You don't know who Lisa Nandy or Angela Rayner or Yvette Cooper are? In that case I would say you are woefully unqualified to say 'they're all the same'. Why would I not relate to Starmer? He's a working class boy made good, a genuine football fan, and a decent man. Listen to this and tell me why I'm wrong. https://uk-podcasts.co.uk/podcast/full-disclosure-with-james-o-brien/keir-starmer I also relate to Rory Stewart, who has had privileges I could never dream of, but is obviously honest and decent. They are not all the same.
This is an incredible take. A great deal of the criticism of Blair/Brown Labour was founded on the deficit increasing on their watch and thus they had been profligate. The whole point of austerity was to return the country to a budget surplus and it dominated the political agenda for the early years of the Cameron/Osborne government. How did they get on with that? Before the global financial crisis the deficit was 2.6% and it then rocketed to 10% by the 2010 election. After 9 years of Tory led government, they'd manage to reduce it to... 2.3%. Then COVID struck and it shot up again to 12.8% and last year was 8%. So you'll apply 'extenuating circumstances' to cut the Tories some slack but not Labour? Or you could take the tax burden as you seem to be suggesting that Labour always taxes more? Again, they made no dent in it from 2010-2019. And even now, we have one of the lowest tax burdens of developed countries. And that's before we get onto the biggest act of self-inflicted economic harm a modern country has ever enacted in peacetime - choosing a Brexit that makes it harder to trade with the world's biggest market. I genuinely can't believe someone can sit there and write "Tories are better for the economy than Labour" having looked at the record over the last 12 years but maybe I'm missing something. Would be interested to hear your detailed rationale for why you think the current Tory party is a better bet for the economy than Labour.
How can you know the educational background of Labour back bencher Chris Bryant, but not know who Angela Rayner is?
Maybe he can’t, but his parents were very moderately off, a nurse and a toolmaker and when he joined that school it was a selective grammar and not fee paying. It would be odd to hold this against him as a reason to vote for the other party, which is reliably privately educated and want more selection and fee paying.
I meant in general and by tradition, not currently. The **** show in power at the moment can **** off in my opinion when it comes to all policy and not just the economy. See post #9 Somewhere in this section a few years ago I took the time to produce a graph showing economic performance against the party in power, taking into account world events like the sub prime driven financial crisis. I'm a financial analyst by trade, with 20 odd years experience. I'm too old too experienced on here to try and change anyone's mind so I respect your opinion but respectfully disagree with it.
Always happen to look at reasoned opinion. Will investigate. Although the first two "interesting facts" were then written off as "Statistically insignificant" This made me laugh. Will read further.
But what's the point of looking back to the 70s/80s/90s and still using that to inform your opinion? The world has moved on as have both parties. I would generally be interested in how you come to the conclusion that: Yes the Tories profit by it, but generally the country as a whole is better off under their management. It's a pretty big claim and with your 20 years experience you must be able to set out some compelling arguments as to what's led you to that conclusion. I go where the evidence tells me, if you present it you could change my mind.
I am getting really fed up with our energy company sending multiple e-mails encouraging me to pay my "outstanding" balance. These e-mails have multiple payment options and "pay now" buttons. However, when I log in to my account the bill is not due for payment until 1 June. Do they seriously think I am going to pay them a single penny until the due date?
You're right, things change. The link sydney provided has some interesting reading albeit through quite a narrow field of analysis. As I've said the current Tory lot are no better and I'm past trying convincing anyone of anything I offer my opinion and my reasoning, nothing more. I'm happy for Labour to be given a shot, let's face it they're unlikely to be any worse that BJ's mob. Whether I vote for them will depend on them coming up with economic policy I agree with. It has to start with taxation based on ability to pay, not based on accumulation of wealth with no regard to the method of accumulation.
They're probably experiencing a massive amount of defaults at the moment so are trying to help. Given the way energy prices are going make sure your meter readings are up to date. Even if you have a smart meter. My folks one hadn't recorded a gas bill in 6 months. They fall off their fixed at the end of next month and I have the sneaky suspicion that their provider was hoping to load as much onto the inflated rate as possible. You don't want to be under reporting your usage given the predicted rises, assuming you're on a flexi rate of course.
The World has indeed moved on. World trade has hugely expanded since the 70s and 80s and manufacturing methods are far in advance. It’s really not difficult for an industrialised nation to create wealth. What then becomes important is mitigating shocks and efficient distribution of wealth, so the population can be healthy and homed. I would say the Tories are very poor at both and amplify shocks through their ideological approach to wealth. What’s obvious is that a Green New Deal is needed. We have to combat climate change while developing energy security. We have allow everyone to be economically active and for that to deliver at least moderate prosperity and economic security so the Country can stop bickering. Is that the Tories, who ‘level up’ only those areas who vote for them and roll the dice on key trade partnerships? Seems to me that they often bring chaos they can profit from. We probably would benefit from more consensus and sensible, forward looking, coalitions.
The Who sang about this in the 60s "Meet the new boss" anywho Snake oil merchants are still trying to sell their brand as better than the other brand
Absolutely no way @Moose . Do you not recall that canut Clegg backing up the "we are all in this together" mob whilst simultaneously giving the rich 5% tax cuts ? Unfortunately I don't have any answers either
I would prefer a majority Labour Government for sure, but that’s still only a hope and maybe a coalition of Labour and others wouldn’t be such a bad thing after 12 years of utter division.
Another subject here where it's pretty important you start to educate yourself on, squibs. If we want things to change it's vital young people like yourself take responsibility to take an interest and learn the ins and outs of politics and who we can vote for.
I think they're mostly all ***** talking a load of drivel and playing a game. They hardly ever have the actual average person's interests at heart. Crooks and liars are all I see. I like Zahra Sultana, I liked Jeremy Corbyn, and not many other MP's I've seen and related to. Someone seeing something different to you, doesn't mean they need to educate themselves, thank you.
I see similar things to you, and I also like Corbyn and Sultana. But making blanket statements about all MPs when you've admitted yourself your pool of knowledge on them is very small, suggests educating yourself might be a decent idea. Especially if you want things to change.
