What we need to see is all of the centre and left/progressive parties acting together and putting up joint candidates in Sunderland. Reform will get about 33% of the vote, but if the vote against them is split four ways they will take the council. Time for grown up politics to take centre stage to protect the improvement we have seen over the last decade, since Miller was elected leader. I know he isn’t leader anymore but the current council, including the Lib Dem’s and even the local Tories would not want to see this progress put at risk.
20minutes down the road in Hartlepool there is a massive jobs boost. Both lots in touching distance of Sunderland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8rev045xgo.amp
My own Mam: saying she voted for Brexit and started going on about growing our own crops and providing our own food. It was December at the time and she was eating a pavlova she'd made that was decorated with strawberries and blueberries. Aye good luck Mam growing strawberries and blueberries here in December
The problem is there's not much grown up politics, especially at local level. The Lib Dems have spent most of the time over the last couple of decades playing "yah boo sucks" politics and trying to score points rather than present an alternative argument about running the city well. Half the time they seem more interested in getting a few photo ops for Niall Hodson than actually coming up with ideas on how the city can be improved and run. Most of the Tories are pretty much on the right wing of the party anyway and aren't too far from Reform in their attitudes. They'd be unlikely to support a Labour or Lib/Lab alliance or grand alliance council purely on petty party political grounds, regardless of what the alternative is. Politicians should be challenged, but it shouldn't be opposition for oppositions sake, it needs to be constructive. Sadly there's too much immature politics about.
I’m a computer programmer. I can ask ChatGPT “how do I do x in this programming language” gives me a copy and paste of code!! Terrifying. It’s one of the reasons I am hoping redundancy happens in the next 18 months or so!!
Some fair points but was the last labour government that bad? Record shortest nhs waiting lists, class sizes under 30 and the minimum wage off the top of my head. Can anyone list 3 Tory achievements after 14 years of government? Record immigration, cutting 40,000 police officers and record foodbanks?
Listing 3 tory achievements is only hard if you are blinkered or dont pay enough attention. Same goes if you cant list the numerous failings of the Blair era. For arguments sake. 1. Funding and rapid rollout of covid vaccine. 2. Lowest unemployment rate since the 70s and National Living Wage. 3. Significant education system improvements. 20% more schools than under Labour rated good. Highest % of disadvantaged going to universities. Online safety act.
The national living wage seemed to be used as a dig at labour when in debate. You gave them minimum wage, were going to give them something which should mean the same but call it something else! We’re not making it mandatory though! Not sure that’s a success! Agree with the other 2 points. Although a vaccine which had to be shelved due to side effects (including death) was poor, but they had no choice and had to follow what they were told.
It's how to combat Reform that bothers me. How to undermine them and encourage would-be voters to see that their solutions are, in equal parts, pie in the sky and dangerous. Mob-mentality is difficult to counteract.
The national living wage is mandatory. It is also different to the minimum wage as it is for those over 21 and a higher rate. A common sense addition to the minimum wage which remains important to younger workers. There is something called the living wage, which is voluntary but not a government thing. It is advocated for by The Living Wage society.
By not ****ing up at every step when you’re in power. If both of the major parties look like they’re constantly letting the country down then people will vote for change and they will be the third option as much as some won’t accept that.
I am not wedded to any particular party anymore. I grew up as a Labour man but am no longer a guaranteed supporter. Blair saw to that. I vote depending on policies alone now, and largely those that will give my kids who are entering adulthood the best chance. That said, the current state of our political system and those who put themselves forward seem to me to be at a very low ebb indeed.
Covid? 10,000s of unnecessary deaths whilst the Health Secretary was shaghing his mistress or how about pissed up parties whilst the Queen mourned her husband. Sunak fetching daft schemes in against medical advice. Johnson wasn’t as bad as Liz Truss il give you that but it isn’t much of an achievement Record foodbanks Record immigration Record child poverty Record crime A failing economy Record taxation and borrowing some legacy for this government to clean up like the Blair government had to do too in 1997.
I agree. The people who need to stop reform are the other political parties. I dont blame folk for looking for an alternative when the tried and tested big two continue to be abject failures. Labour need to step up big time in the next 3 years. They need to lead with a huge slics of pragmatism and honesty. They need to stop whining about 14 years of tory and focus on their 5 years of opportunity. We need something to believe in. Then we may well avoid a Reform govt. The tories need to sort their own house out. They need to focus on solid alternative policies and well argued and cohesive plans. They need to show they have left the Johnson era behind by behaiving with humility and a degree of gravitas. They may well take back some of their vote lost to reform. These are the ways we should seek to stop a reform government. Not by calling out voters who are shifting to them. For me anyway.
Definitely. The same thought crossed my mind that, as you and Fell say, it's the failure of modern politics that's allowed Reform to grow as much. Needs Labour / Conservatives to get their act together. The economic difficulties, cost of living, etc is a worldwide phenomenon I think, though, and is a driver along with increased immigration globally. The UK government could handle these better of course.
Make your mind up. You asked for 3 positives. If the funding for the vaccine and speed of rollout was not successful say so. But dont respond by changing the debate to suit your narrative. I could probably note down 50 terrible tory decions and 50 terrible labour ones in the last 25 years. But at least I would be balanced...
