Liz Truss

[WBA123]

They would spend more on public services because they were in power during an era when they could spend more on public services.

Have a look at public spending since Tories were in power. Miles more than Labour before them (excluding 2008/9). You won’t see the benefits of it because it’s not spent on public services or making the country a better place for citizens.

It’s keeping the economy from collapse. It’s spent on welfare, infrastructure, pension, debt repayments etc..

Public service spending does little for the economy…and if your economy is f*cked you have no money for public services. It’s painful but tell me an alternative?

I completely disagree with you. Especially Public service spending does little for the economy

Putting on bus services and affordable rail options helps people get to work. More firemen in theory means the country is safer, and more able to be productive. More policemen in theory should deter crime - which will help business. Investing in education means in theory we have more educated people coming into the workplace when they are of working age. Austerity does not drive growth, which is what we need.

We're not spending on public services, because its spent on debt repayments
Then why are we so much further in debt than in 2010. And were already heading this way pre pandemic. Your perspective makes no sense.

Some alternatives;

- A proper plan for business growth, as Regis points out growth has stagnated since 2010.
- Government investment into future global industries, especially renewable green technology
- Not spanking cash away on government crony contracts
- Not creating trade barriers with the largest trading bloc in the world, who are on our doorstep

There's some off the top of my head.

I understand you try to be balanced. But when the Tories have been so bad for so many years - it makes it hard to understand the angle you are coming from.

[baggiematt]

I completely disagree with you. Especially Public service spending does little for the economy

Putting on bus services and affordable rail options helps people get to work. More firemen in theory means the country is safer, and more able to be productive. More policemen in theory should deter crime - which will help business. Investing in education means in theory we have more educated people coming into the workplace when they are of working age. Austerity does not drive growth, which is what we need.

We're not spending on public services, because its spent on debt repayments
Then why are we so much further in debt than in 2010. And were already heading this way pre pandemic. Your perspective makes no sense.

Some alternatives;

- A proper plan for business growth, as Regis points out growth has stagnated since 2010.
- Government investment into future global industries, especially renewable green technology
- Not spanking cash away on government crony contracts
- Not creating trade barriers with the largest trading bloc in the world, who are on our doorstep

There's some off the top of my head.

I understand you try to be balanced. But when the Tories have been so bad for so many years - it makes it hard to understand the angle you are coming from.

I'm sorry but you can't seriously think that employing more police and firemen will improve the economy? I mean maybe very very mildly, but I don't think BMW will build a factory here because of the new bobbies that patrol the area. Mob rule hasn't quite taken over just yet!

I have asked for an alternative to austerity and the only response is that it should have been lighter. But in reality, the Tory govt since coming into power has year on year spent more than Labour did on the NHS. Also, that pension crisis we have all heard of has cost £32b more since the start of 2009. Welfare has increased by £60b. Incredible isn't it! And as a result of the fiscal boost in 2008/9 (which isn't a tap you can just turn off) the interest payments alone are £45b per year. And all you read is about the £1b cut in police funding...it's an incredibly biased narrative twisted to suit the 'Tory out' brigade.

Austerity can hinder growth in certain areas, but it's clear that the austerity is very targeted to taper that.

And you say my perspective makes no sense. it makes absolute sense, the Tory government have had to spend money differently to Labour government due to us living longer, health needs, interest rates, pandemic and more has been funded into welfare. The debt we're in is also relative. It's reasonably high but not as high as France, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Belgium etc.

I'm not saying they are a brilliant government. In fact the return to sleaze has put me off voting for them in the next election, but I don't see a snippet of evidence to suggest we'd be better off with another party. Both Labour and Tories are centralists and advised by the same people FFS!

[regis80]

I'm sorry but you can't seriously think that employing more police and firemen will improve the economy? I mean maybe very very mildly, but I don't think BMW will build a factory here because of the new bobbies that patrol the area. Mob rule hasn't quite taken over just yet!

I have asked for an alternative to austerity and the only response is that it should have been lighter. But in reality, the Tory govt since coming into power has year on year spent more than Labour did on the NHS. Also, that pension crisis we have all heard of has cost £32b more since the start of 2009. Welfare has increased by £60b. Incredible isn't it! And as a result of the fiscal boost in 2008/9 (which isn't a tap you can just turn off) the interest payments alone are £45b per year. And all you read is about the £1b cut in police funding...it's an incredibly biased narrative twisted to suit the 'Tory out' brigade.

Austerity can hinder growth in certain areas, but it's clear that the austerity is very targeted to taper that.

And you say my perspective makes no sense. it makes absolute sense, the Tory government have had to spend money differently to Labour government due to us living longer, health needs, interest rates, pandemic and more has been funded into welfare. The debt we're in is also relative. It's reasonably high but not as high as France, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Belgium etc.

I'm not saying they are a brilliant government. In fact the return to sleaze has put me off voting for them in the next election, but I don't see a snippet of evidence to suggest we'd be better off with another party. Both Labour and Tories are centralists and advised by the same people FFS!

I’d like to see some snippet of evidence that Tories spent more than Labour on the NHS. I genuinely want to see this claim can be validated. I’m intrigued Matt and not trying to catch you out.

[baggiematt]

I’d like to see some snippet of evidence that Tories spent more than Labour on the NHS. I genuinely want to see this claim can be validated. I’m intrigued Matt and not trying to catch you out.

Why don’t you take a look. It’s very easily obtained online.

[regis80]

Why don’t you take a look. It’s very easily obtained online.

I was expecting you to actually send me a link but now i be must admit, it’s like one of those tory lies you’ve just told us. I’d like to see the evidence Matt.

I wanted to see where you obtained the figures from to back your claim. Did the amount Tories spend include everything since the start of the Pandemic? Because that cost a fortune. Remember how well equipped our NHS was for that? Flattened the curve so the NHS can cope.
Based on your past posts you must be some secret agent or something trying to smear labour and deceive people to think the tories spent more. I don’t buy that, and i can tell con a mile off.

[regis80]

Okay Matt, a little bit of digging and all I can find was this link https://www.channel4.com/news/factch...rtured-the-nhs and it reference to IFS about the spend under each party. It’s goes upto 2018 though.

[regis80]

Okay Matt, a little bit of digging and all I can find was this link https://www.channel4.com/news/factch...rtured-the-nhs and it reference to IFS about the spend under each party. It’s goes upto 2018 though.

[WBA123]

I'm sorry but you can't seriously think that employing more police and firemen will improve the economy? I mean maybe very very mildly, but I don't think BMW will build a factory here because of the new bobbies that patrol the area. Mob rule hasn't quite taken over just yet!

I have asked for an alternative to austerity and the only response is that it should have been lighter. But in reality, the Tory govt since coming into power has year on year spent more than Labour did on the NHS. Also, that pension crisis we have all heard of has cost £32b more since the start of 2009. Welfare has increased by £60b. Incredible isn't it! And as a result of the fiscal boost in 2008/9 (which isn't a tap you can just turn off) the interest payments alone are £45b per year. And all you read is about the £1b cut in police funding...it's an incredibly biased narrative twisted to suit the 'Tory out' brigade.

Austerity can hinder growth in certain areas, but it's clear that the austerity is very targeted to taper that.

And you say my perspective makes no sense. it makes absolute sense, the Tory government have had to spend money differently to Labour government due to us living longer, health needs, interest rates, pandemic and more has been funded into welfare. The debt we're in is also relative. It's reasonably high but not as high as France, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Belgium etc.

I'm not saying they are a brilliant government. In fact the return to sleaze has put me off voting for them in the next election, but I don't see a snippet of evidence to suggest we'd be better off with another party. Both Labour and Tories are centralists and advised by the same people FFS!

I absolutely do think it improves the economy, for the reasons mentioned and not just police but also youth centres and support workers. Have a look at how decimated they have been under Tory rule. Have a look at how many libraries have closed since 2010. It's hard to define how much of a difference it makes, but these things matter.

You mention £60bn welfare increase, when you cut 20k police for example, some of those people are going to be on welfare.

I don't have time to look at the figures, but my understand was that whilst year on year spending has increased, real time spending accounting for inflation decreased (I mean, they couldn't exactly cut the year on year spending could they...)

When you add in their mismanagement of public funding and blatant corruption which is rife at the top of the Tory party then its little wonder people are asking how we can afford to spend billions on faulty PPE and a T&T system that doesn't work, but then can't invest in public services like bus routes and youth support workers - which does help grow the economy.