Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

As pointed out you are using a narrow definition of the energy market.

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

We still seem to be managing to export most of our gas to continental Europe at the moment….. not for storage but for sale. Which means when we need to buy gas it will be when it is at its most expensive pushing prices even further. If only we had a way to store it. Oh wait that was mothballed

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

A plan the Tories denounced then took up by taxing the energy giants. Wonder if they'll do the same with Sir Ks latest plan? He seems to be running the Govt and calling the shots, someone has to.

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

I think you can widen that to privatised energy firms. It is remarkable how the public is so able to be fooled for so long.

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

I'm sure the new PM will hope Starmer has a long tenure as Labour leader.:D

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

More concerning for the Conservatives would be this.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-Ashcroft.html

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

The annoying thing is that Starmer has got to this, potential, position completely by default.

He and Labour have offered nothing, absolutely nothing, in regards to coherent policy and governance.

He/they have this lead purely because the Tory party has monumentally disappeared up it’s own arse.

I agree that I don’t see the Tories winning the next election, regardless of who wins the leadership. I also think that the party is in such a state that whoever wins this leadership contest may not necessarily be the leader come the next election.

I’m off to listen to the Charlie Daniels band whist the flames lick the feet of Westminster Palace.

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

Well, he has got there by changing the party after Corbyn so it doesn't alienate or scare people. It's a strategy that was worked so far because.....

Governments lose elections more than oppositions win them. If the Tory Party was competent and the economy was running well then it wouldn't matter who led Labour or what their policies were, the Tories would likely win the next election.

When the vaccine rollout was a success, the country opened up and the economy rebounded on that reopening then the Tories were flying. Labour looked doomed. But then the Tories had self-inflicted gaff after gaff. That should be the biggest regret for Johnson because the things that did him weren't ambitious policies but extracurricular nonsense he got involved in for no political gain.

Really the cost of living crisis has only really started in the last couple of months and the worst of the energy crisis is to come. Most of their polling lead was due to these stupid mistakes

Well there is still some way until the election and you don't announce too much before then. They do need to start making it clear what a Labour Government would look like though. This energy cap freeze and the windfall tax (which the Tories did adopt in the end) are the main things we've seen them announce.

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

Corbyn was one of the big factors along with Brexit at the last General election.

Both those factors will not come into play much at the next General Election in 2024.

Add to that the huge cost of living crisis and energy bills which are taking a huge chunk out of voters monthly incomes and the Conservatives are going to struggle to get 35% of the popular vote come 2024.

Plus Truss and Sunak don't possess the electability of Johnson.

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

Whereas Starmer has all the charisma of a salted slug.

Who is more mediocre?

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

He might not have much charisma but the fact is he is not Corbyn and that in itself will be a considerable advantage.

Allied to that the the cost of living crisis and energy bills going through the roof with 2023 economically likely to be just as bad as this year and the governing party has a huge uphill task.

Plus by 2024 they would have been in power for 14 years.

Historically governments struggle to win a fifth term in office.

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

Liz Truss is saying she doesn't want to give out handouts whereas Labour is talking about keeping the price cap frozen. In the end, if people perceive one party cares about them and the other doesn't then charisma won't matter. I suspect Truss will be forced to do something though.

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

Starmer is just missing in action..I wish Truss was.

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

Labour's plan announced: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62542541

They're saying freeze the prices as they are now but will part pay for it by scrapping for £400 payments people were going to get over the winter. The other thing that's interesting is that Labour are saying part of it will pay for itself because it'll help control inflation if energy costs are kept down.

Re: Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle
 

A bit like the Liberal Democrats' idea of keeping the price cap as it is and not raising it. As others have said on this Forum, when is a cap not a cap, if you keep raising it all the time?

I'm sure whoever the next Prime Minister is, they will be keen to use any devices that keep inflation in single figures as that inflation rate won't be forgotten by their opponents both on their own side of the house and more importantly, on the Opposition benches as well.