Greg2607

Realistically, no one OTHER than Farage could lead reform and match their current popularity. He is the literal walking embodiment of populism. A party, built around one man's personality that the media seems to lap up. He's an expert orator, exceptional at deflection and very slippery. He is a darling of the MSM and if he does end up as prime minister, it will be because platforms like the Daily Mail put him there.

seems that way... which in fairness, is the right and proper approach to something like this.

Seems that she took the initial advice at face value and was then backed into a corner when the accurate advice was given. It's sad for her that it ends this way, but at least it isn't malevolent.

Yes, but if Labour only operate to the standards that the opposition showed in Government, then it just becomes a race to the bottom. Part of what I liked about Starmer, was that he seemed to want to bring better standards into Government. i think that should be a minimum expectation for a politician - act appropriately, above the law and without reproach.

I think in terms of political standards, she had little choice but to do this. Labour couldn't come into Government, on a standing of improving political standards and then not address this in the right way. whatever the backlash from the opposition parties. As Tommy G said earlier, whether it's £40,000 or £5m, the "value" of the oversight shouldn't matter.... we either have standards and adhere to them at the highest levels of government, or we don't. The Conservatives generally didn't.... it's good to see that Labour are one the right side of the line for this one.

You agree with me far too often mate. I'd start to question yourself if I were you! 🤣

because she "sold" her stake in the Ashton Under Lyne home to a trust for her son who has life long disabilities. She used that money to purchase the flat in Hove. now, even as a labour supporter, I do think, her position becomes relatively untenable at this point, even though I don't think she has done anything wrong morally. She took legal advice and was told that she had an amount to pay for Stamp Duty. She paid that amount. It then turns out that advice was incorrect and she has to front up to that. if this was a Conservative, I'd be saying that they were untenable in their role and the same standards need to apply to the people in Government. Standards are exceptionally important in Public life. There should be no extenuating circumstances. Same reason that Reform Muppet from North West Leicestershire should lose his seat for trying to influence an election process by giving away free ice cream from a family ice cream van around the corner from the polling station. Leicestershire County Council is an embarrassment at the minute. How people voted in Dan Harrison I'll never know. the guys a moron of the highest order.

very fond memories of playing at Filbert street as a Teenager. It was even shown on the local cable TV channel!

the vast majority of us (as it currently stands) won't have £1m to inherit from our parents.......... I do appreciate it will impact some people. but there are various ways to plan for the impact of IHT.

the 40% UK inheritance tax (IHT) rate is the headline figure, but the rules are more nuanced. Here’s the breakdown: The Basics Nil-rate band (NRB): The first £325,000 of an estate is tax-free. Standard rate: Anything above that (after allowances) is generally taxed at 40%. Key Allowances Residence nil-rate band (RNRB): If you leave your main home to direct descendants (children, grandchildren, step/adopted/foster children), you get an extra allowance of up to £175,000. This means many people can pass on £500,000 before IHT applies. For couples, this doubles — potentially £1 million tax-free. Spouse/civil partner exemption: Anything left to a surviving spouse or civil partner is tax-free, regardless of amount. Plus, if the first spouse doesn’t use their allowances, they can be transferred to the surviving spouse — giving the couple the full £1m shield if a home is left to children. Gifts during lifetime: Gifts made more than 7 years before death are usually free of IHT. Gifts within 7 years may be taxed, with a tapering relief after 3 years. Example Estate value: £800,000 (single person, leaving home to children). £325,000 (NRB) + £175,000 (RNRB) = £500,000 tax-free. Remaining £300,000 taxed at 40% = £120,000 IHT bill. So while the headline is “40% over £325k,” in practice: Many estates benefit from extra allowances. Married couples often only face IHT once the second spouse dies and then only on amounts over £1m (if they have a home and leave it to children).

Well.......... if this isn't posturing about Power I'm not sure what is........ The West should be very very concerned about this collective of people working together. (that or i've been heavily brainwashed by propaganda)

I feel like EVERYONE has overlooked the fact that he was signing his contract wearing a cream linen suit. are we letting him get away with that then or what??!?!?!?!

Ominous.

"We" don't extract it. So we get no say on what the company that does, does with it. Fully privatising BP and Shell was idiocy of the highest order. As a population, we now subsidise other countries energy companies.

Schimiters aren't they???

Can't be right. He's dog muck in this league remember..

some of those flag toting bald headed numpties are going to have some real cognitive dissonance if many of this lot make it into the full national squad,.

oh yeah, I 100% agree with that. Maslow's hierarchy of needs isn't it basically.... For lots of the population they have lost the security of a roof over their head and food on the table, or at the very least, they are finding it hard to provide or maintain those basic needs. until they can fix those problems, they don't have capacity to think about anyone or anything else. when the social contract breaks, it's really hard to re-build a cohesive society. for lots of people.... they don't see the point in working hard and going that extra mile to progress, as the promise of homeownership feels like a distant dream.... that apathy in effort, effects productivity at a national level, so our GDP doesn't grow and businesses can only grow profits by reducing cost. where people are struggling to provide for themselves, they typically have less children. We are miles below the replacement rate in the UK, so there are less and less working people shouldering the tax burden of an ageing population. The obvious way to solve that is through skilled immigration.... but.....isolationism and all that..... It's a vicious circle. a doom loop really.

without trying to sound alarmist (and I do recognise that it does) I think we are very quickly sliding in that direction across the Western world generally. The connections that used to bind us together after WW2 are being forgotten and there is a significant rise in isolationism in lots of major countries. "America First"... it is no longer about protecting the global peace (if there ever technically was one) but it's about purely protecting those at home to the cost of everyone else. that type of rhetoric, if repeated across enough Western Society, only ends one way and it's not to the benefit of us all.

We didn't find THAT much to do in Toronto as the weather was crap. But it's a nice city. Went to a baseball game. Most. Boring. Sport. Ever.

Shows how desperate some people are for money. I reckon you could quite easily plot an increase in crime to a comparative increase in poverty and it would align perfectly. There is such a hidden world of poverty in the UK that most of us dont see. That, coupled with a lack of policing presence at a local level and it's relatively risk free for the perpetrator.

We did Air BnB in Toronto and got an amazing apartment looking over the CN Tower and the Blue Jays Stadium. Have you thought about looking at that route? I'm sure it goes without saying.... but if you are visiting Toronto you 100% HAVE to visit Niagara Falls. It's a real spectacle.

Without this sounding exceptionally obvious.... but the view from the Top of St Peters Basilica is very very hard to beat in Rome. It's well worth the walk up and it gives you views out over everything in the city. I think you have to pre-purchase a ticket these days, so that's definitely worth doing. Rome is probably my favourite city in the world... especially for just ambling around and stumbling on things... but do have a little bit of a plan and do spend time in places like Trastavere as well as the main city itself. It has a really different feel and is very good in the evenings for a more relaxed but still great atmosphere. It's a lovely walk along the River to get there as well. In fact... if I had ONE piece of advice for Rome.... Ignore public transport... just walk everywhere. literally everywhere. You will miss so much of the city if you are on a bus or a tram. Explore the alleyways and side streets that seemingly go nowhere and you'll have an amazing time!

even as a labour voter, I think the party have got some stuff wrong over the last 12 months.... mainly through a rush to get something done, or through failing to explain the reasoning behind it other than "£22bn black hole"...... WFA allowance as an example... they could have approached it in two different ways..... EITHER..... taken more consideration around the mechanism - i.e. really considered the point at which it's removed and align it to minimum wage.... (as an example, i'm not saying that's right!) OR - position it that they would need to do this, to allow them to protect the triple lock for those that are MOST in need..... everyone still benefits from the Triple Lock.... but by removing the WFA, position it, that it continues to support the affordability of that scheme. instead they positioned it that they had no choice because of the mess the tories left behind..... that isn't going to resonate with many people. in fact.... personally..... i'd prefer them to move entirely away from that narrative now as a staging post and move towards, "this is the future we COULD have, if we continue to do these things"....

Jesus.... Cruciate and 3 other knee injuries.....no thanks!