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The state of politics in 2025 on 12:46 - Nov 10 by Ryorry
I was pro-Greens till they came out with their beyond stupid, unthought-out policy of wanting to abolish the entire private rental sector, without a mention of how they would then house the (11 million iirc) people who would consequently become homeless.
Not really true in terms of not mentioning how they would house renters.
The Greens want to build a lot more council homes whilst imposing more regulation and taxes on private rentals. Hopefully making it harder for landlords to make a profit. To me that’s a good thing and building more council homes should be a priority.
I think the Greens also favour rent controls, which is good.
I do think that abolishing the rental sector is unrealistic but landlords should be restricted with the above policies. Plus second homes and holiday homes should also be taxed more - maybe that’s already a thing, I don’t know.
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The state of politics in 2025 on 14:34 - Nov 10 with 1063 views
The state of politics in 2025 on 23:53 - Nov 9 by baxterbasics
Thankfully the mocking on here hasn't stooped as low as the following I posted a few weeks ago.
"The smears in the right wing media have already started but more disturbing though is this comment BTL on the Guardian yesterday.
"'Free speech champion' Elon Musk's idea of unrestricted free speech apparently includes allowing tweets depicting a certain new leader of a UK-based party as a hook-nosed, claw-fingered villain gleefully wrapping his hands around a globe. If that disgusting rubbish constitutes free speech then I'd rather be f**king mute."
EDIT: by coincidence there is an article in today's Guardian by Polanski highlighting the wide range of smears he is facing. Those relating to his appearance appear to be flirting with antisemitism but at the same time he himself has been accused of antisemitism which is nonsense not least because he has chosen to revert to his original Jewish surname.
The state of politics in 2025 on 12:46 - Nov 10 by Ryorry
I was pro-Greens till they came out with their beyond stupid, unthought-out policy of wanting to abolish the entire private rental sector, without a mention of how they would then house the (11 million iirc) people who would consequently become homeless.
Green MP Carla Denyer, who is the party's housing spokesperson, suggested the policy was not as a radical as it might sound.
"While the motion to conference had an eye-catching name, it does not actually 'abolish' landlords," she said.
"It does, however, address the housing crisis, empowers tenants and improves their wellbeing. It contains a range of policies which, over time, would reduce the proportion of the housing market that is privately rented, and increase the proportion of socially rented homes."
The state of politics in 2025 on 12:37 - Nov 10 by lowhouseblue
what's wrong with it is that it's a sound bite intended to avoid having to engage with the really difficult realities of a global politics. it's up there with corbyn wanting to abandon nato - it has no connection to the real world.
The “real world” you advocate is going so well for those Iraqis / Afghans/ Libyans that have been liberated from their lives. The grown ups are great when they’re in power.
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The state of politics in 2025 on 17:42 - Nov 10 with 905 views
The state of politics in 2025 on 12:14 - Nov 10 by baxterbasics
On a related subject has anyone here seen "House of Dynamite" on Netflix?
There's a few things about the dramatic setup that are not realistic, but still...yikes!
I watched it. It seems to be based on the book Nuclear War: A Scenario. Though there was a lot left out. In the book, it was North Korea who fired a couple of missiles at the US. America then fired a volley back but Russia thought they were attacking them so then went full ham on the US and hey presto, the world is done for.
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The state of politics in 2025 on 18:46 - Nov 10 with 857 views
The state of politics in 2025 on 15:10 - Nov 10 by Clapham_Junction
Green MP Carla Denyer, who is the party's housing spokesperson, suggested the policy was not as a radical as it might sound.
"While the motion to conference had an eye-catching name, it does not actually 'abolish' landlords," she said.
"It does, however, address the housing crisis, empowers tenants and improves their wellbeing. It contains a range of policies which, over time, would reduce the proportion of the housing market that is privately rented, and increase the proportion of socially rented homes."
That's obviously a much better aim and statement - they need to improve their comms then.
It would also be good if any political party actually addressed the really serious issue of social housing 'landlords' failure to address absolutely disgusting conditions which to me seem to render their properties unfit for human habitation (fungus, mould, crumbling materials, cladding, other fire hazards etc etc.).
Private landlords are rightly expected to maintain their lets to a decent standard, so why aren't the 'social' landlords similarly held to account? (rhtorical question, not actually expecting you to answer!).
The state of politics in 2025 on 13:06 - Nov 10 by MattinLondon
Not really true in terms of not mentioning how they would house renters.
The Greens want to build a lot more council homes whilst imposing more regulation and taxes on private rentals. Hopefully making it harder for landlords to make a profit. To me that’s a good thing and building more council homes should be a priority.
I think the Greens also favour rent controls, which is good.
I do think that abolishing the rental sector is unrealistic but landlords should be restricted with the above policies. Plus second homes and holiday homes should also be taxed more - maybe that’s already a thing, I don’t know.
If you make it any harder for landlords to make a profit, you'll drive even more of the smaller ones, who tend to be more caring of their tenants, out of the market leaving the corporates who can benefit from economies of scale, to totally dominate - which will hurt tenants. There'll be more competition for fewer properties, & rents will go up.
Fwiw I made about £1,200 net profit for about 250 hours work from letting the 1-bed cottage annexed to my house in the last tax-year. Will be a big loss next tax year as had to replace the upper half of its conservatory in July (wasn't worth repairing, rot was starting to take hold in all of the wood framing).
Edit - agree with you about 2nd & holiday homes though.
The state of politics in 2025 on 18:46 - Nov 10 by Ryorry
That's obviously a much better aim and statement - they need to improve their comms then.
It would also be good if any political party actually addressed the really serious issue of social housing 'landlords' failure to address absolutely disgusting conditions which to me seem to render their properties unfit for human habitation (fungus, mould, crumbling materials, cladding, other fire hazards etc etc.).
Private landlords are rightly expected to maintain their lets to a decent standard, so why aren't the 'social' landlords similarly held to account? (rhtorical question, not actually expecting you to answer!).
The issue isn't with their comms – the issues are:
(a) how the media report things and seek to sensationalise it (the BBC article that contained that explanation from Carla Denyer was titled 'Greens back plan to 'abolish' private landlords'. They have since amended it to "Green Party backs plan to see end of private letting"); and
(b) that the electorate see a headline and believe it rather than verifying it. I saw the headline and didn't think it seemed likely that they'd done something that radical, and surprise surprise, they had not.
Having worked for one for a decade, social landlords are very much held to account. I lived in two blocks of flats when I lived in London - the social housing one was far better maintained than the private one (which I am fully expecting to see on the news at some point in the future when it collapses onto the adjacent railway line).
The state of politics in 2025 on 15:35 - Nov 10 by Blueschev
The “real world” you advocate is going so well for those Iraqis / Afghans/ Libyans that have been liberated from their lives. The grown ups are great when they’re in power.
Whenever people mention the Real World it's because they can't get enough of being bent over and having their trousers pulled down.
[Post edited 10 Nov 20:45]
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
The state of politics in 2025 on 13:06 - Nov 10 by lowhouseblue
they seem to be working on the basis that if their ideological stance is blunt enough the details won't matter. the trouble is that their traditional green messaging and ability to push other parties into better environmental policies will get lost as they are written off as not being serious.
Not that Reform have any serious policies either in fairness
Alcohol is the answer but I can't remember the question!
I reply to many of your posts. I just refrain from engaging with you on one subject. A subject I see you have attempted to shoehorn onto this thread. Which goes to show that my decision is the correct one.
The state of politics in 2025 on 23:43 - Nov 10 by reusersfreekicks
FFS following racist sh1t stirrer Jenrick. Way to go
[Post edited 10 Nov 23:47]
I just double checked and actually wasn't following him, it had just come up on my timeline via someone else.
But I do now. Why shouldn't I? I follow people of all persuasions, it's not an endorsement. Jeremy Corbyn, George Galloway, that new Green Party chap, Zarah Sultana herself and even Owen Jones, all of whom are not in line with my world view. Also Jeremy Clarkson, Farage and his ilk, and everyone in between. I follow them all. I only block accounts that get spammy.
I don't want an echo chamber, I want a broad range of views. Same reason I read The Guardian as much as I read The Telegraph.
The state of politics in 2025 on 09:42 - Nov 11 by baxterbasics
I just double checked and actually wasn't following him, it had just come up on my timeline via someone else.
But I do now. Why shouldn't I? I follow people of all persuasions, it's not an endorsement. Jeremy Corbyn, George Galloway, that new Green Party chap, Zarah Sultana herself and even Owen Jones, all of whom are not in line with my world view. Also Jeremy Clarkson, Farage and his ilk, and everyone in between. I follow them all. I only block accounts that get spammy.
I don't want an echo chamber, I want a broad range of views. Same reason I read The Guardian as much as I read The Telegraph.
Well done you.
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The state of politics in 2025 on 11:15 - Nov 11 with 305 views
The state of politics in 2025 on 09:42 - Nov 11 by baxterbasics
I just double checked and actually wasn't following him, it had just come up on my timeline via someone else.
But I do now. Why shouldn't I? I follow people of all persuasions, it's not an endorsement. Jeremy Corbyn, George Galloway, that new Green Party chap, Zarah Sultana herself and even Owen Jones, all of whom are not in line with my world view. Also Jeremy Clarkson, Farage and his ilk, and everyone in between. I follow them all. I only block accounts that get spammy.
I don't want an echo chamber, I want a broad range of views. Same reason I read The Guardian as much as I read The Telegraph.
Nothing wrong with following people who you disagree with. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to listen to the views of people who you disagree with as well.
But, if someone shares social media/tweets from people without checking that their facts are correct - or shares tweets without really checking the actual content then they should be held responsible for it. For example, Gary Lineker.
[Post edited 11 Nov 11:16]
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The state of politics in 2025 on 13:10 - Nov 11 with 230 views
The state of politics in 2025 on 19:31 - Nov 10 by Clapham_Junction
The issue isn't with their comms – the issues are:
(a) how the media report things and seek to sensationalise it (the BBC article that contained that explanation from Carla Denyer was titled 'Greens back plan to 'abolish' private landlords'. They have since amended it to "Green Party backs plan to see end of private letting"); and
(b) that the electorate see a headline and believe it rather than verifying it. I saw the headline and didn't think it seemed likely that they'd done something that radical, and surprise surprise, they had not.
Having worked for one for a decade, social landlords are very much held to account. I lived in two blocks of flats when I lived in London - the social housing one was far better maintained than the private one (which I am fully expecting to see on the news at some point in the future when it collapses onto the adjacent railway line).
So you’re saying the Greens don’t need to wise up to how apathetic and unprepared to look any deeper than headlines and sound bites a large chunk of the electorate are? I disagree.
As for your anecdotal evidence and glib reassurances re the calumnies of social v private rentals, I reckon you need to get back to work -
The state of politics in 2025 on 13:10 - Nov 11 by Ryorry
So you’re saying the Greens don’t need to wise up to how apathetic and unprepared to look any deeper than headlines and sound bites a large chunk of the electorate are? I disagree.
As for your anecdotal evidence and glib reassurances re the calumnies of social v private rentals, I reckon you need to get back to work -
The Greens can't control of how the media reports on them - the fact that even the BBC, in an article that carried a clear explanation of the changes, still had a sensationalist and misleading headline demonstrates that quite clearly.
You said that social housing providers aren't held to account in the same way private landlords are, but the stories you've shared refer to the fact that there is both a Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman (which is mandatory for social housing but voluntary for private rented sector). In cases where social housing is provided by the local authority, it is usually overseen by (a) a cabinet member and (b) a scrutiny committee consisting of democratically-elected councillors. In Tower Hamlets there was also a residents panel for the council-owned housing, which I sat on for many years. That's five layers of oversight and holding the providers to account.
[Post edited 11 Nov 14:14]
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The state of politics in 2025 on 14:45 - Nov 11 with 154 views
The state of politics in 2025 on 14:12 - Nov 11 by Clapham_Junction
The Greens can't control of how the media reports on them - the fact that even the BBC, in an article that carried a clear explanation of the changes, still had a sensationalist and misleading headline demonstrates that quite clearly.
You said that social housing providers aren't held to account in the same way private landlords are, but the stories you've shared refer to the fact that there is both a Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman (which is mandatory for social housing but voluntary for private rented sector). In cases where social housing is provided by the local authority, it is usually overseen by (a) a cabinet member and (b) a scrutiny committee consisting of democratically-elected councillors. In Tower Hamlets there was also a residents panel for the council-owned housing, which I sat on for many years. That's five layers of oversight and holding the providers to account.
[Post edited 11 Nov 14:14]
In a quick search (I have to go out) I've found thousands of cases of private landlords being prosecuted for their failures over the past few years; but only one of a social landlord being. Perhaps you can find more? Hopefully Awaab's Law, introduced on 27/10/2025, will help. Meanwhile -
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