Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Nobody who was there can remember the 70s because it was too cold, too dark and there was no TV (seeing as at any one time at least one of the industries required to keep those things ticking over was out on a picket line somewhere).

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Corbyn can nationalise many things, the EU is not the issue there but its promotion of free trade is an issue for the likes of those grounded in the 70s. Whether Corbyn knows this and chooses to ignore it or genuinely doesn't understand it, I can't say for sure.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

At least everything in those days was in black and white. :D

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Desperate stuff; May should assert her authority.
https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2018/07/1.../?guccounter=1

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I can. It was the only time in my life I was involved in strike action.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

So much for UK politicians who faithfully promised to clean up their act which of course is another insincere lip service promise which never ever materialises Andrew.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

It's particularly bad because an MP should be able to enjoy her maternity leave without having to worry about being stabbed in the back on votes. This only discourages female MPs which is a step back in my book.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Registration needed for full article https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/n...main-sh5n8vchq

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I don't believe it about Boris Johnson..

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Ah, yes, that other time when our economy was almost ruined!

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Ah, so you agree that the economy will be ruined then? ;)

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I was talking about the impact of the 1974-1979 and the 1997-2010 Labour Governments. Same result each time. Spend too much money and tell the incoming Conservative Government there's no money left.

If you're talking about Brexit, I'm looking forward the the soon to be realised golden age for our economy as we divest ourselves of EU shackles and boldly go... well, you get the picture! :D

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Interesting possible development in the UK political party structures.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-a8458481.html

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Well, with Brexit less than a year away, he's a bit behind the times, isn't he? He's missed the boat.

Once we're out, we will only be able to re-join the EU on worse terms than we have now, so if he's thinking of joining or creating a pro-Europe party, the project will be doomed to failure.

Sounds like our Vince is following the patron saint of lost causes.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Wonder what this new party would be called ?
The we don't really like democracy anymore party .;)

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

"If a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy. " - David Davis, MP.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Theresa May?

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I'll tell Vince he's got his first member;)

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Not sure David and Vince would work well together...

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I don't think you will be saying that when Theresa comes away with the deal so many thought she could not reach.

It's 80% agreed already, remember. We are approaching the final straight.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

She'll come away with some sort of "deal". Whether that is Brexit or BINO remains to be seen after Barnier and co. have torn it to shreads.

Maybe she thinks that 48% still in the EU and 52% out is "Honouring the referendum result" Her words not mine.:rolleyes:

Cameron came back with a "deal" that had all the substance of Will o'the Whisp. I doubt May will do any better.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

It must be Brexit. Brexit means Brexit. It comes from the horse's mouth. The public will accept no less, and TM knows it.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I think you've got mixed up Old Boy, just ask one of your favourite streaming providers and I'll see you in the right thread.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Brexit means disaster and now the public are realising it.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

It's just you and your two mates .

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Really.......don't know how you manage to breathe in that tiny little Brexit bubble you're in.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I have the whole world supplying air .

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

John Nelson, Former Lloyds of London who has worked through the 1980s coalminers' strikes and 1970s three-day weeks casts his damning opinion on the current government. It's quite damning and has resonated with business who just want the government to govern and provide some certainty.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

The Government , not governing ? Surely not ! Maybe we can sack them/dock their pay for poor performance . It's what they do to their own employees !

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Theresa May’s approval rating plunges to record low, exclusive poll reveals.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/poli...-a3897781.html

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

It's Boris who's heading for the job at no 10 .

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Not a hope in hell unless you are believer in him as he is a deeply polarising figure..

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Is No.10 a Burger King in your street ?

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Now now show a little respect for your future PM .

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Think Michael Gove is playing a clever game, if anyone it'll be him for a short while. Then Comrade Corbyn will take his rightful place as supreme leader - he'll take that boat off you for a start, and give it back to the people ;)

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Bojo may have a knife in his back ,the gover has previous on that .

Boat ownership is not for poor people it's very expensive .

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

We'll chop it up for firewood to keep us warm, whilst we harvest valuable turnips form the post-Brexit wasteland.....

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

It's not made of wood

i might run trips over to that Europe when we fill the chunnel in , get your passport and visa's in order.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2018/07/12.jpg

Respect is earned...

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

l hope that parachute has not been tampered with..;)

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Boris Johnson tops Conservative poll as favourite to replace Theresa May


Boris Johnson has returned to being the darling of the Tory grassroots after quitting government in protest at the prime minister's Brexit strategy.

The former foreign secretary, who quit the role last month, has topped a monthly poll of Conservative Party members as to who they want as their next party leader.

It is the first time Mr Johnson has achieved such popularity since March 2016, soon after the ex-London mayor came out in support of Brexit.

https://news.sky.com/story/boris-joh...a-may-11456262

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Well, we could certainly do with a good laugh!

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

The omnishambles in the current Government and Opposition over-deliver in that respect right now! :D

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

For once Andrew l agree with you as one could not make up this omnishambles.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Some pretty strong words from Andrew Lewer, the MP for Northamptonshire South about the underlying financial pressures affecting all local authorities with social care responsibilities.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...council-crisis

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

It's only confirmation of what we already know, that Adult Social Care is in crisis. Unfortunately, there is a little problem of where the money will come from to pay for the funding gap.

(Silence)

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Politicians in Westminster continue to pay lip service to this crisis basically as being in hospital lately just cemented my thoughts of how big a crisis we have in this country in regards to our social care system.

You could say its a bit like Nero fiddled while Rome burned..

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

We as a nation are also paying the highest amount of our GDP in taxes since the seventies. One wonders where all the money is going?

Maybe a freedom of information request to Northamptonshire council should be made as to how many council employees are being paid more than the Prime Minister?

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Local council funding has been drastically cut: https://www.ft.com/content/9c6b5284-...7-502f7ee26895

Whilst I am sure council leaders may be inefficient and spending too much it's unlikely to be the cause of the funding crisis since even paying them three times the PM is small change in contrast to the budgets we're talking about.

Wherever the extra tax is going it's being spent by central government.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

This is just weird .. what she doing down there?

https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2018/08/3.jpg

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

First she coughed, but then the knees went.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

It's the BINO negotiating position. Cameron had something similar when bent over taking the EU broom handle. :erm:

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I glad to be a Republican...

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Is it another one of those Mason like gestures?

I tried the funny handshake once and nearly broke my wrist.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

The new one is much easier:

Place thumb on tip of nose with hand in vertical position.
Extend fingers upwards.
Waggle fingers whilst sticking your tongue out.

*optional is the addition of a 'raspberry' noise

hope this helps :D

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

And the doctor said "I was only testing to see your bladder strength / pelvic prolapse, but you have bigger problems my dear!"

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

The Civil war in the Tory party is about to get a lot worse it seems..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45468544

https://news.sky.com/story/80-tory-m...baker-11494310

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

To add insult to injury May has just appointed Lord Brompton (a NHS Privatiser) as Chairman of the NHS. :fit:

Be very worried by the things that are slipping under the radar whist Brexit is the main subject in the news.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

One of his famous comments from a few years ago has really come home to roost as myself being very much a regular to hospitals these past few years you get a fairly good handle on things Angua and my observations are that "the standards of care" have got considerably worse IMO.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Yet without staff, competition is meaningless.

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A couple of nurses and a health care assistant certainly ain't enough for over 30 patients where quite a few of these patients have multiple comorbidities.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

This is the huge issue. Staff are stretched to breaking point, whilst the fact they care is abused by TPTB with shifts that are overlong, few if any breaks and more responsibility than they are equipped for.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

As with anybody who is working when one is stretched to breaking point mistakes generally get made but in a medical setting where patients are ill any mistakes can be life threatening to the patient and imagine how that affects their families and relatives as well as any of us on here could easily be affected in one way or another by something like that one day.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Conservatives... the S... will always hit the fan with this lot in charge.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Personally l don't like the man but this is totally unacceptable IMO.:(:(

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...ushed-13231824

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

That's Class War for you. Horrible anarchist group.

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Not in front of their children... what a bunch of idiots.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Conservatives attacked by Jewish and Muslim leaders over their support for the right-wing party in Humgary
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-a8536116.html

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

This is why the NHS needs to become more efficient. The private sector can play a big part in making services work better.

The NHS cannot do that on their own. They have proved that over many years.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

More efficient?? when there is nowhere near enough medical professional's on the wards now so much so that even the minimum safety standards are not being met in many hospitals in the UK thus putting patients lives more at risk.

---------- Post added at 12:50 ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 ----------

Perhaps you need to visit a few hospitals where you might see the real reality of the private sector at work then you might think differently.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

As long as it’s not the US model - I have no issues with thecGerman/French model.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Trouble is, the Tories seem to be besotted with the US profit driven system, whilst Labour are wedded to the NHS.

If they looked at something like the German or French systems instead, change might be possible.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Ideological political dogma will never allow that to happen.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

That's right, it's up to the Government to set the parameters, and if it is set up correctly, there would be a benefit for patients.

---------- Post added at 16:38 ---------- Previous post was at 16:38 ----------

Yes, there is a happy medium.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Nice to see the PM limiting her interviews with the media.:(

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...b0494d805289a3

Although in the case of our PM a cardboard cut-out might answer the questions equally well.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Now then Den, don't be disrespectful.
(to cardboard cut outs :D)

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Ha ha. She seems to be taking a cue from across the Atlantic.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Coservative society suspended.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-45735591

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/new...y-nhs-15232755

Sadly just like the Labour party prejudice and racism is pretty endemic still in the Conservative party as well.:(

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Looks like the Tory education ministers need to go back to school themselves.

Including parental funding of private fees in their claims for government education spending. Even more confusing, they include university fees paid by students, whilst this funding is technically repayable it should be separate from pre university education funding figures.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

What I would say in the Conservative Party's defence is that they acted quickly with this bunch of undesirables.

---------- Post added at 20:17 ---------- Previous post was at 20:15 ----------

Very disappointing that they did this. They should be trying to rebuild our trust in politicians, not massaging the books.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I suppose these idiots will have to seek membership with the other idiots - UKIP!

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

No longer the party of business, the Conservative Party looks set to no longer be the party of sound finance.
https://www.ft.com/content/d4a5a452-...f-ee390057b8c9

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

When we are reaping the rewards of Brexit and spending some of the money we are saving by shovelling less money towards paying off the deficit, you may start to change your mind on that.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

The Government is planning on increasing the deficit via increased spending on areas like the NHS. The Brexit dividend myth has been debunked by the Government and I suspect you are the only one still on that page of the TM hymn book.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Think they have belatedly realised austerity stifles the growth that will be desperately needed post Brexit.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

The deficit is within a whisker of being paid off. That's why we can look forward to austerity easing off a bit. The answer never was to make matters worse by increasing borrowing!

---------- Post added at 15:08 ---------- Previous post was at 15:01 ----------

The reward of Brexit will come through having no further payments to the EU, more trade with the rest of the world, and the new spirit of enterprise, free of bureaucratic EU rules and legislation.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Yet the debt is nearly a trillion more than it was in 2010.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I know. But the deficit is nearly paid off, so we can use the money that was dedicated to that and still pay off the debt, with repayments getting lower as it comes down.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I admire your optimism, but will believe it when I see it.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

They’ll possibly pay down the debt by increasing VAT. That’s what Thatcher did.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

We are reducing the deficit, which is good, but we still have a deficit (in March it was down to £40 billion from £47 billion the previous year). If we reduce our deficit by 7 billion a year, in 5 or so years we should be breaking even, and then we can start paying off the debt, which if we generously say we will pay off at £20 billion a year, it should take us 85 years (£10 billion a year makes it 170 years).

All the debt/deficit figures are here.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/gover...aast/march2018

---------- Post added at 16:44 ---------- Previous post was at 16:37 ----------

VAT receipts were £125 billion in 2017/18.

If VAT was raised by 5% (adding 25% more on), that would raise another £31 billion per year, taking around 50 years to reduce the debt.

Howe raised VAT to fund income tax cuts, not reduce debt - the basic rate was cut by 3p to 30p in the pound, while the highest rate came down from 83p to 60p. A few years later, the basic rate of tax had fallen to 25%, while the higher rate had been slashed to 40%.

VAT went from 8% to 15%.

U.K. Gross debt in 1979/80 was £107 billion - in 1992/93 it was £248 billion (as a % of GDP it went from 51% to 40%).

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Yup, hit the poorest again.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Well, that depends on which goods will be subject to a higher rate of VAT. The rate on essentials could stay as is.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Always the easy target.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

I so wish this was the case. A reminder of the financial issues the UK is now facing:
https://www.ft.com/content/d4a5a452-...f-ee390057b8c9

So, the reality of the current increased spending commitments is higher taxes and/or higher borrowing. From the FT just now:
https://www.ft.com/content/7aa69be2-...5-24ad351828ab

Talk is of aligning the level at which companies pay tax with the EU norm of about £20k+ turnover. Currently, only UK companies with an £85k+ turnover have to pay VAT.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

Yet austerity is more than just the numbers. The cuts in Central Government funding to all aspects of society is still ongoing and, varying on the sector, is now show cronic levels of service degradation.

Look at the Police, Prisons, Social Care areas for example. Not only is the ability to deliver core services now at risk but the ability to recover from these changes, going forward, is also debatable.

When you cut funding, you cut jobs. This loses skills and experience which at best takes years to replace and at worse will never be replaced.

Re: Government & Post Election Discussion
 

And again you can increase spending and still not get improved services, just employing more "consultants (non medical)", financial officers and administrators to oversee the new money. True you can cut till things don't work either but the first in and last out are not the front line providers where we need things to happen.