Election Year or Fear!

[Geoff Parkstone]

Sure, if you'd like the credit

[SithHappens]

Starmer has said he regrets using the phrase 'Island of strangers'.

I know lots will see it as another sign of weakness, but admitting you got something wrong is a strength I think.

How many other politicians would do the same?

[Geoff Parkstone]

Starmer has said he regrets using the phrase 'Island of strangers'.

I know lots will see it as another sign of weakness, but admitting you got something wrong is a strength I think.

How many other politicians would do the same?

How many other politicians have needed so much practice at it over the last 6 months??

(Cue copious posts about years of Tory misrule and extrame right wings etc)

But actually I entirely get what he said the first time, even if he is now backtracking from it.

[Andy_Faber]

How many other politicians have needed so much practice at it over the last 6 months??

(Cue copious posts about years of Tory misrule and extrame right wings etc)

But actually I entirely get what he said the first time, even if he is now backtracking from it.

Likewise, I thought he?d got the wording pretty much spot on, flip flopping is another sign of weakness and lack of conviction IMO

[ramAnag]

Starmer has said he regrets using the phrase 'Island of strangers'.

I know lots will see it as another sign of weakness, but admitting you got something wrong is a strength I think.

How many other politicians would do the same?

Agreeing with that.
He’s not perfect, no one is, but there are things that need fine tuning rather than a complete rethink.
Love someone to tell me what is wrong with removing the WFA from well off or seriously wealthy pensioners so that more may go to the more genuinely needy.
Likewise…I’m all in favour of supporting small family farmers but again, where wealthy landowners are using ‘farming’ as a tax break, I think it needs looking at. Nothing wrong with that imo.
As regards benefits. Again target the genuinely needy but remove benefits from those intent on playing the system.
Clearer targeting and better communication is what’s needed imo, or maybe we should just tax the rich. Can hear the howls already from those who have built dislike of Starmer/Labour into this year’s mini enterprise.

[Geoff Parkstone]

It's hard to argue with most of this above

[swaledale]

I do though wonder who the **** is advising the guy re presentation and communication because at the moment its ****ing awful!

Why pick £35K per annum as the cut off for WFA? If your earning that do you need an extra £100 (£200 if you've 2 pensioners).

How can you get this far down the line on reform of benefits and then face a major rebellion (correctly) from your MP's?

I'm not impressed by jovial MP's who have the patter as in Johnson and Farage unless they can back up their warm words with actions. I can accept Starmer is more of a technocrat PM, fine we need serious and focussed, but somebody somewhere needs to get their act together re presentation.

I would if been more impressed if they had come out and apologised over the WFA and said we got it wrong, rather than claim as Ms Reeves did, that improved economic circumstances enabled it to be adjusted, which is *******s.

As for the Island of Strangers comment, I guess if one is xenophobic by nature it might seem true, but not once in the last 30 years have I felt that to be the case. I was in London last weekend, nowhere did I encounter this Farage claim that one couldn't hear English spoken on the tube or think I was living in a different country. Of course its much different from those who live in the shires surrounded only by people of their own race. I feel sorry really for those who think this way, small minded and utterly wrong.

[swaledale]

Likewise, I thought he?d got the wording pretty much spot on, flip flopping is another sign of weakness and lack of conviction IMO

Why am I not surprised?

[ramAnag]

It's hard to argue with most of this above

It is isn’t it? Still…probably won’t stop you, or others from the gang of three, trying.

[MadAmster]

Saw a meme online today. No idea if it's true. The source may indicate that it's figures relating to Scotland rather than the UK as a whole, although I could be wrong on that. The figures?

Between the late 70s and 2020, productivity per worker up 70 odd %, workers wages up 20%, Executive wages up 1000%.

Pure guesswork here but I think the first figure is high, the 2nd low and the last one is probably accurate.

Can anybody in the know shed some light on this. Facts, verifiable ones, not opinion please.