Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Feel free to <removed>

.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Bet opposition hope him and his Chancellor stay put, what apair of losers:shocked:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I suspect Badenoch fears that Starmer will eventually learn from his mistakes whereas a Rookie PM could well make the same ones.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

And what's your ' dream team ' ? A country full of retirees and benefit claimants, expecting something for nothing from youngsters that have seen better opportunities. The buck stops with whichever fwits voted for it.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

don't forget the winter fuel allowance :devsmoke:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Impact of PM's welfare U-turn revealed ahead of pivotal vote

MPs will vote on the prime minister's welfare reforms on Tuesday - with a Labour rebellion against the measures still likely. Modelling undertaken by the government says that even with changes to the reforms forced by rebels, the legislation will still push 150,000 people into poverty.


oh dear it's not getting much better is it

https://news.sky.com/story/politics-...abour-12593360

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

My local MP isn't having any of it

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Its not going to get better, since its removing payments to people (by design).
So unless they kill it completely, its obviously going to have a negative effect on someone.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

The benefits aren't supposed to exist to simply give everyone more free money. They will still get as much as others not receiving those extra benefits.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Seems to be the mental health of the today's youth and young adults that's causing the issue / costs. Till they get to grips with that, as it stands it seems to be the easiest route to benefits.

This needs to be addressed properly before anything gets better. Such as GPs do need to crack down on this themselves by not giving out anti-depressants within 5 minutes of a consultation thereby anyone can then claim benefits on the back of it.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I dont think the Mental Health of todays "young adults" is really that much different to the rest of time.
Most have simply found its a now a great way to get out of doing things, and get some free money as well.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Can I have Trump please :shocked:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

This was pretty much my point. It's now way too easy to use it as an excuse and way too easy to be diagnosed. (Or prescribed meds).

I'm not saying Gen Z's have it easy because the don't, but they're are a different species compared to any other, they just can't handle life.

But Mental health is the No1 reason to claim, and it's rocketed since Covid (depression / anxiety).

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Perhaps after his first year in office, now is the time to look at Starmer's record so far. Even I thought he would do better than this.

1. The number of illegal immigrants has increased by 46% and the gangs have not been smashed. Now he's attempting to get renters to evict tenants to make accommodation for the illegal hordes. Britons lose out.

2. He has allowed Rachel from Accounts to make a tax grab of £40m at the expense of businesses and taxpayers. This has resulted in contraction in the economy as businesses are forced to make economies and employment opportunities decline. UK forecasts for growth have been reduced by half as a direct result.

3. The winter fuel allowance has been denied to many who need it, causing increased levels of poverty and reducing the ability of the people who cannot afford to lose the allowance to heat their homes in freezing weather.

4. The number of wealthy businessmen leaving the UK has increased by 157%. This 1% of people in the UK represent 24% of the economy, and does nothing other than pander to those left wing idiots who still don't grasp that our public services rely on these contributions. Jealousy reigns over common sense.

5. Mad Miliband has been allowed to pursue his stupid net zero policies, resulting in criminally expensive energy bills.

I have just realised that I don't have the time to go through the very long list of failures by Starmer's government, which also include the notorious farm tax on inheritence, lumbering the most popular councils in the south east with impossible housing targets when the north is crying out for investment, the genuinely disabled are being threatened with reductions to their pip payments when the real scroungers will be left alone, they have abandoned the WASPI women... I could go on.

I would say that in his first year, Starmer has failed completely. He still has 4 years to reverse the damage though.

Yes, I'm the eternal optimist.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

open a window if you do

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

No PM in the UK has ever been as bad as to merit Trump being PM.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

You're more than welcome to him.

---------- Post added at 10:06 ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 ----------

Although a couple have done their best :erm:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Trump would be against these reforms

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvmdm1m7m9o

Bullshit equality in right to try

https://thehill.com/homenews/adminis...i-plane-crash/

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

That's a step in the right direction. :D

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Seems that companies are looking to get out of London stock exchange, for USA guess the weeping lady is really spooking them.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Crying on the front Bench! Bizarre.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Their stuck up the monarchy and feel the pain of the realm they are collectively in.

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being reported that it's wiped £4 billion off the markets

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Where is that being reported, please?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Crying does not wipe £4 billion off the markets.

Political decisions might.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I dont know if it specifically mentions that, but there is an article here on the pound falling and borrowing costs increasing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2l99eegzpo

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Borrowing costs jump and pound falls on Chancellor's tearsLink
To be fair, Starmer could never had said anything else. Same for any other PM in that situation.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

i saw it on a news channel not sure which one
but it seems it was only £3 billion

Rachel Reeves crying: Shades of Liz Truss as pound freefall wipes £3bn off markets
Tears in the Commons led to turmoil in the markets as Rachel Reeves's emotional moment sent shockwaves through the UK economy, leaving many in suspense.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/20...ng-live-shades

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Phew…

A bit of a recovery when Starmer backed Reeves…

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business...arkets-latest/

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...6&d=1751532493

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

From the graph in the link, borrowing costs are still higher than they were at the beginning of the week.

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Proof that she's not up to the job, if ever it was needed

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I think she's flogging a dead horse every thing she tries to do Starmer u turns on, most of her ideas hurt people, she needs a good rethink.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Whether she is up to the job remains to be seen but that is no excuse for the poisonous personal bile on most of the front pages of the newspapers this morning.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

unless you're one of the people who lost money over this episode, she should have possibly give PMQ's a miss


meanwhile
Two senior Labour MPs have suggested the prime minister may have to go within months if the government continues to perform poorly.

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-p...onths-13391677

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I don't remember you complaining when Liz Truss and her sidekick Kwasi were weaving their magic wands on the economy.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

sorry to hear you're memory is failing

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

That the markets recovered when it was clear she was staying probably means she is in a stronger position now than before.

The bigger problem is that Labour is looking like it literally cannot govern even with its majority because the party is unmanageable. There is no willingness to make difficult decisions from the backbench MPs. There were reports that an MP from the new intake was moaning in the halls of the commons that they don't understand why the u-turn on benefits means tax rises and/or no lifting of the child benefit cap because 'it's only a few billion'.

That said, the leadership picked the worst possible fight for cuts and managed it poorly.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Any Chancellor post Brexit has my sympathy. Our trade self destructed, with an ageing increasingly non working population. Sometimes the public need to take reality check, and some responsibility themselves. Politicians aren't magicians.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

My guess is that the Welsh assembly election could well deliver a killer blow if they lose that , the end for him is nigh :erm:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

the markets were worried who might replace her

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Agreed, someone keener to turn on the spending taps.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Quadrupling tax on Audi/BMW drivers, Premiership footballers, Investment *ankers , Torygraph readers, and traffic wardens, should solve things.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

That’s what I like about socialists full of initiative and inventive ideas to simulate growth.

No, time after time after time…..only one idea.

More tax. That’s all they’ve got every time.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I thought you were a Torygraph reader, Mr K, albeit you don't pay for it like the evil socialist shareholder you are? :D

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

And now the doctors are at it again, i thought Starmer had fixed this problem when he caved in to their last demands

Doctors and teachers in England and Wales were offered a 4% pay rise by the government, 2.8% above what it had originally budgeted and just above the current rate of inflation.

But both the British Medical Association (BMA) and National Education Union (NEU) threatened strike action following the announcement, claiming the increases did not account for historical pay freezes.

The BMA is calling for a salary increase of 29.2% to bring salaries back to "full pay restoration". The union argues this is the level at which pay has declined in real terms since 2008, when adjusting for inflation.

https://news.sky.com/story/resident-...ction-13393987

29% i smell another black hole brewing

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

The Government are not sausages to the demands of Doctors. They will immediately cry, do a U-turn, indulge themselves in some freebees in consolation and then, pay up.

And we all know who will foot the bill.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I'd like a 29% pay rise please. In fact 4% would be nice.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

:bigcry: Oh for goodness sake Rachel, give him the money before your boss does.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

"Starmer"Quick do a deal and give the doctors what they want, now who do we stab in the back this time Rachael we have tried the pensioners and the disabled any ideas ?.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

ohh oooh babies kier lets have a go at babies

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Anybody that works for a living . Take from those that work give to those that won't, the long held labour view.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Bit of a change from the Tory view of “take from those who don’t have enough money and give it to those who have too much”.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

like take it from pensioners and the disabled?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Or like the austerity years take it from the disabled, poor, unemployed, elderly and generally anyone not a millionaire.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

:zzz:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Ah I get it. Point out Labour's unpopular policies? Acceptable.
The Tories' unpopular policies? Boring.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Well it least you finally understand how boring you become. :sleep:

The Tories are not in power, you just like to live in the past since you cannot see past Labour Good, Tory Bad.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

You got there years before me - it's nothing for people of our generation. I wouldn't want you to think I'm bothered by what you think of me, though.

They're not in power, but the effects of the austerity years are still felt today. Apologies if that's an inconvenient fact.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

If you say so. :rolleyes:

Fear not, I dont.

Its not an "inconvenient fact", just an excuse for you to constantly live in the past.

Everyone on the forum can predict that as soon as someone says anything bad about your beloved Labour, you're be there posting the old "what about the Tories 5/10/15 whatever years ago". Its as predictable as the seasons. Much like the fact you'll just keep arguing until I get bored of it.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Talking of pensions, the OBR report today is dire: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7nv3pdgr4o

It isn't sustainable. We can't keep cutting from elsewhere to underwrite ever-increasing pensions. There won't be a state pension left if it continues like this.

The triple-lock will eventually have to go or the whole thing collapses, it's only a question of if this Government or the next one dares to do it.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Which part of the lock is the issue ? and what will they replace it with ?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I am not an economist, but the link with wages essentially means the state pension will always outpace the wage growth of the working population that funds it.

If inflation is higher than wage growth, then the state pension will grow faster than the tax base that pays it.

If wage growth is higher, then the state pension will match wage growth.

If neither wage growth nor inflation is that high, then the state pension will still go up 2.5%.

It will just always become a bigger and bigger part of the budget. The only time it won't is if we see low inflation and very high economic growth but that seems a long way off.

You replace it by getting rid of the link to earnings, so that when wage growth finally exceeds inflation, there is a chance for the income of the working population to catch up with the pension bill it has to pay.

I would also say it's not fair that the government has to keep finding money to fund increasing pensions when there are other groups that could use some increase in benefits as well. The price of the triple lock could easily have covered the PIP payments, lifting the child credit cap and free school means.

We're not talking about cutting pensions here, or even not increasing them so they don't match inflation, but stopping them from always have the biggest increase possible every year.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

well that should please the younger generations, they seem to think pensions are a new thing that's unfair to them, so by 2070 they'll be happily up shyte creek and penniless

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I think young people are well aware that pensions may be gone by 2070. That's why it's unfair. The current pension system isn't about fairness or sustainability.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

It seems unlikely they will be gone, but worth a lot less in relative terms.
I am very unlikely to still be around in 2070 to know either way, my kids would be in their mid 70's (if still alive).
Perhaps they will link them to work place pensions in some way.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Thought you indicated you were bored with it earlier :confused:

Labour isn't my beloved anything. Pointing out the shitty financial position we're in right now as well as the shitty policies being made stemming greatly from the economy that was inherited from the last lot is not "living in the past".

Labour is going to make a lot of turncoat decisions moving forward, as something needs to be done about the economy, and until they go after the real villains (billionaire tax dodgers), things won't improve.

The problem is the tax-dodgers have a history of being allowed to do that, so they carry on as normal, but of course I'm not allowed to discuss that in case it bores you even more.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Sorry they made a lot of promises, having no idea were the money would come from. If you haven't got it you can't spend it . Should start living within the countries means. For one stop overseas aid. Weird idea borrowing to give away :shocked:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I think so too. That's the state pension will be lower relatively. I hope they don't means test it against what else you've saved for pensions, because I would feel pretty cheated if the money I put away each month for my private pension is reason not to give me the state one.

The Tories' introduction of the workplace pension is going to be one of their best policies in the long term. It will be huge help later if/when the state pension reduces.

This generation and the ones that follow are going to have to get used to paying towards their own pensions, I think.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

the problem is they tax it because the tax threshold is ridiculously low

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Well, yes, but applies to any scenario where you're getting income above the state pension. Soon even the state pension will be taxed as the increases on it each year are going to take it above the threshold. Maybe a good to time to revisit the triple lock? :erm:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

State Pension is already included in your taxable income, they just give you a K code on another of your pensions if you get over £12,750pa for your State Pension (I’m "fortunate enough" for that to happen), then the rest of your pension income gets taxed with a BR (20%) code.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Yes, that's what I mean, but soon the state pension alone will go over the personal allowance. Or are you saying it already does?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

A rise of 5% or more will take it over the standard personal [tax] allowance (which is still frozen until 2028).

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

So next year then or at a push the year after. (Can't remember if this years increase is baked in yet)

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

For some people who had accumulated additional State Pension, it already does - in my case, any amount over £12,750pa in the State Pension is taxed using a K code on another pension income.


https://www.which.co.uk/money/pensio...s-aBlEx9M8XXWY

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Macron blames Starmer for migrant crisis - UK is 'El Dorado' where it's easy to work
French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the UK to reduce the appeal of Britain as a place to claim asylum in order to help combat illegal migration.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/polit...grant-crisisvv

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

---------- Post added at 11:51 ---------- Previous post was at 11:42 ----------

I don't like this. Like UEFA Champions League on ITV now Amazon. The one fixture is worthless.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Not sure what you dont like, but they voted not to have 10 free premier league games per season.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

And how do you think the economy would be doing if the £157.7 BILLION deficit for 2009/10 had continued? Getting it down to £38.2bn by 2018/19.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

No, he didn’t…

What he actually said

Nothing in that article, or in Macron’s speech, mentioned Starmer by name…

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Of course, the austerity years were necessary to enable the country to recover from the deficit created by the previous Labour government. Apologies if that is an inconvenient fact.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Good. It's a premium product and should be treated as such. All these hand outs need a reality check.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

<cough cough>

https://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/u...ficit_analysis

The deficit as % of GDP was reducing until the gambling banks decision to blow up the World’s economies…

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Been saying this for years:shocked:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

It's not a fact so that's what you should be apologising for. If you were confident it was the case, you would evidence it.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

welcome to Eldorado

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

That is because GDP was going up, because the housing bubble was about to burst.
The average deficit for the 6 years prior to 2008, was £42bn(total of £254bn).
Debt as a % of GDP, went from 27% for 2001/02 to 34% for 2007/08.It was also 34% for 1998/99, but the total debt was £194.6bn lower.
Without the post-2010 reduction in the deficit, there wouldn't have been the money available for covid, energy costs, and cost of living.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Sorry being really stupid, this comment is lost on me:rolleyes:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

a mythical city of gold

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I thought it was a soap opera .... :angel:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Lol. Cancel culture, too many attractive happy people in it!

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2025/07/1.gif

Ah, back to your old tendency to Gish gallop, I see…

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I'm just quoting facts. Love to know how adding debt amounting to 10% of GDP each year was sustainable. Labour added over £250bn to the debt in the 6 years before 2008.

Without austerity where would the money have come from for energy cost subsidies, cost of living payments, and Labour's spending?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Point scoring aside. The economy, and the country are F—-cked, in a bad way.

Labour, as usual, have spent big…..giving the doctors the big pay rise because not doing so would cost more Money…….

Only for the doctors to then ask for truck loads more money…brilliant.

Chancellor crying, PM getting banged in the back door by the French dwarf whilst lavishly fellating him.

It’s embarrassing, wholly embarrassing. We look as weak as pish.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

The country is ungovernable. People don't want cuts, or tax raises, or infrastructure built near them. Something has to give eventually.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

My post was correct. As was pointed out in your link:

The budget deficit skyrocketed to £50 billion in 2009 and £103 billion in 2010. In the subsequent recovery the deficit has steadily declined, down to £1.9 billion in 2018.

What happened after the austerity years is a different matter, and we have had Covid and the Ukraine war since then.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

We've basically stagnated since the Global Financial Crisis. Interesting article in the FT saying it's the root of our problems. We had hoped that an economy based on the City of London would continue to keep us growing but the bubble burst in 2008 and we've not found a way to fill that gap.

https://www.ft.com/content/259dacdb-...d-1f079731e100

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

So, you blame Labour for the initial effects of the Global Financial Crisis, but the Conservatives get a free pass for the effects of COVID and the Ukraine War…

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

That's an accurate summary.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Deficit figures: 2001/02 £5.5bn, 2002/03 £34.1bn, 2003/04 £41.7bn, 2004/05 £49.1bn, 2005/06 £44.2bn, 2006/07 £39.9bn, 2007/08 £45bn.
All before 2008 crash.
If the 2009/10 deficit of £157.7bn was purely down to the crash, then the deficit would've quickly dropped dramatically back to around £40+bn without austerity. It didn't, so there was massive Labour inbuilt excess spending.