| General Election 13:52 - May 22 with 20269 views | raynor94 |
Are we about to hear the date later today, Sunak has called a cabinet meeting this afternoon.
Inflation is down, things aren't going to get much better for the Tories.
July 4thš |  |
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| General Election on 09:58 - Jun 7 with 1686 views | JumpingJackFlash |
| General Election on 08:47 - Jun 7 by mangohilljack |
There are no losers here, Sunak is simply going to hand the baton over. That is the way it was always going.
If you actually think your vote counts or matters you have a lot to learn |
Iām 67 years old and I am painfully aware that I have a huge amount still to learn.
Thatās the difference between us. You clearly think that you know it all. |  | | |
| General Election on 20:32 - Jun 7 with 1587 views | SullutaCreturned |
| General Election on 09:52 - Jun 7 by majorraglan |
Tony Blairās conduct in relation to the Iraq war was disgraceful and that taints everything for me, but other aspects of his time in government were much more positive.
Had Tony Blair not got embroiled in the Iraq business, then heād be seen in a much more positive light because his tenure coincided with big rise in standards of living and NHS performance. |
Or there's the massive rise in the use of PFI that cost the NHS billions. The robbery of pension funds and the bankrupting of Royal mail's pension fund that saw it having to be rescued by Cameron and Osborne. There's also the massive increase in debt and defiict that has continued to get worse to this day as governments fail to deal with it. How about the privatisations that have ended up with oir bills rising massively and seen record profits yet bills are set to rise again becase they haven't invested in infrastructure and expect US to pay for it.
I'm sure there's more...oh yeah, changing himan rights rules which broadly benefitted his wife's legal chambers.
The rises you mention came at a huge cost. | | | |
| General Election on 20:45 - Jun 7 with 1581 views | onehunglow |
| General Election on 09:58 - Jun 7 by JumpingJackFlash |
Iām 67 years old and I am painfully aware that I have a huge amount still to learn.
Thatās the difference between us. You clearly think that you know it all. |
Good point.
We are finished when we think we know it all.
We know nothing really | |
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| General Election on 22:33 - Jun 7 with 1556 views | majorraglan |
| General Election on 20:32 - Jun 7 by SullutaCreturned |
Or there's the massive rise in the use of PFI that cost the NHS billions. The robbery of pension funds and the bankrupting of Royal mail's pension fund that saw it having to be rescued by Cameron and Osborne. There's also the massive increase in debt and defiict that has continued to get worse to this day as governments fail to deal with it. How about the privatisations that have ended up with oir bills rising massively and seen record profits yet bills are set to rise again becase they haven't invested in infrastructure and expect US to pay for it.
I'm sure there's more...oh yeah, changing himan rights rules which broadly benefitted his wife's legal chambers.
The rises you mention came at a huge cost. |
There was a big increase PFI which I think is an outrage, but some but not all) of the issues with PFI are attributable poor negotiating from the public sector negotiators.
I agree with your comments about the pension funds, itās had a terrible impact on pensions however, the Conservative's have had 14 years to reverse the changes and they havenāt. My personal view is that the government should be encouraging people to provide for their future - failure to do so is only stating up problems for the future.
National Debt under Blair hovered around Ā£35bn per year and peaked in 2009 and 2020 at Ā£49bn and Ā£65bn after the bankers crash. Cue the Conservatives, in 2011 the figure rose to Ā£71bn and after then it kept going up - in 2019 (last pre Covid year) it was Ā£81bn - higher than any point under Labour. Itās gone up even further since Covid, but I think unfair to compare the pandemic with the non Covid periods. The bottom line is that without the bankers crash, a national Debt under Labour was roughly half what it was under the Conservatives. The figures are a matter of public record. The conservatives have done a great job over the years gaslighting us on the the debt narrative, they are responsible for most of it. The question Iād like an answer to is where did the money go to put us this much in debt?
In terms of the privatisations, the vast majority of the privatisations in the 90s took place between 1990 and 1996, check out the list on Wikipedia. There were far less privatisations between 1997 and 2010 than there were under the Conservatives. Check it out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_privatizations_by_country
The Human Rights Act has some positives, but aspects of it have become a nightmare and weāve ended up with what we have now. Iād change the Human Rights Act, Iād change Article 8 which is Right to respect for private and family life, Iād make changes to weaken the protections so that more emphasis is place on conducive to the public good and less emphasis on the rights of the individual. Criminals (especially the foreign ones) shouldnāt be able to hide behind the HRA to avoid sanctions and deporting. | | | |
| General Election on 13:19 - Jun 8 with 1454 views | SullutaCreturned |
The national debt rose under Labour but it was the massive deficit that really caused problems as succesive governments had to borrow ever increasing amounts to cover the deficit. The only way to stop debt rising was to cut the deficit but that meant reducing spending and we all saw the outcome of the tories so called austerity.
So the roots of our debt and deficit today were planted by Blair and Brown. The banking crash may not have been so bad if banking had been better regulated. | | | |
| General Election on 16:38 - Jun 8 with 1396 views | majorraglan |
| General Election on 13:19 - Jun 8 by SullutaCreturned |
The national debt rose under Labour but it was the massive deficit that really caused problems as succesive governments had to borrow ever increasing amounts to cover the deficit. The only way to stop debt rising was to cut the deficit but that meant reducing spending and we all saw the outcome of the tories so called austerity.
So the roots of our debt and deficit today were planted by Blair and Brown. The banking crash may not have been so bad if banking had been better regulated. |
The figures donāt support the fact that the debt is entirely attributable to Blair and Brown. Debt reduced to its lowest level in 1991 and 1992 and then started increasing rapidly iuntil Blair and Brown came to power. It initially stabilised under Brown, then reduced for 5 years to almost 1992 levels before starting to climb again to Ā£35.69bn in 2008. Then we had the bankers crash/financial crisis and debt went up significantly.
The lowest levels since 2011 under the Conservatives are double are the highest figures under Labour.
Iām not saying Labour were great, but a lot of what weāve come to accept has been pumped out by the Conservative supporting media. Check it out for yourself on the ukpublicspending website. | | | |
| General Election on 16:51 - Jun 8 with 1378 views | Whiterockin |
| General Election on 16:38 - Jun 8 by majorraglan |
The figures donāt support the fact that the debt is entirely attributable to Blair and Brown. Debt reduced to its lowest level in 1991 and 1992 and then started increasing rapidly iuntil Blair and Brown came to power. It initially stabilised under Brown, then reduced for 5 years to almost 1992 levels before starting to climb again to Ā£35.69bn in 2008. Then we had the bankers crash/financial crisis and debt went up significantly.
The lowest levels since 2011 under the Conservatives are double are the highest figures under Labour.
Iām not saying Labour were great, but a lot of what weāve come to accept has been pumped out by the Conservative supporting media. Check it out for yourself on the ukpublicspending website. |
The 5 Billion a year Brown took from pension funds helped.
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/comment/article-13041677/HAMISH-MCRAE-Time-f |  | | |
| General Election on 16:59 - Jun 8 with 1366 views | SullutaCreturned |
| General Election on 16:38 - Jun 8 by majorraglan |
The figures donāt support the fact that the debt is entirely attributable to Blair and Brown. Debt reduced to its lowest level in 1991 and 1992 and then started increasing rapidly iuntil Blair and Brown came to power. It initially stabilised under Brown, then reduced for 5 years to almost 1992 levels before starting to climb again to Ā£35.69bn in 2008. Then we had the bankers crash/financial crisis and debt went up significantly.
The lowest levels since 2011 under the Conservatives are double are the highest figures under Labour.
Iām not saying Labour were great, but a lot of what weāve come to accept has been pumped out by the Conservative supporting media. Check it out for yourself on the ukpublicspending website. |
As I said, the record deficit drove debt higher.
What was the deficit when Blair took ver and what was it when the tories got back into power, then what is it today? | | | |
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| General Election on 18:08 - Jun 8 with 1312 views | majorraglan |
I think Brown was wrong to take the money from the pension funds, or if it needed to be done it could have been done for a few years and then stopped.
Brown has rightly copped a lot of flack on this, but not one of the subsequent chancellors from the Conservative governments between 2010 and 2014 have reversed Brownās change - in fact itās never even been discussed. | | | |
| General Election on 11:08 - Jun 9 with 1176 views | Joesus_Of_Narbereth |
The other potential spanner in the works that nobody seems to be talking about it Gallowayās āworkers partyā who will undoubtedly take a chunk of votes off Labour inā¦certain areas. |  |
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| General Election on 13:18 - Jun 9 with 1140 views | waynekerr55 |
| General Election on 16:59 - Jun 8 by SullutaCreturned |
As I said, the record deficit drove debt higher.
What was the deficit when Blair took ver and what was it when the tories got back into power, then what is it today? |
Even pre COVID the debt was massive, so austerity didn't save anything |  |
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| General Election on 19:48 - Jun 10 with 1012 views | SullutaCreturned |
| General Election on 18:08 - Jun 8 by majorraglan |
I think Brown was wrong to take the money from the pension funds, or if it needed to be done it could have been done for a few years and then stopped.
Brown has rightly copped a lot of flack on this, but not one of the subsequent chancellors from the Conservative governments between 2010 and 2014 have reversed Brownās change - in fact itās never even been discussed. |
As I already said, Brown and Blair bankrupted Royal mail's pesnion fund which, ironically had too much mney in it when they started. It was cameron and Osborne who then rescued it, bailed it out and put it under an independent body a few years later.
The tories were never going to change a big revenue stream though and where would the deficit be today without that money?
In 2023 jst the interest on the national debt was sid to be 110 BILLION and as we were 40 billion in deficit in December 2023 the debt can only have risen. | | | |
| General Election on 19:58 - Jun 10 with 1002 views | Dr_Winston |
The last time the country was in good nick financially was in 1997 when Ken Clarke was Chancellor. |  |
| Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back. |
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| General Election on 20:00 - Jun 10 with 1000 views | onehunglow |
| General Election on 19:58 - Jun 10 by Dr_Winston |
The last time the country was in good nick financially was in 1997 when Ken Clarke was Chancellor. |
I have his autobiography
Itās a good read
Pretty grounded individual and rather different too. | |
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| General Election on 20:35 - Jun 10 with 973 views | majorraglan |
| General Election on 19:48 - Jun 10 by SullutaCreturned |
As I already said, Brown and Blair bankrupted Royal mail's pesnion fund which, ironically had too much mney in it when they started. It was cameron and Osborne who then rescued it, bailed it out and put it under an independent body a few years later.
The tories were never going to change a big revenue stream though and where would the deficit be today without that money?
In 2023 jst the interest on the national debt was sid to be 110 BILLION and as we were 40 billion in deficit in December 2023 the debt can only have risen. |
The Royal Mail started taking pension holidays in 1990 and the arrangement came to an end in 2003 which makes it almost a 50/50 split time wise between the Conservatives and Labour. The pension holidays should never have been allowed. | | | |
| General Election on 10:29 - Jun 12 with 877 views | JumpingJackFlash |
ITV release clip from the Sunak interview and wow.
He hurries in, apologising and complaining that the 80th Anniversary of D Day āran overā. I kid you not.
Later he talks of his own sacrifices growing up. He didnāt have Sky TVā¦ | | | |
| General Election on 10:46 - Jun 12 with 858 views | onehunglow |
| General Election on 10:29 - Jun 12 by JumpingJackFlash |
ITV release clip from the Sunak interview and wow.
He hurries in, apologising and complaining that the 80th Anniversary of D Day āran overā. I kid you not.
Later he talks of his own sacrifices growing up. He didnāt have Sky TVā¦ |
I saw that.
Itās incredible
The least astute politician of our time
Worse than Truss and May who didnāt concede their bitchiness
Heās actually stupid | |
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| General Election on 10:55 - Jun 12 with 848 views | raynor94 |
| General Election on 10:29 - Jun 12 by JumpingJackFlash |
ITV release clip from the Sunak interview and wow.
He hurries in, apologising and complaining that the 80th Anniversary of D Day āran overā. I kid you not.
Later he talks of his own sacrifices growing up. He didnāt have Sky TVā¦ |
It makes you think he's working for the Labour Party | |
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| General Election on 11:19 - Jun 12 with 828 views | Boundy |
| General Election on 10:55 - Jun 12 by raynor94 |
It makes you think he's working for the Labour Party |
A millionaire in his own right and the wife , well who knows and he cares about the prols, yeas sure.Its power nothing more which drives these individuals, the day John Smith died was the day that a caring more rounded society died | |
| "In a free society, the State is the servant of the peopleānot the master." |
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| General Election on 11:28 - Jun 12 with 821 views | controversial_jack |
National debt is not really a problem. It's far to high to ever be paid back, we can only pay the interest. It will get higher too as whatever govt will have to borrow. More- taxes raised doesn't cover govt spending. It's not unique to this country almost every other has it, some more, some less than we do | | | |
| General Election on 15:43 - Jun 12 with 758 views | Joesus_Of_Narbereth |
The greens unveiled their manifesto today but nobody really noticed. I find myself weirdly enticed by the little pixie/elf lady theyāve got leading them but why in the sacred name of Greta Thunbergs left buttock do they need two leaders? Theyāve got more leaders than MPs. Itās bizarre. | |
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| General Election on 16:26 - Jun 12 with 721 views | SullutaCreturned |
| General Election on 20:35 - Jun 10 by majorraglan |
The Royal Mail started taking pension holidays in 1990 and the arrangement came to an end in 2003 which makes it almost a 50/50 split time wise between the Conservatives and Labour. The pension holidays should never have been allowed. |
The pension holidays were because the pension fund was "overfunded" which was apparently against the rules.
Brown changed the tax regime in a way that damaged pension funds. I'm not denying the tories haven't since done bad because, lets face it, they have doen a lot of bad. They haven't righted many wrongs. I'm not defending any tory but I have a serious downer on Blair and Brown froma time when I was a CWU union rep and we got (in my opinion) lied to by Alan Johnson to accept a pay deal which was bad for us with Johnson ending up in the Labour government. | | | |
| General Election on 19:13 - Jun 12 with 657 views | majorraglan |
So it looks like the 12 month military secondment /national service may actually be 25 days! What b@@@@@@@ is this, itās unreal. What is the point in 25 days āmilitary serviceā - itās a joke and they are making it up as they go along and gaslighting us as they go along.
I think the concept of a years military service could work, but it needs a lot of thought. Any kid not education, training or employment should be compelled to contribute - or no benefits. | | | |
| General Election on 19:52 - Jun 12 with 641 views | raynor94 |
A private aid to Sunak is being investigated for placing a bet on the date of the election 3 days before Sunak announced it!
They really are doing a great job of handing the election to Labour | |
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