Greg2607

I think most of us form a world view based on the facts available to us at the time. Once we've formed that view we typically need overwhelming evidence to change our mindset. The fact that lots of us are aligned to one political party or another is a good example of this.... Our psychological filters show us the evidence that fits the world view we have and filters out the stuff that doesn't. I'm not going to weigh in in the trans debate... Mainly because I don't walk in those shoes, so how can I possibly imagine how that person /those people think or feel ... I think it's fair to say though, the entire debate is complicated and I doubt most of us have lived experience around it.

which is why I think they are also looking a private investment..... as an example... I suspect Octopus Energy will be a forerunner in driving onshore wind... Greg Jackson was fairly visible post election. Labour have been planning for at least 6 months around all of this stuff, so it wouldn't surprise me if they have private sector partners lined up to drive some of the investment around things like infrastructure. whether that is the right or wrong approach (Hospital PFI springs to mind) remains to be seen.... but it's clear we can't afford to do it all off of the back of pure Government spending....

he's my nieces best mate....... i was SO close to being an ITK!

you are probably right on the latter point... i think we've all forgotten how a seemingly well oiled machine operates. Let's not forget that Starmer has experience of running large organisations before, so i suspect we are seeing an element of his managerial capability in all of this. maybe that's the difference between Career Politicians and people who have previously had success in a career being in charge.... as you say, time will tell if they are able to deliver what they say and I genuinely do appreciate that not everybody will agree with what they do.....

Whether you wanted or didn't want a Labour government, you have to say that the early days of this government have been exceptionally well orchestrated. I like the fact that there are experts being employed in posts where they are likely to be able to have an impact (and it shows the government doesn't claim to be an all knowing expert in everything). It definitely speaks to the fact that they will be looking to reform lots of areas as they want people with knowledge to help them do that. They've hit the ground running and have a well planned out set of events. Getting round the various nations and then meeting with metropolitan mayors to set an agenda. I like the fact that "mission boards" have been set up which starmer will personally chair. I also liked Starmers first press conference where he spoke about working on behalf of everyone in this country, whether they voted for labour or not. That type of language and rhetoric will hopefully bring the country together a little in terms of a collective vision. Little touches like having union jacks as well as scottish and welsh flags during the PM's first speech and the flying of the St Georges Cross for England's game on Saturday. It does show that these people can really plan. For a party that allegedly had no plan... they seem to have an exceptionally well executed plan.

FML.

Just out of interest, if you were basing it on costings, who's manifesto did you think was properly costed then!??!

North West Leicestershire did their bit! Labour one by 1000 votes. Glad I went out and did my bit to campaign. I'm not it made a difference, but I'd have kicked myself it they had lost and I hadn't.

Greg Hands gone!! Should someone leave him a note?? 😂

Was he wearing his suit of armour???

potentially need 100+ seats... Depends on the size of the labour majority. I've seen plenty of polls suggesting that the 2nd largest party will have between 50-100 seats. I think the Lib Dems would be very vocal about social care and carers in general... i think they would be very vocal about the trading relationship with the EU and I suspect they will have a number of other socially focused issues to raise and drive.... It it's the Tories in opposition, it will be 5 years of Tax and immigration arguments...

I certainly think it changes the focus of the conversation, but i'm not convinced that's a bad thing.... I guess it also depends what version of the conservative party remain after the Election.... They have a choice to make... move more to the right to try and snuff out reform or move back towards the centre to try to compete on a centrist platform. My suspicion is that they will look to the momentum of Reform and decide to go in that direction... I'm not sure that ends well for them or for the country.... obviously, I could well be wrong... time will tell I guess..

Why would that be disastrous? I appreciate it would be disastrous for the conservatives.... but why would it be disastrous for the Country? (by the way, I'm not being flippant here, genuinely interested in your reasoning)

on one evening per week, which is part of his wife's religious beliefs. I don't think for one second that he is clocking off at 18:00 every night mate. you are better than that.

Are you suggesting that this hasn't swayed you?? How about the music track he's released?? 😳🙄😂

as an accountant, i'm more than happy for you to do that work for me Tom I couldn't even calculate the right fuel cost it appears! lol. it actually cost me about £200 less in electric than I thought!

agreed, I said in my original post that I can see the logistical issues that some people might have.... the main issue being people's ability to charge aqt home... you can pick up solid 2nd hand EV's for about £15k now... so cost is less of a barrier than you think for people wanting to update their vehicle.

sorry, you are absolutely right......... I'd done mileage and not number of Kwh............ it's cost me £30 for those 3200 miles...... i'm now off to look at holidays based on those savings!!

So we've had our BMW i4 for around a month now..... we've done 3231 miles in it, in that time.... we haven't had to charge at a public charging station once, and because of our EV electricity rate at home, it's cost us a total of £239 in "fuel"..... doing the same in our Diesel Volvo XC40 (which we loved btw) would have cost us around £480. so our fuel costs have been reduced by £240.... average that out across the year and it is going to save us around £3000 a year in fuel costs alone.... not to mention, as a company car, it's already saving us around £200 a month in BIK..... I understand people's reticence about going for an EV... it does provide challenges if you don't have the ability to charge at home etc.... but we are now £440 a month better off than we were in May.... which is staggering really!

Yeah but based on your above logic, everyone would be doing 2 days a week and delivering 100% of your output.

There are currently 10 working people for every pensioner. Their tax pays towards the state pension (amongst other things) Within 20 years there will be 4 working people for every pensioner.... In the last 15 years wages have increased £16 a week. In total. But you are suggesting AI will result in 40% of the current workforce producing 100% of the output. It's not going to happen.

You do realise how state pensions are paid right???

Whisper it.... But the solution is...........immigration. Unfortunately we have catastrophically failed to provide the infrastructure in this country over many decades to accommodate the size of population we will need for the next 30-40 years..... I can virtually guarantee that in the short middle distance, we will be actively incentivising people to come and live and work here. The whole western world will. However, I suspect by that point China and the UAE will be much more attractive propositions than we are.

Straight back down, straight back down, Leicester City.....

I'm in a fortunate position that I'm debt free (other than my mortgage) and don't own a credit card.... But honestly, if life was so bleak that the only bit of enjoyment was that gig, or meeting up with family for a meal... I can honestly see why people put it on credit. (And yes, I realise that's a vicious circle) We all need to have enjoyment in our lives... It's why we need a society that works for 99% of us and have the state support the 1% that it doesn't..... Unfortunately, we've built a society that caters for 1% and the other 99% need propping up.