Off Topic A new dawn

FellTop said:

Probably shouldnt but that made me laugh out loud.

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gelders pie said:

A New Dawn is the title of the thread. Yes a new dawn it is, but it’s the same sun every time.
Sir Keir Starmer (Labour Party) said a few days ago that he wanted to end the ‘north/south divide’
Just park that statement for a moment.
I’ve mentioned the following before, so apologies for those who’ve heard it, but there is an update at the end.
At the end of 2014, David Cameron and George Osborne (Conservative Party) visited ( for probably the only time), Northumberland ( gen election not that far away). With big smiles they banked their browny points on the strength of agreeing the dualling of the A1 from Morpeth to Ellingham (a colossal thirteen miles). It would be ready to drive on in 6 years and the £290m for it had been allocated and set aside and was sitting in a biscuit tin on the top shelf, ready to be spent when work would start.
Well the moon waxed and the moon waned , the seasons came and went, and 6 years later , the same govt were still constantly picking fault with the planning. A further 3 years of the same, perhaps they hoped it would be forgot about. But in early 2024 hero of the hour Rishi Sunak ( Conservative Party) visits Northumberland ( for probably the only time ) ( gen election approaching ) and with huge smiles says he has single handedly given the go ahead for work commencement. !
First batch of his Browny points please. Second batch is because this is a perfect example of us giving money from the HS2 cancellation to fund such a project.. Well that was a lie wasn’t it Rishi- but if you want to say absolutely yes - HS2 money was going to pay, then perhaps you could confirm what became of the £290m pounds in the biscuit tin. ?

Any road up (pardon pun), here’s the punch line. The Labour Party (remember Sir Keir at the top of the post) have just abandoned the dualling because now there’s no money. Other pending north east projects have also been thrown in the bin.
But he’s going to end the divide.
(like Boris was going to 'level up')

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cumbrianmackem said:

It's my understanding they're also going to ditch the A66 dualing which was promised by the last Government.
The money spent on preparation for these schemes is quite considerable and just washed away down the plughole. Cheaper to waste that money than spend to do the work.

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Saf said:

Wow


There is growing unease within the NHS about the government’s "broken" messaging, the BBC has learned.

Senior sources in the health service have told the BBC they believe some of the claims have gone too far - and may result in patients being put off seeking help and causing lasting damage to staff morale.

When Wes Streeting was made health secretary in England, he declared the NHS "broken" - a phrase he and others in government have used repeatedly since.

That has been followed up recently with claims cancer is a "death sentence" because of NHS failings, while maternity services "shame" the nation.

But the government said it was important "to be honest" about the scale of the challenge.

The revelations come ahead of Mr Streeting addressing the Labour Party conference in Liverpool later.

The BBC has spoken to senior people in the health service as well as officials within NHS England.

One hospital leader told the BBC: "We understand the politics of what the government is doing - they feel they need establish in the public’s mind what a difficult inheritance they have been given.

"It's something the Tories did very effectively in 2010 and even back in 1979 over the winter of discontent.

"But there's an increasing nervousness that if it continues much longer it could spook patients and make it really difficult to raise staff morale. Hope is important."

'Wrong tone'
Similar views are being expressed privately at NHS England. Sources there said officials had made the government aware of its concerns about the messaging and is monitoring the impact it is having on patients coming forward for check-ups and appointments.

"We are not seeing anything in the figures to suggest it's having an impact, but we are keeping a close eye on it," one source said.

Another hospital leader said: "If the government isn’t careful it will cause lasting damage. Yes, we know there are many problems, but there is also lots of great care out there that is not being recognised.

"We need to see a shift - the cancer death sentence phrasing strikes completely the wrong tone."

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The Norton Cat said:

This is concerning. It's true that public services are struggling though. I've got friends and family in the police, the NHS, and teaching and morale is low while the expectations put upon them from government is increasing all the time. The tone of negativity isn't helping anyone. Successive governments haven't understood the nature of the problems- while investment in these services is needed, they also need to be relieved of some of the extra pressures that are put upon them, which means investing in other public services. This government have completely failed to recognise that and have been making noises about increasing those pressures. To make the necessary investments, we need economic growth and I've seen several economists say that the tone of the government is preventing growth. I had expected things to be different with a change of government but I don't think they have any comprehension of what they need to do solve the country's problems. Constantly trying to blame the Conservatives is entirely self-serving- they claimed to have the solution but there is no sign of it yet.

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Brainy Dose said:

Agree with much of what you say,but not all. In my opinion,economic growth will not be achieved without the necessary investment in infrastructure. A separation needs to take place between funding for capital requirement and funding for service requirement. The abject failure to address this has existed for decades,amongst Govt of both parties, and trying to lay the blame on the last 14 years of Tory Govt.for the significant ills we face as a country at the present time,is,in my view, an utter failure to accept the task staring them in the face ....as you say,entirely self-serving and convenient.
I'm entirely surprised with the apparent confusion and weakness in this Govt.,which is only a few months in office.

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cumbrianmackem said:

a
Brainy....I'm not surprised at all, Starmer looked the part taking the p1ss out of Boris and the Tories in general.
Now he is in the hot seat and is acting like his arse is permanently on fire...clueless doesn't even come close.

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cumbrianmackem said:

This vote was put back to today when Starmer had left conference for matters abroad.
Don't think there's any coincidence in these two things happening as they did.
He's now being boxed in by his mates from the unions, it's like a decorator painting himself into a corner.

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rooch 3 said:

I love it when their own paymasters tell them they are s hit.
Do you think we’ll here from the Labour luvvies now, or,
Total Silence

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The Norton Cat said:

This is concerning. It's true that public services are struggling though. I've got friends and family in the police, the NHS, and teaching and morale is low while the expectations put upon them from government is increasing all the time. The tone of negativity isn't helping anyone. Successive governments haven't understood the nature of the problems- while investment in these services is needed, they also need to be relieved of some of the extra pressures that are put upon them, which means investing in other public services. This government have completely failed to recognise that and have been making noises about increasing those pressures. To make the necessary investments, we need economic growth and I've seen several economists say that the tone of the government is preventing growth. I had expected things to be different with a change of government but I don't think they have any comprehension of what they need to do solve the country's problems. Constantly trying to blame the Conservatives is entirely self-serving- they claimed to have the solution but there is no sign of it yet.

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