General News Thread

[EnderbyFox]

52 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

Think starmar has probably sealed his fate with today's speech. 

A shame as I think he's a good man who is actually doing quite a decent job, but he ability to communicate with the electorate is a downfall. He's too much manager and not enough dreamer. 

Burnham needs to be brought into the fold ASAP.

 

Burnham for me as well. I just cannot fathom Labour binning off Starmer and replacing his with someone arguably more unlikable in Wes Streeting 

[Alf Bentley]

I watched Starmer's speech in full and thought he performed much better than usual. Greater passion/commitment, less bland politicospeak, greater clarity about priorities and actions.

 

But I still think he needs to go as leader. People wanted that passion and clarity and those priorities and actions 2 years ago. After years of strife, voters were desperate to see change - or at least signs of progress. 2 years doesn't seem like a long probation. Starmer's unlucky to be judged so quickly, due to all the bad years that preceded him. But, I'm afraid people have judged him and their view of him is now cast in stone.

 

If some things, at least improved, a new leader would get some credit and win back some votes.  Whereas, even if the next 3 years go comparatively well, I don't think voters will give Starmer credit for that. To succeed, he'd need a miraculously good performance - and that ain't going to happen, given all the existing problems, structural factors, global events etc. By hanging on, he could increase the risk of a Farage government - though I still think a hung parliament with a lot of Reform MPs remains the most likely electoral outcome, at this stage.

[CrazyKopCorner]

17 hours ago, Alf Bentley said:

I watched Starmer's speech in full and thought he performed much better than usual. Greater passion/commitment, less bland politicospeak, greater clarity about priorities and actions.

 

But I still think he needs to go as leader. People wanted that passion and clarity and those priorities and actions 2 years ago. After years of strife, voters were desperate to see change - or at least signs of progress. 2 years doesn't seem like a long probation. Starmer's unlucky to be judged so quickly, due to all the bad years that preceded him. But, I'm afraid people have judged him and their view of him is now cast in stone.

 

If some things, at least improved, a new leader would get some credit and win back some votes.  Whereas, even if the next 3 years go comparatively well, I don't think voters will give Starmer credit for that. To succeed, he'd need a miraculously good performance - and that ain't going to happen, given all the existing problems, structural factors, global events etc. By hanging on, he could increase the risk of a Farage government - though I still think a hung parliament with a lot of Reform MPs remains the most likely electoral outcome, at this stage.

Did much better but by normal standards really really poor. 

 

Loads of emphasis but really no action, no policies and no real understanding of what the big mid section of the UK population want 

 

He's clueless - expect him to rock up and manage us as he's inevitably chopped after his useless tenure. 

Edited 12 May by CrazyKopCorner

[kenny]

2 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Did much better but by normal standards really really poor. 

 

Loads of emphasis but really no action, no policies and no real understanding of what the big mid section of the UK population want 

 

He's clueless - expect him to rock up and manager us as he's inevitably chopped after his useless tenure. 

 

Probably Karl Turner. Whoever it was has nailed the situation.

 

 

[CrazyKopCorner]

11 minutes ago, kenny said:

 

Probably Karl Turner. Whoever it was has nailed the situation.

 

 

Here Here. ****ing useless is being kind. 

 

Not one of them worthy of a mid management role in the private sector.  

 

Literally a totally talentless bunch of ****s. 

[Alf Bentley]

3 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Did much better but by normal standards really really poor. 

 

Loads of emphasis but really no action, no policies and no real understanding of what the big mid section of the UK population want 

 

He's clueless - expect him to rock up and manager us as he's inevitably chopped after his useless tenure. 

 

Nationalising British Steel is a real action. A much clearer commitment to a closer economic, diplomatic and defence relationship with the EU is a real policy, though it will need to be backed by specific actions.

 

I'd agree that's not enough. There's a King's Speech on Wednesday, so that will be a moment of truth. That needs to include some achievable, popular actions.

 

The problem is that a lot of what most of the public want (rapid improvement in cost of living and living standards, rapid improvement in public services, preferably cuts in personal taxation) is almost impossible for any government to achieve quickly, however effective their policies - and Labour have certainly made mistakes, as well as some good calls.

 

I presume that voters will now have the same high expectations of Reform-run councils? I anticipate Reform councils cutting Council Tax yet improving local services, while somehow reducing immigration to local areas despite not having the powers to do so.... 

 

There were particularly interesting council results in Bexley and Bromley, both held comfortably by the Tories. Both would've been seen as territory ripe for Reform victory....but both border Kent, which has been run very badly by Reform for the past year....so there may be an anti-Reform backlash in 1-2 years to match the anti-Labour backlash...

[davieG]

1 minute ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Here Here. ****ing useless is being kind. 

 

Not one of them worthy of a mid management role in the private sector.  

 

Literally a totally talentless bunch of ****s. 

The way the media and the public attack most politicians if they make the slightest mistake or u-turn we reap what we sow.

 

Who in their right mind, with an ounce of intelligence, get up and go and vision would want to be PM or a Secretary of State

[CrazyKopCorner]

7 minutes ago, davieG said:

The way the media and the public attack most politicians if they make the slightest mistake or u-turn we reap what we sow.

 

Who in their right mind, with an ounce of intelligence, get up and go and vision would want to be PM or a Secretary of State

It has always attracted the wrong type of people. 

 

That Labour front bench though is something else full of wanna bes, never will bes and ****ing liggers. 

 

A complete bunch of dunces 

[CrazyKopCorner]

13 minutes ago, Alf Bentley said:

 

Nationalising British Steel is a real action. A much clearer commitment to a closer economic, diplomatic and defence relationship with the EU is a real policy, though it will need to be backed by specific actions.

 

I'd agree that's not enough. There's a King's Speech on Wednesday, so that will be a moment of truth. That needs to include some achievable, popular actions.

 

The problem is that a lot of what most of the public want (rapid improvement in cost of living and living standards, rapid improvement in public services, preferably cuts in personal taxation) is almost impossible for any government to achieve quickly, however effective their policies - and Labour have certainly made mistakes, as well as some good calls.

 

I presume that voters will now have the same high expectations of Reform-run councils? I anticipate Reform councils cutting Council Tax yet improving local services, while somehow reducing immigration to local areas despite not having the powers to do so.... 

 

There were particularly interesting council results in Bexley and Bromley, both held comfortably by the Tories. Both would've been seen as territory ripe for Reform victory....but both border Kent, which has been run very badly by Reform for the past year....so there may be an anti-Reform backlash in 1-2 years to match the anti-Labour backlash...

FM - give the people what they want. 

 

****ing clueless 

[leicsmac]

21 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Here Here. ****ing useless is being kind. 

 

Not one of them worthy of a mid management role in the private sector.  

 

Literally a totally talentless bunch of ****s. 

Not really sure we can pretend the highest echelons of private enterprise are some kind of laudable meritocracy. Plenty of "golden parachutes" and jobs for the boys rewarding incompetence there, too. 

 

That being said, Burnham is the obvious move and I hope it's done soon.

[Tommy G]

23 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Here Here. ****ing useless is being kind. 

 

Not one of them worthy of a mid management role in the private sector.  

 

Literally a totally talentless bunch of ****s. 

Mid management, that's generous. 

[Alf Bentley]

12 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

FM - give the people what they want. 

 

****ing clueless 

 

I haven't a clue what you mean by this post, so will leave it there unless you choose to explain.

[CrazyKopCorner]

Just now, Alf Bentley said:

 

I haven't a clue what you mean by this post, so will leave it there unless you choose to explain.

Starmer has no clue of what people want. 

 

Nationalising British Steel, closer ties with Europe in a speech to save your skin? 

 

Seriously delusional stuff 

[CrazyKopCorner]

9 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Not really sure we can pretend the highest echelons of private enterprise are some kind of laudable meritocracy. Plenty of "golden parachutes" and jobs for the boys rewarding incompetence there, too. 

 

That being said, Burnham is the obvious move and I hope it's done soon.

People who run businesses are light years ahead of that front bench. 

 

Jobs for the boys when they're taking hand outs left right and centre, fiddling CVs, nicking phones, out and out corruption, tax evasion, dodgy friends with even shadier pasts  

 

Got the gaul to call out the Tories (bunch of ****s too) and yet at it themselves - Complete and utter hypocrisy 

[Alf Bentley]

1 minute ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Starmer has no clue of what people want. 

 

Nationalising British Steel, closer ties with Europe in a speech to save your skin? 

 

Seriously delusional stuff 

 

Last polls I saw suggested nationalising British Steel and closer relations with Europe were policies with majority public approval.

 

I agree they will not shift the dial and suddenly win Starmer or his govt majority approval. As I've said, I think Starmer has missed his chance on an individual level.

 

But, as I said, the sort of things that WOULD shift the dial - eliminating cost of living issues, improving living standards, improving public services, cutting tax, greater secure employment - cannot be achieved QUICKLY by any government of any persuasion, even without external factors like the Iran War or structural factors like decades of stagnant growth and an aging population. Labour would claim to be making progress in some of those areas (but not others) but it's not enough - and they'll doubtless be turfed out of office if that remains the case in 3 years.

 

Of course, immigration is the other big issue with the public. Stats actually show a significant reduction in immigration - but people who focus on immigration will never believe such stats and will never be happy about immigration even if stats suggest that it has fallen to zero (in which case we could end up with major labour shortages in some sectors).

[CornwallFox]

24 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

It has always attracted the wrong type of people. 

 

That Labour front bench though is something else full of wanna bes, never will bes and ****ing liggers. 

 

A complete bunch of dunces 

I'm not sure. 

 

They've done a lot of good things that simply aren't talked about. 

 

They have cut crossings by 42% this year and there are very real policy things happening in that space. 

 

The NHS waiting list really is falling.

 

Ed Milliband's creation of GB energy is a fantastic way around the market and they've been busy preparing the way for solar panels on schools and hospitals that will save hundreds of millions in energy costs. 

 

That said, the one big issue is cost of living and labour in general are way too slow on this. It's like they're treading water and don't understand it's importance. We all know from our everyday lives how much more expensive life is.

 

Why have we allowed petrol costs to get so high so quickly with yet again record profits? Why are we allowing record profits amongst supermarkets? Sector after sector making record profits, profiteering from world events when prices could take been lower and kept their existing profit levels. Real government intervention in markets is required and labour need no baulk at this, they need to move quickly.

[Innovindil]

42 minutes ago, Alf Bentley said:

Nationalising British Steel is a real action.

Actually like this idea, but considering it hemorrhages money daily, it counts for little without a solid commitment to guarantee that government funded projects have to use only British steel imo. 

[CornwallFox]

Just now, Alf Bentley said:

 

Last polls I saw suggested nationalising British Steel and closer relations with Europe were policies with majority public approval.

 

I agree they will not shift the dial and suddenly win Starmer or his govt majority approval. As I've said, I think Starmer has missed his chance on an individual level.

 

But, as I said, the sort of things that WOULD shift the dial - eliminating cost of living issues, improving living standards, improving public services, cutting tax, greater secure employment - cannot be achieved QUICKLY by any government of any persuasion, even without external factors like the Iran War or structural factors like decades of stagnant growth and an aging population. Labour would claim to be making progress in some of those areas (but not others) but it's not enough - and they'll doubtless be turfed out of office if that remains the case in 3 years.

 

Of course, immigration is the other big issue with the public. Stats actually show a significant reduction in immigration - but people who focus on immigration will never believe such stats and will never be happy about immigration even if stats suggest that it has fallen to zero (in which case we could end up with major labour shortages in some sectors).

Your middle paragraph - those things absolutely could be dealt with quickly if the government had the bottle to intervene. Spain are taking aggressive government action to curtail cost of living increases. Several other countries have been successful in this. The government needs to put people first and be bold. They keep talking about growth as if that can happen without people having money to spend. 

[Alf Bentley]

Just now, Innovindil said:

Actually like this idea, but considering it hemorrhages money daily, it counts for little without a solid commitment to guarantee that government funded projects have to use only British steel imo. 

 

Fair points. I get the impression that nationalisation isn't necessarily viewed as a permanent solution, anyway. Apparently, they have interested buyers and might just be nationalising to avoid it being mothballed (hard to reopen) - so could potentially resell it, if a viable buyer with a secure future plan does come forward - doubtless still with govt support, perhaps with commitments like those you suggest?

[CrazyKopCorner]

Just now, Alf Bentley said:

 

Last polls I saw suggested nationalising British Steel and closer relations with Europe were policies with majority public approval.

 

I agree they will not shift the dial and suddenly win Starmer or his govt majority approval. As I've said, I think Starmer has missed his chance on an individual level.

 

But, as I said, the sort of things that WOULD shift the dial - eliminating cost of living issues, improving living standards, improving public services, cutting tax, greater secure employment - cannot be achieved QUICKLY by any government of any persuasion, even without external factors like the Iran War or structural factors like decades of stagnant growth and an aging population. Labour would claim to be making progress in some of those areas (but not others) but it's not enough - and they'll doubtless be turfed out of office if that remains the case in 3 years.

 

Of course, immigration is the other big issue with the public. Stats actually show a significant reduction in immigration - but people who focus on immigration will never believe such stats and will never be happy about immigration even if stats suggest that it has fallen to zero (in which case we could end up with major labour shortages in some sectors).

But those are not the critical issues. 

 

He's talking to the left and obviously the people that want to go back into the EU. The problem is that there was an argument to be won 10 years ago and quite honestly the pro Europeans were pretty pathetic. Also there should be a referendum if he wants to start making real moves toward Europe. 

 

Immigration is a big topic but it's much much bigger. 

 

He had his chance and he has completely ****ed it up. Talked about huge mandate when he got less votes than Corbyn. (about 1/2 million less). 

 

Anyone with any political nous would have realised it was a very luke warm mandate and he really needed to make serious immediate change on immigration, stimulating the economy, law and order and defence 

 

Instead what has he produced? Winter fuel assistance for pensioners withdrawn, taxes on farmers, welfare retreat, 2 huge tax taking budgets (when talking about growth!), the Mandelson shameful appointment - His policies have even been un Labour. 

 

He is not fit to lead - He must go 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CrazyKopCorner]

12 minutes ago, CornwallFox said:

I'm not sure. 

 

They've done a lot of good things that simply aren't talked about. 

 

They have cut crossings by 42% this year and there are very real policy things happening in that space. 

 

The NHS waiting list really is falling.

 

Ed Milliband's creation of GB energy is a fantastic way around the market and they've been busy preparing the way for solar panels on schools and hospitals that will save hundreds of millions in energy costs. 

 

That said, the one big issue is cost of living and labour in general are way too slow on this. It's like they're treading water and don't understand it's importance. We all know from our everyday lives how much more expensive life is.

 

Why have we allowed petrol costs to get so high so quickly with yet again record profits? Why are we allowing record profits amongst supermarkets? Sector after sector making record profits, profiteering from world events when prices could take been lower and kept their existing profit levels. Real government intervention in markets is required and labour need no baulk at this, they need to move quickly.

Why don't they talk about the positives with immigration? It's very strange? 

[CornwallFox]

3 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

But those are not the critical issues. 

 

He's talking to the left and obviously the people that want to go back into the EU. The problem is that there was an argument to be won 10 years ago and quite honestly the pro Europeans were pretty pathetic. Also there should be a referendum if he wants to start making real moves toward Europe. 

 

Immigration is a big topic but it's much much bigger. 

 

He had his chance and he has completely ****ed it up. Talked about huge mandate when he got less votes than Corbyn. (about 1/2 million less). 

 

Anyone with any political nous would have realised it was a very luke warm mandate and he really needed to make serious immediate change on immigration, stimulating the economy, law and order and defence 

 

Instead what has he produced? Winter fuel assistance for pensioners withdrawn, taxes on farmers, welfare retreat, 2 huge tax taking budgets (when talking about growth!), the Mandelson shameful appointment - His policies have even been un Labour. 

 

He is not fit to lead - He must go 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted the winter fuel payment, farm taxes etc have shot him down before we even launched as he set off on a negative footing. Not sure he can recover it. 

 

But immigration is down by about 80% and illegal immigration down by 42% just this year. 

[CornwallFox]

4 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Why don't they talk about the positives with immigration? It's very strange? 

I don't think it's an argument you can win now, though I get your point. I don't think you can win the population over with economic data or whatever to show it's positive. Maybe get the boats down to zero and you might stand a chance but atm I don't think you can.

[leicsmac]

23 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

People who run businesses are light years ahead of that front bench. 

 

Jobs for the boys when they're taking hand outs left right and centre, fiddling CVs, nicking phones, out and out corruption, tax evasion, dodgy friends with even shadier pasts  

 

Got the gaul to call out the Tories (bunch of ****s too) and yet at it themselves - Complete and utter hypocrisy 

And the private sector doesn't do the above?

 

It's reasonably obvious you have an axe to grind here so go ahead and grind it, but please don't pretend this judgement is anything like objective. 

 

 

2 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

But those are not the critical issues. 

 

He's talking to the left and obviously the people that want to go back into the EU. The problem is that there was an argument to be won 10 years ago and quite honestly the pro Europeans were pretty pathetic. Also there should be a referendum if he wants to start making real moves toward Europe. 

 

Immigration is a big topic but it's much much bigger. 

 

He had his chance and he has completely ****ed it up. Talked about huge mandate when he got less votes than Corbyn. (about 1/2 million less). 

 

Anyone with any political nous would have realised it was a very luke warm mandate and he really needed to make serious immediate change on immigration, stimulating the economy, law and order and defence 

 

Instead what has he produced? Winter fuel assistance for pensioners withdrawn, taxes on farmers, welfare retreat, 2 huge tax taking budgets (when talking about growth!), the Mandelson shameful appointment - His policies have even been un Labour. 

 

He is not fit to lead - He must go 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the world has changed, vastly, in the last 10 years. 

 

The UK needs to align and collaborate with someone internationally, and that going to be either the US, the Chinese or the Europeans/Scandinavians/CANAUSNZ collection. 

 

A choice needs to be made. 

 

WRT immigration, @CornwallFox sadly appears to have it right in that it isn't an argument that can be "won". Some people simply want a white ethnostate, and they will raise hell until they have it. 

[Innovindil]

12 minutes ago, Alf Bentley said:

 

Fair points. I get the impression that nationalisation isn't necessarily viewed as a permanent solution, anyway. Apparently, they have interested buyers and might just be nationalising to avoid it being mothballed (hard to reopen) - so could potentially resell it, if a viable buyer with a secure future plan does come forward - doubtless still with govt support, perhaps with commitments like those you suggest?

Honestly whoever takes on British steel will have a huge task on their hands, it's naturally expensive and with certain tariffs around the world it makes it harder. So hard in fact it's hard to see it being successful without government intervention. 

 

At least with my idea it could be sold as yup we're throwing money at it, but at least we're getting high quality steel for our projects.

 

And I'd hate to be the geezer trying to reopen a shutdown blast furnace, never mind hard, that shit would be a nightmare.