UK XI: Please Sir... May I Have Some More?

[Nu-Eclipse]

That was pretty dismissive of you. You don't dismiss £5billion a quarter. People need to be imprisoned for ****ing up the lives of the general population and hiding it. Where has all the money gone? There should be hundreds of enquiries at this point and charges being brought if those figures are correct.

Dismissive how??

It's funny that this is now the mantra being repeated by Labour ad nauseum.

Once again...the "financial black hole" was not news - media had been reporting about it FOR MONTHS ON END.

If you really think that Rachel Reeves had absolutely no idea during her entire tenure as Shadow Chancellor where she had literally the same access to the books that Jeremy Hunt had then I have a clock in Westminster that I'd like to sell to you.

I'm all for the Tories getting slammed for their irresponsibility but that doesn't excuse Labour flavoured austerity when there is CLEARLY MONEY AVAILABLE TO MAKE SOME IMMEDIATE POSITIVE CHANGES.

[Brad]

Your focus on "there IS money" upon hearing that the Tories disappeared £5billion a quarter. That it's "convenient". I find that dismissive of the previous Tory scumbags in order to focus on not agreeing with labour trying to get the country's finances back on track.

There's always money available, by getting the country further into debt. Sending a message to Russia that they can't just invade a country while the rest of the world watch is arguably a good enough reason to get us further into debt; long term investment. Paying minted OAPs hundreds of quid at Christmas isn't.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Your focus on "there IS money" upon hearing that the Tories disappeared £5billion a quarter. I find that dismissive of the previous Tory scumbags in order to focus on not agreeing with labour trying to get the country's finances back on track.

Please show me where I disagreed with Labour trying to get finances back on track? Please do not twist my words.

It is laughable that you can sit there and say money isn't available when Reeves literally set about properly paying public service workers upon becoming Chancellor. Please open your eyes.

I'm standing by everything I've said, I'm sorry. The previous Government and this current one (when they were the Shadow Cabinet) would've known full well what was what. The media also did too because it was constantly reported - go research it for yourself.

[QualityChimp]

So, here's where I stand.

I loathed the Tory government and their austerity measures, but as their term went on, it got worse and worse in my eyes.
Brexit was an unmitigated disaster, not only for the state of the country's finances and benefits of being in the EU, but also the rift that will last generations of people who said it was a bad idea and those who thought/think it was.
Then they seemed to realise they could do what they wanted and only the occasional case of sexual/ministerial/financial misconduct were challenged and during a pandemic, they worked out how to pay their mates over saving lives, plus breaking the rules we plebs were following.

Now we have a new government and they're taking steps to undo 14 years of this behaviour.
I absolutely want to hold them to account, but also want to understand that everything can't be fixed overnight.

Yes, I want to rake back the money wasted on PPE contracts with mates on the VIP list.
One of their manifesto pledges was to do so and they're recruiting 100 civil servants to work on it.
It's happening, but it takes time.

I want to rejoin the EU, but it's no longer a case of saying we want back in. We have to apply to rejoin and they look at the application - we might have to join the Euro this time and so on. To get us closer to this position starts with Starmer talking to Germany and France, which he's doing this week. Baby steps, but definitely steps.

I absolutely want them to address the imbalance of the rich and the poor.
They need to look at sensible ways to do this, but you can't just add a tax to anyone who wears a monocle, because they must be rich.

The thought of paying more tax seems to bring a kneejerk reaction from the nation, but taxes are how they raise funds.
I'll be looking carefully at what tax increases are being made in the next budget, but they have to do something to get us back on track.

Labour have only been in power, what 50 days? They've got a short-term plan to prop up their long-term ones, so let's see how they play out first.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I absolutely want them to address the imbalance of the rich and the poor.
They need to look at sensible ways to do this, but you can't just add a tax to anyone who wears a monocle, because they must be rich.

Chimp, where the hell did I ever say that??

No, you quite obviously cannot do that. But it is LONG overdue that the wealthiest in this country start paying their fairshare instead of constantly benefitting from tax breaks and loopholes while those less well off foot the bill time and again. If they don't like that? Let them **** off to Saudi and see if they truly like it there better.

The thought of paying more tax seems to bring a kneejerk reaction from the nation, but taxes are how they raise funds. I'll be looking carefully at what tax increases are being made in the next budget, but they have to do something to get us back on track.

Yeah, it's almost like people who aren't minted are sick and tired of being asked to be out of pocket for the ****ups of the people in power while the richest get off scott free again and again. I cannot understand why working people are pissed at that. They should really just bow down, shave their living standards down to less than sh1t and eat gruel.

[QualityChimp]

Chimp, where the hell did I ever say that??

I never said that you did. I would have quoted you and replied.

My post wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, I stated that it was just my thoughts on where I stand.

I previously asked what methods people would use to raise funds and although I agree we need to tax the rich, reverse Brexit and not increase the tax burden of the nation, I'm trying to take a pragmatic approach and look how the current Government can approach these issues.

I totally agree that there needs to be a proper system where the "haves" help the "have nots", but as a nation, we need to be able to do our part and those who can pay their taxes are able to do so and understand all the services that taxes pay for. Everyone has to do their bit.

I just keep going back to this cartoon:

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/aug/30/james-cleverly-accused-aggravating-uk-asylum-backlog-crisis

[fishbowlhead]

I never said that you did. I would have quoted you and replied.

My post wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, I stated that it was just my thoughts on where I stand.

I previously asked what methods people would use to raise funds and although I agree we need to tax the rich, reverse Brexit and not increase the tax burden of the nation, I'm trying to take a pragmatic approach and look how the current Government can approach these issues.

I totally agree that there needs to be a proper system where the "haves" help the "have nots", but as a nation, we need to be able to do our part and those who can pay their taxes are able to do so and understand all the services that taxes pay for. Everyone has to do their bit.

I just keep going back to this cartoon:

Honestly, I REALLY thought the country would realise this before they voted Labour in? But clearly not. There is SOOOOOOOO much catastrophic systemic damage done by the Tory/Cons that it’s an almost impossible task to actually sort out, even in 2 terms, if ever.

To actually sort the country out politicians really need to be eradicated and a new system put in place, one where the country is actually run correctly for the actual country as a whole to benefit, not a few politicians and their pals to rape and plunder.

While we have greedy stupid little people running the show nothing will ever change or get done/sorted.

[fishbowlhead]

I see Labour also want to introduce a 4 day working week for employees, ontop of day1 same rights as long term employees & a right to work from home.

Na, your ok, think I’ll just invest in more automation instead of jobs for people that need wages, but thanks anyway Labour.

[egparadigm]

Apparently it’s about condensed hours rather than fewer. So 37h in 4 days rather than 5.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Apparently it’s about condensed hours rather than fewer. So 37h in 4 days rather than 5.

Correct.

My current workplace does this but it's at management's discretion ie. there has to be a justifiable reason for it.

Employers need to stop fighting the fact that working from home and flexible working arrangements (where possible) are here to stay. It's better for everybody all round.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Honestly, I REALLY thought the country would realise this before they voted Labour in? But clearly not. There is SOOOOOOOO much catastrophic systemic damage done by the Tory/Cons that it’s an almost impossible task to actually sort out, even in 2 terms, if ever.

To actually sort the country out politicians really need to be eradicated and a new system put in place, one where the country is actually run correctly for the actual country as a whole to benefit, not a few politicians and their pals to rape and plunder.

While we have greedy stupid little people running the show nothing will ever change or get done/sorted.

Nobody is saying that there isn't issues to sort out from the last fourteen years, but continuing austerity with a Labour flavour is absolute bullsh1t and everybody here knows it.

Funding Israel and Ukraine and immediately offering Public Sector workers better pay absolutely proves that money is there and it is batsh1t insane that people are still trying to deny this.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I never said that you did. I would have quoted you and replied.

My post wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, I stated that it was just my thoughts on where I stand.

I previously asked what methods people would use to raise funds and although I agree we need to tax the rich, reverse Brexit and not increase the tax burden of the nation, I'm trying to take a pragmatic approach and look how the current Government can approach these issues.

I totally agree that there needs to be a proper system where the "haves" help the "have nots", but as a nation, we need to be able to do our part and those who can pay their taxes are able to do so and understand all the services that taxes pay for. Everyone has to do their bit.

I just keep going back to this cartoon:

The thing is, working people don't actually mind paying taxes on the whole as long as they are getting value for what they're paying for. Despite the OP's idiotic and tiresome Devil's Advocate routine, the reality is that taxes continually went up under fourteen years of Tory rule. What value did working people get for those rising taxes?? NHS?? Local Council services??

Let's be clear: Sunak promising to cut taxes wasn't to benefit the electorate that he was begging to keep him in power. It was the means with which to end state benefits and pensions in the long-term.

[fishbowlhead]

Nobody is saying that there isn't issues to sort out from the last fourteen years, but continuing austerity with a Labour flavour is absolute bullsh1t and everybody here knows it.

Funding Israel and Ukraine and immediately offering Public Sector workers better pay absolutely proves that money is there and it is batsh1t insane that people are still trying to deny this.

I don’t agree with Isreal they’ve absolutely lost the plot.

But, Ukraine is absolutely essential to keep funding, absolutely essential on every level, and NATO should be doing a lot more, including boots on the ground or assassinating Putin, whichever get s the job done quicker.

You just can’t allow tyrants to do as they please.

[Nu-Eclipse]

But, Ukraine is absolutely essential to keep funding, absolutely essential on every level, and NATO should be doing a lot more, including boots on the ground or assassinating Putin, whichever get s the job done quicker.

You just can’t allow tyrants to do as they please.

Be all of that as it may, it is ****ing awful optics when kids are starving in the world's sixth richest economy because the two-child benefit cap still exists.

I'm going to keep saying it because it is true: the money to change sh1t like that and quickly make other positive short-term changes is there.