I'd just like to see a bit of calm, fewer ridiculous Sunak-style promises and a step back from the grandiose schemes. When Johnson was declaring everything he touched as 'world class' he certainly wasn't talking about organisation, forward planning and a clear plan ... throw in promises of 'a high wage high employment society' and demands for a new Royal Yacht or whatever and it was clearly all talk and no substance. In my view the home secretary and chancellor need to be on top of their game and give the public, industry and foreign investors something to believe in and work towards. As an example HS2 has cost the country massive credibility. It was like bringing an expensive piece of Ikea home, starting to build the middle but forgetting both ends, getting in a mess, buying expensive tools to help then giving up and throwing it all in the skip. Then not telling the wife for three weeks when she already knew
That just isn’t true, there may well have been cash held by the treasury from the sale of Rail/Post Office/Oil/Electricity/Gas/Water and Council Houses etc, but an economy is more than just money in the bank. As it happens there wasn't enough money in the bank to rebuild the infrastructure decimated by 18 years of Tory neglect and lack of investment and Blair was forced to use PFI contracts to rebuild infrastructure and invest in education and the NHS.
To be fair I never mentioned money in the bank. The economy was in a strong position when they landed. Since black wednesday in 1992 the economy had recovered steadily - unemployment was falling, the economy was growing, the pound was strong. Importantly too debt as a %of GDP was low, c30% if memory serves. It is now close to 100%. The low debt inherited by Labour gave them headroom to borrow. They dont have that luxury this time around.
The economy was that good that in 1997 the treasury told the then Health Secretary Alan Milburn that if they wanted to build hospitals they would need to use PFI contracts because there was no money to spend on infrastructure.
In your own words there is more to an economy than money in the bank. Brown stuck with Tory spending plans for 2 years because he knew the trajectory was good and was creating significant room to borrow and invest. My point is it does not appear they have the same thing to look forward to this time. I hope beyond hope they have the right end of it because as it stands the picture for this country looks bleak.
You are absolutely right about that. My point about our economy in 1997 is that claims of it's health were misleading. The lack of investment in capital projects and the reduced income from selling off the income streams, meant that the necessary investment in infrastructure, NHS and education were virtually impossible.
Labour saying they'll ignore local opposition to housebuilding. Not a good idea. Perhaps we could ignore the ones who just don't want more people, but listen to the ones saying a mass influx of people where there's no infrastructure to support them won't work?
The problem with our great country is we have been taken over by corporations and private firms even if we don't realise it. Our first nuclear power station in a generation is being built by EDF a French firm The last 2 ships built for the Navy were built in France Northumbrian water owned by some billionaire from Hong Kong Documentary looks into billionaire owner of Northumbrian Water - Chronicle Live Private firms now doing more and more work on behalf of the NHS this country is no longer ours and if I had the time I would point to the sales of post office and British telecom among others. I despair at people arguing about which party is better than the other as the politicians in this country have failed us all for decades and continue to backstab and squabble with each other for some false feeling of superiority. FFS they should fix the problems and stop arguing about fault like a bunch of over entitled school kids. Daily Rant Over really should not look at this thread lol
Water, gas, electric. British Rail, British Steel, British Coal, British Shipbuilders, BP, Rolls Royce, British Telecom, Royal Mail, Post Office, British Airways all privatised under the Tories. As well as deregulation of National bus network. An unmitigated disaster akin to Donald and Salmon Pants selling owt that didn't move during their tenure at SAFC. Both asset stripping leaving the seller at the mercy of private vultures taking the eyes out of citizens and taxpayers then coming back for the sockets.
You missed off air traffic control... If anyone doesnt think the aggressive use of PFI, the legacy of which is still felt, wasnt a form of privatisation I would be genuinely interested to hear the logic. I work closely with local labour councills on a local issue close to my heart, and PFI contracts are a nightmare. Blair all but stood for re-election on that policy. I doubt even Lamont, when he brought in PFI, thought it would be so extensively used.
Braverman, and others, have criticised the fire brigade, for raising concerns about this ridiculous idea ... ... I just wonder how Braverman thinks 500 terrified people could flee a blaze while 50 equipment laden firemen attempt to board. I could imagine it might be a little tricky on a dark rainy night ... ... any doubters might ask if they ever thought a multistorey car park would catch fire and collapse.
The govt have completely and utterly the plot when it comes to housing these people. It is one hair brain scheme after another, with apparently no intelligene applied. I keep thinking they have come uo with the daftest idea, then they beat it next time.
If I am honest Smug I worked in the Shetlands where workers were housed on this barge or one very similar for weeks on end in Lerwick Harbour and whilst they said it was not the best they managed. But they were working seven days a week so only had to have one meal a day and sleep there so not sure it would be great 24 hrs a day
I've had worse accommodation but happy in the knowledge that I was earning, it was temporary and I had a guaranteed future. I'd also say that this craft was built to house less than half the 500 and was used at Shetland as such. A quick glance at that photo is enough to make me concerned about evacuating in an emergency.
FWIW I think Starmer will steady the titanic we have now which is dominated by rich idiots with no empathy. I don’t think he will have the vision to oversee the change society requires. Hoping that some of the self made wealthy on here and elsewhere who are ****ting it they might have to pay fair tax to help the vulnerable have to pay tax to help the vulnerable, alongside the uber rich.
