Continuation General UK Politics III - Dumb and Dumber

[P.J. Denyer]

So that's another fortnight our MPs will do nothing then, followed by their conference jollies. Truss is probably furious it didn't happen a day or two earlier so she didn't have to unveil her plan to empty whats left in the treasury into energy company pockets.

No wonder they have time for multiple side hustles.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by P.J. Denyer

So that's another fortnight our MPs will do nothing then, followed by their conference jollies. Truss is probably furious it didn't happen a day or two earlier so she didn't have to unveil her plan to empty whats left in the treasury into energy company pockets.

No wonder they have time for multiple side hustles.

Then again, any scrutiny and/or complaints can simply be swept aside because it's important to retain national unity during this time of unprecedented upheaval and any attempt to hold her and her government to account is tantamount to treason.

[P.J. Denyer]

Originally Posted by The Don

Then again, any scrutiny and/or complaints can simply be swept aside because it's important to retain national unity during this time of unprecedented upheaval and any attempt to hold her and her government to account is tantamount to treason.

Jacob? Is that you Jacob?

[Vixen]

I noticed the pride in PM Truss' voice, at her lectern, when she said she had been one of the last people to have seen the Queen.

[Darat]

Originally Posted by Vixen

I noticed the pride in PM Truss' voice, at her lectern, when she said she had been one of the last people to have seen the Queen.

Did you? I just saw the girl giving a class speech in her English lesson again.

[Darat]

Dumber and dumber couldn’t sum it up better - The BofE is delaying the interest rate announcement for a week “out of respect”?!?!

[Wudang]

As someone said, having a proper Charlie for a king seems appropriate for these times.

[jeremyp]

Originally Posted by Wudang

As someone said, having a proper Charlie for a king seems appropriate for these times.

King Charles talks to his plants and thinks homeopathy is pretty neat and nobody has ever accused him of being the sharpest pike in Windsor Castle, but I would be more confident with him in charge than the current shower.

[Lothian]

Originally Posted by jeremyp

King Charles talks to his plants and thinks homeopathy is pretty neat and nobody has ever accused him of being the sharpest pike in Windsor Castle, but I would be more confident with him in charge than the current shower.

I have always been against the monarchy and have favoured an elected head of state but seeing the people we have been electing recently I am starting to think a national lottery to pick a King/ Queen for the year would be better.

[Gulliver Foyle]

Originally Posted by dudalb

My point was that COrbyn was weak leader of Labor at time when Labor needed a good leader.
He was unable to provide a acceptable alternative to the Tories to UK voters,
Of course Corbyn has his fans here because they agree with his Hard Left policies.
I just have to laugh at the attempts to rehabulitate Corbyn as some kind of brlliant leader we see going on here.

Since when did mild social democracy become hard left? I'm genuinely confused about the incoherent mischaracterisation of Labour policy under Jeremy Corbyn here.

[Darat]

Originally Posted by Gulliver Foyle

Since when did mild social democracy become hard left? I'm genuinely confused about the incoherent mischaracterisation of Labour policy under Jeremy Corbyn here.

Just here?

[Brainster]

Originally Posted by Gulliver Foyle

Since when did mild social democracy become hard left? I'm genuinely confused about the incoherent mischaracterisation of Labour policy under Jeremy Corbyn here.

Corbin describes himself as a socialist; surely even in Europe that qualifies as pretty leftist. He's about as far left as can get elected to leadership.

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by Brainster

Corbin describes himself as a socialist; surely even in Europe that qualifies as pretty leftist. He's about as far left as can get elected to leadership.

Tony Benn was labelled similarly and he had a 'hard left' following just like Corbyn. However, when I chatted with him he made it clear he was very much an old school parliamentarian, which is hardly revolutionary, with the oath to the monarch.

It has long been a problem in the Labour party that the only Labour prime minister people will vote for is a facsimile of the Conservative one, hence, Tony Blair and Keir Starmer, neither of whom would be out of place there, and this is what causes a lot of conflict; that it is the Murdoch/Barclay press who give the approval. Corbyn had nothing but contempt for them so in th week leading up to the election, it dug up stories from over a decade ago when he met with IRA and Hamas representatives and painted him as a lunatic.

[Mojo]

Originally Posted by Brainster

Corbin describes himself as a socialist; surely even in Europe that qualifies as pretty leftist.

Not really, no.

[Lothian]

Originally Posted by Brainster

Corbin describes himself as a socialist; surely even in Europe that qualifies as pretty leftist. .

In Europe 'socialism' perhaps has a different meaning. While in America it is probably seen as akin to communism. Here it is a broad term that tends to mean making sure the disadvantaged are looked after. The NHS is socialism, free state education is socialism. Good broadband for all is socialism.
The Tories were particularly scathing to Corbyn's 'socialist' promise of the latter but they are now adopting the policy albeit they won't call themselves socialists rather 'One Nation' conservatives is the name they use for socialist policies.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by Vixen

Tony Benn was labelled similarly and he had a 'hard left' following just like Corbyn. However, when I chatted with him he made it clear he was very much an old school parliamentarian, which is hardly revolutionary, with the oath to the monarch.

It has long been a problem in the Labour party that the only Labour prime minister people will vote for is a facsimile of the Conservative one, hence, Tony Blair and Keir Starmer, neither of whom would be out of place there, and this is what causes a lot of conflict; that it is the Murdoch/Barclay press who give the approval. Corbyn had nothing but contempt for them so in th week leading up to the election, it dug up stories from over a decade ago when he met with IRA and Hamas representatives and painted him as a lunatic.

Blair or Starmer may not have been out of place in the Conservative Party of the 50s or 60s but since Thatcher the Tories have become progressively more right wing so a Macmillan or a Heath (or even dear old Ken Clarke) would have no place in the party.

Boris Johnson's purge at the last election is a clear indication that only rabid right wing Brexiteers with no interest in human rights and who are happy to break international law have a place anymore.

[Vixen]

The conservatives making the most of the period of mourning and the party conference break? As we know, PM Liz Truss announced her 'finance package to help with energy bills' just before the death of HMTQ. However, unusually, there wasn't any costing. Good news is there is now going to be a statement about how this will be budgeted. Bad news is that this will only happen over three days.

Quote:

The Prime Minister is expected to outline how the Conservative’s emergency package of support for the cost of living crisis will impact the nation. Liz Truss will have just two days, between September 20 and September 22 to unveil her fiscal statement, set to explain her plans to deliver on tax cuts and other economic pledges.

DE

With former Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng only in the job of Chancellor of the Exchequer since Truss' new cabinet 6 Sept 2022, this will be a laugh. No disrespect to Kwarteng but he has zero expertise in economics. Yes, he did a masters or PhD in 'Economic History' but I bet it had zero nasty economic equations that are a horror to all economics students but necessary to understand underlying relationships and trends.

Hmmm.

[Susheel]

Originally Posted by Brainster

Corbin describes himself as a socialist; surely even in Europe that qualifies as pretty leftist. He's about as far left as can get elected to leadership.

Might be a good idea to educate oneself on the actual meaning of words, rather than accept hyperbolic definitions based on paranoid American fantasies.

[gypsyjackson]

Originally Posted by Vixen

The conservatives making the most of the period of mourning and the party conference break? As we know, PM Liz Truss announced her 'finance package to help with energy bills' just before the death of HMTQ. However, unusually, there wasn't any costing. Good news is there is now going to be a statement about how this will be budgeted. Bad news is that this will only happen over three days.

DE

With former Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng only in the job of Chancellor of the Exchequer since Truss' new cabinet 6 Sept 2022, this will be a laugh. No disrespect to Kwarteng but he has zero expertise in economics. Yes, he did a masters or PhD in 'Economic History' but I bet it had zero nasty economic equations that are a horror to all economics students but necessary to understand underlying relationships and trends.

Hmmm.

It was a PhD. It’s not unusual to have policy proposals outside the formal budget or pre-budget announcements which are published without costs or balances. Arguably that’s essential for political parties to show their intentions (charitably!).

As far as his ability to be CHX, it’s not sufficient or necessary for him to have read pure economics (Lamont is the last UK chancellor to have read economics without sullying it with politics, and look at his record). He has a thousand staff to do the numbers - he just has to set the direction.

[Darat]

Originally Posted by gypsyjackson

It was a PhD. It’s not unusual to have policy proposals outside the formal budget or pre-budget announcements which are published without costs or balances. Arguably that’s essential for political parties to show their intentions (charitably!).

As far as his ability to be CHX, it’s not sufficient or necessary for him to have read pure economics (Lamont is the last UK chancellor to have read economics without sullying it with politics, and look at his record). He has a thousand staff to do the numbers - he just has to set the direction. headline

FTFY

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by gypsyjackson

It was a PhD. It’s not unusual to have policy proposals outside the formal budget or pre-budget announcements which are published without costs or balances. Arguably that’s essential for political parties to show their intentions (charitably!).

As far as his ability to be CHX, it’s not sufficient or necessary for him to have read pure economics (Lamont is the last UK chancellor to have read economics without sullying it with politics, and look at his record). He has a thousand staff to do the numbers - he just has to set the direction.

Oh I agree it is not necessary for the CHX to be an economist and of course, Kwarteng will have any number of spotty-faced spads advising him. Plus, the common belief that PPE is a totally useless and basic degree is plainly evidenced in the walking talking form likes of Hancock and Truss. However, as one of the great offices of state, to be Chancellor of the Exchequer needs a certain level of hard-nosed ability.

We only need look to a recent fellow Etonian Classics politician who - fair play - did give us some wonderful obscure Greek and Latin references (Cincinnatus springs to mind) and the other totally useless guy who did History at Cambridge...step forward...















...Chris Grayling.


I rest my case.

Seriously though, if Liz Truss is going to slash taxes (which will hardly benefit those on Universal Credit, the unemployed or the retired) and at the same time cap the kwh at £2,500 (excluding VAT and standing charges, and note this is an average) and she is going to borrow from public funds - meaning the energy companies get to keep all of their massive profits, including the capped part - then it really will be a case of 'buy now, pay later'.

As for bringing down inflation 'by 5%', with prices capped at £2,500 pa, there isn't going to be a sudden excess of spending money for the average householder!

[The Don]

Originally Posted by Vixen

Oh I agree it is not necessary for the CHX to be an economist and of course, Kwarteng will have any number of spotty-faced spads advising him. Plus, the common belief that PPE is a totally useless and basic degree is plainly evidenced in the walking talking form likes of Hancock and Truss. However, as one of the great offices of state, to be Chancellor of the Exchequer needs a certain level of hard-nosed ability.

We only need look to a recent fellow Etonian Classics politician who - fair play - did give us some wonderful obscure Greek and Latin references (Cincinnatus springs to mind) and the other totally useless guy who did History at Cambridge...step forward...















...Chris Grayling.


I rest my case.

Seriously though, if Liz Truss is going to slash taxes (which will hardly benefit those on Universal Credit, the unemployed or the retired) and at the same time cap the kwh at £2,500 (excluding VAT and standing charges, and note this is an average) and she is going to borrow from public funds - meaning the energy companies get to keep all of their massive profits, including the capped part - then it really will be a case of 'buy now, pay later'.

As for bringing down inflation 'by 5%', with prices capped at £2,500 pa, there isn't going to be a sudden excess of spending money for the average householder!

They don't care about the average householder, they care about the people for whom the increase in fuel cost is a rounding error compared to their imminent considerable tax savings.

[catsmate]

Originally Posted by Darat

Dumber and dumber couldn’t sum it up better - The BofE is delaying the interest rate announcement for a week “out of respect”?!?!

At least Mordaunt pronounced 'pursuivant' correctly.

[The Don]

The UK Government is levelling up by removing a cap on city bonuses:

Quote:

The Treasury is considering removing a cap on bankers' bonuses as part of a post-Brexit shake-up of City rules.

Apparently London is losing business to the EU not because it is out of the EU but because bosses can't earn enough bonuses.

Quote:

City bosses have long complained about the EU-wide bonus rules which cap bonuses at twice an employee's salary.

They say they lead to higher base pay that pushes up banks' fixed costs.

Those costs cannot be adjusted in line with the firm's financial performance, they add, making the UK less attractive than the US or Asia.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62906854

Remove regulation and wait for the next greed-induced financial crash.

[Ethan Thane Athen]

Originally Posted by The Don

The UK Government is levelling up by removing a cap on city bonuses:



Apparently London is losing business to the EU not because it is out of the EU but because bosses can't earn enough bonuses.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62906854

Remove regulation and wait for the next greed-induced financial crash.

So....we're losing people to Europe (which has a bonus cap) because we have a bonus cap? I guess it sort of makes sense in a 'We need to pay people more in the UK to stop them going to Europe, which must be better because when it's equal pay they bugger off there' sort of way...

[The Don]

Originally Posted by Ethan Thane Athen

So....we're losing people to Europe (which has a bonus cap) because we have a bonus cap? I guess it sort of makes sense in a 'We need to pay people more in the UK to stop them going to Europe, which must be better because when it's equal pay they bugger off there' sort of way...

It's the same kind of logic which says that we shouldn't tax non-doms because otherwise they'll leave the UK. Truth is that many would still remain in the UK because they have ties here and the downside of the others leaving has yet to be determined.

Conservative chums and donors are the ones who stand to gain from this so it's hardly surprising that it's being considered.

[Carrot Flower King]

Good to see that Therese Coffey has so quickly identified how to deal with the multitude of problems facing the NHS: it's those pesky Oxford commas wot done it!

Not to mention we seem to be going back to the "Bring me solutions, not problems!" approach from those at the top which has done huge damage to a number of NHS trusts over the years.

[jimbob]

Originally Posted by zooterkin

I vaguely remember the same, I think his preference was to be another George.

ETA: We didn't imagine it.

And the thing is, one of his middle names is Arthur.

What a missed opportunity.

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by Carrot Flower King

Good to see that Therese Coffey has so quickly identified how to deal with the multitude of problems facing the NHS: it's those pesky Oxford commas wot done it!

Not to mention we seem to be going back to the "Bring me solutions, not problems!" approach from those at the top which has done huge damage to a number of NHS trusts over the years.

What planet is she living on?

[Matthew Best]

Originally Posted by Carrot Flower King

Good to see that Therese Coffey has so quickly identified how to deal with the multitude of problems facing the NHS: it's those pesky Oxford commas wot done it!

Not to mention we seem to be going back to the "Bring me solutions, not problems!" approach from those at the top which has done huge damage to a number of NHS trusts over the years.

Link goes nowhere.

[erwinl]

Originally Posted by jimbob

And the thing is, one of his middle names is Arthur.

What a missed opportunity.

For sure it is!
If he could channel the return of King Arthur, than Arthur could maybe finish what he was trying so hard back in his time.

Fighting and driving away the Anglo Saxon invaders.

Could you lot over there please provide this? The whole of the EU would love to see it. (not that we would accept these back on our continent, of course, should King Arthur finally succeed in his task).

[GlennB]

Originally Posted by Carrot Flower King

Good to see that Therese Coffey has so quickly identified how to deal with the multitude of problems facing the NHS: it's those pesky Oxford commas wot done it!

Not to mention we seem to be going back to the "Bring me solutions, not problems!" approach from those at the top which has done huge damage to a number of NHS trusts over the years.

The link has a spare http:: on the front. Here we are

But, in any case, the Oxford comma is sometimes required for clarity -

"We invited my parents, Thomas and Nancy." This says your parents are called Thomas and Nancy, but it might be you invited four people - your parents, Thomas, and Nancy.

[Wudang]

Originally Posted by GlennB

The link has a spare http:: on the front. Here we are

But, in any case, the Oxford comma is sometimes required for clarity -

"We invited my parents, Thomas and Nancy." This says your parents are called Thomas and Nancy, but it might be you invited four people - your parents, Thomas, and Nancy.

I wrote code for the NHS to process medical records. There is enough accidental lack of clarity, especially in free text fields, in all NHS medical information systems that calling for a loosening of clarity is incredibly stupid. These details matter.

[Filippo Lippi]

Is Coffey dead?

[Wudang]

Originally Posted by Filippo Lippi

Is Coffey dead?

No, she's always smelled that way.

[Filippo Lippi]

Imagine waking up and smelling that

[P.J. Denyer]

Originally Posted by Wudang

No, she's always smelled that way.

In the notorious photograph the piglet's saying "Honestly, it's not me".

[Vixen]

Whilst we've all been distracted elsewhere: pound slumps to a 37- year low.

Quote:

The pound fell to a 37-year low against the dollar yesterday on the anniversary of Black Wednesday after data showed that consumers had cut back heavily on spending in August, heightening fears of a recession.

Sterling dropped 0.6 per cent against the dollar to $1.136, its weakest point since 1985, 30 years after Britain’s humiliating departure from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism caused by the collapsing value of the pound.

TIMES

The article goes on to cite people hanging on to their cash instead of retail spending thanks to the energy bill crisis.

[The Don]

Sadly, the falling pound will create its own inflationary pressures.

[Vixen]

Originally Posted by The Don

Sadly, the falling pound will create its own inflationary pressures.

Especially as the government has barely sat over the last couple of months and after this week are off on a four-week conference jolly, back 17 October 2022. All the while Rome is burning.