Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

So the party you’d like to see in Wales would end their own reign via reversing Devolution? I guess that’s Deform thinking right there. Fortunately Deform won’t get in here.

---------- Post added at 19:39 ---------- Previous post was at 19:37 ----------

The Tories don’t stand a chance, we can forget about them. I think I’d be happy with Plaid but much like the rest, they have no experience in Government.

---------- Post added at 19:47 ---------- Previous post was at 19:39 ----------

Genuinely spoken by someone who has never been here :D

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

apart from the 6 months i worked in Swansea and stayed in Porthcawl

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

6 months? Cute :D

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Don't blaming for getting out !

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Sub-par of late! Their reign has been sub-par for the 25 years they have been running it.

Plaid Cymru are worse than Labour, they are even further to the left than Welsh Labour and just want more money from Westminster to waste on vanity projects. Plaid are the nasty party of Wales, not just nasty to anyone who has a different view but there's been a toxic atmosphere within the party.

The history of Plaid is very interesting (for us in Wales), their original aim was to unite the people of Wales and that included everyone living in Wales no matter where they came from. The aim quickly changed when Saunders Lewis took control, it then all focused on the Welsh language and using fire or whatever means to rid Wales of the English.

Labour have been running the show in Wales for too long, my local council is a similar example, we have had a Labour council for over 100 years. Just like the Labour run Welsh assembly (I refuse to refer to the shower as a government), voters spend 5 years complaining about them then repeat the cycle.

Reform are our only hope, I stupidly voted for the Welsh Assembly when I should have had more sense to realise it would be a Labour run shower. Labour have been gradually losing their lead in the assembly and in my local area, but the gradual loss is not quick enough for me.

I really think that Keir Starmer and his inexperienced team in number 10 are going to help those of us in Wales who want to see the back of Labour. I would estimate that by the time of the Welsh elections, the voter will be sick of hearing Starmer almost weekly stating what his plans are but not seeing any of them implemented other than some damaging policies.

If I thought Starmer was an intelligent politician, I would think he was getting all the unpopular stuff out of the way so the silly voters would forget by the next election, but I don't think he has that level of intelligence.

I just wonder how bad things will be in five years if by some miracle he's still there.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

lol Plaid aren’t the nasty party of Wales at all, that would be the Tories. Your claim of “vanity projects” is complete conjecture seeing as they haven’t been in power to prove you right. Despite what some people clearly believe, being pro-Wales is not anti-English. You all adore Trump who is pro-America but you don’t see that as anti-rest-of-the-world.

I wouldn’t directly vote for Plaid (unless it was to keep the Tories out) but if Labour lose a Welsh election I’d prefer them to be in power than the cheating, lying corrupt idiots in Blue.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

UK economy shrinks again

The economy remained in reverse gear during October, according to official figures covering the month ahead of the government's first budget.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said output fell 0.1% following the 0.1% decline recorded for the previous month.

It marked the first time since the COVID pandemic that the economy had shrunk for two consecutive months.

The figures showed zero growth in the powerhouse services sector, with manufacturing and construction declining at a pace of 0.6% and 0.4% respectively.



https://news.sky.com/story/economy-i...tober-13272524


where is the promised economic growth

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Changing the colour of tie doesn't resolve that we're in a failed economic model.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

But Plaid have been in power in Wales, they did a deal with Labour, Plaid would do a deal with the devil or even Hitler for a bit of power. The cost of that deal was for Labour to bow to some of Plaid's mad money spending schemes.

I remember at the last Welsh elections, the leader of Plaid on camera being interviewed and saying "Under no circumstances will Plaid be propping up a Labour government in Wales", about 3 weeks later that's exactly what they did, they did a dirty deal to hang on the coat tails of Labour.

I am pro Wales, I have lived here all of my life but the difference between me and Plaid is I don't have hatred for anyone with different views and I don't expect the majority to adhere to the views of the minority.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

We're well and truly in Rachael's doom loop of economic "growth"

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

They’ve been partly in power, which isn’t the same as being the majority party which I’m pretty sure you’ll know.

And don’t forget as we were told repeatedly over the past 14 years, “all politicians lie”.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

It’s amazing how much a majority partner will give to a minor party from the lunatic fringe on order to stay in power though. In Scotland we were saddled with Green Party MSPs in government for several years and it has been an utter disaster. Even the SNP isn’t stupid enough to have stuck with it for too long but they are now left unpicking a series of completely bat-turd crazy policies like banning log burning stoves in new houses, even in remote rural areas far from mains gas and reliable electricity; massive no-fishing zones that would have devastated entire coastal communities; a bottle return scheme with berserker-level recycling requirements that were simply unworkable; and, not forgetting, the gender-woo-woo nonsense that is now slowly being unpicked by the UK Supreme Court.

UK devolution is, all told, a massive advert against proportional representation of any kind. All it does is shackle reasonably sensible mainstream parties to utter loonies.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

You knew what you voted for in 2016 didn't you?

---------- Post added at 14:40 ---------- Previous post was at 14:37 ----------

Routemasters, Garden Bridge, loss-making London cable car are what I think of when people mention vanity projects.

What are the current ones?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Jesus, have a day off.

The economy was growing in July.

Their disastrous budget has killed growth. You don’t encourage growth by increasing costs to businesses.

I would have thought an “economist” such a as Rachel from Customer Services would have known that?


---------- Post added at 19:04 ---------- Previous post was at 18:39 ----------

https://news.sky.com/story/politics-...#liveblog-body

She “hopes” growth will return………..F’n hopes!

Yeah, we all do, I hope for lots of things, like world peace but for other things I have a plan that I have researched and have decent idea of what the outcome will be if I complete all my tasks satisfactorily.

I think it’s time Labour realise that they’re not in opposition anymore.

14yrs of just commenting on things, and making claims they don’t have to follow through with is long over.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

People are starting to realise that even the Civil Service pays National Insurance as an employer. Robbing Peter to pay Paul? Or will they be given an exemption by Robber Reeves?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Reading the tealeaves isn't as accurate as it used to be

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

We gave the last Govt 14 years, only fair to give the this Govt the same.
The Brexiteers had their chance at running things. Turns out it was a crap idea sold to us by populists who only had themselves in mind. Who'd have thought?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

14 years i wonder what it would be like

Train drivers on £1,000,000 pa
no farms left
no electricity gas or petroleum
interest rates 20%
8 million unemployed
a bridge across the channel to stop the boats
no car plants
no steel plants
no small business
tax at 80%
oh toto we're not in Kansas anymore look what the wicked witch has done

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

5 years of this lot will be enough, as you will see.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Considering your penchant for being out by a decade or two Mr K will sleep easy tonight.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

That’s not how it works

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Agreed. It took the previous shower of shit about 2 years to ruin the economy so that’s a more realistic timescale.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

It sort of does work that way:-
1979 to 1997 Tories 18 years
1997 to 2010 Labour 13 years
2010 to 2024 Labour Tories 14 years

We tend to give Govts at least 3 parliaments. Not a few months.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

probably rename London to Starmergrad by then

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

‘-stan’ surely?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

It depends on how many terms Labour want.

As it stands they’re heading for just one.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

The 1970s would like a word.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

That's it, everybody out :soapbox:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Labour won't get 14 years but then if the Tories get back in they won't either. I think voters are less patient and more volatile now. You need to show progress and even then it might not be enough, after all, Biden is out and their economy grew a lot better than ours over the last five years but it didn't lead to an improvement in living standards fast enough.

6 months is not enough to judge the longer-term success of the government but they won't get another term if 5 years doesn't such enough success that voters can actually feel.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

What’s the difference between the two? Volatile voters would move between opposing positions, not migrate slightly within the centrist consensus.

The 1970s were different because genuinely opposing positions would be put forward.

The voters of that age - and even up to 2008 - would find it laughable voters debating the merits of 0.1% growth vs 0.1% decline.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Nothing, Labour being just a further lurch farther left than the Tories.

I wasn’t suggesting the Tories would be in, in five years ……….far from it, at the moment.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Our current Parliament does not actually reflect the will of the people.

Reform U.K. is now the party to watch.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

:rofl:

You know we did this big thing about 6 months ago like a big vote they call it a 'general election' it sort of reflects public opinion well enough they let people govern for 5 year periods and that.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Well, maybe you missed the fact that Labour didn’t as much win that election, the Conservatives lost it. The percentage of the Labour vote was little changed from Corbyn’s day as Leader.

Reform UK split the Conservative vote, many stayed at home and others voted for ‘change’ without seeming to understand what kind of change they wanted.

If you haven’t picked up on the disappointment with Labour that has swept the country since the election, you need to polish your antenna.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

So, by your "logic", it’s a "fact" that Johnson didn’t as much win the 2019 Election, Corbyn lost it…

OK, then…

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Under our electoral system Reform are splitting the Right vote which will keep both parties out of power for a long time. Used to think our system was unfair, now beginning to like it ;)

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

They’re splitting the left too.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

How did you come to that conclusion? Johnson won the election due to his stance on Brexit.

The Conservatives lost this last election because they failed to deliver.

Wherever did you get the idea that Labour was actually popular?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Tbf that was impossible to deliver. The promises of goodies and living happily ever
after were lies. It was only a matter of time before they were found out.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

The age of misery has begun

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

More popular than the others… ;)

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...0&d=1734261632

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I was just using your, for lack of a better word, "logic", but it seems your view is if the Tories wins they’re "popular", if Labour wins, it’s because the Tories are unpopular.

It’s almost as if only your viewpoint is the valid one, and everyone else is wrong - anyway, that’s enough about 2035… ;)

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

This might be useful

Turnout at the 2024 general election was 59.7%, which was the lowest at a general election since 2001. Turnout was 7.6 percentage points lower than in 2019.This represented the largest drop in turnout between elections since between 1997 and 2001.

The chart below shows turnout at general elections since 1918, during which time it has varied between 57.2% (1918) and 83.5% (1950). Since the drop in 2001, turnout has never fully returned to the levels between the 1922 and 1997.

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk...-2024-turnout/

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I suspect that the hastily mentioned council mergers are just an excuse to delay elections next year. Starmer knows he's going to get a kicking but he also knows the electorate has a very poor memory.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/polit...r-nigel-farage

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

The reforms are pretty radical I am surprised it's not reported on more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30n72j4nrqo

The Mayors would also have the power to override planning decisions allowing them to consider the entire region rather than what might be a very NIMBY council.

And this makes sense although it would take a while to implement as presumably you need to wait for the private contracts to expire.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

If it makes for more cost effective local government I'm all for it. I can't imagine Starmer with his big majority is losing sleep over council elections.

---------- Post added at 01:11 ---------- Previous post was at 01:05 ----------

Both Johnson and Corbyn agreed to implement Brexit so clearly that wasn't the reason. Johnson won because he wasn't Corbyn.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I do actually think it's a good thing, my local council resisted when they were told to combine with another local authority. I am aware that redundancies have been announced in my local council and although I feel that there needs to be a shake up, I wonder if some union action will be on the horizon.

I think the timing and focus on this has much to do with the huge losses that are expected for Labour in the 2025 elections.

---------- Post added at 07:14 ---------- Previous post was at 07:07 ----------

Big losses will be a smack in the face to Starmer, otherwise why would he bother engineering the timing of this.

These elections are a chance for voters, including Labour ones to show their approval or not.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

There are council elections nearly every year and it would have taken time for those proposals to be put together. I don't think they've been rushed out.

2025 will be bad for Labour but it's on a cycle that was kind to the Tories last time out so the damage to them will be somewhat limited. It's likely a bad night for Labour and the Tories who lose a ton of seats to Reform.

I think the elections will go ahead but hopefully these changes are already passed and set in motion otherwise you'll get more resistance. It might mean the election is pointless and you need another one very soon but it will be easier politically.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

The shire county councils that will disappear are mostly Tory. Starmer is delaying council elections, giving Tories longer in their county hall, and replacing them with unitary authorities in areas where they will likely still be Tory.

This is a radical shake-up if you still live in a part of the country that somehow still has the local government set up that was implemented in 1974 (or something akin to it), but all of Wales, all of Scotland and most of England’s major towns and cities moved to unitary local authorities years ago and I’d be interested to hear what % of the population any of this actually applies to now. I suspect the noise being generated around this is due to the media and senior business types living in the shires and commuting into the major cities to work still being more familiar with two-tier local government than most of us.

Unitary local authorities are themselves imperfect of course, but metro-mayors have been a useful innovation that corrects for that where strategic oversight is needed (transport infrastructure in places like Merseyside, Manchester and London for example).

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

The article says about 50% of England has a Mayor now so the other 50% will likely be impacted by this.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

They have played around a lot with the local boundaries in my area of South Wales in my lifetime. One part of Cwmbran that wasn't a Labour voting area was placed in Monmouthshire so it didn't pose any danger to Torfaen's Labour hold in the local council elections.

I'm not sure, but I did hear some talk about it being moved back into Torfaen as Monmouthshire now has a Labour council and Labour MP.

Even from a local council area view, the street I live in is oddly tagged onto another area that doesn't make sense.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

This has clearly been coming for a long time but Labour have decided to bite the bullet (and lose even more votes) by rejecting any compensation for the WASPI women:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czr36842nd6o

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

100% an unpopular decision, I wonder if it’s a case of there being not enough money left in the pot after the last lot emptied the economy in to their mates’ pockets.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

They don't care about any demographic that probably didn't vote for them.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

It would have cost billions so I don't think it was ever likely to happen, especially with the amount of notice they had that the state pension age was being made equal between men and women.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

The Chair of the WASPI Campaign said :

"This is a bizarre and totally unjustified move which will leave everyone asking what the point of an ombudsman is if ministers can simply ignore their decisions."

She has a point. Get rid of Ombudsmen; Police Commissioners; the Labour Cabinet; Ministers heating bills; the £100m that the foreign secretary gave to Syria; all other overseas aid and dish the dosh to the WASPIs.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

That's not going to come to 10 billion, maybe going after the tax avoiders would put a dent in it though...

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

How can money given to Syria be then also given to anyone else? :confused:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I bet Rachael reeves could steal it back especially if it's going to elderly Syrians

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Good point. Are you questioning the foreign secretary's priorities?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I think Israel might get their first. ;)

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Looks like things are on the up

well inflation is


UK inflation hits eight-month high of 2.6%, fuelling calls to hold interest rate

https://www.theguardian.com/business...interest-rates

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Wages as well

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgkx36dpzmxo

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

There is not enough money as ones knows with a huge 22 billion financial black hole left by the previous incumbents.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Its people (women) trying to money grab.
My pension age went up, none of my work pensions (based on 65) changed, where is my compensation ?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

And they had decades to prepare. No government was going to award them this no matter what anyone says.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

this lot said they would
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...acked-34335098

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

As I said no matter what anyone says (The SNP are saying it should be paid now) when it comes to actually delivering then they're not going to do it. It's too much money.

Labour did put it in the manifesto in 2019 because Corbyn promised everything and lost.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

So you would be happy to pay more in tax to pay for it?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Well, a lot of stuff was said in 2019 that was absolute bolleaux, but you never seem to mention those…

https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...r-24-july-2019

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Enough about your past posting prowess this isn't all about you ;)

---------- Post added at 19:55 ---------- Previous post was at 19:53 ----------

how do you arrive at that conclusion ? i only pointed out the lies that labour told

and before anyone starts -this thread isn't about Boris bloody Johnson

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Get over it, you lost, move on etc

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Sometimes, we all have to take a hit for the good of the country. The sacrifices that you and I have made on pensions pale into comparison with those of our forefathers.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

you been sniffing the carpet?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Really sorry, I had to leave your Christmas party before we moved onto your party games.
:xmas:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Indeed, you should try it sometime.

---------- Post added at 22:01 ---------- Previous post was at 22:00 ----------

Hes on something, thats for sure.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Nailed it!

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

You are whinging about Labour not paying so, again, are you happy to stump up the cash to pay for this?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Scrap the triple lock to pay for it. Seems fair enough to me, nobody could complain ;)

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

once again
how do you arrive at that conclusion ? i only pointed out the lies that labour told

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

He's asking you a basic yes or no question. He's not concluding anything.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

i posted an article from the press, i did not post an opinion about the decision not to pay, at this time i do not have an opinion other than it's wrong to lie to the elderly in order to garner their votes, these women were given false hope and that is wrong in my book.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

You are absolutely right papa.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

So Starmer should pay then?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

:xmas:

let me take this opportunity to thank you for paying your taxes and funding my state pension and by extension my boating lifestyle, as to the triple lock i can't see it lasting under this shower, i retired at 61 with no help from the state so not really worried .

---------- Post added at 10:02 ---------- Previous post was at 10:00 ----------

He should stop lying to people ,as i have said previously i have no opinion on the payment at this time

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

So basically you just like whingeing about Labour then.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

posting a press release about MP's lying is not whinging it's pointing out the facts as published.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Totally agree with you…

On that point…

- The Conservative Party suspended the triple lock in 2021, breaking a Manifesto pledge
- The Conservatives broke a manifesto commitment to fix the social care crisis, and successive Conservative Governments promised to publish a plan to improve social care - Alzheimers UK found that families are being forced to shoulder 63% of the cost of dementia care (equivalent to £51,000 a year on average)
- Boris Johnson pledged in 2019 that no-one would have to sell their house to pay for social care under a Conservative government. In 2020, more than 17,000 pensioners were forced to sell their homes to pay for social care (reported in the Daily Mail).

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

we know all that, Boris is no longer in politics, and this thread isn't about Boris Johnson its about Stammers chronicles ,bojo is gone get over it.

---------- Post added at 12:12 ---------- Previous post was at 12:09 ----------

Anyhoo in a blow to the Government

UK interest rates held at 4.75%

UK interest rates will remain at 4.75% until at least next February after the Bank of England voted to hold borrowing costs.

In its final meeting of the year, the Bank's rate-setting committee decided against further cuts after recent figures showed an increase in both inflation and wage growth.

Bank governor Andrew Bailey has previously indicated that while rates will fall further - after two cuts this year - the decline would be gradual.

The Bank will next meet at the beginning of February when it will also give an update of its forecasts for the British economy.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd75yq1zlzqo

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

It was a question, not a conclusion. :erm:

No.

You're making it up again. :sleep:
Still, that does apply to some here, across different parties. ;)

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

No, I am making up nothing. If you have no opinion on if Starmer should pay the bill the country can't afford then you are just whinging and making no contribution. Starmer changed his position after finding out how bad the country's finances are in. Now, if those who think he should not have changed his position and so should pay the billions involved, I am sure they will step forward and happily pay the extra tax required.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I think the problem is that the lack of a moral case to award them money irrespective of the country's finances were clear before the election.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Don’t like it? Don’t read my posts, simple as.

Hypocrisy, especially when it ruined our country needs to be remembered.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Grimsby MP calls for rethink on WASPI women being refused compensation

Melanie Onn made pointed remarks in Parliament this week asking the government to reconsider its decision to not award WASPI women compensation

i must say i'm surprised she's not backing Starmer on this as she's only just got her job back

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/n...-waspi-9805389

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

:zzz:

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Worried about her constituency.

That's why there are so many pictures of WASPI women and MPs. Far more than the Post Office or Infected Blood scandals, both of which the WASPI women compared themselves with. They are very good campaigners, they know how to court the media and how to pressure MPs.

Britain works best for those who know how to play the system. It's why something like this is more politically dangerous than people needing food banks after their benefits are cut.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

No, he shouldn’t pay them. Everybody knew what was going to happen - the fuss is all over an admin oversight which meant they were not told officially by letter.

The issue here is simply that Starmer was supportive of the Waspi women’s case against the government while in opposition but has now abandoned them, having assumed power.

I think Labour will be only too happy to go back to opposition when they lose the next General Election. They are much happier not having to put their money where their mouths are.

---------- Post added at 12:47 ---------- Previous post was at 12:43 ----------

That would go down even worse than the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance! :eh:

---------- Post added at 12:52 ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 ----------

Is this your example of the ‘whataboutery’ that you criticise others on this forum for?

I would just make the obvious point that Covid put paid to those pledges. Labour has no such excuse - that black hole they keep alleging the Conservatives left is a con. Their unnecessary expenditure since coming into power created the black hole, not the Conservatives.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

What unnecessary expenditure are you referring to ?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

They still think they’re in opposition, that’s the problem.

---------- Post added at 19:23 ---------- Previous post was at 19:20 ----------

Pay rises for Doctors and train drivers and complete capitulation to end the strikes, which they said was worth it………but they didn’t end the strikes did they? in regards to trains anyway.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

You must have read about that, Paul. Examples include over-inflation pay awards without productivity arrangements, millions sent to other countries to help them deal with climate change, etc.

But of course there’s not even a ‘black hole’ in any case.

https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/...rs-black-hole/