The Burnham Years - Can the new(ish) broom sweep clean?

[Weston Super Saint]

On 14/10/2026 at 14:32, Osvaldorama said:

My overall point was that understanding how the economy is doing is a matter of perspective.
(Aka how you are measuring it.)

Measured in gold (and other hard assets), the average British person is being fucked over, and the country is declining as a result. 

From that perspective economy has been terribly managed for a long time. I disagree with Gloucester’s assessment that it’s doing well.

But also, GDP per capita has been stagnant for more than a decade. 

People can try and argue that “it’s global issue” all they like, and there is some merit in that. 

But the main reason for that is because all of the G7 have adopted the same stupid policies. (Eg driving energy costs up with ridiculous net zero policies and massive welfare spending.)

The UK has spent £1.1 trillion more on welfare benefits than critical infrastructure since 2006.

You can’t tax your way to growth. It must be nurtured and incentivised. 
 

Why not measure GDP against the value of bitcoin since 1960?

Would that still back your argument?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

34 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Why not measure GDP against the value of bitcoin since 1960?

Would that still back your argument?

GDP doesn't do well against the cost of chocolate coins. The runaway increase shows clearly that labour have lost control.

[Weston Super Saint]

16 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

GDP doesn't do well against the cost of chocolate coins. The runaway increase shows clearly that labour have lost control.

Fucking lefties, destroying the economy by giving money away to something, something, something.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

5 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Fucking lefties, destroying the economy by giving money away to something, something, something.

Think of the hungry patriotic children at Christmas, with fewer chocolate coins. 😭

[Osvaldorama]

13 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

GDP doesn't do well against the cost of chocolate coins. The runaway increase shows clearly that labour have lost control.

You can’t actually be this thick? 

You’re literally proving my point that the currency is being debased. Lmao. 
 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Osvaldorama said:

You can’t actually be this thick? 

You’re literally proving my point that the currency is being debased. Lmao. 
 

 

[Farmer Saint]

2 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

 

These low-iq, non-serious people eh?

[Wade Garrett]

Surely the best barometer of how the economy is doing is that the government wouldn't be taxing and borrowing more if the economy was filling their coffers?

 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

Surely the best barometer of how the economy is doing is that the government wouldn't be taxing and borrowing more if the economy was filling their coffers?

 

Not with two parallel major wars on and both having a major impact on energy costs which affects every part of the economy and supply chains. Why do you think Trump is having to kiss Putin’s arse over diesel? Because the domestic prices and supply are dreadful.

Hopefully the US electorate will pull their finger out next month and Congress forces them out of Iran.

[Wade Garrett]

4 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Not with two parallel major wars on and both having a major impact on energy costs which affects every part of the economy and supply chains. Why do you think Trump is having to kiss Putin’s arse over diesel? Because the domestic prices and supply are dreadful.

Hopefully the US electorate will pull their finger out next month and Congress forces them out of Iran.

Fair point.  I don’t think the economy being ravaged by COVID helped either.

Either way, the economy isn’t in good shape.

[whelk]

4 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Not with two parallel major wars on and both having a major impact on energy costs which affects every part of the economy and supply chains. Why do you think Trump is having to kiss Putin’s arse over diesel? Because the domestic prices and supply are dreadful.

Hopefully the US electorate will pull their finger out next month and Congress forces them out of Iran.

And he will now be blaming fuel prices on Ukraine. The gullible moron pool of 77 million must be shrinking all the time I would hope. 

[Farmer Saint]

9 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Fair point.  I don’t think the economy being ravaged by COVID helped either.

Either way, the economy isn’t in good shape.

And yet it's better than most think-tanks think it should be.

[Gloucester Saint]

10 hours ago, whelk said:

And he will now be blaming fuel prices on Ukraine. The gullible moron pool of 77 million must be shrinking all the time I would hope. 

Even Fox’s latest poll showed a very best case GOP scenario as a Democrat majority of three in Congress. Worst case was 30-35.

Edited Saturday at 07:12 by Gloucester Saint

[AlexLaw76]

The PM may wear eye liner,  it at least he is not leading a mess like France. 
 

it is all getting ‘largely peaceful’ over in Paris

[Farmer Saint]

Inflation increasing again unfortunately - literally nowt can be done whilst we have very little energy security and the US fuck around in the ME:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ck1l3dvvqm85t

We really need more renewables and nuclear though to drive prices down, because then we're not beholden by the International Wholesale prices.

Edited 12 hours ago by Farmer Saint

[Farmer Saint]

One I missed yesterday - unemployment has fallen to lowest rate in a year. Fingers crossed that continues:

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/20/uk-unemployment-rate-surprise-drop

I'm still waiting to hear a proper announcement on Business Rates to help out.

[Farmer Saint]

Pound at highest level versus the Euro for a couple of years as well.

[Gloucester Saint]

4 hours ago, Farmer Saint said:

Inflation increasing again unfortunately - literally nowt can be done whilst we have very little energy security and the US fuck around in the ME:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ck1l3dvvqm85t

We really need more renewables and nuclear though to drive prices down, because then we're not beholden by the International Wholesale prices.

The mid-term polls get worse for Trump by the day leading up to next month. Won’t be a panacea but 99% probability of a Democrat Congress with a good majority and 75% likely to flip the Senate.

Rumour is that Trump might take it out on Hegseth and his projects with the Mad Bens and his son-in-law get curtailed. Further loosening of sanctions on Russia also less likely with guardrails in place. Both of which will benefit the UK.

[badgerx16]

3 hours ago, Farmer Saint said:

Pound at highest level versus the Euro for a couple of years as well.

Think I'll keep the Euros on my Revolut card as they are and not convert them back to £GB.