Dr Strangelove (how I learned to stop worrying and love Boris)

[Smug in Boots]

January saw a budget surplus for the UK. Around 12bn better than analysts predicted. Looks like costs of energy support are going to be lower overall too. The smallest of small green shoots hopefully...

All of these things are obviously good and welcome.

Unfortunately budget surplus, pound against the dollar, share performance, etc, doesn't make the public feel any better.

People are currently living in a perpetual period akin to that awful limbo between Christmas and New Year ...

... it's all been fun with lots to eat and drink, fun and games, parties, etc, but now feeling flat, wondering how to pay the bills and what the future will bring.

 

[FellTop]

All of these things are obviously good and welcome.

Unfortunately budget surplus, pound against the dollar, share performance, etc, doesn't make the public feel any better.

People are currently living in a perpetual period akin to that awful limbo between Christmas and New Year ...

... it's all been fun with lots to eat and drink, fun and games, parties, etc, but now feeling flat, wondering how to pay the bills and what the future will bring.

It certainly isnt a short term boost mate. We wont get any of it in our pocket next week. What it does mean is the light at the end of the tunnell is a tiny bit brighter. It should mean we feel better sooner than perhaps would otherwise be the case is all. I will take any positive economic indicators going right now tbh. And there are some small gains happening, albeit from a low base.

It will be interesting to see if Hunt uses this as a means to give a bit back next Month, either in terms of planning tax cuts, or spending more. I would perhaps hope not, we are still have a long road ahead, but it must be tempting to try and get some brownie points. Maybe the forecast lower cost of energy support schemes may tempt him to re-allocate that money.

 

[The Exile II]

Read that as because you objected to the dentist you ended up with high blood pressure resulting in swollen ankles and crampy feet.

He wasn't cancelled, see above.

He would have been in 2020 and 2021. Doctors, virologists and other scientists had their funding cut and were ostracised for pursuing anything that didn't adhere to the political narrative that had overtaken the scientific work into the virus.

Remember when you could definitely catch it outside? The scientific investigations moved way faster than the politics but were then stifled so difficult questions could be avoided.

Now it's ok to talk about it, for entirely medical reasons and not at all because it's not Trump saying it

 

[Smug in Boots]

It certainly isnt a short term boost mate. We wont get any of it in our pocket next week. What it does mean is the light at the end of the tunnell is a tiny bit brighter. It should mean we feel better sooner than perhaps would otherwise be the case is all. I will take any positive economic indicators going right now tbh. And there are some small gains happening, albeit from a low base.

It will be interesting to see if Hunt uses this as a means to give a bit back next Month, either in terms of planning tax cuts, or spending more. I would perhaps hope not, we are still have a long road ahead, but it must be tempting to try and get some brownie points. Maybe the forecast lower cost of energy support schemes may tempt him to re-allocate that money.

Part of the problem, for me, is that the Government keeps talking about Billions. They're always either investing billions, saving billions or writing off billions. That may sound good for the stock market or the banks but nurses and ambulance drivers want to hear about a few quid extra in their wage packets.

This current administration wants to be seen as tough but just appears to lack compassion ...

... their TV interviews don't help tbh.

 

[The Exile II]

SNP leadership race going as well as could be expected.

 

[Sunderpitt]

Part of the problem, for me, is that the Government keeps talking about Billions. They're always either investing billions, saving billions or writing off billions. That may sound good for the stock market or the banks but nurses and ambulance drivers want to hear about a few quid extra in their wage packets.

This current administration wants to be seen as tough but just appears to lack compassion ...

... their TV interviews don't help tbh.

Stock market reaching new heights, perhaps pay workers in shares?

 

[FellTop]

Stock market reaching new heights, perhaps pay workers in shares?

Fallen today I think. We do need a strong stock market for our pensions though, so fingers crossed.

PMI indexes today looking promising too. Four points higher than forecast and over 50 for the first time in 9 months or so. Business confidence indicators improving a little too. Maybe, just maybe, we will avoid this long recession predicted, fingers crossed.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Boris Johnson delivered Brexit boasting he was going to secure our borders.

Priti Patel was going to send in the Royal Navy gunboats to repel the dinghies.

Suella Braverman had a dream of rounding up the illegal immigrants and sending them off to Africa.

So many proud boasts, claims and promises ...

... and now they're fighting immigration by asking them if they'd mind filling in a questionnaire before they're given a council house and a range of benefits

FFS man, just when you think they couldn't embarrass themselves more

 

[DH4]

Boris Johnson delivered Brexit boasting he was going to secure our borders.

Priti Patel was going to send in the Royal Navy gunboats to repel the dinghies.

Suella Braverman had a dream of rounding up the illegal immigrants and sending them off to Africa.

So many proud boasts, claims and promises ...

... and now they're fighting immigration by asking them if they'd mind filling in a questionnaire before they're given a council house and a range of benefits

FFS man, just when you think they couldn't embarrass themselves more

Populist claptrap that was lapped up by Daily Mail readers and the blue rinse brigade. I would hazard a guess that the vast majority of "Brexit" voters did so in the belief it would reduce immigration, (I believe it is too high myself). The fact that it has got much, much worse tells you everything you need to know about the honesty, integrity and competency of this version of Tories.

 

[FellTop]

Economic forecasts now suggesting inflation down to below 2% by Oct / Nov. A few more fairy lights on at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Populist claptrap that was lapped up by Daily Mail readers and the blue rinse brigade. I would hazard a guess that the vast majority of "Brexit" voters did so in the belief it would reduce immigration, (I believe it is too high myself). The fact that it has got much, much worse tells you everything you need to know about the honesty, integrity and competency of this version of Tories.

Despite all the boasts the numbers waiting to be vetted just keeps going up and no one is ever sent back. If they never send them back then why bother vetting them at all.

It's just very poor, all of it.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Economic forecasts now suggesting inflation down to below 2% by Oct / Nov. A few more fairy lights on at the end of the tunnel.

Bank of England reckoned 4% yesterday and added ....

... 'as people have less money to spend, we expect there to be less demand for goods and services in the UK.'

Still, it's a step in the right direction.

 

[FellTop]

Bank of England reckoned 4% yesterday and added ....

... 'as people have less money to spend, we expect there to be less demand for goods and services in the UK.'

Still, it's a step in the right direction.

Every baby step counts mate. I want more, dont we all, but from the low point I have to say I thought we were 18 months away from those sorts of numbers. I will take any crumb of comfort. I have lads trying to make their way in early adulthood and they have it rotten.

 

[FellTop]

I was pleased to see Starmer outline some of his plans for first term govt. He got a kicking in places for ditching the pledges he stood on in part, including from his own party. I have no problem with MPs changing direction, so long as it is in the public interest. If they never changed direction, or u-turned as the media unhelpfully calls it, we would be in a much sorrier state.

I liked much of his so called mission statememt. Sounded a bit 'tory-esque' that phrase, but that seems to be the world we live in. 5 elements all very well founded. 1 that piqued my interest though was his 1st term targets for economic growth. My first personal reaction was 'you are in dreamworld pal, that is impossible'. I have since read a lot of reaction that agrees. He will achieve something never done by this country post WW2, with a far lesser capability set. All seems quite fanciful, but...

I am of the opinion that targets should be set at the highest possible level. Set a target at the maximum possible you can imagime, then hit 80% and you can be sure you deliver big time. The problem he might has is the media will call that a failure and public opinion will be influenced. The intelligent amongst us will see it as a great success. I applaud him for it, I just hope he avoids it being a rod for his back.

On a suspicious side note I thought Rayner looked like she was unimpressed in the audience, a bit sour I thought. I might be wrong, but I think there is a bitter power struggle in the future once Labour are in power. Hope I am wrong, had enough of that with this govt to last a lifetime.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Every baby step counts mate. I want more, dont we all, but from the low point I have to say I thought we were 18 months away from those sorts of numbers. I will take any crumb of comfort. I have lads trying to make their way in early adulthood and they have it rotten.

And that's what troubles me mate, I can look after myself.

But, after twelve years of government, there's few signs of any progress. Brexit now means our young people can no longer just go to France or Italy or Germany to work and expand their horizons. We'll become an introverted little island again thinking of our Commonwealth and how superior we are.

I don't think we've done the future generations any favours ...

... I really hope I'm wrong.

 

[FellTop]

I was pleased to see Starmer outline some of his plans for first term govt. He got a kicking in places for ditching the pledges he stood on in part, including from his own party. I have no problem with MPs changing direction, so long as it is in the public interest. If they never changed direction, or u-turned as the media unhelpfully calls it, we would be in a much sorrier state.

I liked much of his so called mission statememt. Sounded a bit 'tory-esque' that phrase, but that seems to be the world we live in. 5 elements all very well founded. 1 that piqued my interest though was his 1st term targets for economic growth. My first personal reaction was 'you are in dreamworld pal, that is impossible'. I have since read a lot of reaction that agrees. He will achieve something never done by this country post WW2, with a far lesser capability set. All seems quite fanciful, but...

I am of the opinion that targets should be set at the highest possible level. Set a target at the maximum possible you can imagime, then hit 80% and you can be sure you deliver big time. The problem he might has is the media will call that a failure and public opinion will be influenced. The intelligent amongst us will see it as a great success. I applaud him for it, I just hope he avoids it being a rod for his back.

On a suspicious side note I thought Rayner looked like she was unimpressed in the audience, a bit sour I thought. I might be wrong, but I think there is a bitter power struggle in the future once Labour are in power. Hope I am wrong, had enough of that

 

[Daz]

What the **** is wrong with the people running our country? I seriously think they are trying their best to make every “normal” person in the country despise them. So out of touch it’s frightening.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ey-says-struggling-food-bills-work-hours.html

 

[FellTop]

What the **** is wrong with the people running our country? I seriously think they are trying their best to make every “normal” person in the country despise them. So out of touch it’s frightening.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ey-says-struggling-food-bills-work-hours.html

Horrendous comments. Suggest she needs upskilling

 

[DH4]

What the **** is wrong with the people running our country? I seriously think they are trying their best to make every “normal” person in the country despise them. So out of touch it’s frightening.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ey-says-struggling-food-bills-work-hours.html

The millionaires and billionaires in the Tory government are blissfully unaware of the struggles of the people they work for because it does not affect them in the slightest. If you have £ millions in the bank and are in receipt of at least £1,618 per week how can you empathise with someone on minimum wage of £300 per week and nowt in the bank? Still the turkeys voted for Xmas so presumably are happy with their lot and are still tugging their forelocks to their lords and masters, as they know best

 

[Sunderpitt]

You must log in or register to see images

 

[Smug in Boots]

What the **** is wrong with the people running our country? I seriously think they are trying their best to make every “normal” person in the country despise them. So out of touch it’s frightening.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ey-says-struggling-food-bills-work-hours.html

People in impoverished situations spend every waking minute wondering how they can,

A) Tighten their belts

B) Make a bit of extra money, find a benefit they're entitled to but missed.

C) Make what they have go a little further

D) Sell anything they can manage without

E) Beg work for extra hours, more money or help with transport/childcare/work clothes/etc

They don't need some patronising out of touch crone telling them how their grandmother used to take in laundry to help pay the bills.

How demoralising it must be to hear someone like her make it all sounds so easy