by putting the public finances back on a firm footing, getting debt on a downward path".

[hypochondriac]

Labour need to massively cut welfare spending. I don't think their MPs will let them though so they're in a bind.

[Mixedkebab]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Labour need to massively cut welfare spending. I don't think their MPs will let them though so they're in a bind.

The latest numbers on debt/ borrowing are hideous. Especially with tax receipts having increased by billions, mostly as a result of increased tax paid by businesses who were already finding it tough.

Edited Friday at 11:40 by Mixedkebab

[AlexLaw76]

2 out

166 in, with hundreds more in the way just today

lovely…

 

Edited Friday at 12:11 by AlexLaw76

[AlexLaw76]

And it begins (and as predicted)

MP doing the rounds, in response to Trumps comments, the Navy is working closely with the border force about safeguarding the channel.

riiiiiiight 

[Lord Duckhunter]

12 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

2 out

166 in, with hundreds more in the way just today

lovely…

How many are coming on plane from France tomorrow.
 

From what I understand their numbers aren’t affected by successful appeals our end. If we say we’re sending 10 back, but only 2 go as the rest successfully appealed , they are still sending 10. 
 

1 in 1 out seems a bit misleading, even if you forget about the thousands that we don’t even attempt to send back. 

Edited Friday at 12:23 by Lord Duckhunter

[AlexLaw76]

4 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

How many are coming on plane from France tomorrow.
 

From what I understand their numbers aren’t affected by successful appeals our end. If we say we’re sending 10 back, but only 2 go as the rest successfully appealed , they are still sending 10. 
 

1 in 1 out seems a bit misleading, even if you forget about the thousands that we don’t even attempt to send back. 

The 10 coming will be bringing their (very large) families no doubt.

 

[Sir Ralph]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Quiz time. Who said:

"It was our government, this government, that restored Britain’s reputation as a beacon of stability by putting the public finances back on a firm footing, getting debt on a downward path".

Jim Callaghan….sorry Kier Starmer I meant

[AlexLaw76]

6 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Labour need to massively cut welfare spending. I don't think their MPs will let them though so they're in a bind.

Pandemic levels….

[Weston Super Saint]

Any idea what the black hole is now? Has it gone down?

[hypochondriac]

I think this highlights a big reason for the mess we are in:

‘52.6% of all UK households are taking more in benefits/services than they contribute in all taxes.

In 1977 it was 37%.’

Just insane.

[Gloucester Saint]

Reform not finding it any easier to cut locally and regionally in office and not lose core support https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/reform-doge-unit-struggles-with-local-pressures

Welcome to mainstream politics in the 2020s.

[Farmer Saint]

2 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Pandemic levels….

Yep, need to increase taxes massively - as I've said for years if we have an publicly funded NHS we need to be a high tax society. TBF, we were warned that post Brexit this would happen if we left the customs union.

[hypochondriac]

18 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Yep, need to increase taxes massively - as I've said for years if we have an publicly funded NHS we need to be a high tax society. TBF, we were warned that post Brexit this would happen if we left the customs union.

Lol. That will fix it no doubt.

[Farmer Saint]

14 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Lol. That will fix it no doubt.

Privatise the NHS then I guess. Get that fucking welfare bill through. That'll be popular as well.

This country is nothing without being propped up by the EU.

Got any suggestions? The credit rating downgrade in 2022 made big differences to our borrowing rates and increased our spending on debt massively.

We are below average for the G7 on tax burden and we run a fully public health service. Fucking mental:

https://obr.uk/box/the-uks-tax-burden-in-historical-and-international-context/

Be good to reverse the NI cuts as well. It was done by the Tories to fuck the Labour party up as they knew they couldn't reverse it or afford it.

 

Edited Friday at 20:48 by Farmer Saint

[hypochondriac]

20 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Privatise the NHS then I guess. Get that fucking welfare bill through. That'll be popular as well.

This country is nothing without being propped up by the EU.

Got any suggestions? The downgrade in 2022 made big differences to put borrowing rates and increased our spending on debt massively.

Sure, debt costs went up after the downgrade – but hammering taxes won’t fix underlying issues. Smarter welfare reform, efficiency savings, and growth policies aren't perfect but are a better option than massive tax rises.

I'd have reversed the NI cuts last year but they didn't so might have to do it alongside all the other unpopular cuts. Let's see how much further their popularity drops.

Edited Friday at 21:00 by hypochondriac

[AlexLaw76]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

Yep, need to increase taxes massively - as I've said for years if we have an publicly funded NHS we need to be a high tax society. TBF, we were warned that post Brexit this would happen if we left the customs union.

Political suicide whilst hundreds, or even thousands, per day are just strolling into the country and having their lives paid for (and susequently their families when they are waved through the lax asylum process/criteria)

This issue is evidently going to break (or make) this government. Laugh all you want (some did when it was mentioned a few pages back), but you know it is true.

This 1-in 1-out deal is hilariously terrible, and remarkable watching/listening to MPs talking of its success (or, in their view, potential success). It will get that bad for the Government, they will actually station a warship in the channel as some sort of 'signal of intent' at some point towards the end of their term. Unless there is a change at the top, that is.

Edited Friday at 21:16 by AlexLaw76

[Farmer Saint]

30 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Sure, debt costs went up after the downgrade – but hammering taxes won’t fix underlying issues. Smarter welfare reform, efficiency savings, and growth policies aren't perfect but are a better option than massive tax rises.

I'd have reversed the NI cuts last year but they didn't so might have to do it alongside all the other unpopular cuts. Let's see how much further their popularity drops.

I love the efficiency savings argument. To identify and come up with those process improvements will cost £20bn+ plus and take 5+ years, before any IT costs. It's why no government has done it as the payback isn't anywhere close to being in term.

Take it from someone who semi-retired at 39 due to selling a company that did exactly that...

Edited Friday at 21:21 by Farmer Saint

[hypochondriac]

5 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

I love the efficiency savings argument. To identify and come up with those process improvements will cost £20bn+ plus and take 5+ years, before any IT costs. It's why no government has done it as the payback isn't anywhere close to being in term.

Take it from someone who semi-retired at 39 due to selling a company that did exactly that...

So we just accept waste forever because it’s hard? No wonder the books never balance and we're mored in debt. Short term solutions are a big part of the problem.

[Farmer Saint]

10 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Political suicide whilst hundreds, or even thousands, per day are just strolling into the country and having their lives paid for (and susequently their families when they are waved through the lax asylum process/criteria)

This issue is evidently going to break (or make) this government. Laugh all you want (some did when it was mentioned a few pages back), but you know it is true.

This 1-in 1-out deal is hilariously terrible, and remarkable watching/listening to MPs talking of its success (or, in their view, potential success). It will get that bad for the Government, they will actually station a warship in the channel as some sort of 'signal of intent' at some point towards the end of their term. Unless there is a change at the top, that is.

The fact people see it as such a big thing is disappointing, but that's what happens when they are bombarded from every angle that this is what is making their life shit.

It's not.

[Farmer Saint]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

So we just accept waste forever because it’s hard? No wonder the books never balance and we're mored in debt. Short term solutions are a big part of the problem.

No, I think it should be done. I'm just telling you it won't because no government will take it on. They never have and they never will.

Edited Friday at 21:27 by Farmer Saint

[hypochondriac]

26 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

The fact people see it as such a big thing is disappointing, but that's what happens when they are bombarded from every angle that this is what is making their life shit.

It's not.

Having parts of the country full of foreigners with an unprecedented rate of change has undeniably changed some areas of the country for the worse. It's not what is making life shit -my life isn't shit -but it's certainly not positive. Most of that was the fault of the Tories of course.

Edited Friday at 21:52 by hypochondriac

[Sir Ralph]

Oh met somebody else tonight who has just sold their software business and moving to the us because they don’t see any future here. But I’m just making it up #itsallfine

Edited Friday at 21:38 by Sir Ralph

[Farmer Saint]

20 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

Oh met somebody else tonight who has just sold their software business and moving to the us because they don’t see any future here. But I’m just making it up #itsallfine

Moving to the US. The day after we announced a huge tech deal with the US, and having to pay Capital Gains on the sale of their business?

So what is their reason for moving? You really do seem to have a network of the thickest millionaires...

Edited Friday at 21:56 by Farmer Saint

[Farmer Saint]

17 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Having parts of the country full of foreigners with an unprecedented rate of change has undeniably changed some areas of the country for the worse. It's not what is making life shit -my life isn't shit -but it's certainly not positive.

We're talking about underprivileged people here, people on the breadline as they seem to be the most vocal about these issues. For us, it's annoying, for those others it's a fucking slap in the face.

[rallyboy]

15 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Having parts of the country full of foreigners 

Really?

Now tell me the one about Birmingham being under Sharia law. 😄

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Farmer Saint said:

We're talking about underprivileged people here, people on the breadline as they seem to be the most vocal about these issues. For us, it's annoying, for those others it's a fucking slap in the face.

What is a slap in the face? Unprecedented levels of change in some areas of the country? I agree that's shit.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, rallyboy said:

Really?

Now tell me the one about Birmingham being under Sharia law. 😄

Not sure what you're talking about.

[Farmer Saint]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

What is a slap in the face? Unprecedented levels of change in some areas of the country? I agree that's shit.

Immigrants being put up at taxpayers expense.

Unprecedented levels of change - behave.

Edited Friday at 21:57 by Farmer Saint

[hypochondriac]

10 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Immigrants being put up at taxpayers expense.

Unprecedented levels of change - behave.

It's a bit more than an annoyance. It's a disgrace and it's a big reason why Reform are surging in the polls. 

[Farmer Saint]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

It's a bit more than an annoyance. It's a disgrace and it's a big reason why Reform are surging in the polls. 

Why is it any more than an annoyance? I live in an area with a huge number of immigrants and immigrant hotels. It's not changed fuck all.

It's been the same since we left the EU, why is now the "breaking point"?

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Why is it any more than an annoyance? I live in an area with a huge number of immigrants and immigrant hotels. It's not changed fuck all.

It's been the same since we left the EU, why is now the "breaking point"?

Well firstly there's more all the time so it's going to be more annoying the longer it goes on. Secondly I wasn't happy about it the entire time. Maybe other people only recently started caring but it's an affront to the British sense of fair play. I think it's appalling that poll after poll for so many years now have called for lower levels of immigration. Parties have gotbibto power promising to significantly lower it and then the numbers keep going up. Even if you don't think it matters, everyone must surely agree that that is unacceptable. The Boris wave in particular was a dereliction of duty as far as I'm concerned and spat in the face of anyone who voted for him for that reason

[Farmer Saint]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Well firstly there's more all the time so it's going to be more annoying the longer it goes on. Secondly I wasn't happy about it the entire time. Maybe other people only recently started caring but it's an affront to the British sense of fair play. I think it's appalling that poll after poll for so many years now have called for lower levels of immigration. Parties have gotbibto power promising to significantly lower it and then the numbers keep going up. Even if you don't think it matters, everyone must surely agree that that is unacceptable. The Boris wave in particular was a dereliction of duty as far as I'm concerned and spat in the face of anyone who voted for him for that reason

Where did I say it didn't matter? It matters, just not as much as people are told to think it does.

It wouldn't be anywhere near the issue it is now if we hadn't left the EU. Personally, I think it's the Prophet Muhammed having a good laugh and dishing out a punishment to all those who voted to leave.

[Sir Ralph]

8 hours ago, Farmer Saint said:

Moving to the US. The day after we announced a huge tech deal with the US, and having to pay Capital Gains on the sale of their business?

So what is their reason for moving? You really do seem to have a network of the thickest millionaires...

 

Edited yesterday at 06:21 by Sir Ralph

[Weston Super Saint]

5 hours ago, Sir Ralph said:

Thats right i just keep making it all up.They are clearly all stupid. What I can’t work out is why these high contributors to uk tax revenues are moving to low tax economies - doesn’t make sense it’s just a huge coincidence 😆#immakingitup #theyareallclueless #wealthtaxswillsolveeverything

Are those Nigerian millionaires real?  Maybe those emails I received were true?

[Sir Ralph]

37 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Are those Nigerian millionaires real?  Maybe those emails I received were true?

Arent all Japanese people technically millionaires as well?

[Farmer Saint]

7 hours ago, Sir Ralph said:

 

You are again misunderstanding, I've picked up your actual comments that you seem to have deleted from the Weston reply.

Asset rich, no wage millionaires are actually fairly immobile due to the fact that they get taxed on their assets if they sell them. So business owners, share owners, big stake millionaires have to suck up huge tax bills to move abroad.

Some high wage earners leave the UK and will always leave to places like Dubai, because they don't want to pay any tax. That's fine, but that has nothing to do with UK tax changes by the Labour party - income tax hasn't changed apart from the freezing of thresholds since 2012. That makes very little tax difference to high wage earners. Selfish people will always, and have always moved to low tax economies.

What's your friend going to do in the US by the way, for work? When did he sell his company? What did his company do? What age bracket are they in? Let's see if you answer the question this time...

https://taxjustice.net/press/millionaire-exodus-did-not-occur-study-reveals/

Edited yesterday at 07:08 by Farmer Saint

[Gloucester Saint]

Reform’s polling has much to do with the fact that they spent several times what the other parties spent over the summer on Facebook advertising, all of it about immigration and ‘lawless UK’.  A lot of it from funding sources even Portsmouth FC would’ve baulked at in the 00s (yes, Trousers, I know it’s a different club now 😉

They are finding local government rather harder than they thought and the post-austerity issues even more intractable. The hiss coming out of the tyres is coming. 

Edited yesterday at 09:28 by Gloucester Saint

[whelk]

Has anyone thought about efficiency savings? Seems crazy that no one has ever put this forward. Why do people vote for parties that are so keen on inefficiencies?

[whelk]

Do any of Ralph’s anti-British mates lunch in Maidstone?

[badgerx16]

10 minutes ago, whelk said:

Has anyone thought about efficiency savings? Seems crazy that no one has ever put this forward. Why do people vote for parties that are so keen on inefficiencies?

Lancashire County Council are complaining that the Government needs to give them more money.

 

Edited yesterday at 09:42 by badgerx16

[whelk]

2 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Lancashire County Council are complaining that the Government needs to give them more money.

FFS have they not tried to sell their thousands of Pride flags and got rid of their legion of diversity officers first? And they should look at running some of their processes using IT.  Computers can be far quicker then writing and delivering memos

[Farmer Saint]

8 minutes ago, whelk said:

Do any of Ralph’s anti-British mates lunch in Maidstone?

It does feel very right wing SOG doesn't it?

[badgerx16]

2 minutes ago, whelk said:

FFS have they not tried to sell their thousands of Pride flags and got rid of their legion of diversity officers first? And they should look at running some of their processes using IT.  Computers can be far quicker then writing and delivering memos

My wife had written to our county councillor suggesting that rather than painting 'official' St George's flags on roundabouts across the county, they might try fixing the potholes and subsidence along our road.

[whelk]

Just now, Farmer Saint said:

It does feel very right wing SOG doesn't it?

I love the way these right wingers feel they are the patriots yet seem very anti-British is slagging everything off, desperate not to contribute and want to flee to a different culture. 

[whelk]

1 minute ago, badgerx16 said:

My wife had written to our county councillor suggesting that rather than painting 'official' St George's flags on roundabouts across the county, they might try fixing the potholes and subsidence along our road.

They need to hammer the tax of electric vehicles. They fuck up the roads and needs t9 be acknowledged