The Labour Government

[The Future’s Blue!]

Yup, the country is in the state that it's in because of Corbyn. Kin'ell! Fuck all to do with trying the same kind of government for 40+ years.

At no point did I blame Corbyn for the current situation, just that he was part of the problem that led us here.

 

[BungleBear]

The snag is, if we have a financial crash - quite possible if people are daft enough to vote for financially illiterate Reform - such harsh measures as means testing the state pension may well be forced on us by the IMF, who are not fluffy bunnies. In short, it's only within our government's discretion while we have a functioning economy.

I remember arguing with people who said the economy wasn't everything and that intangible things like 'sovereignty' were more important. My position remains unchanged. It is all about the economy because if that fails we are all fucked and nothing is off the table.

In my view, the UK economy is not currently fucked, but it certainly isn't secure and it wouldn't take that much to wreck it.

I think the triple lock is unaffordable in the medium/long term, but obviously, no political party wants the unpopularity of abandoning it. If politicians were remotely responsible, they would come together and agree on a long-term position on this and other issues like social care. Consensus, not point scoring.

My suggestion is that state pension should be an agreed percentage of minimum wage for 40 hours and should rise in line with the minimum wage. This would be much more affordable in the long term as there would be a link to economic growth.

That would have made it higher. Minimum Wage increases have outstripped State Pension increases, and it is more linked to reducing working age benefits than economic growth.

 

[KS55]

Regulate for profit not risk is the message for our regulators now… nothing can go wrong here.

Starmer throws down gauntlet to watchdogs with growth edict

The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth and investment amid sluggish economic growth, Sky News learns.

news.sky.com

This is bonkers. They might as well have told them not to regulate at all. It is not the regulators’ job to ensure growth. ‘Increase risk in financial markets’ Are they mad?

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

This is bonkers. They might as well have told them not to regulate at all. It is not the regulators’ job to ensure growth. ‘Increase risk in financial markets’ Are they mad?

Ridiculous to think that quangos largely run by people with no business experience will have the best ideas to grow businesses. Wake up Keir FFS you are looking stupid.

 

[BungleBear]

Ridiculous to think that quangos largely run by people with no business experience will have the best ideas to grow businesses. Wake up Keir FFS you are looking stupid.

They will ask consultants as per usual. It is what the bean counters are good at, paying over the top for bad advice with zero consequence on the consultant.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

They will ask consultants as per usual. It is what the bean counters are good at, paying over the top for bad advice with zero consequence on the consultant.

Bingo, why not just ask the people that make the money.