I personally think it's a complete fallacy.It's not uncommon to hear about people on benefits living a life of luxury but I can't work out how anyone would manage it.
During covid when there was a very real prospect of me losing my job I looked at what I'd be entitled to and I'd probably be able to survive for a month before I'd basically be homeless. And then again recently I spent some time in hospital and essentially got told work related stress is going to kill me, looked into what I'd be entitled to if I took up their suggestion of being signed off work long term and again it was fuck all.
Is there genuinely people doing more than just surviving on benefits, how the hell are they doing it?
Interesting article and I think pretty accurate of where we are as a country and politically at the moment.
Britain’s no longer a serious nation and we’re not serious about fixing it
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The main crux of it, neither the politicians nor the public are willing to make/accept the tough calls that need to be made
View attachment 35829
Agreed. At the moment in time we are sticking our problems onto the country's credit card, whilst also basking in the glory of being, by most metrics, the greenest major economy in the world, whilst we outsource our industry to countries with less concern for the environment, and I include the US in that.We definitely need to reverse the decline, but I’m not sure I buy the idea we are particularly unique globally in terms of personality. Literally every country is like this and they manage. The idea that the yanks are perfectly happy with their service levels or the French with their tax levels is nonsense.
We need economic growth and proper long term investment. The US gets to be mental cos it’s minted, everywhere else just has sensible long term policies around investment. We are always trying to penny pinch and are massively anti development so we get the worst of both worlds: low income and high expenditure.
HS2 is by far the best example of this. But equally the short termism of cuts to public services the last 14 years has been very expensive. As had the refusal to close tax loopholes. The refusal to build literally anything.
You and the author seem to have the belief that income is fixed and we just have to raise taxes or cut spending but the fact is that’s the plan of the last 14 years and it’s lead to anaemic growth and no better public finances. We’ve raised taxes to their highest level and cut spending pretty much as much as possible. I’m not sure more of the same is going to produce different results.
Agreed. At the moment in time we are sticking our problems onto the country's credit card, whilst also basking in the glory of being, by most metrics, the greenest major economy in the world, whilst we outsource our industry to countries with less concern for the environment, and I include the US in that.
Biggest problems for me right now are; energy security, trade deficits and public spending and how it is spent. All this feeds into the current cost of living crisis, the NHS is on its knees and the nepotism fuelled by this freaking Tory party.
Couldn't agree more. The UK has a GDP of, what, $3.5 trillion. Obviously this value doesn't reflect government expenditure/tax receipts, but it shows the UK is an incredibly wealthy country and a good snap shot!The problem isn't shortage of cash, its where its going.
Needs sorting out pronto.
Well, some of us always have been. If we’re serious about it, the Tories can’t be allowed back in for a good few decades.Interesting article and I think pretty accurate of where we are as a country and politically at the moment.
Britain’s no longer a serious nation and we’re not serious about fixing it
Latest news & breaking headlines
The latest breaking UK, US, world, business and sport news from The Times and The Sunday Times. Go beyond today's headlines with in-depth analysis and comment.www.thetimes.co.uk
The main crux of it, neither the politicians nor the public are willing to make/accept the tough calls that need to be made
View attachment 35829
That's because they are in target constituencies, nothing to do with being "with it".I notice that Starmer has been doing a tour of lower and non-league football grounds to appear more 'with it'. He should do Nuneaton next
It comes from the same discredited household budget analogyWe definitely need to reverse the decline, but I’m not sure I buy the idea we are particularly unique globally in terms of personality. Literally every country is like this and they manage. The idea that the yanks are perfectly happy with their service levels or the French with their tax levels is nonsense.
We need economic growth and proper long term investment. The US gets to be mental cos it’s minted, everywhere else just has sensible long term policies around investment. We are always trying to penny pinch and are massively anti development so we get the worst of both worlds: low income and high expenditure.
HS2 is by far the best example of this. But equally the short termism of cuts to public services the last 14 years has been very expensive. As had the refusal to close tax loopholes. The refusal to build literally anything.
You and the author seem to have the belief that income is fixed and we just have to raise taxes or cut spending but the fact is that’s the plan of the last 14 years and it’s lead to anaemic growth and no better public finances. We’ve raised taxes to their highest level and cut spending pretty much as much as possible. I’m not sure more of the same is going to produce different results.
We definitely need to reverse the decline, but I’m not sure I buy the idea we are particularly unique globally in terms of personality. Literally every country is like this and they manage. The idea that the yanks are perfectly happy with their service levels or the French with their tax levels is nonsense.
We need economic growth and proper long term investment. The US gets to be mental cos it’s minted, everywhere else just has sensible long term policies around investment. We are always trying to penny pinch and are massively anti development so we get the worst of both worlds: low income and high expenditure.
HS2 is by far the best example of this. But equally the short termism of cuts to public services the last 14 years has been very expensive. As had the refusal to close tax loopholes. The refusal to build literally anything.
You and the author seem to have the belief that income is fixed and we just have to raise taxes or cut spending but the fact is that’s the plan of the last 14 years and it’s lead to anaemic growth and no better public finances. We’ve raised taxes to their highest level and cut spending pretty much as much as possible. I’m not sure more of the same is going to produce different results.
Ibrox and Celtic Park not targets?That's because they are in target constituencies, nothing to do with being "with it".
No point in turning up at Anfield, Old Trafford or the new White Hart Lane as they are in non target seats.
I thought the national service scheme was for 18 year-olds? What are you going to punish their parents for?Shambles
It comes from the same discredited household budget analogy
Don’t disagree with a lot of that. I’ve said before that stimulating growth and investment in infrastructure etc are essential.
Nobody’s suggesting we’re unique. There are some big choices that we and most other western nations/economies need to make.
Going to go outside of left wing orthodoxy here. I think Europe in particular has calcified its economies with regulation. The industry i pay attention to (tech) has some absolutely ridiculous regulation that strangles startups in the crib.
The US will be fine, huge market, great natural resources, etc. China and India too. Europe I worry about.
That would be Anas Sarwar's job but it's best to stay the fuck away from both if you want to not piss off a large number of Scottish voters.Ibrox and Celtic Park not targets?
I see, 4D electoral ju jitsu once again. I assume that Molineux will be his next stop, given Wolverhampton has two Tory MPs?That would be Anas Sarwar's job but it's best to stay the fuck away from both if you want to not piss off a large number of Scottish voters.
Nice try though.
I see, 4D electoral ju jitsu once again. I assume that Molineux will be his next stop, given Wolverhampton has two Tory MPs?
So why not go into target constituency football stadia in bigger places?How dare he try and get elected? Doesn’t he know that’s against socialist values?
I don't dispute that, but from a treasury point of view, it easies the burden on the tax man.All cutting benefits would do is drive the first group further down and increase the amount of crime the second group do.
YawnI see, 4D electoral ju jitsu once again. I assume that Molineux will be his next stop, given Wolverhampton has two Tory MPs?
As per. He could have gone to Stoke or Wolverhampton, he chose StaffordYawn
I don't dispute that, but from a treasury point of view, it easies the burden on the tax man.
And the Chancellor is unlikely to give a fuck about the people who claim.
So why not go into target constituency football stadia in bigger places?
So why not go into target constituency football stadia in bigger places?
'cause they can't even fill a corner flag let alone a stadium.
I've been following the crowds at these meet-ups at stadiums, and it has been just piss poor.
If the leders of the political parties are putting themselves forward as being part of the common person the response from the common person has been "it's a no from me!"
As we all know the number of people at a rally is massively relevant to electoral prospects and that’s why we enjoyed a Labour victory in 2017/19
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