Updated: Boris resigns as party leader

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

People don't want nuclear - waste lasts too long.
Don't want unsightly wind turbines spoiling their views.
Don't want tidal systems that get in the way of their boats.
Don't want mining near them - oil/gas/coal.
Don't want fossil fuel burning power stations near them.


Do want power delivered to their homes both gas and electricity at a reasonable (cheap) price.


It's easy to say what we should have done but consecutive governments have listened to the public and ended up where we are. If we had built more nuclear power stations that would have left more gas for home consumption but upset the anti-nuclear brigade.


One good thing in this crisis will be to focus more attention on saving fuel and hopefully research to fusion and hydrogen fuels. Nothing like a crisis to increase inventiveness.

I think I screwed up the rep I intended to give you. Sorry. Anyway - spot on.

[Mr K]

LAB: 40%
CON: 26%
LDEM: 11%
GRN: 6%
REF: 5%

via
@PeoplePolling
, 22 Aug

Britain Predicts:
https://sotn.newstatesman.com/2022/06/britainpredicts/

Ouch !
Who are the 26%? Beggers belief they should be allowed out of the asylum to vote !

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Ouch !
Who are the 26%? Beggers belief they should be allowed out of the asylum to vote !

You let yourself down with that sort of remark.

Originally Posted by Mr K

Ouch !
Who are the 26%? Beggers belief they should be allowed out of the asylum to vote !

Pushing your luck again, with unfunny insults.

Talking of allowing stuff, or not, in your case, you may just find out, access to this topic also becoming revoked.

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Ouch !
Who are the 26%? Beggers belief they should be allowed out of the asylum to vote !

Lower than a snake's belly.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Mad Max

Lower than a snake's belly.

I can see 26 dropping even lower than that this winter.

Originally Posted by jfman

I can see 26 dropping even lower than that this winter.

Yeah, because Labour have all the right answers…. Or apparently not….

https://fullfact.org/economy/labour-...6d79-190084149

[jfman]

Labour dispute that analysis (I’ve not read it, so don’t have an opinion on it) but other parties are available. Equally a poll is just a poll, it’s easy to pick an alternative without actually voting for one. With the Government rudderless on so many fronts, and the forecasts for energy to get even higher in January and April, it’s very conceivable that they’ll poll lower than 26 whether Labour have better ideas or not. It’s very likely neither party has an adequate solution at this point but that won’t stop millions of households giving the Government a kicking.

Originally Posted by Mick

Yeah, because Labour have all the right answers…. Or apparently not….

https://fullfact.org/economy/labour-...6d79-190084149

Labour seems to have not fully costed the plan, so some of it is borrowed. That said Truss is openly stating she'll borrow to cut taxes. Seems better to borrow to help people afford to heat this winter than to cut taxes.

Freezing energy it at the current level looks a little unrealistic.

Perhaps aim for middle ground, say £2500, a 25% rise is a lot better than 80%.

Also, rather than just cut taxes (as in the % rate) why not just raise the 'free' allowances.
The current 'Personal Allowance' is £12,570 - if you increased it to say £17,570 then anyone on minimum wage (£8.91/hr) would not pay tax.
That would be worth just over £80 a month to people, and be easy to implement.

You could also raise the rate for very high earners (50K plus) to help pay for it.
I realise this all sounds very labour like, but there has to be some kind of plan in place.

[jfman]

Welcome, Paul

Originally Posted by Paul

Freezing energy it at the current level looks a little unrealistic.

Perhaps aim for middle ground, say £2500, a 25% rise is a lot better than 80%.

Also, rather than just cut taxes (as in the % rate) why not just raise the 'free' allowances.
The current 'Personal Allowance' is £12,570 - if you increased it to say £17,570 then anyone on minimum wage (£8.91/hr) would not pay tax.
That would be worth just over £80 a month to people, and be easy to implement.

You could also raise the rate for very high earners (50K plus) to help pay for it.
I realise this all sounds very labour like, but there has to be some kind of plan in place.

I saw this idea on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TorstenBell/stat...87390452035586 from the Chief Executive of a think tank.

Think about it this way, the typical energy bill in January could be £600. Those on direct debits can spread that, but 4m households on prepayment meters (30% of the poorest fifth) have to find the cash. I hope people realise they can’t (it’s half their disposable income)

Here's an example: a 30% bill cut for everyone + a 1% increase in all income tax rates would see the large costs of £23.5bn offset by a £9.5bn tax increase with 60% paid by the top fifth

I agree there has to be a radical plan, I think we can all fathom this despite which side of the political spectrum we all sit on.

[denphone]

Torsten Bell generally talks a lot of sense.

Bringing the leadership contest back into it: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62703858

Liz Truss has "ruled out" further direct support for everyone to help cover the cost of surging energy bills, sources close to her have told the BBC.

Rishi Sunak, who is vying with her to become the next prime minister, has said the government "must provide some direct support to everyone".

But Ms Truss's team said she was not considering further universal support, like the £400 payment that all households will receive this winter.

Reports suggest a VAT cut is an option.

I can't see if Truss really thinks this and will stick to it or not? It will be a disaster if there isn't more support even for middle earners. A VAT cut won't help because a lot of essentials are already at a lower rate and it's the sheer price of energy bills that's the problem.