Cable Forum - Starmer’s chronicles

In England and Wales there were 22.2 million people (this includes unknown and abroad cases):

12.2 million were of State Pension Age (including those in receipt of their State Pension), 30% of whom were claiming more than one benefit
9.2 million were of Working Age, 36% of whom were claiming more than one benefit
800,000 were under the age of 16 (and in receipt of DLA as a child)

https://www.gov.uk/government/statis...-february-2025

Labour is presiding over these numbers. It's the 9.2 million he was aiming at.

1andrew1

12-02-2026 09:17

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36210365)

But Ratcliffe is right in terms of his main point.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statis...-february-2025

Labour is presiding over these numbers. It's the 9.2 million he was aiming at.

His main point seemed to be about blaming immigrants for Brits claiming benefits and not working.

His chemicals business empire is struggling, his pet project Ineos Automotive has never turned a profit and Manchester United is struggling albeit with great stadium ambitions. But overall his interview comes across as a cry for help.

Sephiroth

12-02-2026 09:25

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 36210368)

His main point seemed to be about blaming immigrants for Brits claiming benefits and not working.

At the heart of his remarks was the sheer number of people on benefits. He was absolutely right to say that this is unsustainable.

There is no strategy for growth and without growth, we have to borrow to sustain the economy.

Carth

12-02-2026 09:38

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

As I see it, the biggest 'growth' is in automation . .

no tax or NI paid by machines, more benefits paid to those now unemployed

Sephiroth

12-02-2026 09:59

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

We could look at this another way. Had Starmer not asked Mandelson to be Foreign Secretary, things might have turned out differently for Mandelson in terms of his peerage.

Hugh	12-02-2026 10:01

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36210370)

So the man who fired 450 people from Man U and shed several hundred jobs from Ineos Automotive last year wonders why so many people are on benefits?

Dingbat

12-02-2026 10:15

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36210365)

But Ratcliffe is right in terms of his main point.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statis...-february-2025

Labour is presiding over these numbers. It's the 9.2 million he was aiming at.

How many of those 9.2 million are actually in work but getting benefits because they are on low incomes, and how many are economically inactive?

Sephiroth

12-02-2026 10:42

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36210374)

So the man who fired 450 people from Man U and shed several hundred jobs from Ineos Automotive last year wonders why so many people are on benefits?

He's still right. Anyone else could have said what did and be right.

thenry

12-02-2026 12:10

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

So he's apologised now. Why? Strong words deserve a strong backbone.

Rachel from Halifax has weighed into this bs now :LOL:

TheDaddy

12-02-2026 12:28

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36210365)

But Ratcliffe is right in terms of his main point.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statis...-february-2025

Labour is presiding over these numbers. It's the 9.2 million he was aiming at.

So 64% are claiming 1 or less benefits and I tell you something, if I get made redundant in the next year or two, I'll be one of them for at least a year maybe more, possibly but unlikely for the rest of my life.

Sephiroth

12-02-2026 12:42

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDaddy (Post 36210384)

Yes - adding to the unsustainability.

TheDaddy

12-02-2026 14:43

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36210387)

Yes - adding to the unsustainability.

And in that time I'll be an unpaid career for elderly relatives (not my own) not taking a penny but living of my money, it'd be a lot more unsustainable if me and millions like me weren't doing the same but you carry on carping in about how billionaires are right and know the problems of everyday folk

Sephiroth

12-02-2026 15:38

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDaddy (Post 36210395)

Nobody's criticising taxpayer support for deserving cases. It's the undeserving masses that are the problem.

That said, without economic growth, the deserving people become an unaffordable problem. This lies at the bottom of Ratcliffe's remarks. I've certainly not carped on "about how billionaires are right and know the problems of everyday folk". Ratcliffe simply happened to be right about some of what he said. Pity it was him - could have been anyone. Me, for example.

As regards his 'colonisation' remark, we are seeing a thickening end of the wedge of different cultures who are already flexing their muscles in Parliament. See Streeting for details who is shit scared of losing his seat so suddenly he's pro-Palestinian; you know - the October 7th lot.

1andrew1

12-02-2026 16:16

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth (Post 36210377)

He's still right. Anyone else could have said what did and be right.

Anyone could have said that immigrants are a butden on the UK and be similarly factually incorrect. But to do so when:
- You've emigrated yourself
- Own a large stake in an organisation that depends on immigrants to be up there in the Premier League

is plain stupid!

If you want to look at a business person who can comment on under-employment and hit the right note, head to Tesco.

Tesco boss warns Starmer UK is ‘sleepwalking’ into joblessness epidemic and condemns rising cost of employment

Hugh	12-02-2026 16:20

Re: Starmer’s chronicles

And....

as regular as clockwork, here comes the "Great Replacement Theory"...

Tell you what we haven't seen reported much in the Press - the fact the Net Migration was 204k in 2025, down from 944k under the Tories...

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