The Labour Government

Covid has had a real long term effect on physical and mental health

Obviously we have, we have just been through a pandemic

I do not know about that, but our reaction to the pandemic left us more vulnerable

I'm certainly not going to argue most of the points you've made, as I mostly agree, but for info of how the UK has differed post-Covid, here's some stats from an IFS report.

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For me, this one is equally important, as it shows the huge regional variations in health-related benefits. There are obviously complex relationships between poverty and health, but in my view, this is exactly what Labour should be targeting.

It's partly a sign of just how awful the debate around politics is these days (and that's not directed at you - I find your comments educated and interesting), where the media, and social media force everything to the extremes. Most (certainly on the left), would agree that it's a terrible indictment of our society, yet instead of debate around why this happens, and what we can do change it, we end up with a "Tory cunts" v "Lazy Scroungers" and very little in between.

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The full report was here: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/hea...ms-post-pandemic-uk-trends-and-global-context
 
I found this article quite useful for seeing what a tough hand Reeves has been dealt. I'm no fan by the way as I think she is spectacularly under qualified for the job but that doesn't change the fact that she faces a very tough scenario.
Economic growth is what the country desperately needs but where it is going to come from god only knows.

 
I found this article quite useful for seeing what a tough hand Reeves has been dealt. I'm no fan by the way as I think she is spectacularly under qualified for the job but that doesn't change the fact that she faces a very tough scenario.
Economic growth is what the country desperately needs but where it is going to come from god only knows.

Maybe she and her party shouldn't make promises they know they can't deliver on then?
 
I found this article quite useful for seeing what a tough hand Reeves has been dealt. I'm no fan by the way as I think she is spectacularly under qualified for the job but that doesn't change the fact that she faces a very tough scenario.
Economic growth is what the country desperately needs but where it is going to come from god only knows.


I'll have a read later, but the "spectacularly under qualified for the job" I always find a little odd. I'm not surprised she's getting criticism, and in her position it's part and parcel of the role, however the narrative around her being under qualified and all the "Rachel from Accounts" stuff has more than a whiff of sexism (not suggesting you are sexist).

Brown was a journalist when he entered Parliament, and had previously been a lecturer. Osborne was also a journalist for a very short time, but spent almost all his career in politics. In comparison she's arguably the most qualified Chancellor we've had in the last few decades.

Here's a list of the last 10 chancellors and their background:
 
I'll have a read later, but the "spectacularly under qualified for the job" I always find a little odd. I'm not surprised she's getting criticism, and in her position it's part and parcel of the role, however the narrative around her being under qualified and all the "Rachel from Accounts" stuff has more than a whiff of sexism (not suggesting you are sexist).

Brown was a journalist when he entered Parliament, and had previously been a lecturer. Osborne was also a journalist for a very short time, but spent almost all his career in politics. In comparison she's arguably the most qualified Chancellor we've had in the last few decades.

Here's a list of the last 10 chancellors and their background:
I stand by my assessment. And you are right, sexism doesn't come into it. I can't go into any more detail or the Daily Mail will be after me again.
 
I'll have a read later, but the "spectacularly under qualified for the job" I always find a little odd. I'm not surprised she's getting criticism, and in her position it's part and parcel of the role, however the narrative around her being under qualified and all the "Rachel from Accounts" stuff has more than a whiff of sexism (not suggesting you are sexist).

Brown was a journalist when he entered Parliament, and had previously been a lecturer. Osborne was also a journalist for a very short time, but spent almost all his career in politics. In comparison she's arguably the most qualified Chancellor we've had in the last few decades.

Here's a list of the last 10 chancellors and their background:
 
Maybe she and her party shouldn't make promises they know they can't deliver on then?

Or use excuses like “the world has changed” when they wouldn’t allow anyone else to do similar.

Nothing has changed, our government, regardless of colour still thinks the poorest and weakest in society should bear the burden!
 
I'll have a read later, but the "spectacularly under qualified for the job" I always find a little odd. I'm not surprised she's getting criticism, and in her position it's part and parcel of the role, however the narrative around her being under qualified and all the "Rachel from Accounts" stuff has more than a whiff of sexism (not suggesting you are sexist).

Brown was a journalist when he entered Parliament, and had previously been a lecturer. Osborne was also a journalist for a very short time, but spent almost all his career in politics. In comparison she's arguably the most qualified Chancellor we've had in the last few decades.

Here's a list of the last 10 chancellors and their background:

We don’t have a technocracy her biggest problem is she is politically a bit shit.
 
Mate first of all I'm sorry to hear about your personal circumstances best wishes to you for the future. I take on board your points and yes I do have some experiences of means testing for claimants, as my best mate died of cancer and while on his death bed assessors came round to check he was still entitled to be claiming which was needless and very upsetting for all involved. I have also had family members claiming disability benefits.

I am not a heartless person and strongly believe in the NHS and a supportive welfare state. I do not wish the state to deprive a single person claiming which they are entitled to and should claim.

But the fact is there are people claiming benefits that could and should work and when the do this they take away money from those that do need it. I know that's stating the obvious, but we do need a system that works better to identify these people. There are clearly people better placed than me to make happen, lets hope they make the right decisions to improve things for everyone.

All the best Rascal.
If we taxed the cunts at the top fleecing the system we’d not even notice the odd benefit claimed unjustly. But we won’t, we’ll just point downwards and demonise those at the bottom.

Regardless of who’s in power by the looks of it.

Labour my arse, still not in touch with the ‘working man’.
 
We don’t have a technocracy her biggest problem is she is politically a bit shit.

I'd agree with that, but wouldn't write her off quite yet. Her satisfaction ratings aren't that different to George Osborne's during the coalition, and again in Cameron's second term, and overall satisfaction ratings for politicians were a lot better at that time.
 
Nice pay rise......for them all...........

This would take their annual pay from £91,346 to £93,904 and represents a rise of nearly £20,000 over the past 10 years.
with expenses for staffing, office costs, accommodation and travel paid in addition.
 
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I'd agree with that, but wouldn't write her off quite yet. Her satisfaction ratings aren't that different to George Osborne's during the coalition, and again in Cameron's second term, and overall satisfaction ratings for politicians were a lot better at that time.

No way Starmer is going to bin her off anytime soon. She’s not doing well but let’s see where we are in a year or so when her policies are really coming through in the numbers.

Talking of which that Heidi Alexander has talked herself in to getting binned off in the anticipated reshuffle in May / June. Absolute car crash of an interview today, not across her brief at all.
 
If we taxed the cunts at the top fleecing the system we’d not even notice the odd benefit claimed unjustly. But we won’t, we’ll just point downwards and demonise those at the bottom.

Regardless of who’s in power by the looks of it.

Labour my arse, still not in touch with the ‘working man’.

If, by fleecing the system, you mean tax fraud then both tax fraud and benefit fraud cost the treasury about the same - with most tax fraud being committed by cash in hand workers (by definition not the wealthy).

Demonising those at the top or bottom isn’t really the slam dunk those pointing up or down think it is.
 
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If, by fleecing the system, you mean tax fraud then both tax fraud and benefit fraud cost the treasury about the same - with most tax fraud being committed by cash in hand workers (by definition not the wealthy).

Demonising those at the top or bottom isn’t really the slam dunk those pointing up or down think it is.

The very wealthy are obviously a lot better at avoiding tax rather than evading.
 
No way Starmer is going to bin her off anytime soon. She’s not doing well but let’s see where we are in a year or so when her policies are really coming through in the numbers.
I strongly believe the impact of her direct policies will begin to have a detrimental effect on the country by the end of the first quarter 25/26.

This huge majority could begin to crumble in the second quarter.... not entirely but cracks will begin appearing. IMO
 

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