Greg2607

I suspect it's two-fold - Firstly... the way most of us structure our lives, is that we live just within our means... if there is a sudden additional cost, given the challenges that lots of people have around the cost of living, then it may tip lots of people over the top in terms of affordability. It also disproportionately impacts the poorest in society, who are most likely to be unable to afford it. Do they just have to forgo medical care? Secondly, and this will be the biggest issue... People won't like having something "taken off of them".... I mean jesus.... we tried to adjust the Winter Fuel Allowance so that only those who REALLY needed it were affected and the UK nearly went into meltdown... as it did when it was proposed that benefits needed reforming... people don't like the idea that they will be "losing out".... now personally, I am not against private healthcare, I happen to have it through my job.... but if we are suddenly going to expect employers to pay private health insurance for their staff... there will be uproar (they couldn't afford the additional NI don't forget) OR we are asking people to pay for it out of their own pocket and there will be uproar there again. Populations don't generally like large scale and immediate change.

Agreed, and on that basis, if anyone is struggling, reach out. My inbox is always open if anyone needs to talk it needs an ear. I'm a mental health first aider at work and so many people find it hard these days. Modern life is a real struggle for so many.

She's from Nottingham, I used to work with her. 🤣🤣🤣

Don't bring that name in here. She's a tree.

it's one of the main reasons I joined where I did. I got to the age where that pension was important!

I need to do some work on mine... i've got 3 previous DB pots from earlier in my career that I need to consolidate for sure. But my current work pension is going great Guns.... it's invested in an NFU Mutual fund (which is who I work for) and it's certainly giving me slightly more confidence that I might end up with a reasonable retirement. 20% a year going in, which all add's up!

Nothing to say he's died yet is there??

Agreed. I'm not sure he is a strong "political" operator. He would probably get chewed up and spat out. It's most of what is wrong about politics in general for me. far too much subterfuge and obfuscation.

I'd love to see Andy Burnham as Prime Minister to be fair. Now he is outside of Westminster, he has proven to be a very shrewd and pragmatic operator. At a surface level, he seems to be doing great things for Manchester and the surrounds and is a voice of reason who is keen to work with parties of all persuasions for the greater good of the area.

Nice Analysis Alf. I'm going to add my two pence worth here and say.... this isn't a uniquely UK problem at all. it's across most of Western Society. look at all the protests across Europe about "Tourists making our homes unaffordable". The Younger Generation across the Western world face a huge challenge to achieve the same security in life that their parents have / had. And actually... regardless of which "parties" are in power, the problems persist, and get worse. Right OR Left (the Uniparties as Reformers like to call them) There are huge and vast amounts of wealth being concentrated into a tiny, tiny minority of people. I do find myself agreeing more and more with Gary Stephenson, that this inequality is what will continue to erode living standards. he stated about 2 years ago that the UK Government would effectively go Bankrupt and we are seeing that play out now. Potentially not in an IMF Rescue kind of way, but we are getting less and less services because we are servicing more and more debt and that "debt" is held by the very wealthiest people in the world. Unfortunately, (and I realise this is a little bit Tin Hat Conspiracy here) - I don't think we will EVER see a scenario where this situation is reversed. Because the Mega Rich, own the communications. So any party or government, that WOULD potentially change the status quo, are absolutely eviscerated in the press and on TV. I mean, I'm not saying he would have been a suitable leader for the country.... but go back and look at Corbyn's Manifesto and what he proposed..... it's difficult to say that we all wouldn't feel better off if the below had been enacted.... (although I've no idea what it would have done to inflation as a caveat) Green Industrial Revolution £250 billion Green Transformation Fund to invest in renewable energy, low-carbon transport, and environmental restoration labour list One million green jobs across the UK. Ban on fracking, expansion of wind and solar energy, and support for nuclear power. Net-zero carbon energy system targeted for the 2030s. Public Ownership & Infrastructure Nationalisation of railways, Royal Mail, water, and energy companies Free full-fibre broadband for all via a publicly owned company. Creation of Regional Development Banks and a National Investment Bank to decentralise economic power Health & Social Care 4.3% annual increase in NHS funding. Free personal care for over-65s via a new National Care Service. Free prescriptions for all. Mental health services to receive an additional £1.6 billion annually. Housing Build 150,000 new homes per year, including 100,000 council homes. Introduce rent caps and open-ended tenancies. £1 billion fire safety fund for tower blocks. Education Establish a National Education Service offering: Free early years education. Free university tuition. Six years of free adult education. Scrap SATs and Ofsted inspections at Key Stages 1 and 2 Work & Welfare £10 minimum wage. End zero-hours contracts. Scrap Universal Credit Strengthen trade union rights Ending the two-child benefit cap. Scrapping the benefit cap. Increasing support for disabled people and carers. Reforming the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) into a new Department for Social Security. Democracy & Brexit Second referendum on Brexit with a choice between a new deal and remaining in the EU. Extend voting rights to all UK residents. Environment & Animal Welfare Introduce a Clean Air Act and a Climate and Environment Emergency Bill. Create new national parks and plant millions of trees. Ban snares, glue traps, and trophy hunting imports. Funding & Taxation Funded by £83 billion in tax increases on corporations and individuals earning over £80,000. Reverse some corporation tax cuts. Critics, including the IFS, questioned the feasibility of raising such sums without broader tax impacts.

6ft 2. But close enough. Haha..

why is that then? and when in general? i'm not questioning your feelings... I'm just interested if it's a time of day thing. I'm not in Leicester alot, but we will do Highcross and then out into the City Centre for other shopping, but it's day time and I've not once felt unsafe. In fact... thinking about it... I don't think i've ever felt unsafe anywhere in my life. Even wandering the streets of Naples of a night time which is fairly notorious. I appreciate Leicester might feel alot different at night, but we don't live locally enough to Leicester to really head out there at night and we have plenty of great nightlife options in Ashby, so don't really need to travel. I'll also caveat this with the fact i'm about 18 stone... so maybe people just don't try to bother with me.

Prince Andrew says hi! lol.

shame it didn't happen in the summer. I'd have taken Nuno in a heartbeat here.

I used to live in a house on a relatively busy main road through a village. I absolutely DID get used to the sound.... however... when large lorries or tractors went past, the house used to shake/vibrate and you didn't get used to that at all. if you were relaxing, it used to knock you out of that relaxed state a little. As such, I've never lived on/near a main road again. some of that will depend on how close the house is to the road I guess. For me, there was a pavement width and then probably the same space again before the front door. so no doubt that was a large contributing factor. If you have a decent sized front garden, literally everything i've just said is a moot point!

I'd like to think that I'm more "open to debate" around these topics. I'm certainly not intending to foister an opinion down someones throat. But where those debates do happen, it can't be based purely on emotions or sentiment. If it's come across that I myself am being bigoted to those in a "group" then I'll apologise..... albeit..... I don't think I generally mind being bigoted towards people who are openly racist (i'm not accusing anyone on here of that, just for some piercing clarity) a real "value" for me, and it sits as a core of my being, is around fairness and equity. I really struggle with seeing a society that doesn't operate with that principle at it's heart and as a populace, society in the UK is a far cry from this right now. society across the world is also a far cry from this too. "treat others as you'd want to be treated" just doesn't seem to be a thing anymore in the minds of many people across the UK. It's disappointing.

relatively confident i'm not a descendent of that family.... the family name originates from a tiny village near Congleton that literally now has a post office and nothing else. turns out i'm a Manc.

speaking personally... I've always associated more with the Union Jack than the Cross of St-George. Although i'm English.... I'd see myself as British. For World-Cups etc... fair enough... but for everything else.... it's not a thing for me. Given that my family name goes back to the 1200's in England, I should feel more "English"... but quite honestly, I don't particularly like the version of England that we have recently become. it's too divisive, selfish, self serving and that attitude is being driven by a very specific demographic in our population. The Racists and the Bigots.

Not all flag flyers are far right racists..... But all far right racists are flag flyers. And therein lies the problem.

Absolutely mate, I do it through plum and just regularly drip in week by week.

the new BMW IX3 and the Mercedes GLC look like they could be gamechangers. I'm likely to be ordering a new Company Car by the end of the year and I strongly suspect one of those two will be on my list, I will have to regularly travel to Norfolk from Leicester, and the "suggested" range of 500 miles or above is a bit of a milestone for EV's. I've been wanting to get a decent sized SUV, especially now we've got a Dog in the mix as well as two adult sized Kids but range was always a deal breaker on those bigger cars. Excited for these!

Why's that then??

Sorry to hear this mate. It's always tough with animals. There's a Pri*CK of a Cavapoo puppy here if you want to take him with you. Feel free to leave him on the beach.

It's a small step, but a nice milestone, that I've reached my first £10k in my investment account. Nothing more than a couple of ETFs and a small holding in Cat and Tesla, but it's a nice feeling that there is a degree of financial security if something were to happen at work etc.

That can't be right.... Our academy is shit remember.