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.
Really important point this. They claim to be resetting the economy. This model of doing so requires them to write of investment already made. In other words throwing away tax payer money. It is a poor attempt at resetting in my opinion. I wonder what the impact assessment shows the impacts of these decisions to be. Oh hang, Labour dont do impact assessments on things like winter fuel cuts so I doubt they do them for small beer like this. Having a pint with my usual group of pals at the weekend. Politics often on the agenda. Broad mix of views. On said I cant remember a more depressing start to a new govt than this one. It was hard to disagree, and I tried to think of how.
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."
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.
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.
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.
Totally agree mate. Every one of us can see the problems....they face us every day! Is he going to be able to man up and deal with it.....he's already kicked the issue of adult social care down the road....exactly as BJ did! Are we really going to get meaningful solutions to our massive problems.....or more of the same,just masked under a different umbrella?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...payments-vote-labour-conference-b2618586.html Although not binding this is a blow for the Government. It will be interesting to see what action the Unions take if there is not a rethink.
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.
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
He clearly knew the outcome, shat his pants and scurried away. Sadly they all have this thread on ignore.
Being on holiday in Tenerife at the minute means I'm not keeping up to date with UK news, but it probably wouldn't change my view anyway. I'll wait until the budget next month, see the full package, and have a look at what the OBR and IFS have to say (I've a lot of time for what that Paul Johnson has to say).
I think it is pretty clear they havent got a clue how to sort the mess we are in out. They had years in opposition to come up with plans but seemingly did nothing. I used to get told on the Boris thread they didnt need to show plans when in opposition. This was always a poor stance to take as it meant voting on blind trust. And here we are, another govt voted in who dont understand their job, and clearly enjoying the gravy train. It is madenning to say the least. When Streeting says the NHS is broken he is weakening that service. He does not understand the impact of his words. When he has it explained to him he doubles down. That worries me. He worries me. That whole front bench worries me. I have said for years we need fundamental political change in this country. Handing overwhelming power to one party every x number of years consistently fails us, and has for decades. This lot are already proving the cycle again.
30 plus prisoners released by mistake. Barmy isnt it. I get the sense this new govt are putting demonstrable change, ahead of effective change. My advice to them is they have 5 years, take stock, be realistic, assess choices and act with intelligence based on evidence. They are acting like a kid in a sweety shop with no idea how much pocket money they have but buying everything they like anyway.
I notice Mr XYZ is not invited to the UK investment summit. Well done Labour in this respect. I would rather his influence is very much limited.
Two Tier and his freebies (there's more). This is a snapshot from the BBC website: That's a decent amount of freebies for a wealthy man. Sleazy as **** this inept Government
