An excellent, if thoroughly depressing summary yet again Ian. Reform voters hate Labour and most don’t care about the racists leading the party so aren’t going to be swayed by anything Labour does. Nothing in Labour will change while Glasman, McSweeney & Starmer are in charge and realistically none of the alternatives to Starmer will turn the Blue Labour Titanic. And they haven’t even got the guts to quit Twitter. The Tories are toast with or without Badenoch. Ed Davey & co are still tainted by their time in coalition, the SNP and Plaid aren’t going to influence UK wide politics and, as today’s Guardian article shows Your Party are a disaster of truly epic proportions. The only crack where a little light gets in is Zack Polanski and the Greens and it’s interesting that the £100k crowdfunder launched today for local election campaigning will meet its target in a few hours. But it’s hard to see past the prospect of populism winning Reform a majority at the next election, total incompetence resulting in them losing the next one to the centre, all of the UK’s problems ( social care, SEND, climate, legal system, defence, health, manufacturing) then coming home to roost and the oligarchs and the very far right reaping the reward. Maybe someone could write a graphic novel about it all and call it something like “ V for Vendetta”.
If you see the charlatan “Hypnotits” as a ray of light I suggest you rub your eyes and look again - mindless leftwing populism can be just as damaging as right wing populism
While right wing commentators wasted little time in switching from fellator to critic as the occupancy of No.10 changed, it would appear the rest are simply still addicted to complaint as they berate what is a clearly better administration for not being almost perfect.
Let's face it, twas ever thus, that's how the left roll.
People say Labour Ministers are getting tetchy. With the seemingly constant complaints from all angles I don't blame them. I have my own issues with the influence that Blue Labour holds, and the piss poor comms in general, but that doesn't mean Starmer & Co are not infinitely better than the alternative.
There were signs of a shift left in this budget. Let's embrace and nurture it rather than strangle it for not being left enough.
'Clearly a better administration for not being perfect'? Comedy gold there...
Lets have a closer look then shall we? Education. No change from Sunaks govt of any significance whatsoever, and teachers are already fed up with the govt because of this. Read any article by experts in education, and all you see is disappointment with lack of change, lack of clarity, and of course, lack of any new money. Indeed, the only important changes in the wind, a new NatCurric for example, have been met with despair, and the proposal to scrap the EHCP is right out of the Reform, never mind the Tory playbook.
Health. Any health minister praised by right wing Tory back benchers for his proposals to increase privatisation and allowing of US Medical Corporations to get involved in our NHS, is no different from his predecessors - and that's what happened to spiv Streeting. Ludicrous targets now linked to future pay rises has crushed initial goodwill there.
Benefits. The usual cuts, targeted at the disabled, surrounded by the usual vile language that we've heard over the last fourteen years. No difference at all, if anything worse than the Tories. Removing the two child cap does not, in any way atone for the hard right rhetoric and cuts the Labour govt has produced.
Workers rights. Oh boy, that went South fast. Trumpeted as evidence of 'real' Labour, its now been admitted (as the TUC had already warned they would) that the Lords amendments, that the govt has agreed to, mean the whole thing was a waste of time, the proposals are either so weak as to be meaningless, or unenforceable. Doubtless you'll be condemning 'miserable lefties' for criticising Starmers total climbdown to big business on this one.
Transport. Rail Nationalisation is a massive red herring. Basically, its not happening. Even the most mild proposals have been kicked in to the long grass, leaving the govt half heartedly pushing forward with the Tory proposals (themselves kicked into the long grass) of a few years back. These will not nationalise anything, and even the 'standardised ticketing' has turned out to be hot air, as the 'govt run' version will not be allowed to offer fares lower than the existing private companies. So, big, and err, deal.
Immigration. No difference between any of the three conservative party's, with Labour offering proposals even Tommy Robinson approves of, a new low for even Nu Labour.
Farming. Nothing new here, with no changes to deadlines for subsidies running down (without which its predicted a record number of farms will go under - in record time), nor has there been any realistic changes to how our farmers sell abroad.
On freedom of expression, the govt has removed not one of the Tories laws that reduced our freedoms, indeed its added laws of its own, making it harder than ever to protest. The sight of hundreds of pro Palestine protestors being arrested for supporting an alleged 'terror group', while yobs are free to hurl abuse at, and harass, refugees living in hotels should cause a shiver of fear down the spine of those who worry about where we are going as a nation.
..and so, it goes on, and on.
Frankly, anyone blinkered enough to claim the left are being 'unfair' on a govt that falls so short of managing on the one hand to tie its own shoelaces, and on the other of being any different from the last, is tilting at the wrong windmills.
That you were 'right' to dismiss legitimate grievances by numerous stakeholders in the economy, our public services, our education and health system as 'moaning minnies'?
Or worse, with an arrogant wave of the hand, dismissed the facts surrounding the treatment of the disabled by this govt, as pointed out by all those who offer support to them?
That you are right, and Education, Health, and Benefits experts and staff are all wrong? That the TUC, Rail experts, and various unions are all wrong and you are right?
That's some mighty throne of knowledge you claim to be sitting on, careful you don't slip....
As for popping in to Liverpool, why would I do that? I only went over a few weeks back? Oh, you were trying to be clever and suggesting I drop in to see the organised chaos in action at the 'Your party' bun fight. As of course, any who dare to question centrist 'wisdom' must be screaming lefties...
Soz. I rejected the idea of that impending fiasco right at the start...
I dunno. I agree that more could have been done to standardise VAT and ultimately the tax rate on lower income workers and rich pensioners is too low. I’d increase taxes on income from wealth but I don’t think there is scope to get significantly more out of property tax.
I agree a coherent long term growth strategy is needed - but that doesn’t need to be unveiled in the budget as it covers numerous departments.
Ultimately though, these two budgets -although clumsily delivered - have been more progressive than anything delivered since 2010 so I do find the level of the criticism a little bit harsh.
Re: "The government has become seduced by populism."
The greatest trick the wealthy ever pulled was the misdirection: "It's them - the migrants - who are responsible for the inequality in our society." But Labour are bank-rolled by the wealthy, and they dance to their tune. They will never turn against their paymasters. Removing money from politics is the only solution.
Re: "The government came to power promising growth."
The second greatest trick the wealthy ever pulled was to replace "Greed is good" with "Growth is good". For the wealthy, these two are synonymous. There is plenty of money in this country - but the vast majority of it is held by the top 1%. And they are growing that wealth faster than it is being generated. Taxing the rich removes the need for reliance on imaginary growth. Eventually, we have to face up to the fact that you can't have infinite growth. That would only be possible if we had infinite natural resources and continued population growth. And neither IS possible. The only question is not "if", but "when" we will fall off that cliff.
Pluribus is great, really different. I had got a bit fed up with zombie apocolypses so Severence & Pluribus make a refreshing change for the jaded scifi fan.
As one jaded scifi fan to another, you may also want to look at Dark Matter on Netflix. Superficially a thriller, but with some philosophical undertones about life choices etc...
Thanks Ian. Brilliant analysis. One thing that commentators seem to have misses is the feral, visceral and vicious response from the LotO. It was the worst, most pathetic ad hominem speech I have ever witnessed in the Commons and should have been vilified by all who witnessed it. Even Denis Healey apologised for saying that Thatcher ‘glorified in slaughter’ when the Belgrano was sunk. He shouldn’t have, but I don’t know how Badenoch sleeps at night with such vile venom in her veins.
And while I’m here….after your masterful destruction of the appalling Allister Heath in your ‘twat of the year’ (or whatever) last year, please this year can you do a job on Dan Wootton, Matt Goodwin, Mike Graham, Alex thingy (Philips?), Julia Hartley-Brewer please. Preferably all of them, but surely one of them? Ta.
Excellent, if profoundly depressing piece. The article is right about the extent to which Starmer is prioritising economically damaging populist policies on universities and immigration. I have tried to understand what the objective of this is but ultimately I can't: if it is meant to steal votes from Reform and appeal to its supporters it is hopeless - Starmer will get zero credit for lower levels of immigration, or for that matter if one two universities go to the wall, and a failure to improve public services plays straight into the hands of Reform (or on Labour's left flank the Greens). Ultimately it makes no sense at all outside the realm of a rigid ideological attachment to a set of socially conservative policies that are considered more important than seeking to grow the economy or improve public services. I had thought Starmer would be too astute to buy into this nonsense but apparently not. Changing the Labour leader might well make no difference but surely at some point some sense of self-preservation within the Labour Party will kick in to try and salvage something more sensible, with more of a moral compass, and slightly more appealing?
"there is no difference between the Conservatives and Labour."
Should be rephrased to "there is no difference between the previous Conservatives and Labour." to be accurate. It is fairly undisputed that there is a difference between what is left of the conservative party and what is left of the labour party, but to pretend that austerity is not continuing when the chancellor, in your own words, requires £4bn of savings is, well, mad.
Whilst you describe the malaise well, to blame populism is blaming the symptom not the cause and it certainly did not start in 2016. That Brexit vote, was at least in some part, defined by those voting out as a big "fuck you" to the government- in many respects the only chance the people get to do so in what passes as our democratic system.
The point about VAT and gingerbread men is that if you are taxing one thing and not another, you need to draw the line somewhere and when you do so there will be extreme results. "A rational tax system encourages growth and tax revenue" is only part of it. A progressive point of view is that a rational tax system might also reduce inequality, might make sure everyone pays in, belongs to this society, makes sure everyone pays roughly the same on a % basis, it might encourage some things and discourage others, it might take money out of circulation so that it dampens inflation, it might actually discourage growth (do we want increased GPD through cigarette consumption?).
Thus, this bit, "The reason for this absence is ideological." is correct, they clearly cannot see the wood for the trees. They keep playing the same cards.
but this: "The government has become seduced by populism." is wrong. The problematic ideology is one of neoliberalism, it's believing that there is no option but the god known as "the market". People are seeing things get shittier as more and more stuff goes to those who already have lots of stuff and they want a big change. If someone talks about the shit that matters to people, they will get votes. On the right wing that means blaming the powerless and on the left it means blaming the powerful.
Their ideology blinds them to what must be done, which is big change. As Gary Stevenson says in his usual pithy way, "you cannot sensible yourself out of this mess".
You’re right! When short term, hysterical, ideology instead of objective referenced reasoning (aka common sense) is what is brought in to rule the country then Britain again is becoming an example of how not to run a nation.
It feels like we should just accept that we need immigration but why are we not fixing the root causes of that requirement?
High levels of immigration feels like it's just a short term solution to a longer term problem - namely the alarmingly low levels of births in this country.
Removal of the 2 child cap is a good start but I feel we should be going further and paying people to have and raise children.
Given the 2 child cap itself enjoys public support this would need selling well. We need a working age work force. We either raise our own or we import it in. I'm assuming most would prefer the first option but that needs the start of a real conversation on how the country is to pay for it. If Labour want to be against immigration this is the route they need to take rather than just being hardline for the sake of it.
I absolutely adore how professional this reads compared to it's audio delivery haha its a beacon of joy. I agree with it all except the K-pop Demon hunters comment because the message of the film that we are better if we accept everyone's differences is so welcome right now I loved it zero fucks given. The U turn on the 1 day protections for employees is not surprising but it is disappointing and evidence yet again that a radical manifesto is manifesting into a watered down, dragged out mess and it was very telling which corporations were celebrating that ruling being thrown out last night. Its a toothless government bobbing on the tide of populism and I am sick to the core with it all. The isolation is going to fuck us over it did with Brexit I just despair and they are going to destroy universities before my son has a chance to even to attend. Are Labour better than the Tories? Of course this was evident in the budget, How I can sum it up is Labour aren't cunts but they are cowards.
mostly agree - however it is absolutely NOT the case that ‘most of the public do not support’ the decision to scrap the two-child benefit limit - that was the first point at which I thought “woah - wtf?” when Labour MPs voting in favour of scrapping it had the whip removed.
We might have been mistaken for thinking a ‘Labour’ government would be in favour of it.
I did manage to hold on in there for a while longer before thinking “nah, cancel memberhsip” ..
Everyone says this whole “£400 million is nothing” thing and I’m starting to think the world is losing its mind. Sure percentages sometimes matter, but absolute numbers matter too. FOUR HUNDRED MILLION POUNDS is a lot of fuckin money that can be invested in shit.
Populism reached a crescendo by 2016 and Brexit fueled by 'pensioner populism' and 'collective narcissism' informed by fossil fuels, Anglo & non doms, Russia, RW MSM and influencers.
An ecosystem leveraging heaving mass of ageing, regional, white and low info voters vs the EU, regulation of fossil fuels/Net Zero, taxes, financial transfers, labour & consumer standards.
The media has been informed and influenced by Fox News (culture & directly) which in US nudges RW MSM, then influence of fossil fuel and anti-EU Koch 'segregation economics' and Bannon's friends in network of deceased white nationalist John 'passive eugenics' Tanton.
Koch + Tanton = Project2025, both have been present at Tufton St. for decades to inform media and lobby MPs with 'research' and model legislation.
Desired outcomes? Wedges Labour government with immigration & borders, net zero and economy; attacking the centre aka NSDAP and the Frankfurt School pre WWII Germany or Tanton Network's Camp of the Saints.....
'Raspail’s great innovation was divorcing white supremacy from antisemitism: In The Camp of the Saints, the enemy of the white race shifted from the conniving Jew to the sniveling liberal.'
I always thought one of the best ways to reduce the impact and avoidance in income tax was to scrap the swingeing tax bands and apply continuous increments with every increase in income - here in CH it's about sth like 0.1% tax increase for every CHF 100 per month salary increase (or thereabouts - figures don't matter, principle stands). If the tax rate creeps that slowly, you don't notice it, and none of the creativity around the thresholds (give me benefits instead of salary etc.) are necessary. Tax bands that represent a huge, painful, noticeable increase in tax payable invites resentment and avoidance. Boil the frog instead!
Re Pluribus: we're enjoying it, but the philosophical questions are about as subtle as the point of Lord of the Flies. One of the things this 50-something woman celebrates most is that the lead character is also a 50-something woman. I'd venture that hasn't been the case for a very long time - and the fact that nobody mentions it is also to be celebrated as a creeping normalisation that women do exist over the age of 40 or so
An excellent, if thoroughly depressing summary yet again Ian. Reform voters hate Labour and most don’t care about the racists leading the party so aren’t going to be swayed by anything Labour does. Nothing in Labour will change while Glasman, McSweeney & Starmer are in charge and realistically none of the alternatives to Starmer will turn the Blue Labour Titanic. And they haven’t even got the guts to quit Twitter. The Tories are toast with or without Badenoch. Ed Davey & co are still tainted by their time in coalition, the SNP and Plaid aren’t going to influence UK wide politics and, as today’s Guardian article shows Your Party are a disaster of truly epic proportions. The only crack where a little light gets in is Zack Polanski and the Greens and it’s interesting that the £100k crowdfunder launched today for local election campaigning will meet its target in a few hours. But it’s hard to see past the prospect of populism winning Reform a majority at the next election, total incompetence resulting in them losing the next one to the centre, all of the UK’s problems ( social care, SEND, climate, legal system, defence, health, manufacturing) then coming home to roost and the oligarchs and the very far right reaping the reward. Maybe someone could write a graphic novel about it all and call it something like “ V for Vendetta”.
If you see the charlatan “Hypnotits” as a ray of light I suggest you rub your eyes and look again - mindless leftwing populism can be just as damaging as right wing populism
While right wing commentators wasted little time in switching from fellator to critic as the occupancy of No.10 changed, it would appear the rest are simply still addicted to complaint as they berate what is a clearly better administration for not being almost perfect.
Let's face it, twas ever thus, that's how the left roll.
People say Labour Ministers are getting tetchy. With the seemingly constant complaints from all angles I don't blame them. I have my own issues with the influence that Blue Labour holds, and the piss poor comms in general, but that doesn't mean Starmer & Co are not infinitely better than the alternative.
There were signs of a shift left in this budget. Let's embrace and nurture it rather than strangle it for not being left enough.
'Clearly a better administration for not being perfect'? Comedy gold there...
Lets have a closer look then shall we? Education. No change from Sunaks govt of any significance whatsoever, and teachers are already fed up with the govt because of this. Read any article by experts in education, and all you see is disappointment with lack of change, lack of clarity, and of course, lack of any new money. Indeed, the only important changes in the wind, a new NatCurric for example, have been met with despair, and the proposal to scrap the EHCP is right out of the Reform, never mind the Tory playbook.
Health. Any health minister praised by right wing Tory back benchers for his proposals to increase privatisation and allowing of US Medical Corporations to get involved in our NHS, is no different from his predecessors - and that's what happened to spiv Streeting. Ludicrous targets now linked to future pay rises has crushed initial goodwill there.
Benefits. The usual cuts, targeted at the disabled, surrounded by the usual vile language that we've heard over the last fourteen years. No difference at all, if anything worse than the Tories. Removing the two child cap does not, in any way atone for the hard right rhetoric and cuts the Labour govt has produced.
Workers rights. Oh boy, that went South fast. Trumpeted as evidence of 'real' Labour, its now been admitted (as the TUC had already warned they would) that the Lords amendments, that the govt has agreed to, mean the whole thing was a waste of time, the proposals are either so weak as to be meaningless, or unenforceable. Doubtless you'll be condemning 'miserable lefties' for criticising Starmers total climbdown to big business on this one.
Transport. Rail Nationalisation is a massive red herring. Basically, its not happening. Even the most mild proposals have been kicked in to the long grass, leaving the govt half heartedly pushing forward with the Tory proposals (themselves kicked into the long grass) of a few years back. These will not nationalise anything, and even the 'standardised ticketing' has turned out to be hot air, as the 'govt run' version will not be allowed to offer fares lower than the existing private companies. So, big, and err, deal.
Immigration. No difference between any of the three conservative party's, with Labour offering proposals even Tommy Robinson approves of, a new low for even Nu Labour.
Farming. Nothing new here, with no changes to deadlines for subsidies running down (without which its predicted a record number of farms will go under - in record time), nor has there been any realistic changes to how our farmers sell abroad.
On freedom of expression, the govt has removed not one of the Tories laws that reduced our freedoms, indeed its added laws of its own, making it harder than ever to protest. The sight of hundreds of pro Palestine protestors being arrested for supporting an alleged 'terror group', while yobs are free to hurl abuse at, and harass, refugees living in hotels should cause a shiver of fear down the spine of those who worry about where we are going as a nation.
..and so, it goes on, and on.
Frankly, anyone blinkered enough to claim the left are being 'unfair' on a govt that falls so short of managing on the one hand to tie its own shoelaces, and on the other of being any different from the last, is tilting at the wrong windmills.
Proves my point, nothing else.
Enjoying Liverpool this weekend?
Proved what exactly?
That you were 'right' to dismiss legitimate grievances by numerous stakeholders in the economy, our public services, our education and health system as 'moaning minnies'?
Or worse, with an arrogant wave of the hand, dismissed the facts surrounding the treatment of the disabled by this govt, as pointed out by all those who offer support to them?
That you are right, and Education, Health, and Benefits experts and staff are all wrong? That the TUC, Rail experts, and various unions are all wrong and you are right?
That's some mighty throne of knowledge you claim to be sitting on, careful you don't slip....
As for popping in to Liverpool, why would I do that? I only went over a few weeks back? Oh, you were trying to be clever and suggesting I drop in to see the organised chaos in action at the 'Your party' bun fight. As of course, any who dare to question centrist 'wisdom' must be screaming lefties...
Soz. I rejected the idea of that impending fiasco right at the start...
Being a called a cunt by you has given me the first laugh of the day….Cheers Ian….😁
I dunno. I agree that more could have been done to standardise VAT and ultimately the tax rate on lower income workers and rich pensioners is too low. I’d increase taxes on income from wealth but I don’t think there is scope to get significantly more out of property tax.
I agree a coherent long term growth strategy is needed - but that doesn’t need to be unveiled in the budget as it covers numerous departments.
Ultimately though, these two budgets -although clumsily delivered - have been more progressive than anything delivered since 2010 so I do find the level of the criticism a little bit harsh.
Although I do overall agree - she has been poor in general and doesn’t seem to understand the principles of social democracy
Re: "The government has become seduced by populism."
The greatest trick the wealthy ever pulled was the misdirection: "It's them - the migrants - who are responsible for the inequality in our society." But Labour are bank-rolled by the wealthy, and they dance to their tune. They will never turn against their paymasters. Removing money from politics is the only solution.
Re: "The government came to power promising growth."
The second greatest trick the wealthy ever pulled was to replace "Greed is good" with "Growth is good". For the wealthy, these two are synonymous. There is plenty of money in this country - but the vast majority of it is held by the top 1%. And they are growing that wealth faster than it is being generated. Taxing the rich removes the need for reliance on imaginary growth. Eventually, we have to face up to the fact that you can't have infinite growth. That would only be possible if we had infinite natural resources and continued population growth. And neither IS possible. The only question is not "if", but "when" we will fall off that cliff.
Pluribus is great, really different. I had got a bit fed up with zombie apocolypses so Severence & Pluribus make a refreshing change for the jaded scifi fan.
As one jaded scifi fan to another, you may also want to look at Dark Matter on Netflix. Superficially a thriller, but with some philosophical undertones about life choices etc...
It does say a lot about the current situation that we escape to scifi though 😢
I've seen Dark Matter. Good stuff!
Thanks Ian. Brilliant analysis. One thing that commentators seem to have misses is the feral, visceral and vicious response from the LotO. It was the worst, most pathetic ad hominem speech I have ever witnessed in the Commons and should have been vilified by all who witnessed it. Even Denis Healey apologised for saying that Thatcher ‘glorified in slaughter’ when the Belgrano was sunk. He shouldn’t have, but I don’t know how Badenoch sleeps at night with such vile venom in her veins.
And while I’m here….after your masterful destruction of the appalling Allister Heath in your ‘twat of the year’ (or whatever) last year, please this year can you do a job on Dan Wootton, Matt Goodwin, Mike Graham, Alex thingy (Philips?), Julia Hartley-Brewer please. Preferably all of them, but surely one of them? Ta.
Excellent, if profoundly depressing piece. The article is right about the extent to which Starmer is prioritising economically damaging populist policies on universities and immigration. I have tried to understand what the objective of this is but ultimately I can't: if it is meant to steal votes from Reform and appeal to its supporters it is hopeless - Starmer will get zero credit for lower levels of immigration, or for that matter if one two universities go to the wall, and a failure to improve public services plays straight into the hands of Reform (or on Labour's left flank the Greens). Ultimately it makes no sense at all outside the realm of a rigid ideological attachment to a set of socially conservative policies that are considered more important than seeking to grow the economy or improve public services. I had thought Starmer would be too astute to buy into this nonsense but apparently not. Changing the Labour leader might well make no difference but surely at some point some sense of self-preservation within the Labour Party will kick in to try and salvage something more sensible, with more of a moral compass, and slightly more appealing?
"there is no difference between the Conservatives and Labour."
Should be rephrased to "there is no difference between the previous Conservatives and Labour." to be accurate. It is fairly undisputed that there is a difference between what is left of the conservative party and what is left of the labour party, but to pretend that austerity is not continuing when the chancellor, in your own words, requires £4bn of savings is, well, mad.
Whilst you describe the malaise well, to blame populism is blaming the symptom not the cause and it certainly did not start in 2016. That Brexit vote, was at least in some part, defined by those voting out as a big "fuck you" to the government- in many respects the only chance the people get to do so in what passes as our democratic system.
The point about VAT and gingerbread men is that if you are taxing one thing and not another, you need to draw the line somewhere and when you do so there will be extreme results. "A rational tax system encourages growth and tax revenue" is only part of it. A progressive point of view is that a rational tax system might also reduce inequality, might make sure everyone pays in, belongs to this society, makes sure everyone pays roughly the same on a % basis, it might encourage some things and discourage others, it might take money out of circulation so that it dampens inflation, it might actually discourage growth (do we want increased GPD through cigarette consumption?).
Thus, this bit, "The reason for this absence is ideological." is correct, they clearly cannot see the wood for the trees. They keep playing the same cards.
but this: "The government has become seduced by populism." is wrong. The problematic ideology is one of neoliberalism, it's believing that there is no option but the god known as "the market". People are seeing things get shittier as more and more stuff goes to those who already have lots of stuff and they want a big change. If someone talks about the shit that matters to people, they will get votes. On the right wing that means blaming the powerless and on the left it means blaming the powerful.
Their ideology blinds them to what must be done, which is big change. As Gary Stevenson says in his usual pithy way, "you cannot sensible yourself out of this mess".
You’re right! When short term, hysterical, ideology instead of objective referenced reasoning (aka common sense) is what is brought in to rule the country then Britain again is becoming an example of how not to run a nation.
What's the solution here though?
It feels like we should just accept that we need immigration but why are we not fixing the root causes of that requirement?
High levels of immigration feels like it's just a short term solution to a longer term problem - namely the alarmingly low levels of births in this country.
Removal of the 2 child cap is a good start but I feel we should be going further and paying people to have and raise children.
Given the 2 child cap itself enjoys public support this would need selling well. We need a working age work force. We either raise our own or we import it in. I'm assuming most would prefer the first option but that needs the start of a real conversation on how the country is to pay for it. If Labour want to be against immigration this is the route they need to take rather than just being hardline for the sake of it.
I absolutely adore how professional this reads compared to it's audio delivery haha its a beacon of joy. I agree with it all except the K-pop Demon hunters comment because the message of the film that we are better if we accept everyone's differences is so welcome right now I loved it zero fucks given. The U turn on the 1 day protections for employees is not surprising but it is disappointing and evidence yet again that a radical manifesto is manifesting into a watered down, dragged out mess and it was very telling which corporations were celebrating that ruling being thrown out last night. Its a toothless government bobbing on the tide of populism and I am sick to the core with it all. The isolation is going to fuck us over it did with Brexit I just despair and they are going to destroy universities before my son has a chance to even to attend. Are Labour better than the Tories? Of course this was evident in the budget, How I can sum it up is Labour aren't cunts but they are cowards.
mostly agree - however it is absolutely NOT the case that ‘most of the public do not support’ the decision to scrap the two-child benefit limit - that was the first point at which I thought “woah - wtf?” when Labour MPs voting in favour of scrapping it had the whip removed.
We might have been mistaken for thinking a ‘Labour’ government would be in favour of it.
I did manage to hold on in there for a while longer before thinking “nah, cancel memberhsip” ..
Incorrect. The cap had broad support, sadly: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2025/07/15/6143b/2
Everyone says this whole “£400 million is nothing” thing and I’m starting to think the world is losing its mind. Sure percentages sometimes matter, but absolute numbers matter too. FOUR HUNDRED MILLION POUNDS is a lot of fuckin money that can be invested in shit.
Excellent as usual. Thanks 👍
Populism reached a crescendo by 2016 and Brexit fueled by 'pensioner populism' and 'collective narcissism' informed by fossil fuels, Anglo & non doms, Russia, RW MSM and influencers.
An ecosystem leveraging heaving mass of ageing, regional, white and low info voters vs the EU, regulation of fossil fuels/Net Zero, taxes, financial transfers, labour & consumer standards.
The media has been informed and influenced by Fox News (culture & directly) which in US nudges RW MSM, then influence of fossil fuel and anti-EU Koch 'segregation economics' and Bannon's friends in network of deceased white nationalist John 'passive eugenics' Tanton.
Koch + Tanton = Project2025, both have been present at Tufton St. for decades to inform media and lobby MPs with 'research' and model legislation.
Desired outcomes? Wedges Labour government with immigration & borders, net zero and economy; attacking the centre aka NSDAP and the Frankfurt School pre WWII Germany or Tanton Network's Camp of the Saints.....
'Raspail’s great innovation was divorcing white supremacy from antisemitism: In The Camp of the Saints, the enemy of the white race shifted from the conniving Jew to the sniveling liberal.'
I always thought one of the best ways to reduce the impact and avoidance in income tax was to scrap the swingeing tax bands and apply continuous increments with every increase in income - here in CH it's about sth like 0.1% tax increase for every CHF 100 per month salary increase (or thereabouts - figures don't matter, principle stands). If the tax rate creeps that slowly, you don't notice it, and none of the creativity around the thresholds (give me benefits instead of salary etc.) are necessary. Tax bands that represent a huge, painful, noticeable increase in tax payable invites resentment and avoidance. Boil the frog instead!
Re Pluribus: we're enjoying it, but the philosophical questions are about as subtle as the point of Lord of the Flies. One of the things this 50-something woman celebrates most is that the lead character is also a 50-something woman. I'd venture that hasn't been the case for a very long time - and the fact that nobody mentions it is also to be celebrated as a creeping normalisation that women do exist over the age of 40 or so