Starmer’s chronicles

[Carth]

Yes, but clutching at straws has become the National Pastime

[nomadking]

As the graph in this article shows, a surplus is a feature of every January.

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

As mentioned already, self-assessment receipts. It’s only good news if they are higher than last year.

On retail sales - was that number for the Chrimbo period?

There’s nothing good news for the government. Their policies are causing joblessness.

From the linked Sky article

Self-assessed tax revenues were nearly £6bn more than planned for and capital gains tax receipts surged.

Also

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/gover...es/january2026

This month saw the highest January combined self-assessed income and capital gains tax receipts on record (not adjusted for inflation).

On retail sales - was that number for the Chrimbo period?

Not unless "the Chrimbo period" was in January or the New Year…

From the quote (and the linked Sky article)

Retail sales saw a far better than expected January, increasing by 1.8% . It was the largest increase since May 2024.This data gave "further evidence that economic growth picked up smartly in the New Year as budget uncertainty fades", Pantheon's chief UK economist Rob Wood said.

---------- Post added at 12:00 ---------- Previous post was at 11:59 ----------

Originally Posted by nomadking

As the graph in this article shows, a surplus is a feature of every January.

Also from that link

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it was the highest surplus in any month since records began in 1993, without adjusting for inflation, and nearly double last January's £15.4bn surplus.

---------- Post added at 12:13 ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 ----------

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

As mentioned already, self-assessment receipts. It’s only good news if they are higher than last year.

On retail sales - was that number for the Chrimbo period?

There’s nothing good news for the government. Their policies are causing joblessness.

Originally Posted by Carth

Yes, but clutching at straws has become the National Pastime

[papa smurf]

did we have the January sales this January

[Mr K]

Well done Rachel. I'm sure we can all congratulate her on a job well done

[Carth]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Well done Rachel. I'm sure we can all congratulate her on a job well done

I'll drink to that . . . well I would if there was a decent local pub that wasn't now pretending to be a high class restaurant

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by Carth

I'll drink to that . . . well I would if there was a decent local pub that wasn't now pretending to be a high class restaurant

Drink at home for £1 a pint, or £6 in a pub with some bores telling you ' what they reckon', your choice

[Carth]

The internet is full of bores telling you what they reckon*, I'd be off to the pub like a shot to get out of the way of her and the bloody TV



*yes yes I'm one

Originally Posted by Anonymouse

Uh, no, I don't think I have (though I admit after my stroke anything goes!). That is what Farage is implying. Starmer, at least, realises this.

Maybe, maybe not. But your cultural reference points are … niche. Even for here.

May have to revert this thread’s title to ‘Sir Keir’s Kerfuffle’.



Chris Mason of the Beeb was opining last night that for Labour to be beaten by Reform would be a headache. For them to be beaten by the Greens would be a bigger headache. In the event they were beaten by both.

Here’s Matt Goodwin’s reaction to the result…

[Sephiroth]

Is that right?

Mr Goodwin also addressed the results on X. He wrote: "We are losing our country. A dangerous Muslim sectarianism has emerged.

"We have only one general election left to save Britain. Vote Reform every chance you get.

"I will continue the fight. I will always fight for you. I will stand at the next general election."

Asked earlier at the count if the result showed that Reform's progress was 'faltering', Mr Goodwin said: "We have more than doubled our vote in Labour's backyard. I think we've embarrassed Labour in one of their strongest seats. I think if we can do this here, we can do this pretty much anywhere.

"Lucy Powell said Reform finishing ahead of Labour in Greater Manchester would be existential for the Labour Party. What you're seeing today is the rise of the new politics.

"On one side is Green. They want to legalise heroin and crack cocaine and have open borders. On the other side is Reform. We want to control the borders, invest in our own people and prioritise the British hard-working majority.

"This is the future of British politics. British people are going to wake up tomorrow and think we have a choice. Do we want to go with mad Zack and the Greens or do we want to go with Nigel Farage and a Reform government?

"Every Labour MP will wake up tomorrow, look at the Reform vote and think 'Oh gosh, we are in trouble'. We have planted a flag in northern England."

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...arage-33499496

Reform lost by quite a bit. Not really sure he has much of a leg to stand on here.

Just to confirm, is he saying a "dangerous Muslim sectarianism" voted in a white woman from a Party led by a Jewish man?

Or is he just being a sore loser?

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Just to confirm, is he saying a "dangerous Muslim sectarianism" voted in a white woman from a Party led by a Jewish man?

Or is he just being a sore loser?

The former.