| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. 22:58 - Mar 14 with 11413 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/14/blockers-checkers-bats-and-chai
'Starmer’s language has been praised by the rightwing Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a thinktank that was closely associated with Liz Truss.
Tom Clougherty, the executive director of the IEA, said: “Increasingly, the government is getting its rhetoric right. But its actions haven’t quite caught up. The British state is overloaded and that hurts both public services and the private sector. Changing structures might help, but ultimately government just needs to stop doing some things altogether.”
Starmer’s shift to using more robust language has increased in his eight months as prime minister. He said he would “build, baby, build” to meet his pledge on more housing, channelling Trump’s mantra of “drill, baby, drill”.'
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 23:35 - Mar 15 with 2096 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 23:07 - Mar 15 by gtsb1966 |
Good. So many get PiP payments and there is no need to get it. I know people who get it who shouldn't get anything at all. It's so easy to work the system and I've seen it close to home. |
Are some of your best friends black too. Easy? Lol....I know people who have had to jump through hoops just to try to hang on to what they need for a semblance of dignity in hard times but each to their own. | |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 00:15 - Mar 16 with 2043 views | Pinewoodblue |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 23:35 - Mar 15 by BanksterDebtSlave |
Are some of your best friends black too. Easy? Lol....I know people who have had to jump through hoops just to try to hang on to what they need for a semblance of dignity in hard times but each to their own. |
There are problem both ways. People not getting benefit and others getting more than thy should. Reduce the number of the latter and you have the money to pay the former.
There are people who will help you ensure, especially with PIP and attendance allowance, the higher amount rather than the lower. is paid. It is all to do with the way the form is completed. Since you rarely get interviewed face to face a little white lie can make a big difference in the amount paid.
Spinal Injury Association provided guidance when first claim made, although as they explained you have no need to exaggerate the help provided it is easy to get the higher amount.
One silly benefit I didn't know about was her disability was such that Council tax would be reduce by down grading the band by 1, in our case D to C. Now over £200 a year discount. Mind you had to spend thousands on the house to make it as accessible as possible. |  |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 06:06 - Mar 16 with 1974 views | TheBlueGnu |
how's it feel so far ? Well, fine. The weather is good and Barbara Knox has appeared in 3918 episodes of Coronation Street. |  |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 07:06 - Mar 16 with 1965 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 23:29 - Mar 15 by BanksterDebtSlave |
I'm sorry but that just seemed like a long winded way of saying tinkering on the fringes/nothing/platitudes so I thought I would let it pass as I didn't want to expend the energy on an all day argument. |
You're an absolute fraud.
I gave you a bullet-pointed list of things that have gone well, how the feck is that "long winded"? You've replied to much longer posts than mine in this thread.
You said to GTSB, "Any other thoughts GTSB other than your usual cut and paste personal dig?" but what's the point when you're just going to dismiss facts as "tinkering on the fringes/nothing/platitudes"?
If the stuff I listed is just tinkering on the fringes/nothing/platitudes, WTF are the massive changes you were expecting in 8 months?!
I don't know why I'm asking TBH, it's clear you're not interested in debating the facts. GTSB was spot on. |  |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 07:46 - Mar 16 with 1934 views | DJR |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 13:34 - Mar 15 by itfcjoe |
He was fairly average, quite intelligent but nothing out of the ordinary, decent golfer, but when we got to 6th form he seemed to become about 5 years older than everyone! He went of to Oxbridge (I think Cambridge) to read Law. His Mum was the school nurse when the main one was away.
Not unpopular, not a person who left a huge impression either but a nice enough guy - spoke to a friend of his recently around a reunion and he said that sort of thing would be his worst nightmare now - so guess he’s well and truly moved on from Ipswich! |
I thought you were going to say that he was shunned at a school like yours because he was too left wing! [Post edited 16 Mar 7:47]
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 08:21 - Mar 16 with 1871 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 07:06 - Mar 16 by The_Flashing_Smile |
You're an absolute fraud.
I gave you a bullet-pointed list of things that have gone well, how the feck is that "long winded"? You've replied to much longer posts than mine in this thread.
You said to GTSB, "Any other thoughts GTSB other than your usual cut and paste personal dig?" but what's the point when you're just going to dismiss facts as "tinkering on the fringes/nothing/platitudes"?
If the stuff I listed is just tinkering on the fringes/nothing/platitudes, WTF are the massive changes you were expecting in 8 months?!
I don't know why I'm asking TBH, it's clear you're not interested in debating the facts. GTSB was spot on. |
Facts you say. Perhaps it's best you don't tempt me...
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/budget-2024-schools-must-be-front-of-the-funding-queue
'Before the election, Labour rightly criticised this shocking under-funding of school buildings – and over the weekend the Treasury confirmed it will invest £1.4 billion into the school estate.
However, this will only ensure delivery of the existing school rebuilding programme.'
Edit...how much of that housing 5 billion is new money and what is this affordable housing you speak of?
I mean who would want stuff like public services in public hands, a credible green agenda, wealth taxes and protection of disability benefits when you can have....
"Improvement of employment rights, such as protection against unfair dismissal from day one and expanded flexible working arrangements." [Post edited 16 Mar 8:38]
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 08:44 - Mar 16 with 1835 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 08:21 - Mar 16 by BanksterDebtSlave |
Facts you say. Perhaps it's best you don't tempt me...
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/budget-2024-schools-must-be-front-of-the-funding-queue
'Before the election, Labour rightly criticised this shocking under-funding of school buildings – and over the weekend the Treasury confirmed it will invest £1.4 billion into the school estate.
However, this will only ensure delivery of the existing school rebuilding programme.'
Edit...how much of that housing 5 billion is new money and what is this affordable housing you speak of?
I mean who would want stuff like public services in public hands, a credible green agenda, wealth taxes and protection of disability benefits when you can have....
"Improvement of employment rights, such as protection against unfair dismissal from day one and expanded flexible working arrangements." [Post edited 16 Mar 8:38]
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Is the totally unbiassed 'Schools Week' your new copy 'n' paste go to?
Even though they're obviously biased, they say themselves in that same article "It is of course welcome that the new government is moving to get the programme back on track."
They also add that they appreciate what they're asking for would be very expensive and is not something that can be fixed overnight.
The article is also from October, only 3 months after the election result.
Anyhoo, spending on schools is but one thing I highlighted, are you ignoring the rest? It's fine if you are, I've got better things to be doing than having a ding dong about the minor points. You could've just said, "Yeah, fair point Dollers, they have done some things right". | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 08:53 - Mar 16 with 1815 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 08:44 - Mar 16 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Is the totally unbiassed 'Schools Week' your new copy 'n' paste go to?
Even though they're obviously biased, they say themselves in that same article "It is of course welcome that the new government is moving to get the programme back on track."
They also add that they appreciate what they're asking for would be very expensive and is not something that can be fixed overnight.
The article is also from October, only 3 months after the election result.
Anyhoo, spending on schools is but one thing I highlighted, are you ignoring the rest? It's fine if you are, I've got better things to be doing than having a ding dong about the minor points. You could've just said, "Yeah, fair point Dollers, they have done some things right". |
Well yeah Dollers they have done some things obviously, it's just that they don't add up to much do they? Anyway hope you enjoy waving the red flag as they allow the private sector to cream off more of our money.
Tbf though "Schools Week" is a hotbed of fake news and misinformation! | |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 09:14 - Mar 16 with 1776 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 08:53 - Mar 16 by BanksterDebtSlave |
Well yeah Dollers they have done some things obviously, it's just that they don't add up to much do they? Anyway hope you enjoy waving the red flag as they allow the private sector to cream off more of our money.
Tbf though "Schools Week" is a hotbed of fake news and misinformation! |
I didn't say "Schools Week" is a hotbed of fake news and misinformation, I said they're biased. That article is a lobbying piece directed at the government. It's not going to be impartial!
Funny how so many were up in arms about the farmers thing, but to you it doesn't add up to much. I'd say many of the things I listed are pretty big to some people.
But, you know, you asked, I delivered, and now you're belittling those things as not big enough for your liking. I said in that last post you'd either ignore them or belittle them. You spent a day ignoring them and now, when pressed, are belittling them!
So, as I asked before, which properly big things were you hoping the new government would've got to grips with 8 months in? | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 09:32 - Mar 16 with 1723 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 09:14 - Mar 16 by The_Flashing_Smile |
I didn't say "Schools Week" is a hotbed of fake news and misinformation, I said they're biased. That article is a lobbying piece directed at the government. It's not going to be impartial!
Funny how so many were up in arms about the farmers thing, but to you it doesn't add up to much. I'd say many of the things I listed are pretty big to some people.
But, you know, you asked, I delivered, and now you're belittling those things as not big enough for your liking. I said in that last post you'd either ignore them or belittle them. You spent a day ignoring them and now, when pressed, are belittling them!
So, as I asked before, which properly big things were you hoping the new government would've got to grips with 8 months in? |
"But, you know, you asked, I delivered, and now you're belittling those things as not big enough for your liking. I said in that last post you'd either ignore them or belittle them. You spent a day ignoring them and now, when pressed, are belittling them!"
I'm pretty sure I spent the morning and evening in the garden and went to a game in-between but you see it any way you like.
Also I don't recall being up in arms about the farmers thing.
I already answered that, movement towards public utilities in public hands (water to start with) and commitment to a more self sufficient 'green' orientated economy. Oh and not pandering to right wing narratives would be a bonus too. | |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 09:47 - Mar 16 with 1690 views | Swansea_Blue |
Very much a mixed bag. They’re governing, which makes a difference to the last lot. I’ve not got a lot to add. Dolly’s right in that they’re delivering on some stuff. You don’t get to hear about it though. Take the latest renewable energy auction where they made £1.5 BN available, which is by far the largest allocation ever made. You won’t have heard about it though. But you will have heard about a possible expansion of Heathrow, that may or may not happen some undefined time in the future (so nothing’s really changed there).
Others are right that they seem very un-Labour-like, especially with punitive social policy decisions, such as the winter fuel alliance/welfare funding.
And others are also right about their inflexibility around their self-imposed fiscal rules.
The messaging is all over the place and seems aimed at heading off right wing attacks. There’s very little to inspire hope for a better future.
Ultimately, they seem to lack vision and imagination. |  |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 09:58 - Mar 16 with 1656 views | J2BLUE |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 09:32 - Mar 16 by BanksterDebtSlave |
"But, you know, you asked, I delivered, and now you're belittling those things as not big enough for your liking. I said in that last post you'd either ignore them or belittle them. You spent a day ignoring them and now, when pressed, are belittling them!"
I'm pretty sure I spent the morning and evening in the garden and went to a game in-between but you see it any way you like.
Also I don't recall being up in arms about the farmers thing.
I already answered that, movement towards public utilities in public hands (water to start with) and commitment to a more self sufficient 'green' orientated economy. Oh and not pandering to right wing narratives would be a bonus too. |
Is it pandering to the right wing narrative? To someone on the left it probably is but doesn't it suggest that most people are centre or maybe even slightly to the right of centre politically? |  |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 10:12 - Mar 16 with 1615 views | OldFart71 |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 21:47 - Mar 15 by DJR |
I would just point out that I myself will receive the new state pension in November, and I am in fact arguing for something which is not in my self-interest.
According to a report from Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) a year or so ago, under current population projections and government policy (maintaining the triple lock and the state pension age rising to 68 by 2046), spending on the state pension, pension credit and winter fuel payment is expected to rise by 1.2% of national income (£32 billion per year in today’s terms) by 2050. One key driver of this is that there are expected to be 25% more pensioners in 2050 than today, with another driver being how the state pension is indexed.
I already have a fairly decent non-state pension, but I will still get the benefit of 4.1% increase in April which is a result of the triple lock.
If we have to cut the welfare bill, I would rather people like me don't get the triple lock rather than targeting the disabled, and even freezing PIP for them, something that even George Osborne didn't do.
I might add that I expressed on this forum my total opposition to the removal of WFA but that was because it was not targeted on those (like me) who could afford its loss.
And I am not in any way suggesting that pensioners in your position should be targeted. But we have an ageing population, and if people are not prepared to pay higher taxes, something is likely to have to give at some time. [Post edited 15 Mar 22:07]
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I agree with your sentiment regarding cuts to disabled benefits. My concern when listening to the health minister regarding the cuts being made is that those that do need help are treated exactly the same as those that could and should be working. Many years ago my wife received incapacity benefit due to going into hospital and contracting something called pseudomonas which attacks the lungs leaving her with breathing problems. The Tories, just like Labour are doing now decided to take an axe to benefits using a system whereby you had to attend a medical examination. The fault was that the Company used only received payment for getting people off benefits. My wife, although backed by her doctor as unfit to work was denied payment of said incapacity benefit. Some of the things stated in a letter were fabricated, such as she walked a dog every day. Funny that as we didn't even have a dog. We appealed but the payment was denied. That is why I am concerned for those who genuinely need support. | | | |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 10:27 - Mar 16 with 1567 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 09:58 - Mar 16 by J2BLUE |
Is it pandering to the right wing narrative? To someone on the left it probably is but doesn't it suggest that most people are centre or maybe even slightly to the right of centre politically? |
Personally I see it as not only pandering but also reinforcing. How about some positive and optimistic messaging. | |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 10:30 - Mar 16 with 1564 views | Ryorry |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 09:47 - Mar 16 by Swansea_Blue |
Very much a mixed bag. They’re governing, which makes a difference to the last lot. I’ve not got a lot to add. Dolly’s right in that they’re delivering on some stuff. You don’t get to hear about it though. Take the latest renewable energy auction where they made £1.5 BN available, which is by far the largest allocation ever made. You won’t have heard about it though. But you will have heard about a possible expansion of Heathrow, that may or may not happen some undefined time in the future (so nothing’s really changed there).
Others are right that they seem very un-Labour-like, especially with punitive social policy decisions, such as the winter fuel alliance/welfare funding.
And others are also right about their inflexibility around their self-imposed fiscal rules.
The messaging is all over the place and seems aimed at heading off right wing attacks. There’s very little to inspire hope for a better future.
Ultimately, they seem to lack vision and imagination. |
Talking of un-Labour-like, the biggest reason for alarm bells is this imho - it's so fundamental to everything else & is going under the radar even amongst normally politically aware people, with barely a mention in msm apart from the occasional Guardian article. That is the Labour Party policy of continuing support for Freeports & SEZs, especially in light of the potential for 'mission creep' towards 'Charter City' status.
This is an extremely complex subject, and as I'm not an economist, politician or journalist, let alone expert on it, there may be flaws or gaps in what I've written or linked below. If any of you have further information or corrections to make, they would be appreciated, so please let me know!
It's difficult to obtain a clear picture of the differences between 'Special Economic Zones' aka SEZs (the *comparatively* innocuous entry point; currently 48 of these are operational in England); 'Freeports' (more worrying; currently 12 of these in England, Scotland & Wales); and 'Charter Cities' (very worrying indeed; but none yet in the UK). They were not mentioned in Labour's Manifesto as far as I can see. Rachel Reeves refused permission for the Ntional Audit Office to investigate England's 48 SEZs and (then) 8 Freeports despite a damning report from the HOC Committee in April 2024, citing lack of transparency & questions over value for taxpayers' money.
The reason I oppose them is, in a nutshell, that they seem to me antithetical to so much that Labour has striven for over the years. Their aim is to allow deregulation (for example of workers' rights and environmental protections); tax breaks & reduced tariffs, in order to maximise profits for their privately owned businesses. These private companies in the zones also receive Government subsidies, so that's a double whammy for 'ordinary' taxpayers - we lose their taxes into the Treasury, but they get ours going the other way.
I appreciate they can have some positive benefits (eg. the potential for growth of the 'green economy') & that Labour is trying to rescue the economy via growth, but strongly feel that that end does not justify the means, even with the latest element now of uncertainty over Trade Tariffs. Keir Starmer has said he would introduce greater monitoring/safeguarding to prevent erosion of rights in the zones, but I have not found any statement detailing these.
I urge everyone to read as many of the following linked articles as possible.
1. 30/10/2024 - Budget. Rachel Reeves confirmed that the govt. will continue to support existing Freeports
2. Very lengthy & detailed Govt. 'explainer' link, full of positives, looks as though aimed at attracting businesses to the schemes.
3. Excellent article by Yorkshire bylines giving a more rounded picture
4. A PDF 'primer' on Freeports from BylinesCymru. Obviously focuses on Wales, but very good overall picture of the dangers - read esp from "Network of liberty" onwards.
5. 21/11/2024 SKS announces Labour's intention to partner up with @BlackRock & similar businesses ... BlackRock has been described (by a businessman of a strong right-wing hue!) as "one of the best examples of disaster capitalistic organisations in the world".
6. Guardian article on BlackRock
7. Article on Charter Cities by Richard Murphy, a well-respected academic, author & regular contributor to Google Scholar.
8. Potential negatives - and there are many extremely serious ones. Excellent, thorough research by a Twitter/X blogger who pulls no punches. I understand that those who don't have Twitter/X accounts can only read his first post, not his additional ones (which appear as 'replies') so have copied & pasted a few below - I'm sure he wouldn't mind, as he wants all this shared as widely as possible, one of his complaints is that the paucity of information on freeports/SEZs in MSM.
@EuropeanPowell
Labour partnering up with Blackrock means the UK will be privatised.
"BlackRock own, and extract income from, things – schools, bridges, wind farms, and homes – that are nothing less than foundational to our daily being’. This requires them to ‘relentlessly squeeze’ profits out of their holdings – whether that means hiking rents for vulnerable tenants, or charging for the use of common infrastructure" -
@graceblakeley
Read Grace Blakeley's book Vulture Capitalism, she describes how the erosion of the nation-state is engineered to a point where govts working hand in hand with corporations step in to 'rescue' democracy from its failures.
The framework for the corporate coup lies in 74 Special Economic Zones (SEZs)and 12 Freeports.
Free zones are designated areas with relaxed laws and by extension relaxed enforcement of laws separate from the host country.
Secondary legislation is embedded within the free zones contracts, meaning zero Parliamentary and public scrutiny.
All free zones give numerous tax breaks to corporations for 10 years, when the deadline for the tax breaks expires, companies are already lobbying the Govt to extend them. Free zone licenses are set at 25 years, Blackrock will asset strip councils and absorb all public services, corporate governance will replace social governance, collective sovereignty (people power) will be replaced with corporate sovereignty (asset classes power).
Now the figures.
Each SEZ receives £160 million in State aid which is public money, multiplied by 74 = £11 billion 840 million
Each Freeport receive £25 million multiplied by 12 = £300 million
Teesside Freeport and SEZ has already spent £560 million of taxpayers money, see @PrivateEyeNews
Teesside was Sunak's flagship Brexit Freeports, profit share is split 90/10 in favour of the private sector.
The UK public are paying billions in subsidies to some of the wealthiest and most corrupt corporations on the planet. Your money is being invested in your regions demise and your families transformation into serfs.
UK free zones contravene EU laws and regulations on State aid where govts of member states are prohibited from using State aid to make profits, this disrupts the integrity of the Single Market by creating an unlevel playing field.
UK SEZs sabotage the UK's chances of rejoining the EU not just because of bypassing rules on State aid but also because of massive deregulatory 'freedoms' that allow companies to pollute the environment, 'self regulate', shred employment rights, tax evasion, turbocharge job displacement, and so on. None of this is acceptable to the EU.
Keir Starmer "There will be no rejoining the EU in my lifetime". Now you know why he says this.
Read the EU Commission website on State aid and SEZs
https://europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2020/646164/EPRS_BRI(2020)646164_
Lord Smith of Kelvin is managing Director of Otter Ports Ltd which is the parent company of 8 of the UK's 12 Freeports, Otter Ports Ltd is registered in the Cayman Islands, Smith did not declare this in the register of interests, Smith was a pallbearer at the Queen's funeral.
Compulsory Purchase Orders apply to business, agricultural, and residential properties, it is no coincidence that 192 councils have worse debts than Birmingham which was issued with an S114 notice which is technically bankruptcy. 6,000 people could have their homes torn down as part of a £2.2bn project in which 1,266 council houses and 567 properties could be repossessed in a mass compulsory purchase order for the area. Birmingham is host to 6 SEZs. https://theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/22/economic-violence-ladywood-b
All 12 UK Freeports are housed inside a Special Economic Zone that ranges from 33 to 75km in diameter, why? SEZs are expansionist by nature, the growth Reeves obsesses with is about corporations, private equity making serious incursions into the public sector, that is privatisation not just of public services but of the entire country, SEZs perforate holes in the fabric of the nation, as zone fever takes hold, economies outside the zones will be forced to capitulate to the corporate political model.
6 days into office Rachel Reeves refused permission for the National Audit Office to investigate England's 48 SEZ's and 8 Freeports despite a damning report from the House of Commons Committee in April 2024, citing lack of transparency, questions over value for taxpayers money, and ignoring of the Nolan principles.
Join the dots.
This all happened because of Brexit, which was based on 'exit strategies' developed in the 1960's, what were once libertarian fringe fantasies have now become reality."
9. Lastly, In the interests of balance, a more measured article written 11 months ago when the Tories were still in power, urging people not to panic & to resist the kind of rhetoric in no. 8. above. It's written by Chris Grey, Emeritus Prof. of Organisation Studies at Royal Holloway & ex-Prof at Cambridge Uni. It's very long, so a small extract in summary: "But, even if the Government’s communication was perfect, it would not be able to disguise the genuine and serious criticisms of its SEZs which exist: their questionable economic value, their questionable value for money, their capacity to lead to corruption and criminality, their lack of transparency and accountability, and their capacity to dilute or over-ride local planning controls.".
Links:-
1. https://www.irwinmitchell.com/news-and-insights/expert-comment/post/102jn1n/budg
2. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/investment-zones-in-england
3. https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/home-affairs/special-economic-zones-in-the-u
4. https://bylines.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Gazette-Freeports.pdf
5.
6. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/20/blackrock-climate-human-righ
7. https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/01/28/charter-cities-would-destroy-the-
8.
9. https://bylinetimes.com/2024/04/04/freeports-special-economic-zones-explained/ |  |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 11:01 - Mar 16 with 1494 views | Pinewoodblue |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 10:30 - Mar 16 by Ryorry |
Talking of un-Labour-like, the biggest reason for alarm bells is this imho - it's so fundamental to everything else & is going under the radar even amongst normally politically aware people, with barely a mention in msm apart from the occasional Guardian article. That is the Labour Party policy of continuing support for Freeports & SEZs, especially in light of the potential for 'mission creep' towards 'Charter City' status.
This is an extremely complex subject, and as I'm not an economist, politician or journalist, let alone expert on it, there may be flaws or gaps in what I've written or linked below. If any of you have further information or corrections to make, they would be appreciated, so please let me know!
It's difficult to obtain a clear picture of the differences between 'Special Economic Zones' aka SEZs (the *comparatively* innocuous entry point; currently 48 of these are operational in England); 'Freeports' (more worrying; currently 12 of these in England, Scotland & Wales); and 'Charter Cities' (very worrying indeed; but none yet in the UK). They were not mentioned in Labour's Manifesto as far as I can see. Rachel Reeves refused permission for the Ntional Audit Office to investigate England's 48 SEZs and (then) 8 Freeports despite a damning report from the HOC Committee in April 2024, citing lack of transparency & questions over value for taxpayers' money.
The reason I oppose them is, in a nutshell, that they seem to me antithetical to so much that Labour has striven for over the years. Their aim is to allow deregulation (for example of workers' rights and environmental protections); tax breaks & reduced tariffs, in order to maximise profits for their privately owned businesses. These private companies in the zones also receive Government subsidies, so that's a double whammy for 'ordinary' taxpayers - we lose their taxes into the Treasury, but they get ours going the other way.
I appreciate they can have some positive benefits (eg. the potential for growth of the 'green economy') & that Labour is trying to rescue the economy via growth, but strongly feel that that end does not justify the means, even with the latest element now of uncertainty over Trade Tariffs. Keir Starmer has said he would introduce greater monitoring/safeguarding to prevent erosion of rights in the zones, but I have not found any statement detailing these.
I urge everyone to read as many of the following linked articles as possible.
1. 30/10/2024 - Budget. Rachel Reeves confirmed that the govt. will continue to support existing Freeports
2. Very lengthy & detailed Govt. 'explainer' link, full of positives, looks as though aimed at attracting businesses to the schemes.
3. Excellent article by Yorkshire bylines giving a more rounded picture
4. A PDF 'primer' on Freeports from BylinesCymru. Obviously focuses on Wales, but very good overall picture of the dangers - read esp from "Network of liberty" onwards.
5. 21/11/2024 SKS announces Labour's intention to partner up with @BlackRock & similar businesses ... BlackRock has been described (by a businessman of a strong right-wing hue!) as "one of the best examples of disaster capitalistic organisations in the world".
6. Guardian article on BlackRock
7. Article on Charter Cities by Richard Murphy, a well-respected academic, author & regular contributor to Google Scholar.
8. Potential negatives - and there are many extremely serious ones. Excellent, thorough research by a Twitter/X blogger who pulls no punches. I understand that those who don't have Twitter/X accounts can only read his first post, not his additional ones (which appear as 'replies') so have copied & pasted a few below - I'm sure he wouldn't mind, as he wants all this shared as widely as possible, one of his complaints is that the paucity of information on freeports/SEZs in MSM.
@EuropeanPowell
Labour partnering up with Blackrock means the UK will be privatised.
"BlackRock own, and extract income from, things – schools, bridges, wind farms, and homes – that are nothing less than foundational to our daily being’. This requires them to ‘relentlessly squeeze’ profits out of their holdings – whether that means hiking rents for vulnerable tenants, or charging for the use of common infrastructure" -
@graceblakeley
Read Grace Blakeley's book Vulture Capitalism, she describes how the erosion of the nation-state is engineered to a point where govts working hand in hand with corporations step in to 'rescue' democracy from its failures.
The framework for the corporate coup lies in 74 Special Economic Zones (SEZs)and 12 Freeports.
Free zones are designated areas with relaxed laws and by extension relaxed enforcement of laws separate from the host country.
Secondary legislation is embedded within the free zones contracts, meaning zero Parliamentary and public scrutiny.
All free zones give numerous tax breaks to corporations for 10 years, when the deadline for the tax breaks expires, companies are already lobbying the Govt to extend them. Free zone licenses are set at 25 years, Blackrock will asset strip councils and absorb all public services, corporate governance will replace social governance, collective sovereignty (people power) will be replaced with corporate sovereignty (asset classes power).
Now the figures.
Each SEZ receives £160 million in State aid which is public money, multiplied by 74 = £11 billion 840 million
Each Freeport receive £25 million multiplied by 12 = £300 million
Teesside Freeport and SEZ has already spent £560 million of taxpayers money, see @PrivateEyeNews
Teesside was Sunak's flagship Brexit Freeports, profit share is split 90/10 in favour of the private sector.
The UK public are paying billions in subsidies to some of the wealthiest and most corrupt corporations on the planet. Your money is being invested in your regions demise and your families transformation into serfs.
UK free zones contravene EU laws and regulations on State aid where govts of member states are prohibited from using State aid to make profits, this disrupts the integrity of the Single Market by creating an unlevel playing field.
UK SEZs sabotage the UK's chances of rejoining the EU not just because of bypassing rules on State aid but also because of massive deregulatory 'freedoms' that allow companies to pollute the environment, 'self regulate', shred employment rights, tax evasion, turbocharge job displacement, and so on. None of this is acceptable to the EU.
Keir Starmer "There will be no rejoining the EU in my lifetime". Now you know why he says this.
Read the EU Commission website on State aid and SEZs
https://europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2020/646164/EPRS_BRI(2020)646164_
Lord Smith of Kelvin is managing Director of Otter Ports Ltd which is the parent company of 8 of the UK's 12 Freeports, Otter Ports Ltd is registered in the Cayman Islands, Smith did not declare this in the register of interests, Smith was a pallbearer at the Queen's funeral.
Compulsory Purchase Orders apply to business, agricultural, and residential properties, it is no coincidence that 192 councils have worse debts than Birmingham which was issued with an S114 notice which is technically bankruptcy. 6,000 people could have their homes torn down as part of a £2.2bn project in which 1,266 council houses and 567 properties could be repossessed in a mass compulsory purchase order for the area. Birmingham is host to 6 SEZs. https://theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/22/economic-violence-ladywood-b
All 12 UK Freeports are housed inside a Special Economic Zone that ranges from 33 to 75km in diameter, why? SEZs are expansionist by nature, the growth Reeves obsesses with is about corporations, private equity making serious incursions into the public sector, that is privatisation not just of public services but of the entire country, SEZs perforate holes in the fabric of the nation, as zone fever takes hold, economies outside the zones will be forced to capitulate to the corporate political model.
6 days into office Rachel Reeves refused permission for the National Audit Office to investigate England's 48 SEZ's and 8 Freeports despite a damning report from the House of Commons Committee in April 2024, citing lack of transparency, questions over value for taxpayers money, and ignoring of the Nolan principles.
Join the dots.
This all happened because of Brexit, which was based on 'exit strategies' developed in the 1960's, what were once libertarian fringe fantasies have now become reality."
9. Lastly, In the interests of balance, a more measured article written 11 months ago when the Tories were still in power, urging people not to panic & to resist the kind of rhetoric in no. 8. above. It's written by Chris Grey, Emeritus Prof. of Organisation Studies at Royal Holloway & ex-Prof at Cambridge Uni. It's very long, so a small extract in summary: "But, even if the Government’s communication was perfect, it would not be able to disguise the genuine and serious criticisms of its SEZs which exist: their questionable economic value, their questionable value for money, their capacity to lead to corruption and criminality, their lack of transparency and accountability, and their capacity to dilute or over-ride local planning controls.".
Links:-
1. https://www.irwinmitchell.com/news-and-insights/expert-comment/post/102jn1n/budg
2. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/investment-zones-in-england
3. https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/home-affairs/special-economic-zones-in-the-u
4. https://bylines.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Gazette-Freeports.pdf
5.
6. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/20/blackrock-climate-human-righ
7. https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/01/28/charter-cities-would-destroy-the-
8.
9. https://bylinetimes.com/2024/04/04/freeports-special-economic-zones-explained/ |
Just look how big the area for Freeport East.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62a0510b8fa8f5039107d5e4/Freeport | |
| |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 11:03 - Mar 16 with 1490 views | DJR |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 10:30 - Mar 16 by Ryorry |
Talking of un-Labour-like, the biggest reason for alarm bells is this imho - it's so fundamental to everything else & is going under the radar even amongst normally politically aware people, with barely a mention in msm apart from the occasional Guardian article. That is the Labour Party policy of continuing support for Freeports & SEZs, especially in light of the potential for 'mission creep' towards 'Charter City' status.
This is an extremely complex subject, and as I'm not an economist, politician or journalist, let alone expert on it, there may be flaws or gaps in what I've written or linked below. If any of you have further information or corrections to make, they would be appreciated, so please let me know!
It's difficult to obtain a clear picture of the differences between 'Special Economic Zones' aka SEZs (the *comparatively* innocuous entry point; currently 48 of these are operational in England); 'Freeports' (more worrying; currently 12 of these in England, Scotland & Wales); and 'Charter Cities' (very worrying indeed; but none yet in the UK). They were not mentioned in Labour's Manifesto as far as I can see. Rachel Reeves refused permission for the Ntional Audit Office to investigate England's 48 SEZs and (then) 8 Freeports despite a damning report from the HOC Committee in April 2024, citing lack of transparency & questions over value for taxpayers' money.
The reason I oppose them is, in a nutshell, that they seem to me antithetical to so much that Labour has striven for over the years. Their aim is to allow deregulation (for example of workers' rights and environmental protections); tax breaks & reduced tariffs, in order to maximise profits for their privately owned businesses. These private companies in the zones also receive Government subsidies, so that's a double whammy for 'ordinary' taxpayers - we lose their taxes into the Treasury, but they get ours going the other way.
I appreciate they can have some positive benefits (eg. the potential for growth of the 'green economy') & that Labour is trying to rescue the economy via growth, but strongly feel that that end does not justify the means, even with the latest element now of uncertainty over Trade Tariffs. Keir Starmer has said he would introduce greater monitoring/safeguarding to prevent erosion of rights in the zones, but I have not found any statement detailing these.
I urge everyone to read as many of the following linked articles as possible.
1. 30/10/2024 - Budget. Rachel Reeves confirmed that the govt. will continue to support existing Freeports
2. Very lengthy & detailed Govt. 'explainer' link, full of positives, looks as though aimed at attracting businesses to the schemes.
3. Excellent article by Yorkshire bylines giving a more rounded picture
4. A PDF 'primer' on Freeports from BylinesCymru. Obviously focuses on Wales, but very good overall picture of the dangers - read esp from "Network of liberty" onwards.
5. 21/11/2024 SKS announces Labour's intention to partner up with @BlackRock & similar businesses ... BlackRock has been described (by a businessman of a strong right-wing hue!) as "one of the best examples of disaster capitalistic organisations in the world".
6. Guardian article on BlackRock
7. Article on Charter Cities by Richard Murphy, a well-respected academic, author & regular contributor to Google Scholar.
8. Potential negatives - and there are many extremely serious ones. Excellent, thorough research by a Twitter/X blogger who pulls no punches. I understand that those who don't have Twitter/X accounts can only read his first post, not his additional ones (which appear as 'replies') so have copied & pasted a few below - I'm sure he wouldn't mind, as he wants all this shared as widely as possible, one of his complaints is that the paucity of information on freeports/SEZs in MSM.
@EuropeanPowell
Labour partnering up with Blackrock means the UK will be privatised.
"BlackRock own, and extract income from, things – schools, bridges, wind farms, and homes – that are nothing less than foundational to our daily being’. This requires them to ‘relentlessly squeeze’ profits out of their holdings – whether that means hiking rents for vulnerable tenants, or charging for the use of common infrastructure" -
@graceblakeley
Read Grace Blakeley's book Vulture Capitalism, she describes how the erosion of the nation-state is engineered to a point where govts working hand in hand with corporations step in to 'rescue' democracy from its failures.
The framework for the corporate coup lies in 74 Special Economic Zones (SEZs)and 12 Freeports.
Free zones are designated areas with relaxed laws and by extension relaxed enforcement of laws separate from the host country.
Secondary legislation is embedded within the free zones contracts, meaning zero Parliamentary and public scrutiny.
All free zones give numerous tax breaks to corporations for 10 years, when the deadline for the tax breaks expires, companies are already lobbying the Govt to extend them. Free zone licenses are set at 25 years, Blackrock will asset strip councils and absorb all public services, corporate governance will replace social governance, collective sovereignty (people power) will be replaced with corporate sovereignty (asset classes power).
Now the figures.
Each SEZ receives £160 million in State aid which is public money, multiplied by 74 = £11 billion 840 million
Each Freeport receive £25 million multiplied by 12 = £300 million
Teesside Freeport and SEZ has already spent £560 million of taxpayers money, see @PrivateEyeNews
Teesside was Sunak's flagship Brexit Freeports, profit share is split 90/10 in favour of the private sector.
The UK public are paying billions in subsidies to some of the wealthiest and most corrupt corporations on the planet. Your money is being invested in your regions demise and your families transformation into serfs.
UK free zones contravene EU laws and regulations on State aid where govts of member states are prohibited from using State aid to make profits, this disrupts the integrity of the Single Market by creating an unlevel playing field.
UK SEZs sabotage the UK's chances of rejoining the EU not just because of bypassing rules on State aid but also because of massive deregulatory 'freedoms' that allow companies to pollute the environment, 'self regulate', shred employment rights, tax evasion, turbocharge job displacement, and so on. None of this is acceptable to the EU.
Keir Starmer "There will be no rejoining the EU in my lifetime". Now you know why he says this.
Read the EU Commission website on State aid and SEZs
https://europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2020/646164/EPRS_BRI(2020)646164_
Lord Smith of Kelvin is managing Director of Otter Ports Ltd which is the parent company of 8 of the UK's 12 Freeports, Otter Ports Ltd is registered in the Cayman Islands, Smith did not declare this in the register of interests, Smith was a pallbearer at the Queen's funeral.
Compulsory Purchase Orders apply to business, agricultural, and residential properties, it is no coincidence that 192 councils have worse debts than Birmingham which was issued with an S114 notice which is technically bankruptcy. 6,000 people could have their homes torn down as part of a £2.2bn project in which 1,266 council houses and 567 properties could be repossessed in a mass compulsory purchase order for the area. Birmingham is host to 6 SEZs. https://theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/22/economic-violence-ladywood-b
All 12 UK Freeports are housed inside a Special Economic Zone that ranges from 33 to 75km in diameter, why? SEZs are expansionist by nature, the growth Reeves obsesses with is about corporations, private equity making serious incursions into the public sector, that is privatisation not just of public services but of the entire country, SEZs perforate holes in the fabric of the nation, as zone fever takes hold, economies outside the zones will be forced to capitulate to the corporate political model.
6 days into office Rachel Reeves refused permission for the National Audit Office to investigate England's 48 SEZ's and 8 Freeports despite a damning report from the House of Commons Committee in April 2024, citing lack of transparency, questions over value for taxpayers money, and ignoring of the Nolan principles.
Join the dots.
This all happened because of Brexit, which was based on 'exit strategies' developed in the 1960's, what were once libertarian fringe fantasies have now become reality."
9. Lastly, In the interests of balance, a more measured article written 11 months ago when the Tories were still in power, urging people not to panic & to resist the kind of rhetoric in no. 8. above. It's written by Chris Grey, Emeritus Prof. of Organisation Studies at Royal Holloway & ex-Prof at Cambridge Uni. It's very long, so a small extract in summary: "But, even if the Government’s communication was perfect, it would not be able to disguise the genuine and serious criticisms of its SEZs which exist: their questionable economic value, their questionable value for money, their capacity to lead to corruption and criminality, their lack of transparency and accountability, and their capacity to dilute or over-ride local planning controls.".
Links:-
1. https://www.irwinmitchell.com/news-and-insights/expert-comment/post/102jn1n/budg
2. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/investment-zones-in-england
3. https://yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/home-affairs/special-economic-zones-in-the-u
4. https://bylines.cymru/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Gazette-Freeports.pdf
5.
6. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/20/blackrock-climate-human-righ
7. https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/01/28/charter-cities-would-destroy-the-
8.
9. https://bylinetimes.com/2024/04/04/freeports-special-economic-zones-explained/ |
Private Eye has had Teesside Freeport in its sights for several years.
Here's a link to evidence that one of its journalists gave to a Parliamentary committee.
https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/126890/pdf/ | | | |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 11:19 - Mar 16 with 1445 views | J2BLUE |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 10:27 - Mar 16 by BanksterDebtSlave |
Personally I see it as not only pandering but also reinforcing. How about some positive and optimistic messaging. |
My point is, you want it to match what you believe but is that the position of the country as a whole? I don't think it is. | |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 12:45 - Mar 16 with 1367 views | Ryorry |
Quite - the boundary on that map is hard to see, but I believe most SEZ boundaries were deliberately drawn very large (up to 45 sq km I think) to allow plenty of scope for development. People of Suffolk should be concerned. | |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 13:27 - Mar 16 with 1304 views | Pinewoodblue |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 12:45 - Mar 16 by Ryorry |
Quite - the boundary on that map is hard to see, but I believe most SEZ boundaries were deliberately drawn very large (up to 45 sq km I think) to allow plenty of scope for development. People of Suffolk should be concerned. |
Felixstowe to Stowmarket and Colchester/ Sudbury to Woodbridge. | |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 13:56 - Mar 16 with 1250 views | DJR |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 00:15 - Mar 16 by Pinewoodblue |
There are problem both ways. People not getting benefit and others getting more than thy should. Reduce the number of the latter and you have the money to pay the former.
There are people who will help you ensure, especially with PIP and attendance allowance, the higher amount rather than the lower. is paid. It is all to do with the way the form is completed. Since you rarely get interviewed face to face a little white lie can make a big difference in the amount paid.
Spinal Injury Association provided guidance when first claim made, although as they explained you have no need to exaggerate the help provided it is easy to get the higher amount.
One silly benefit I didn't know about was her disability was such that Council tax would be reduce by down grading the band by 1, in our case D to C. Now over £200 a year discount. Mind you had to spend thousands on the house to make it as accessible as possible. |
https://inews.co.uk/news/pip-whistleblowers-horrific-system-decide-benefit-claim
The system to decide people’s personal independence payment (PIP) claims is “horrific” and “target-driven”, former assessors have warned.
The whistleblowers said intense pressure to hit daily targets for the number of disability benefits cases they dealt with affected the quality of their assessments, while the lack of training in complex health conditions made it difficult to write fair reports.
One claimed the system “sets disabled people up to fail”. Another said it was “psychologically… the worst job I have ever had”.
PIP is in the spotlight after the Government said it was considering a radical overhaul of the system. Disability charities fear the changes will make proving eligibility even harder and see many people’s payments cut.
The unbearable pressure to get through disabled people’s benefits claims as quickly as possible forced Nicola to quit her job as an assessor last year, she claimed.
“It was incredibly stressful,” said the trained mental health nurse, who was expected to carry out three PIP assessments a day, as well as writing up the reports sent to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for a final decision.
She told i: “The clients were often crying on the phone and the calls went on longer than an hour due to how much they wanted to tell me.
“I’ve gone back to work for the NHS because it was the better option.”
Some say Westminster should take inspiration from the setup in Scotland, where there is less reliance on face-to-face assessments and more on specialist medical advice.
[Post edited 16 Mar 15:28]
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 14:59 - Mar 16 with 1197 views | DJR |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 09:58 - Mar 16 by J2BLUE |
Is it pandering to the right wing narrative? To someone on the left it probably is but doesn't it suggest that most people are centre or maybe even slightly to the right of centre politically? |
It's the impact on the disabled that concerns me.
This from the Guardian.
Steven Morris, 41, who is deafblind, uses Pip to pay for taxis so he can get out of the house and work in his role as campaigns officer at Sense, as well as paying for physical and mental therapy.
“I think it’s no exaggeration to say that it would be life-changing if I didn’t have Pip,” he said. “It would really impact my ability to pay for the therapies that keep me physically and mentally healthy, which in turn would impact my ability to remain in work. And that is obviously at odds with the government’s messaging.”
Morris said the language used by government ministers since the welfare cut plans were leaked last week has been hurtful. “I think it’s been an incredibly difficult time,” he said. “I remember austerity. But for me personally, the messaging here feels harsher. Regardless of what actually gets announced, it’s the way that it’s being spun – I’m being made as a disabled person to feel like a burden.”
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/16/labour-is-deserting-me-disabled- [Post edited 16 Mar 15:26]
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 16:30 - Mar 16 with 1135 views | Trequartista |
As a Labour voter, I feel its starting to improve after a bad start. I don't really take any notice of who agrees with who over anything. Hitler hated smoking. Would rather just judge a decision on its own merits.
I've never rated Starmer as a leader and his opinions change with the wind but he seems to be getting a bit of a grip lately especially internationally. Reeves does seem out of her depth, I would be very surprised if any of Ed Miliband's policies turn out anything but disastrous. Wes Streeting I think is very good. |  |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 16:51 - Mar 16 with 1102 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 09:32 - Mar 16 by BanksterDebtSlave |
"But, you know, you asked, I delivered, and now you're belittling those things as not big enough for your liking. I said in that last post you'd either ignore them or belittle them. You spent a day ignoring them and now, when pressed, are belittling them!"
I'm pretty sure I spent the morning and evening in the garden and went to a game in-between but you see it any way you like.
Also I don't recall being up in arms about the farmers thing.
I already answered that, movement towards public utilities in public hands (water to start with) and commitment to a more self sufficient 'green' orientated economy. Oh and not pandering to right wing narratives would be a bonus too. |
You answered several other posts in the thread after mine so the "I was busy" defence doesn't wash.
I also didn't say you were up in arms about the farmers thing, it was just an example of a thing some people thought was big.
"pandering to right wing narratives" is just another soundbite, which is what you're all about. I'm not remotely right wing and don't see what this government is doing that is supposedly right wing. I see them trying to balance the books after being handed a pile of dung on a plate. | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 17:19 - Mar 16 with 1070 views | gtsb1966 |
| All you Labour voters, how's it feel so far. on 23:35 - Mar 15 by BanksterDebtSlave |
Are some of your best friends black too. Easy? Lol....I know people who have had to jump through hoops just to try to hang on to what they need for a semblance of dignity in hard times but each to their own. |
Funny you should say that. Meeting an old work mate I haven't seen since 2017 on the 12th of April. Guess what his skin colour is.... |  | | |
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