Rachel Reeves - Shadow Chancellor

[TIGHTCHOKE]

8 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, Not forgetting Mr Brown selling half our gold 🤔

ONLY HALF of OUR Gold?   

[oldypigeonpopper]

Just now, TIGHTCHOKE said:

ONLY HALF of OUR Gold?   

Hello, according to google🤔

[Yellow Bear]

11 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Not forgetting Mr Brown selling half our gold 

And robbed the pension funds before pontificating that people were not saving enough for retirement

[Newbie to this]

2 hours ago, Red696 said:

Go on name those “worse than others”, don’t leave those of us with short memories dangling

Labour

[Newbie to this]

24 minutes ago, amateur said:

My memory is that every post-war Labour government has left the economy in a much worse state than it inherited.

And before anybody writes that the current Conservatives aren't making much of a job of it, Covid, Ukraine and unfettered immigration (thanks to Blair) have all increased the problems.

Not to mention bankrupting the country, remember the note.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

28 minutes ago, Newbie to this said:

Not to mention bankrupting the country, remember the note.

Wasn't that Ed Balls?

[JohnfromUK]

6 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Good to see the Shadow Chancellor on the BBC this morning.

She is pontificating about getting people off benefits and back to work and cutting taxes.

I had to check she was the real Labour MP Rachel Reeves.

VERY strange.

The votes Labour need to gain are those that waver, but voted Tory last time.  What she is saying will appeal to them (that is assuming they believe her).  When (and I suspect it is when, not if) she becomes a part of the Gov't, presumably as Chancellor, she may well sing a different tune.

One of the strange things about politicians, all flavours, is that they all lie continuously ............ but expect people to believe them.

[Newbie to this]

51 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Wasn't that Ed Balls?

Liam Byrne

Dear Chief Secretary, I'm afraid there is no money. Kind regards – and good luck!

[Yellow Bear]

6 hours ago, Newbie to this said:

Same interview - she also said she has no control of her own finances, not in those words but....... more going out each month, than coming in!!!

Allegedly an economist, cannot manage here own budget for herself ( £80k++) and spouse, senior civil servant  (£125k+ at least), how would she cope as Chancellor

Edited March 7 by Yellow Bear

[Newbie to this]

4 minutes ago, Yellow Bear said:

Allegedly an economist, cannot manage here own budget for herself ( £80k++) and spouse, senior civil servant  (£125k+ at least), how would she cope as Chancellor

We're about to find out soon.

What I find just as unbelievable, is the interviewer didn't even pull her up on it 

[Yellow Bear]

4 minutes ago, Newbie to this said:

What I find just as unbelievable, is the interviewer didn't even pull her up on it 

As we all know "lefty woke MSM"  and the same for the so called "independent civil service"

As an aside just google her spouse  -  interesting position.

[Vince Green]

The trouble is that no party can control the pressures that are causing things like inflation, fuel prices, food prices, immigration etc. These are global issues. Other countries in Europe are facing the same pressures and are equally unable to control them.

Politicians across the world are now much more closely scrutinised by the media. For the most part, they are not coming out of it looking good. Virtually all of them are hopelessly incompetent 

 

[Mungler]

The Covid debacle and release of the text messages lifted the veil on our masters and betters - they are all incompetent buffoons who play at politics like a game. 

I wasn’t surprised that they weren’t as clever, organised or methodical as I had hoped but I was shocked at just how thick and reactionary they all were - especially the SNP.

Alas the political system needs a rethink but the people in charge will never do it because that’s turkeys voting for Xmas - most are PPE / law degree at university, into the party or some non job round the commons and off they head into the world of politics, never having done a proper days work, or ever having run a business, nicked out the VAT account one month for cash flow, risked their house for their business, broken up a fight at work etc. They are all so far removed from the real world it hurts. 

The reality is that anyone of quality or calibre who would be worthwhile in the work of politics or worthy of a position of power, doesn’t actually want it and couldn’t afford the pay cut - most will be earning way more in the real world and an MP’s salary wouldn’t cover the tax on their current earnings.

You look past the Labour front bench and it’s obvious Ming vase Kier is holding back a sea of loonies in waiting. Labour will get in and the next 5 years are going to be awful for anyone in work, earning money or with aspirations to hold onto any of what they have or have worked for - that’s socialism for you. It’s going to be a spend fest of our own money, but we will get no value. Let’s hope the Conservative Party use the next 5 years to re-stock the party with actual conservatives. 

Edited March 7 by Mungler

[JohnfromUK]

6 hours ago, Mungler said:

The Covid debacle and release of the text messages lifted the veil on our masters and betters - they are all incompetent buffoons who play at politics like a game. 

I wasn’t surprised that they weren’t as clever, organised or methodical as I had hoped but I was shocked at just how thick and reactionary they all were - especially the SNP.

Alas the political system needs a rethink but the people in charge will never do it because that’s turkeys voting for Xmas - most are PPE / law degree at university, into the party or some non job round the commons and off they head into the world of politics, never having done a proper days work, or ever having run a business, nicked out the VAT account one month for cash flow, risked their house for their business, broken up a fight at work etc. They are all so far removed from the real world it hurts. 

The reality is that anyone of quality or calibre who would be worthwhile in the work of politics or worthy of a position of power, doesn’t actually want it and couldn’t afford the pay cut - most will be earning way more in the real world and an MP’s salary wouldn’t cover the tax on their current earnings.

You look past the Labour front bench and it’s obvious Ming vase Kier is holding back a sea of loonies in waiting. Labour will get in and the next 5 years are going to be awful for anyone in work, earning money or with aspirations to hold onto any of what they have or have worked for - that’s socialism for you. It’s going to be a spend fest of our own money, but we will get no value. Let’s hope the Conservative Party use the next 5 years to re-stock the party with actual conservatives. 

/\. Good post.

[12gauge82]

On 07/03/2024 at 22:24, Mungler said:

The Covid debacle and release of the text messages lifted the veil on our masters and betters - they are all incompetent buffoons who play at politics like a game. 

I wasn’t surprised that they weren’t as clever, organised or methodical as I had hoped but I was shocked at just how thick and reactionary they all were - especially the SNP.

Alas the political system needs a rethink but the people in charge will never do it because that’s turkeys voting for Xmas - most are PPE / law degree at university, into the party or some non job round the commons and off they head into the world of politics, never having done a proper days work, or ever having run a business, nicked out the VAT account one month for cash flow, risked their house for their business, broken up a fight at work etc. They are all so far removed from the real world it hurts. 

The reality is that anyone of quality or calibre who would be worthwhile in the work of politics or worthy of a position of power, doesn’t actually want it and couldn’t afford the pay cut - most will be earning way more in the real world and an MP’s salary wouldn’t cover the tax on their current earnings.

You look past the Labour front bench and it’s obvious Ming vase Kier is holding back a sea of loonies in waiting. Labour will get in and the next 5 years are going to be awful for anyone in work, earning money or with aspirations to hold onto any of what they have or have worked for - that’s socialism for you. It’s going to be a spend fest of our own money, but we will get no value. Let’s hope the Conservative Party use the next 5 years to re-stock the party with actual conservatives. 

I hope the Conservative party use the next 5 years to disband and reassemble into an actual Conservative, functional opposition party, rather than the woke uni party it's become. I'm really hoping reform trash them come election time. The absolute state this country is in, is mostly because of the Conservatives, they've had years in power to sort this once Great country out, instead they've allowed a literal invasion of foreigners who have no allegiance to the country, pushed woke, politically correct idoligy, pushed crazy green agendas, imprisoned the country over a flu, forcing people into vaccinations, allowed our armed forces and critical infrastructure to crumble all while allowing the elite to stuff their pockets at the expense of the working masses, while telling us how great we've got it.

[amateur]

43 minutes ago, 12gauge82 said:

I hope the Conservative party use the next 5 years to disband and reassemble into an actual Conservative, functional opposition party, rather than the woke uni party it's become. I'm really hoping reform trash them come election time. The absolute state this country is in, is mostly because of the Conservatives, they've had years in power to sort this once Great country out, instead they've allowed a literal invasion of foreigners who have no allegiance to the country, pushed woke, politically correct idoligy, pushed crazy green agendas, imprisoned the country over a flu, forcing people into vaccinations, allowed our armed forces and critical infrastructure to crumble all while allowing the elite to stuff their pockets at the expense of the working masses, while telling us how great we've got it.

You have a short memory.

When Covid arrived, no-one really knew what it was, except that people died in large numbers. UK scientists found and distributed an effective vaccine in record time.

The immigration problem and the blocking measures used by the courts and civil service to thwart any government action was a Tony Blair policy.

All politicians line their and their cronies' pockets.

I can't disagree with you about defence, though.

[Wymondley]

38 minutes ago, 12gauge82 said:

I hope the Conservative party use the next 5 years to disband and reassemble into an actual Conservative, functional opposition party, rather than the woke uni party it's become. I'm really hoping reform trash them come election time. The absolute state this country is in, is mostly because of the Conservatives, they've had years in power to sort this once Great country out, instead they've allowed a literal invasion of foreigners who have no allegiance to the country, pushed woke, politically correct idoligy, pushed crazy green agendas, imprisoned the country over a flu, forcing people into vaccinations, allowed our armed forces and critical infrastructure to crumble all while allowing the elite to stuff their pockets at the expense of the working masses, while telling us how great we've got it.

Absolutely, I want the old Conservative party back with old Conservative values, what I suspect we'll get is a more gradual slide to the left to appeal to Labour voters.

Perhaps that's just the way of it, old Conservative values are for the old, and we're getting thinner on the ground now.

[12gauge82]

11 minutes ago, amateur said:

You have a short memory.

When Covid arrived, no-one really knew what it was, except that people died in large numbers. UK scientists found and distributed an effective vaccine in record time.

The immigration problem and the blocking measures used by the courts and civil service to thwart any government action was a Tony Blair policy.

All politicians line their and their cronies' pockets.

I can't disagree with you about defence, though.

To the contrary, I have a long memory. The reason this country is now broke from inflation is due to forcing the young, fit and well to needlessly stay at home, while paying furlough, it has effectively devalued the pound, look how well other countries that didn't over react with lock downs are now performing.

I agree Tony Blair and Labour started the immigration problem, but why haven't the Tories sorted it out? Like I said, they're virtually a Uni party, the only difference being the depth of **** they'll plunge the UK into compared to Labour.

[JohnfromUK]

16 minutes ago, Wymondley said:

Absolutely, I want the old Conservative party back with old Conservative values, what I suspect we'll get is a more gradual slide to the left to appeal to Labour voters.

Perhaps that's just the way of it, old Conservative values are for the old, and we're getting thinner on the ground now.

To get a Party of 'your views' in power as a Government, you need a near full set of candidates for General Election, - probably around 650 of them - funded and 'organised' by a 'party' structure to give consistency, organisation etc.

That party needs to win in around 315+ constituencies under our system (first past the post).  To get a win, you need to have policies that will cause probably an average of 15,000 to 20,000 votes for your candidate.  So broadly and approximately - you need to attract around 10-12 million people to vote for you.

There will be a significant portion of voters who will always vote for the same 'left' or 'right' party.  Always have, always will.  Its the people who are in the middle (called 'swing voters') who actually choose the winning candidate - hence it is to them your party must appeal.

Parties that are too far away from the central ground simply won't attract the votes of the swing voters.  It is a fine line to tread to satisfy both the swing voters (who are essential for a win) AND those on the left or right - and in general, those 'away from the centre (either way)' are more likely to be solid reliable voters (for whichever side), simply because they have had nowhere else to go.  

Hence the reason Sunak and Starmer both have to play for the middle ground.  It's those pesky 'swing voters' that they both have to attract.

Edited March 12 by JohnfromUK

[amateur]

53 minutes ago, 12gauge82 said:

.....I agree Tony Blair and Labour started the immigration problem, but why haven't the Tories sorted it out? Like I said, they're virtually a Uni party, the only difference being the depth of **** they'll plunge the UK into compared to Labour.

Blair filled the judiciary and civil service with lefties.

[udderlyoffroad]

48 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said:

Hence the reason Sunak and Starmer both have to play for the middle ground.  It's those pesky 'swing voters' that they both have to attract.

I suggest that thinking is somewhat dated.  Yes, Tony Blair realised elections were won in the centre, and dragged labour towards it, and thundered to 3 GE victories (including, those with short memories forget, one after Iraq).

However, New Labour was still recognisably of the left.  Whatever the current Tories are, they aren't conservative.  The 'unaparty' must be disbanded, and quickly.

Even a chancellor who reigns in HMRC's avariciousness would be a start  - colossal acts of self-harm that end up costing the taxpayer: taxing private landlords out of existence, red diesel, taxing chinese tourists to the hilt, Pick ups and now the non-doms thing.

58 minutes ago, 12gauge82 said:

The reason this country is now broke from inflation is due to forcing the young, fit and well to needlessly stay at home, while paying furlough, it has effectively devalued the pound, look how well other countries that didn't over react with lock downs are now performing.

Nail on the head.  Who green-lit this insanity?  Sunak, and somehow he became PM.

[12gauge82]

4 hours ago, amateur said:

Blair filled the judiciary and civil service with lefties.

Again agreed, but if it can be filled, it can be unfilled, so why haven't the Tories done so, it's not like they haven't had time to do so.

4 hours ago, udderlyoffroad said:

I suggest that thinking is somewhat dated.  Yes, Tony Blair realised elections were won in the centre, and dragged labour towards it, and thundered to 3 GE victories (including, those with short memories forget, one after Iraq).

However, New Labour was still recognisably of the left.  Whatever the current Tories are, they aren't conservative.  The 'unaparty' must be disbanded, and quickly.

Even a chancellor who reigns in HMRC's avariciousness would be a start  - colossal acts of self-harm that end up costing the taxpayer: taxing private landlords out of existence, red diesel, taxing chinese tourists to the hilt, Pick ups and now the non-doms thing.

Nail on the head.  Who green-lit this insanity?  Sunak, and somehow he became PM.

👍

[Penelope]

1 minute ago, 12gauge82 said:

Again agreed, but if it can be filled, it can be unfilled, so why haven't the Tories done so, it's not like they haven't had time to do so.

Because zay are obeying mine orders!!!

[12gauge82]

6 hours ago, Wymondley said:

Absolutely, I want the old Conservative party back with old Conservative values, what I suspect we'll get is a more gradual slide to the left to appeal to Labour voters.

Perhaps that's just the way of it, old Conservative values are for the old, and we're getting thinner on the ground now.

I'm not so sure, just look at the rise of reform, last time I checked, the polls were at something like 14% compared to the Cons 20%. That from a party that has come from nowhere, if the public support them at the ballot box, they could be the new Conservative party.

1 minute ago, Penelope said:

Because zay are obeying mine orders!!!

😂😂😂👍

[Mungler]

No one knows what the Reform party stands for. It doesn't matter though, every conservative I speak to wants the mechanism to show how manifestly unhappy they are with the current lot and that means voting Reform.

Many say a vote for Reform is just a vote that hastens Labour's victory, however, we are way beyond that and Labour are coming, like it or not.

The only chance the Torys have is some wholesale night of the long knives clear out, but the party is now stuffed full of liberal left leaning tory elite types, there's not enough conservatives to go around to re-stock the conservative party with err actual conservatives.

It's so frustrating - no one sane actually wants a Labour government, they are just so angry and want the current lot out at all costs.