The Labour Government

Kompany Car said:
I do agree that in this day and age its a thankless job as there will always be someone who has a social media platform that doesn't like what you are doing, even if the majority agree. This is picked up by the media and repeated 24/7 on news outlets.

The more pressing problem is that whilst all governments can claim some successes, its if you get success in the major policy area that resonates with the general public which you are measured on. Everything else is a bit like arranging the deckchairs on the deck of the Titanic, whilst the electorate really wants someone at the helm turning the wheel.

The little successes are great when the economy is running well, but at the moment the current set of policies are not driving growth or significant foreign investment, but neither are they tackling the welfare problem or being honest about the necessary personal taxation due to pressure from the back benchers.

We are stuck with politicians (blue or red) who function like middle managers rather that leaders. We are at a juncture where we need good leaders to drive through the necessary change rather than wavering in the wind.
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The growth challenges are structural and will take years (decades?) to overcome, and only if policy is radical and sustained. Am talking about the fall out of brexit, sustained ill health (even amongst the young), inequality, the social care/old age demographic timebomb.

The country needs to reinvent itself and I just don’t think the current system, especially first past the post, is fit for purpose any more. We need more collaboration in government
 
stonerblue said:
How is buying a flat taking the piss?
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From my perspective the disappointment with Rayner she forgot who she was representing. By all accounts the constituency she is representing is a bit of a shit hole and is getting steadily worse and with no sign of improvement.
I suspect many of them now resent her 'swanning around' in designer sunglasses and expensive outlets whilst also purchasing properties they could only dream of. I'm not saying she should not be able to spend her money how she likes but the optics are not good. Whilst people admire who are successful they also resent that those who are supposed to be helping them only seem to be helping themselves
 
hampshireblue said:
He did have an effect in making them a bit poorer for sure. But it was an extension of a process started by Norman Lamont. He certainly didn't "ruin" my scheme by his actions. I seem to remember there was legislation at the time that prevented schemes having an excessive surplus, and as most DB schemes at the time were in in surplus, it did have unforeseen consequences.

Estimates suggest that the affect over the course of membership of a DB scheme was 12%, certainly significant but not ruinous over a 30+ year timescale.
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west didsblue said:
Didn’t ruin mine.
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I am glad to hear it WD.

But he did remove the tax relief on funds and that led to a huge amount closing down because the companies could no longer afford to fund them.
 
Gray said:
I am glad to hear it WD.

But he did remove the tax relief on funds and that led to a huge amount closing down because the companies could no longer afford to fund them.
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Your memory may not match the facts:

"The above plot shows the decline in the number of active members of private sector occupational pension schemes with the dates at which new regulations were introduced. The decline in fact began in 1994 and accelerated in 2001. Despite this evidence the main reason frequently quoted in the popular press is the "£5 billion raid on pension funds by Gordon Brown". The fact is there are many reasons as explained below but the dramatic falls in share prices in 2000-2003 and 2008-2009 together with the the introduction of FRS17 and the increase in longevity have had a far greater influence."
 
Roachy said:
The other thing is Reform seem to be, in some quarters, bobbing along on the crest of a wave. Maintaining that would take some doing. I think in the eyes of many Labour just aren't delivering, but that can obviously change between now and the next GE. Immigration and the economy will be the key factors I feel
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Pretty much, and it won’t be immigration but refugees/boats across the channel. Assuming the US remains a ‘stable’ basket case and no external shocks like Russia invading Poland or similar, the economy will benefit from gradual easing of trade barriers with Europe and a period of relative political stability - something we haven’t had since 2016.

The Tories will change leaders and that will give them a bump if they choose someone competent and relatively sane. Labour will benefit from a (slowly) improving economy and if they solve the boat crossing issue.

It would help Labour if they possessed some semblance of political instincts and stopped kicking themselves in the balls, but it will come down to the economy and boats at the end of the day. Governments have to deliver and be seen to deliver, otherwise they are toast.
 
BobKowalski said:
Pretty much, and it won’t be immigration but refugees/boats across the channel. Assuming the US remains a ‘stable’ basket case and no external shocks like Russia invading Poland or similar, the economy will benefit from gradual easing of trade barriers with Europe and a period of relative political stability - something we haven’t had since 2016.

The Tories will change leaders and that will give them a bump if they choose someone competent and relatively sane. Labour will benefit from a (slowly) improving economy and if they solve the boat crossing issue.

It would help Labour if they possessed some semblance of political instincts and stopped kicking themselves in the balls, but it will come down to the economy and boats at the end of the day. Governments have to deliver and be seen to deliver, otherwise they are toast.
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If Labour can put a few extra pounds into the pockets of the majority of people that should swing it.

As you say I think non politicos are only bothered about how much money they have and being influenced on social media that the country is about to overrun with horny young men with criminal convictions coming over on pedalos from France.
 
BobKowalski said:
The Tories will change leaders and that will give them a bump if they choose someone competent and relatively sane. Labour will benefit from a (slowly) improving economy and if they solve the boat crossing issue.
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The boat crossing issue will not be going away because like the Tories the Labour party will not make the hard decisions that will actually stop them happening.
 
Pingu the Penguin said:
The growth challenges are structural and will take years (decades?) to overcome, and only if policy is radical and sustained. Am talking about the fall out of brexit, sustained ill health (even amongst the young), inequality, the social care/old age demographic timebomb.

The country needs to reinvent itself and I just don’t think the current system, especially first past the post, is fit for purpose any more. We need more collaboration in government
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The entire structure of our political system is the problem. Fast decision making is the only way to flourish in a digital economy. We have failed to modernise our infrastructure to compete with most advanced nations. Our politicians still don’t get it. They are dinosaurs. The biggest symbol of decay is the absurd House of Lords.
 
TinFoilHat said:
If Labour can put a few extra pounds into the pockets of the majority of people that should swing it.

As you say I think non politicos are only bothered about how much money they have and being influenced on social media that the country is about to overrun with horny young men with criminal convictions coming over on pedalos from France.
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Be hard to see how labour can put extra money in our pockets this Parliament. The Tories tried to bribe the electorate with a tax cut before the last election. It didn’t work for them, if they’d kept that in place there might not be as much money missing from the public purse as there is now. Unfortunately for us we will be hit with some tax hikes at some point.
 
Roachy said:
The other thing is Reform seem to be, in some quarters, bobbing along on the crest of a wave. Maintaining that would take some doing. I think in the eyes of many Labour just aren't delivering, but that can obviously change between now and the next GE. Immigration and the economy will be the key factors I feel
BobKowalski said:
Pretty much, and it won’t be immigration but refugees/boats across the channel. Assuming the US remains a ‘stable’ basket case and no external shocks like Russia invading Poland or similar, the economy will benefit from gradual easing of trade barriers with Europe and a period of relative political stability - something we haven’t had since 2016.

The Tories will change leaders and that will give them a bump if they choose someone competent and relatively sane. Labour will benefit from a (slowly) improving economy and if they solve the boat crossing issue.
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Dream on. Labour are finished. The only question is whether we have to wait until 2029.
 
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