[Politics] Sir Keir Starmer’s route to Number 10

Thunder Bolt said:

Did he have a choice? There may be reasons.

Click to expand...

Pavilionaire said:

So now the green policy has been ditched where are we with clear blue water between the two main parties?

I think the Tories have f***ed the economy much worse than people think because of their astronomical waste on Covid PPE, Test and Trace and the catastrophic Brexit which has made our economy 4% smaller. We can't afford to do anything new or bold, like safeguard our own environment or finish off a railway line.

Labour are prioritising on no new commitments to put a further strain on the economy, but without bold initiatives this will mean we won't hit our net zero targets.

Nobody is thinking outside the box, and Christ knows they've had 14 years to think of stuff. For a start they should simplify the way tax is charged, how it is collected and the rates that are paid. Not only is it high but it has never been so complex, and they don't have anywhere near the staff numbers to collect what is due or help people.

I'm still confident that Labour will win the next election, but I'm not confident there will be any fundamental change. and we will bumble along for another 6 years with an underperforming economy until a politician finally has the guts to say Brexit has f***ed things up and we need to enter into a Customs Union or re-enter the Single Market to kickstart things. Personally, I thinks the rest of the 2020s is a write-off. All politicians seem to be corrupt, spineless or both.

Click to expand...

Harry Wilson's tackle said:

I have repeatedly stated that income tax should be at the same % for all, with no exceptions, with the lowest paid (who would lose all that 'no tax below this income threshold' benefit) getting an offset by an increase in the minimum wage.

However this cuts no ice with many on the left who think that you should pay more tax as a % of income as you earn more.

If we can't agree with my sort of perspective then the management of income tax will require complex oversight, and will offer scope for offsetting and other wheezes. I am disappointed that the left don't see the value of fixed % tax. But not altogether surprised.

Click to expand...

Pavilionaire said:

So now the green policy has been ditched where are we with clear blue water between the two main parties?

I think the Tories have f***ed the economy much worse than people think because of their astronomical waste on Covid PPE, Test and Trace and the catastrophic Brexit which has made our economy 4% smaller. We can't afford to do anything new or bold, like safeguard our own environment or finish off a railway line.

Labour are prioritising on no new commitments to put a further strain on the economy, but without bold initiatives this will mean we won't hit our net zero targets.

Nobody is thinking outside the box, and Christ knows they've had 14 years to think of stuff. For a start they should simplify the way tax is charged, how it is collected and the rates that are paid. Not only is it high but it has never been so complex, and they don't have anywhere near the staff numbers to collect what is due or help people.

I'm still confident that Labour will win the next election, but I'm not confident there will be any fundamental change. and we will bumble along for another 6 years with an underperforming economy until a politician finally has the guts to say Brexit has f***ed things up and we need to enter into a Customs Union or re-enter the Single Market to kickstart things. Personally, I thinks the rest of the 2020s is a write-off. All politicians seem to be corrupt, spineless or both.

Click to expand...

Pavilionaire said:

So now the green policy has been ditched where are we with clear blue water between the two main parties?

I think the Tories have f***ed the economy much worse than people think because of their astronomical waste on Covid PPE, Test and Trace and the catastrophic Brexit which has made our economy 4% smaller. We can't afford to do anything new or bold, like safeguard our own environment or finish off a railway line.

Labour are prioritising on no new commitments to put a further strain on the economy, but without bold initiatives this will mean we won't hit our net zero targets.

Nobody is thinking outside the box, and Christ knows they've had 14 years to think of stuff. For a start they should simplify the way tax is charged, how it is collected and the rates that are paid. Not only is it high but it has never been so complex, and they don't have anywhere near the staff numbers to collect what is due or help people.

I'm still confident that Labour will win the next election, but I'm not confident there will be any fundamental change. and we will bumble along for another 6 years with an underperforming economy until a politician finally has the guts to say Brexit has f***ed things up and we need to enter into a Customs Union or re-enter the Single Market to kickstart things. Personally, I thinks the rest of the 2020s is a write-off. All politicians seem to be corrupt, spineless or both.

Click to expand...

KZNSeagull said:

Peter Tatchell says a 1% wealth tax on this country's billionaires would raise the £6bn a year required for the green fund. If that's true, why doesn't Starmer do that? As Tatchell pointed out, they will hardly notice as their wealth is going up by much more than that every year anyway.

Click to expand...

Kinky Gerbil said:

It's a perfect chance to put rejoining the EU into a manifesto, the gap between the two main parties is massive and I can't imagine there are many voters voting for Labour that are pro brexit, they will vote Reform or Tory whatever SKS says.

I've said before Labour will aim to do it in a second term, which has many potential issues.

I'm with you, it's difficult to tell much of a difference with policies - Labour have spoken about reforming the NHS (absolutely agree with this) but this was seen as more of a Tory policy, they have spoken about not agreeing with union requested pay rises and the tax is the highest it's ever been under the Tories.

I'm sure I'm alone in this on here, but I don't think SKS came over well yesterday linking the question on flip flopping to poor Brianna Ghey, seemed like a cheap comeback and given what was announced about the green policy being pulled, seemed pre arranged as a distraction.

Labour have the perfect chance to shake things up as a fresh start, not sure they will.

Click to expand...

nicko31 said:

I'm not that convinced a re-join would get KS more than the 20pt lead he has already.

I'd rejoin tomorrow, but its for the birds unless both major parties are on board and / or FPTP is ditched. Tories created so much bad blood.

Rejoining the customs union perhaps to boost growth. Beggars belief the LD's aren't all over it.

Click to expand...

Kinky Gerbil said:

20 pts is more than enough to get in and get back into some Union.

I'm sure if the EU let us join exiting would be made almost impossible, so wouldn't really matter what the Tories wanted

Click to expand...

Harry Wilson's tackle said:

I have repeatedly stated that income tax should be at the same % for all, with no exceptions, with the lowest paid (who would lose all that 'no tax below this income threshold' benefit) getting an offset by an increase in the minimum wage.

However this cuts no ice with many on the left who think that you should pay more tax as a % of income as you earn more.

If we can't agree with my sort of perspective then the management of income tax will require complex oversight, and will offer scope for offsetting and other wheezes. I am disappointed that the left don't see the value of fixed % tax. But not altogether surprised.

Click to expand...

Harry Wilson's tackle said:

I have repeatedly stated that income tax should be at the same % for all, with no exceptions, with the lowest paid (who would lose all that 'no tax below this income threshold' benefit) getting an offset by an increase in the minimum wage.

However this cuts no ice with many on the left who think that you should pay more tax as a % of income as you earn more.

If we can't agree with my sort of perspective then the management of income tax will require complex oversight, and will offer scope for offsetting and other wheezes. I am disappointed that the left don't see the value of fixed % tax. But not altogether surprised.

Click to expand...

Kinky Gerbil said:

It's a perfect chance to put rejoining the EU into a manifesto, the gap between the two main parties is massive and I can't imagine there are many voters voting for Labour that are pro brexit, they will vote Reform or Tory whatever SKS says.

Click to expand...

Mustafa II said:

Kinky Gerbil said:

It's a perfect chance to put rejoining the EU into a manifesto, the gap between the two main parties is massive and I can't imagine there are many voters voting for Labour that are pro brexit, they will vote Reform or Tory whatever SKS says.

Click to expand...

You'd be surprised.

I'm pro-Brexit, left-wing and a potential Labour voter.

I'm likely not going to vote for Labour for other reasons (although obviously won't be voting Tory), but if they started a rejoin the EU campaign I'm definitely out.

Click to expand...

WATFORD zero said:

Thus proving his point

And you certainly don't surprise me

Click to expand...

Mustafa II said:

To be fair I'll probably cave in and vote Labour, I usually do. Always tempted by Lib Dems but they're far too floppy that it turns me off.

However if Labour decided they were going to run a campaign to rejoin the EU, I'm 100% out.

Click to expand...

Mustafa II said:

To be fair I'll probably cave in and vote Labour, I usually do. Always tempted by Lib Dems but they're far too floppy that it turns me off.

However if Labour decided they were going to run a campaign to rejoin the EU, I'm 100% out.

Click to expand...