O/T:- ⚠️Impressed with the leadership [The UK Party Politics Thread]

[Lullapie]

Good to see that the two ugly sisters are back in action together.

NCM's very own tag team - Big Fat Daddy and Elite Haystacks. It doesn't take much to get them to come out (of retirement) when there's a red cause to be defended.

[Med Pie]

Good to see that Starmer has finally accepted that the cuts in winter fuel payments to pensioners went too far, and is doing a U-turn. I hope he gets the balance right this time, which won't include me.

In other news, it seems Mr Yaxley-Lennon has been active again:

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been charged with harassment causing fear of violence against two men in August last year, the Crown Prosecution Service has said. "We have authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, 42, with harassment causing fear of violence against two men," a CPS spokesperson said. "The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial."

The 42-year-old from Luton will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 5 June 2025.

Farage as PM with Tommy Robinson as deputy anyone?

With this and Lucy Connolly, why aren't you all, more afraid of the state we're becoming. It's getting to be like communist Russia with trumped up charges and inflated sentences to keep people in prison, TR will never get out of prison alive.

[Med Pie]

I just saw the figure if 16 billion Pounds, which is what we'll pay to the EU during our first year under this agreement and yet, we have no kind of voting rights but what we do have, is a complete vulnerability to EU courts. We are once again a 'rule taker' and with no, tangible benefits for ordinary people, Brexit may as well never have happened.

We're so broke apparently, that targets are made of pensioners, of those with no voice, those on benefits, plans to tax savers now apparently yet, Starmer had16 billion quid for the EU in his back pocket. Is it a coincidence that this figure is almost exactly the amount that would have been recouped from the winter fuel payments?

Political allegiances aside, what is in this deal for the man on the street, seriously?

[Med Pie]

I shouldnt but I find it astonishing how non existent the standards that are applied to that bloke. Not just in the way he never does the jobs that hes been elected to but in the piss poor level of detail in his so called policies.

No income tax on anything under 20 grand. With no further info on how that revenue will be replaced. Can you imagine if Corbyn had come up with that?

I think that you'll find that most of those on 20K or under, will probably recoup any taxes they pay, in 'supplementary benefits' already. The fact that we are now a low wage economy with very few skilled, well paid jobs, has created a system which is doomed to fall in to bankruptcy, there are simply not enough people who can afford to pay tax yet the government want to admit another couple of million people to the country, people who also won't be paying tax or in some cases, national insurance as well.

Anyone paying 500 quid a month in rent or mortgage and many will be paying more than that, will be losing almost a third of that income straight away and anyone on minimum wage would be losing 40%.

[forwardmagpie]

Didn't really answer my question. So How Soon Is Now?

Good morning Elite - my answer would be along the lines of The PM you voted for is going to decrease immigration but can?t put a figure on what is will be but you expect me to tell you when Brexit will bring a land of milk and honey!

This is again my view but it?s only 4 years and two months until this inept bunch of clowns are voted out. I thought the last 5 years of the tories was bad but this government is the worst I can remember. I would like to list their accomplishments but ???

[SmiffyPie]

I think that you'll find that most of those on 20K or under, will probably recoup any taxes they pay, in 'supplementary benefits' already. The fact that we are now a low wage economy with very few skilled, well paid jobs, has created a system which is doomed to fall in to bankruptcy, there are simply not enough people who can afford to pay tax yet the government want to admit another couple of million people to the country, people who also won't be paying tax or in some cases, national insurance as well.

Anyone paying 500 quid a month in rent or mortgage and many will be paying more than that, will be losing almost a third of that income straight away and anyone on minimum wage would be losing 40%.

I thought it was no tax on people that earn ?20k or less but it's a suggestion that the tax allowance for all is increased to ?20k. Apart from the question of how does the lost tax revenue get recouped (which is a valid point) it was almost funny to see the politics of envy kick in straight away (the well off will be better off etc).

[Med Pie]

Giving money away, overseas again when it's so badly needed at home.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/clyvv04wk8zt

and he's already manipulating the figures.

A journalist from the Financial Times asks for more clarity on cost.

Shouldn't the figure actually be closer to ?10bn rather than ?3.4bn if you multiply the average yearly cost of ?101m across the deal's 99 years?

Starmer responds that ?3.4bn is the "net cost", and explains that this is how the government and the Office for Budget Responsibility measures spending on similar projects.

[LincsPie]

I thought it was no tax on people that earn ?20k or less but it's a suggestion that the tax allowance for all is increased to ?20k. Apart from the question of how does the lost tax revenue get recouped (which is a valid point) it was almost funny to see the politics of envy kick in straight away (the well off will be better off etc).

The Reform 'contract' (not a manifesto apparently), is to raise the allowance to 20k. So individuals earning much more than that would also benefit.

[BigFatPie]

I thought it was no tax on people that earn ?20k or less but it's a suggestion that the tax allowance for all is increased to ?20k. Apart from the question of how does the lost tax revenue get recouped (which is a valid point) it was almost funny to see the politics of envy kick in straight away (the well off will be better off etc).

Yes the question of how that revenue would be replaced is the one, but I dont expect any representatives of Reform ltd to be asked difficult questions any time soon.

[Elite_Pie]

Good morning Elite - my answer would be along the lines of The PM you voted for is going to decrease immigration but can?t put a figure on what is will be but you expect me to tell you when Brexit will bring a land of milk and honey!

So Brexit will eventually come good, but it might take 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. And you called me a fence sitter!

And I see that Starmer has almost halved net immigration in a matter of months*.

* That wasn't a serious comment. But maybe on initial raeding it made a few faces go a colour that resembles gammon.

[forwardmagpie]

So Brexit will eventually come good, but it might take 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. And you called me a fence sitter!

And I see that Starmer has almost halved net immigration in a matter of months*.

* That wasn't a serious comment. But maybe on initial raeding it made a few faces go a colour that resembles gammon.

I called you a fence sitter because you are a fence sitter.

With last government messing it up and now this government in charge how can anyone make a sensible prediction.

Glad your immigration comment wasn?t a serious it saved me a lot of time replying.

You seem obsessed by gammon is that because the truth is too close to home old man ?

[Bohinen]

I called you a fence sitter because you are a fence sitter.

With last government messing it up and now this government in charge how can anyone make a sensible prediction.

Glad your immigration comment wasn?t a serious it saved me a lot of time replying.

You seem obsessed by gammon is that because the truth is too close to home old man ?

Aren't we all old men? Most of us are, anyway.

As for Starmer, I believe he has no mandate to reset Brexit. But then again, he has no mandate to lead the Labour Party either. Ange has him in her sights, but you won't like that, as she's further to the left. Or rather, she's to the left, because Starmer certainly isn't.

[Elite_Pie]

You seem obsessed by gammon is that because the truth is too close to home old man ?

No young man, gammon has always been one of my favourite meats. Unsmoked and slow cooked with honey and peppercorns and a few mushrooms chucked in is my favourite. Maybe a bit of French mustard as well.

[forwardmagpie]

No young man, gammon has always been one of my favourite meats. Unsmoked and slow cooked with honey and peppercorns and a few mushrooms chucked in is my favourite. Maybe a bit of French mustard as well.

Meat is murder

[Elite_Pie]

Meat is murder

That must be why I'm feeling very sick and ill today.