Keir Starmer

[InversneckieDob]

Do you want a bet?

I fancy we may have different definitions of "good" and "bad" when it comes to socio-economic and socio-political societal models.
I'm fond of fair and equitable taxation, direct taxation, with investment in key public services and regulation of "the markets".

I'd guess you're fond of reactionary, populist tabloid headlines?

Or a meringue?

[Shetland Don]

I fancy we may have different definitions of "good" and "bad" when it comes to socio-economic and socio-political societal models.
I'm fond of fair and equitable taxation, direct taxation, with investment in key public services and regulation of "the markets".

I'd guess you're fond of reactionary, populist tabloid headlines?

Or a meringue?

Some argue though that the State is already bloated and unproductive and that increases in taxation often result in reduced tax receipts. I’m inclined to the view that the Public Sector is often inefficient and that it generally doesn’t offer the taxpayer value for money … walk into any Council office or, dare I say it, the NHS and observe, critically, just how many front-line staff there are doing absolutely ***** all!

[WhenTattieFlooredChas]

Really? You think he’d make more of that. Maybe mention it in a speech or something

Yes true, but doesn't change the fact that because someone receives an honour for their achievements it doesn't make them an elitist c**t.

[Donanddusted]

Yes true, but doesn't change the fact that because someone receives an honour for their achievements it doesn't make them an elitist c**t.

That's a tad harsh.
I'd suggest more a two-faced tw@t who doesn't know irony when it slaps him in the face.

[InversneckieDob]

Some argue though that the State is already bloated and unproductive and that increases in taxation often result in reduced tax receipts. I’m inclined to the view that the Public Sector is often inefficient and that it generally doesn’t offer the taxpayer value for money … walk into any Council office or, dare I say it, the NHS and observe, critically, just how many front-line staff there are doing absolutely ***** all!

A lot of bell-cow innacuracies in play in that post.
The factual position is that, at front line, service provision level, public services are grossly underfunded.
The inefficiencies are much higher up the food chain.
The problems, in the short term, date back to the Major government's fragmentation of the broader public service into "Executive agencies" and such like (done with a view to privitisation and greater private sector involvement), run by boards and executives with a "style over substance" ethos.
Because successive Governments for the last fifty odd years have been hostile to the very concept of public service, there has been zero longterm, strategic planning and investment.
This has led to the current issues within public service.
Until a longterm cultural ethos is adopted, putting frontline service top of the aspirational pile, we'll never progress.
Greater private sector involvement doesn't work (see the utilities and public transport) and Governments remain hostile to them conceptually.

[Shetland Don]

A lot of bell-cow innacuracies in play in that post.
The factual position is that, at front line, service provision level, public services are grossly underfunded.
The inefficiencies are much higher up the food chain.
The problems, in the short term, date back to the Major government's fragmentation of the broader public service into "Executive agencies" and such like (done with a view to privitisation and greater private sector involvement), run by boards and executives with a "style over substance" ethos.
Because successive Governments for the last fifty odd years have been hostile to the very concept of public service, there has been zero longterm, strategic planning and investment.
This has led to the current issues within public service.
Until a longterm cultural ethos is adopted, putting frontline service top of the aspirational pile, we'll never progress.
Greater private sector involvement doesn't work (see the utilities and public transport) and Governments remain hostile to them conceptually.

“The factual position is that …”, debate over.

[Mason89]

There’s no shortage of folk doing f*ck all in the private sector

[Shetland Don]

There’s no shortage of folk doing f*ck all in the private sector

That’s up to their bosses to remedy - they are not being paid from the Public Purse.

[Mason89]

That’s up to their bosses to remedy - they are not being paid from the Public Purse.

You’re very selective about what public spending annoys you.

[Shetland Don]

You’re very selective about what public spending annoys you.

No I’m not. Wasting any public money annoys me greatly. Private sector spending is entirely another matter.

See the likes of this - £27M of government funds being spent on a new ferry and relative infrastructure for an island with a population of around 50: https://www.shetnews.co.uk/?p=109287