| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension 18:37 - Sep 1 with 8723 views | RIPbobby |
Makes you sick that he does not see out his term and causes another £200k+ bi election. Total scum. Clearly did not care for the union. Takes the money and runs. |  | | |  |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:01 - Sep 2 with 692 views | Benters |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 09:59 - Sep 2 by StokieBlue |
Reform are down to third in the polls now.
What a shame that perhaps people are starting to see Farage for what he really is. You'll get the eventually, maybe.
SB |
We will see.
BB.
TGM. |  |
| |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:04 - Sep 2 with 695 views | StokieBlue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:01 - Sep 2 by Benters |
We will see.
BB.
TGM. |
Will you be using initials to sign off all your posts or just as a pathetic attempt to rile me up?
Would be nice if you spent even half as much effort actually responding to valid points that many posters put to you for debate.
Guess that's all a bit complicated though, you'd actually have to know some Reform policies to do that.
SB |  |
| Avatar - M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy |
| |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:08 - Sep 2 with 687 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:05 - Sep 2 by Swansea_Blue |
Yep, there was a lot of you warning what he was like. Having said that, which would have been your preference: a continuing Tory Government or the route we ended up taking? That's the crux of it isn't it? You take the punt don't you, even if you know success it's a long shot? And I don't think there could have been any other outcome anyway. Talk about Hobson's Choice though. |
You could go a bit easier on Benters at the moment. He is stuck at home recovering from major surgery and unable to do the things he loves, and being a lot more civil than I would manage under those circumstances. |  | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:10 - Sep 2 with 674 views | Leaky |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 09:57 - Sep 2 by StokieBlue |
Are you advocating a return to austerity?
You've stated you're a conservative in general so I can't imagine it would be tax increases that you're going to use to pay down the debt.
SB |
I feel its not a question of taxation or spending cuts, its more how money is spent. We spent £70m refitting an Royal Navy ship and have now sold it to Brazil fo £20m, HS2 another waste of money. We are borrowing billions of pounds then giving money in foreign aid to countries that a nuclear bomb and a space programme. The list is endless. |  | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:12 - Sep 2 with 669 views | balcombeblue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 09:57 - Sep 2 by StokieBlue |
Are you advocating a return to austerity?
You've stated you're a conservative in general so I can't imagine it would be tax increases that you're going to use to pay down the debt.
SB |
I don't think there is much wriggle room on increasing taxes. There may be some levers here and there but in a global economy that could be dangerous with regards to the relative advantages we still have.
If yields spike another 50bps then huge cuts in government spending are unlikely to be a choice, more a necessity. The forecasted 1yr, 5yr, 10yr gilt rates are expected to continue to nudge up. Of course it's a forecast, but then will continue to remain close to 5.5%. I think there is a denial amongst many that this is sustainable, it isn't. If there is even a hint of a government default then it will become very painful. This will hit low earners/poorer people far more than wealthy ones. This must be something the left is concerned about?
My position would be that we can't tax our way out of this situation, because growth and productivity won't take it. Any additional revenue will be engulfed by the continued need to spend more, especially on debt management. |  | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:17 - Sep 2 with 650 views | balcombeblue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 09:48 - Sep 2 by redrickstuhaart |
How can you possibly draw those conclusions 1 day into a leader's first parliament?
You keep telling on yourself. |
It's my opinion. I was right in saying Starmer wouldn't last the term, many of my friends laughed at me given his majority.
I think I will be right again, but we shall see. What is the political tail-wind that will get him to 35%-40%? I just don't see it. That will result in a huge loss of seats and his resignation. He would need to either energise the working class heartlands or win back votes from Reform. The economic pit of high borrowing will not allow the first, if he tackles immigration/culture war issues he will alienate his base and not win back many from Reform. | | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:18 - Sep 2 with 649 views | StokieBlue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:12 - Sep 2 by balcombeblue |
I don't think there is much wriggle room on increasing taxes. There may be some levers here and there but in a global economy that could be dangerous with regards to the relative advantages we still have.
If yields spike another 50bps then huge cuts in government spending are unlikely to be a choice, more a necessity. The forecasted 1yr, 5yr, 10yr gilt rates are expected to continue to nudge up. Of course it's a forecast, but then will continue to remain close to 5.5%. I think there is a denial amongst many that this is sustainable, it isn't. If there is even a hint of a government default then it will become very painful. This will hit low earners/poorer people far more than wealthy ones. This must be something the left is concerned about?
My position would be that we can't tax our way out of this situation, because growth and productivity won't take it. Any additional revenue will be engulfed by the continued need to spend more, especially on debt management. |
This seems like a lot of text to imply you would support a return to austerity without actually wanting to say it.
SB | |
| Avatar - M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:19 - Sep 2 with 640 views | balcombeblue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:18 - Sep 2 by StokieBlue |
This seems like a lot of text to imply you would support a return to austerity without actually wanting to say it.
SB |
I am saying, what choice is there? | | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:26 - Sep 2 with 620 views | StokieBlue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:10 - Sep 2 by Leaky |
I feel its not a question of taxation or spending cuts, its more how money is spent. We spent £70m refitting an Royal Navy ship and have now sold it to Brazil fo £20m, HS2 another waste of money. We are borrowing billions of pounds then giving money in foreign aid to countries that a nuclear bomb and a space programme. The list is endless. |
We give ~25m a year to India whilst having extracted ~50 trillion from India over the last 200 years. Not one I think we should probably be complaining about too much.
HMS Ocean was sold by the Tories nearly 10 years ago, hardly a relevant example.
HS2 was too expensive I agree but people also complain if no money is spent on infrastructure.
If your stance is we can spend money more efficiently without needing tax increases or austerity I don't think that is going to be enough and had historically proven to be very difficult to do.
SB | |
| Avatar - M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy |
| |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:04 - Sep 2 with 562 views | DJR |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:05 - Sep 2 by Swansea_Blue |
Yep, there was a lot of you warning what he was like. Having said that, which would have been your preference: a continuing Tory Government or the route we ended up taking? That's the crux of it isn't it? You take the punt don't you, even if you know success it's a long shot? And I don't think there could have been any other outcome anyway. Talk about Hobson's Choice though. |
Where I live, it didn't matter how I voted because the seat has never had anyone other than a Tory MP, and the Kent May local elections, where Reform wiped the floor in most places, suggest things aren't going to change.
But I would have voted Labour if that meant beating the standing Tory MP. And I think that is part of the problem because many people voted against the Tories, rather than voting for Labour. [Post edited 2 Sep 11:05]
|  | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:10 - Sep 2 with 550 views | OldFart71 |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 09:42 - Sep 2 by redrickstuhaart |
Be specific.
Waiting lists down. Small boats down. Economy no worse. |
All that is hogwash. Try getting a doctors appointment in Needham. Over an hour to get through to the surgery. Not had my own doctor in many years.
My wife recently had her annual MOT and it was a 70 year old locum. Often we have paramedics standing in. If they prescribe something it then has to go through a doctor. On one occasion I waited two hours to get it signed by a doctor.
We have one phlegbotomist so I have to do a 30 mile round trip to have a blood test.
My wife was told by the locum that it is because they cannot get the funds to run the surgery properly.
As for the boats yes there are fewer small boats as they have been replaced by larger ones.
Fewer in the hotels because they are in HMO's or local authority housing. The economy is worse than when Labour took over from the Tories. Let's think why. Er, N.I. and the minimum wage up so companies cut back. Workers rights, so again firms won't employ.
Mad Ed's rush to NET ZERO. Of course we should be doing something. But doing the total reverse of every other major economy and buying in gas and shipping LNG from America won't do much for the environment and also costs people and industry far more than the rest of the world. | | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:20 - Sep 2 with 539 views | DJR |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:12 - Sep 2 by balcombeblue |
I don't think there is much wriggle room on increasing taxes. There may be some levers here and there but in a global economy that could be dangerous with regards to the relative advantages we still have.
If yields spike another 50bps then huge cuts in government spending are unlikely to be a choice, more a necessity. The forecasted 1yr, 5yr, 10yr gilt rates are expected to continue to nudge up. Of course it's a forecast, but then will continue to remain close to 5.5%. I think there is a denial amongst many that this is sustainable, it isn't. If there is even a hint of a government default then it will become very painful. This will hit low earners/poorer people far more than wealthy ones. This must be something the left is concerned about?
My position would be that we can't tax our way out of this situation, because growth and productivity won't take it. Any additional revenue will be engulfed by the continued need to spend more, especially on debt management. |
Part of the problem is that we have the triple lock and a commitment to increase defence spending to 3.5%, both of which I would question, but this from the Resolution Foundation suggests there is still wriggle room.
"International data shows that the rise in employer national insurance contributions (NICs) last year and frozen tax thresholds in the UK have led to the largest annual rise in taxes on average workers across 33 comparable OECD rich countries. Strikingly, however, this was from a very low base – lower than the US, for example. The UK remains in the bottom third of such countries for the level of tax on an average worker, and the effective tax rate on a typical earner is still lower than it was before the financial crisis. Indeed, no country raises more in total tax as a proportion of GDP without also asking more of single average earners.
This analysis strongly suggests that any politician promising a bigger state and lower taxes on middle earners is not being realistic. So if we want to increase defence spending, then there is a clear case for paying for this through broad-based tax rises that include typical earners paying more."
But the UK has not these last 40 odd years taken a grown-up or honest attitude to taxation unlike countries in western Europe with much better public services, and look where it has got us. Nor did the coalition government take advantage of low borrowing costs to ease more the effect of the great recession, which would have been the Keynesian thing to do. The result is that not only the roof but also much of the building fell into disrepair.
[Post edited 2 Sep 11:39]
| | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:26 - Sep 2 with 524 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:26 - Sep 2 by StokieBlue |
We give ~25m a year to India whilst having extracted ~50 trillion from India over the last 200 years. Not one I think we should probably be complaining about too much.
HMS Ocean was sold by the Tories nearly 10 years ago, hardly a relevant example.
HS2 was too expensive I agree but people also complain if no money is spent on infrastructure.
If your stance is we can spend money more efficiently without needing tax increases or austerity I don't think that is going to be enough and had historically proven to be very difficult to do.
SB |
Also important to note:
Brazil was absolutely key to Britain retaking the Falkland Islands. Maintaining positive military co-operation with Rio is a strategic move.
Not my priority, but there are always multiple factors at play in any of these international deals. | | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:33 - Sep 2 with 500 views | Benters |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:04 - Sep 2 by StokieBlue |
Will you be using initials to sign off all your posts or just as a pathetic attempt to rile me up?
Would be nice if you spent even half as much effort actually responding to valid points that many posters put to you for debate.
Guess that's all a bit complicated though, you'd actually have to know some Reform policies to do that.
SB |
If something like that ‘riles you up’ maybe you should go for a bit of fresh air or something. | |
| |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:38 - Sep 2 with 485 views | balcombeblue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:20 - Sep 2 by DJR |
Part of the problem is that we have the triple lock and a commitment to increase defence spending to 3.5%, both of which I would question, but this from the Resolution Foundation suggests there is still wriggle room.
"International data shows that the rise in employer national insurance contributions (NICs) last year and frozen tax thresholds in the UK have led to the largest annual rise in taxes on average workers across 33 comparable OECD rich countries. Strikingly, however, this was from a very low base – lower than the US, for example. The UK remains in the bottom third of such countries for the level of tax on an average worker, and the effective tax rate on a typical earner is still lower than it was before the financial crisis. Indeed, no country raises more in total tax as a proportion of GDP without also asking more of single average earners.
This analysis strongly suggests that any politician promising a bigger state and lower taxes on middle earners is not being realistic. So if we want to increase defence spending, then there is a clear case for paying for this through broad-based tax rises that include typical earners paying more."
But the UK has not these last 40 odd years taken a grown-up or honest attitude to taxation unlike countries in western Europe with much better public services, and look where it has got us. Nor did the coalition government take advantage of low borrowing costs to ease more the effect of the great recession, which would have been the Keynesian thing to do. The result is that not only the roof but also much of the building fell into disrepair.
[Post edited 2 Sep 11:39]
|
There are some good points in there.
Cross country comparisons are very difficult to make, the French are equally as indebted (or to a similar extent) and yet public services there are very mixed too. But they also have the ticking time bomb of debt.
Further rises on middle-class taxes would raise some revenue, but I still think that would be gobbled up with little noticeable change in public services. That isn't what this government stood on at the GE though.
I disagree a little on the last paragraph. yes, interest rates were very low, but there was really no mandate or political will for government to spend more during 2010-2015. | | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:43 - Sep 2 with 472 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:08 - Sep 2 by ArnoldMoorhen |
You could go a bit easier on Benters at the moment. He is stuck at home recovering from major surgery and unable to do the things he loves, and being a lot more civil than I would manage under those circumstances. |
I was replying to DJR and haven’t gone hard on Benters at all. My one and only reply to Benters was to politely point out that Reform don’t represent change. I don’t see what’s wrong with that 🤷♂️ [Post edited 2 Sep 11:50]
|  |
| |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:54 - Sep 2 with 455 views | Blueschev |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:10 - Sep 2 by OldFart71 |
All that is hogwash. Try getting a doctors appointment in Needham. Over an hour to get through to the surgery. Not had my own doctor in many years.
My wife recently had her annual MOT and it was a 70 year old locum. Often we have paramedics standing in. If they prescribe something it then has to go through a doctor. On one occasion I waited two hours to get it signed by a doctor.
We have one phlegbotomist so I have to do a 30 mile round trip to have a blood test.
My wife was told by the locum that it is because they cannot get the funds to run the surgery properly.
As for the boats yes there are fewer small boats as they have been replaced by larger ones.
Fewer in the hotels because they are in HMO's or local authority housing. The economy is worse than when Labour took over from the Tories. Let's think why. Er, N.I. and the minimum wage up so companies cut back. Workers rights, so again firms won't employ.
Mad Ed's rush to NET ZERO. Of course we should be doing something. But doing the total reverse of every other major economy and buying in gas and shipping LNG from America won't do much for the environment and also costs people and industry far more than the rest of the world. |
I don't think the size of the boats is the metric on which the number of crossings is measured. |  | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 12:01 - Sep 2 with 438 views | noggin |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 19:15 - Sep 1 by RIPbobby |
Stop being so pedantic you loser. We all know why he did it.
Try and enjoy life instead of being a complete low life and picking at text. Try and smile. Kiss your loved ones and stop carrying anger. |
Blimey, someone's been on their nan's sherry. |  |
| |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 12:04 - Sep 2 with 425 views | mellowblue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 09:42 - Sep 2 by redrickstuhaart |
Be specific.
Waiting lists down. Small boats down. Economy no worse. |
Waiting lists might be down, but that is partially because there is a longer wait to actually get on a waiting list. That is my experience anyway. | | | |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 12:08 - Sep 2 with 416 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:54 - Sep 2 by Blueschev |
I don't think the size of the boats is the metric on which the number of crossings is measured. |
Indeed. There are fewer people crossing anyway, so it’s irrelevant. Sky conducted a poll recently that showed over 40% of respondents wrongly thought the numbers of crossings and immigration was rising. I guess people believe what they’re being told by the bad faith actors who are exploiting immigration and blaming migrants for all our woes.
https://news.sky.com/story/blu | |
| |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 12:52 - Sep 2 with 363 views | StokieBlue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:33 - Sep 2 by Benters |
If something like that ‘riles you up’ maybe you should go for a bit of fresh air or something. |
Where did I say it riled me up?
You need to read what's posted, not what you want to be posted.
SB | |
| Avatar - M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy |
| |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 12:55 - Sep 2 with 360 views | StokieBlue |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:43 - Sep 2 by Swansea_Blue |
I was replying to DJR and haven’t gone hard on Benters at all. My one and only reply to Benters was to politely point out that Reform don’t represent change. I don’t see what’s wrong with that 🤷♂️ [Post edited 2 Sep 11:50]
|
He's also choosing to post provocative posts, can't really do that and then expect people to ignore it.
SB | |
| Avatar - M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy |
| |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 13:13 - Sep 2 with 338 views | bartyg |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 10:08 - Sep 2 by ArnoldMoorhen |
You could go a bit easier on Benters at the moment. He is stuck at home recovering from major surgery and unable to do the things he loves, and being a lot more civil than I would manage under those circumstances. |
Not sure what any of that has to do with his online persona- we all have personal lives. |  |
| |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 13:27 - Sep 2 with 305 views | DJR |
| Starmer quitting as an MP now he has his PM pension on 11:38 - Sep 2 by balcombeblue |
There are some good points in there.
Cross country comparisons are very difficult to make, the French are equally as indebted (or to a similar extent) and yet public services there are very mixed too. But they also have the ticking time bomb of debt.
Further rises on middle-class taxes would raise some revenue, but I still think that would be gobbled up with little noticeable change in public services. That isn't what this government stood on at the GE though.
I disagree a little on the last paragraph. yes, interest rates were very low, but there was really no mandate or political will for government to spend more during 2010-2015. |
A few observations.
1. My British friend in Paris (whom I am due to meet this week) speaks highly of French public services. He is now retired but it is the state of the NHS in particular which means he would never return to this country.
2. You are right about what the government stood on, and a rise would in any event fly in the face of Burnham's pledge on the cost of living.
3. There was no mandate because the media (including the BBC) accepted without question the coalition narrative that the recession in the UK was caused by Labour government overspending, rather than being a worldwide consequence of the banking crisis caused by sub-prime loans in the US and linked derivatives. [Post edited 2 Sep 13:34]
| | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
