| The Spring Statement 07:23 - Mar 26 with 6737 views | onceablue |
I have never been this excited in my life
I wonder what Gems ‘Racheal from Accounts’ will come up with today.
If you receive any kind of benefits watch out. If you are a pensioner on benefits then you are really screwed
Unfortunately Labour made too many bold promises to get into power. They didn’t have to do that. The Tories on the back of their performance were a beaten party
Something is guaranteed dear old Racheal will mention the 22M black hole.
My guess is she will mention it at least 10 times.
Higher or lower?
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| The Spring Statement on 08:25 - Mar 26 with 1021 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
Context is key.
It is surely quicker and cheaper in the short term to get people treated in private hospitals where there is spare capacity. I’d rather be sent to one now than wait 6 months for the NHS to procure additional staff, equipment, beds etc. in the medium term the NHS should move away from outsourcing, but the state of waiting lists now means we need to get people treated and back to work. | | | |
| The Spring Statement on 08:25 - Mar 26 with 1029 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
He's spot on with that statement. What on earth is the problem with that? My dad (RIP) got some of his NHS healthcare in a private hospital and said it was lovely. If they have the capacity and it helps reduce waiting then I'm not sure what the problem is (other than people who've paid for it might be a bit miffed). |  |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| The Spring Statement on 08:26 - Mar 26 with 1018 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| The Spring Statement on 08:17 - Mar 26 by Keno |
But a year ago it was 3.2% so she has reduced by about 12%
You not agree that is good? |
Yeah but you're only allowed to count it from when onceablue says! | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| The Spring Statement on 08:26 - Mar 26 with 1020 views | onceablue |
| The Spring Statement on 08:21 - Mar 26 by The_Flashing_Smile |
As previously explained in these pages, that is a long running joke made by treasury secretaries when they leave office. That particular one was released to the press, but it has been going on for decades (probably since the 1920s) by all parties.
Your ignorance knows no bounds does it? |
You insulting me as well Flashing Smile.
You and Blue Badger aren’t related are you😂😂😂 | | | |
| The Spring Statement on 08:28 - Mar 26 with 1020 views | BlueBadger |
| The Spring Statement on 08:26 - Mar 26 by onceablue |
You insulting me as well Flashing Smile.
You and Blue Badger aren’t related are you😂😂😂 |
Surely a devil-may-care anti-wokist like you can handle some exceptionally mild banter and people Telling It Like It Is? |  |
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| The Spring Statement on 08:28 - Mar 26 with 1013 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| The Spring Statement on 08:26 - Mar 26 by onceablue |
You insulting me as well Flashing Smile.
You and Blue Badger aren’t related are you😂😂😂 |
Completely avoiding the point... | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| The Spring Statement on 08:30 - Mar 26 with 1013 views | BlueBadger |
| The Spring Statement on 08:22 - Mar 26 by NthQldITFC |
Missed again. Hit the corner flag. |
OP is the Larsen Touré of TWTD political posters.
I can't imagine that their handler in Moscow is please about this. | |
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| The Spring Statement on 08:37 - Mar 26 with 972 views | Keno |
| The Spring Statement on 08:24 - Mar 26 by onceablue |
And the forecast is it will rise to 3.7% in the autumn
And by then the Labour Party would have been in power for well over a year.
You agree that’s bad? |
I agree it’s a forecast
I prefer to deal with what’s actually happened rather than may happen
That’s good right? |  |
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| The Spring Statement on 08:38 - Mar 26 with 972 views | Guthrum |
If only we hadn't had decades of tax not keeping pace with inflation (or the reverse). But nobody wants to pay for anything, so we don't get to have the nice, civilised society stuff. |  |
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| The Spring Statement on 08:40 - Mar 26 with 975 views | bsw72 |
Ah, more well founded and political debate, love it.
The internet has turned everyone into a self-proclaimed political expert, armed with half-formed opinions amplified by the echo chambers of social media.
Algorithms initially designed to maximise engagement, now feed users more of what they already agree with and fill their timelines with like-minded voices that validate biases rather than challenge them.
As a result, comments becomes less about thoughtful debate and more about outrage, with people quick to criticise policies, leaders, or ideologies. It’s a cycle of cynicism, where venting replaces action and shallow commentary is mistaken for insight.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing if people were to enter genuine adult debate without snarky name calling, and actually suggested meaningful alternatives. |  | | |
| The Spring Statement on 08:41 - Mar 26 with 965 views | bluelagos |
| The Spring Statement on 08:38 - Mar 26 by Guthrum |
If only we hadn't had decades of tax not keeping pace with inflation (or the reverse). But nobody wants to pay for anything, so we don't get to have the nice, civilised society stuff. |
We have the highest tax burden for decades - so not sure why you think tax hasn't kept pace with inflation.
That is why so many people are fed up - taxes are high and public services on their knees. We pay top dollar and get falling apart roads/NHS.
Utter sh1tshow of a legacy from 14 years of Tory govt. |  |
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| The Spring Statement on 09:45 - Mar 26 with 885 views | portmanking |
The Tories made a mess of things in the last 4+ years of governance, but to think Labour had all that time to prepare for power and have presided over an increasingly likely recession in Q3 2025 thanks to their first Budget is some going.
Headwinds or not, Labour's policies have torpedoed the economy and here's the proof:
[Post edited 26 Mar 9:46]
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| The Spring Statement on 09:53 - Mar 26 with 849 views | Mullet |
| The Spring Statement on 09:45 - Mar 26 by portmanking |
The Tories made a mess of things in the last 4+ years of governance, but to think Labour had all that time to prepare for power and have presided over an increasingly likely recession in Q3 2025 thanks to their first Budget is some going.
Headwinds or not, Labour's policies have torpedoed the economy and here's the proof:
[Post edited 26 Mar 9:46]
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I dunno, Boris et al hid behind Covid while they filled their pockets hand over fist. A lot of people gave them the benefit of the doubt.
Trump winning has been a disaster for pretty much every decent country in the world and made destabilising factors a lot worse. It’ll be interesting to see how much damage that does. I think the main issue will be is how flexible Labour can be or not. |  |
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| The Spring Statement on 10:04 - Mar 26 with 839 views | portmanking |
| The Spring Statement on 09:53 - Mar 26 by Mullet |
I dunno, Boris et al hid behind Covid while they filled their pockets hand over fist. A lot of people gave them the benefit of the doubt.
Trump winning has been a disaster for pretty much every decent country in the world and made destabilising factors a lot worse. It’ll be interesting to see how much damage that does. I think the main issue will be is how flexible Labour can be or not. |
It's easy to hide behind the real issue and blame Trump on our declining economy. However, the data shows the rot set in before Trump even assumed power. Any pro-growth government needs to be pro-business and that's just not the case ATM.
April and May's economic data will lay bare the true extent of Reeves' ineptitude. | | | |
| The Spring Statement on 10:09 - Mar 26 with 825 views | Mullet |
| The Spring Statement on 10:04 - Mar 26 by portmanking |
It's easy to hide behind the real issue and blame Trump on our declining economy. However, the data shows the rot set in before Trump even assumed power. Any pro-growth government needs to be pro-business and that's just not the case ATM.
April and May's economic data will lay bare the true extent of Reeves' ineptitude. |
I’m not sure you got what I meant, it’s pretty clear Trump winning had made the short term (and beyond) far more unstable and changes what a lot of countries will have planned - Russia and their allies aside. Look at Canada for an obvious example.
It also depends what you mean by pro business as usually that ends up being anti people. Anyone expecting linear growth and improvement is incredibly naive - regardless of the factors you look at, it was always going to be a tough journey after the wreckage of the Conservatives and the rise of the far right here and abroad. | |
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| The Spring Statement on 10:12 - Mar 26 with 772 views | Churchman |
| The Spring Statement on 07:47 - Mar 26 by The_Flashing_Smile |
I've just realised your name refers to your political rather than footballing allegiance.
BTW, I know you'd love to sweep it under the carpet (like the Tories tried with all their misgivings) but the £22 BILLION black hole is hugely relevant, a national scandal, and several of your lot should've gone to prison over it. Mocking it now is shameful.
You never did reply yesterday as to whether you complained about freebies during the previous government's 14 years in power (we won't even get into the widespread corruption, PPE contracts for mates etc.) |
There never was a £22bn ‘black hole’. They did as all govt do. ‘We knew nothing until we saw the books’. A load of rubbish. I know for a fact they knew what was what long before the corrupt, useless tories were kicked out (possibly and deservedly forever).
But that the previous administration was so dreadful doesn’t give them the justification to run through the traditional new (9 months in now) governments’ playbook of:
1. Previous govt were responsible for all woes including upsetting the Klingons.
2. lied about the figures,
3. It’s all down to the civil service,
4. Outside factors,
5. Let’s go abroad to look statesmanlike in a snappy suit because we are afraid of being kicked out. |  | | |
| The Spring Statement on 10:21 - Mar 26 with 750 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| The Spring Statement on 10:12 - Mar 26 by Churchman |
There never was a £22bn ‘black hole’. They did as all govt do. ‘We knew nothing until we saw the books’. A load of rubbish. I know for a fact they knew what was what long before the corrupt, useless tories were kicked out (possibly and deservedly forever).
But that the previous administration was so dreadful doesn’t give them the justification to run through the traditional new (9 months in now) governments’ playbook of:
1. Previous govt were responsible for all woes including upsetting the Klingons.
2. lied about the figures,
3. It’s all down to the civil service,
4. Outside factors,
5. Let’s go abroad to look statesmanlike in a snappy suit because we are afraid of being kicked out. |
You are simply incorrect.
https://fullfact.org/live/2024/aug/keir-starmer-ellie-reeves-22-bn/
"IFS Director Paul Johnson said many of the challenges Labour outlined in July were “entirely predictable”, but that the in-year financial pressures did “genuinely appear to be greater than could be discerned from the outside”." | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| The Spring Statement on 10:32 - Mar 26 with 723 views | portmanking |
It's a load of tosh. When pressed to list the entirety of the 'black hole' by the Financial Times, Labour had the opportunity to prove it in black and white but declined after a freedom of information request. If there really was such a gap in the public finances, why didn't they articulate it? They had a chance to hammer the Tories into oblivion for a generation, but didn't. I wonder why? Perhaps it's because the 'black hole' narrative made it a lot easier to sell tax rises... | | | |
| The Spring Statement on 10:39 - Mar 26 with 701 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| The Spring Statement on 10:32 - Mar 26 by portmanking |
It's a load of tosh. When pressed to list the entirety of the 'black hole' by the Financial Times, Labour had the opportunity to prove it in black and white but declined after a freedom of information request. If there really was such a gap in the public finances, why didn't they articulate it? They had a chance to hammer the Tories into oblivion for a generation, but didn't. I wonder why? Perhaps it's because the 'black hole' narrative made it a lot easier to sell tax rises... |
It's there in my link that you obviously didn't bother to read before downarrowing.
If you disagree with the BBC's Full Fact service, who look at all the independent studies and experts, then there's nothing more I can do for you. | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| The Spring Statement on 10:49 - Mar 26 with 696 views | Blueschev |
"Unfortunately Labour made too many bold promises to get into power." - That is complete nonsense. Never in my lifetime has a political party ran such a vague, non-committal campaign.
You hate Labour, we get it, but don't just make up rubbish. |  | | |
| The Spring Statement on 10:55 - Mar 26 with 661 views | soupytwist |
Are you deliberately misspelling the chancellor's name?
Or can't you be bothered to get the basics right? |  | | |
| The Spring Statement on 10:57 - Mar 26 with 656 views | SaleAway |
| The Spring Statement on 10:49 - Mar 26 by Blueschev |
"Unfortunately Labour made too many bold promises to get into power." - That is complete nonsense. Never in my lifetime has a political party ran such a vague, non-committal campaign.
You hate Labour, we get it, but don't just make up rubbish. |
to be fair. Boris got an election win with one policy " get brexit done", where it was patently obvious that no-one knew was Brexit meant in those terms, so I would argue that its not even the vaguest campaign in the last 2 ... | |
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| The Spring Statement on 10:58 - Mar 26 with 645 views | Guthrum |
| The Spring Statement on 08:41 - Mar 26 by bluelagos |
We have the highest tax burden for decades - so not sure why you think tax hasn't kept pace with inflation.
That is why so many people are fed up - taxes are high and public services on their knees. We pay top dollar and get falling apart roads/NHS.
Utter sh1tshow of a legacy from 14 years of Tory govt. |
Basic rate of taxation has come down since the 1970s, from 30%+ to 25% to 20%. Higher rates are now a flat 40% up to a very high number, which they weren't prior to the end of the 1980s (scaling up to 60% or even 83%). So the Income Tax burden on workers is significantly lower than it was decades ago.
Basic rate Capital Gains Tax has fallen from 30% to 18% since the late 1980s. | |
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| The Spring Statement on 11:05 - Mar 26 with 603 views | Churchman |
They were actually physically in the Treasury before the election. People I used to work with saw them, were marginally involved. Months before. It’s how it works and always has. Everything that was known at the time was relayed to them.
https://ifs.org.uk/articles/ps22bn-black-hole-was-obvious-anyone-who-dared-look
But before we get to blinded by that favourite govt smokescreen, numbers, some context. £22bn represents about 10% of NHS, social care budget in an economy of £3.5tn gdp. OBR reckoned the estimated cost of Brexit in 2021 was £32bn pa against a net cost of EU membership of £13.2bn. Covid cost between £300bn and £400bn, so let’s not focus too much on debatable black holes.
Focus more on repairing some of the damage that continues to be caused by ludicrous Brexit and the threat from Trump, Putin and co. In other words, repair and build relationships and focus on what has to be done, not keep blaming previous criminals and incompetents. The latter serves no purpose. | | | |
| The Spring Statement on 11:09 - Mar 26 with 589 views | Blueschev |
| The Spring Statement on 10:57 - Mar 26 by SaleAway |
to be fair. Boris got an election win with one policy " get brexit done", where it was patently obvious that no-one knew was Brexit meant in those terms, so I would argue that its not even the vaguest campaign in the last 2 ... |
That's a very good point. But I guess "get Brexit done", though complete vague rubbish, is slightly more focused than "vote for us because we're not them", particularly as despite not being "them", Labour appear to be aping the Tories in almost every way.
What a time to be alive! | | | |
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