news & politics:discussion

[MEGATRONICMEATWAGON]

12 hours ago, Punksnotdead said:

Apparently we're all being invited to shout out "May the King live forever" next week! WTF? - you're gonna die, just like the rest of us, you silly c**t!

The only good thing out of this silly idea is the comedy and theatre tent will be fully of parodies, jokes, and piss-takes, come June!

[steviewevie]

1 hour ago, mattiloy said:

13 years in power with a similar approach to what Starmer’s Labour proposes. Little to show for it. They could have done a lot of good.

The question is whether you believe systemic change is needed, or whether you believe that quick fixes to treat symptoms of a failing system are adequate, or whether you believe in the former but that it’s necessary for Starmer’s Labour to pretend to be a party of the latter and then actually have faith that they will deliver systemic change.

I believe systemic change is needed. I don’t think that is made more likely by electing a Labour majority. So I won’t be voting Labour.

Wanting change but not voting labour doesn't make a lot of sense with our electoral system...but horses for courses I guess.

[Guest]

58 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

They did a lot of good. Improvement of the NHS, improved education, minimum wage, reduced poverty, implemented sure start. It wasn’t perfect and they could have done more. I would however argue that between 1997 and 2010 people in general felt better than they do now.

The trouble with Corbyn supporters downplaying the achievements of the Labour government. It feeds into the narrative that there is no point changing. I personally see a lot of areas where Starmer Labour will improve the country, they may not move as much as some would like, but they can shift things in the right direction. 

Spot on. Labour made such a difference to peoples lives when they were last in power just look at real term wages for evidence of that.

Starmer’s Labour will do the same if they get into government. Whilst they won’t be perfect they will be immeasurably better than what we have now. 

Edited April 30, 2023 by Ozanne

[steviewevie]

..especially as haven't even seen the manifestos yet...labour may revert changes to clause 4 and nationalise everything and promise a socialist utopia with loads of free stuff and we can burn the royals and any rich c**ts except that nice gary linekar bloke....and they'll solve the trans issue so everyone is happy...and they'll stop the boats by allowing all asylum seekers a safe route and at same time resolve all issues globally so they won't want to anyway....and they'll legalise all drugs and bring in UBI and there will be no more crime...and they'll build loads of houses but at same time turn the country into one massive forest and we'll get all our energy from renewables and everyone will cycle.

[Guest]

I find Starmer so likeable, to me he seems genuine and down to earth. I want him to be PM so badly. 

[pink_triangle]

24 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Wanting change but not voting labour doesn't make a lot of sense with our electoral system...but horses for courses I guess.

Let’s not forget this argument that labour and the Tory’s are the same is a political argument by the likes of SNP, Plaid and greens to take labour votes.

My friend in Wrexham (2000 Tory majority) is going to vote plaid (because the other 2 are the same) and the only person who will benefit from that thinking is the Tory no.

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

Let’s not forget this argument that labour and the Tory’s are the same is a political argument by the likes of SNP, Plaid and greens to take labour votes.

My friend in Wrexham (2000 Tory majority) is going to vote plaid (because the other 2 are the same) and the only person who will benefit from that thinking is the Tory no.

No offence to your friend but that is dumb. There are fairly big differences between the parties, look at the housing policies announced this week by Labour for evidence of that. 

[steviewevie]

...at the same time, these are local elections...so really should vote for who you think is best to run your local council, not the country.

Where I live council is totally dominated by Labour, so tempted to vote Green to mix it up a bit...but not had one green leaflet through the door, but have had plenty of labour ones, and the current councilor seems pretty good so might vote for her again.

[Guest]

 

[Neil]

2 hours ago, steviewevie said:

I thought the labour's manifesto was pretty groovy when Corbyn was leader...but like a lot of people I never thought he'd ever be PM, especially in 2019 when he was super unpopular....no idea why they agreed to that election.

You might have thought it was groovy, but it was thoughoughly rejected by the electorate, would be a huge error to repeat that failure.

[Neil]

Is mattiloy still fighting for socialism by working for an international capitalist ?

[lost]

Debt to GDP passed 100% last week and taxes are already at 80 year highs. Starmer needs to be ready for a massive backlash from the left of the party based on what he can realistically achieve.

[Neil]

41 minutes ago, lost said:

Debt to GDP passed 100% last week and taxes are already at 80 year highs. Starmer needs to be ready for a massive backlash from the left of the party based on what he can realistically achieve.

No borrowing for investment 

[steviewevie]

9 minutes ago, Neil said:

No borrowing for investment 

Isn't some of the stuff in last budget set to kick in 2025 onwards or something, the childcare stuff...so putting that on next govt? There won't be much cash around..but hopefully economy starts picking up, and labour can still borrow for green investment thingies.

[LJS]

10 hours ago, steviewevie said:

I hope everyone will be doing this...

 

Not everyone

 

[steviewevie]

31 minutes ago, LJS said:

Not everyone

 

Disgraceful

[Neil]

38 minutes ago, LJS said:

Not everyone

 

I'll be pleadging my allegience to the Bolshevik and Russian solution to monarchy.

[Justiceforcedave]

10 hours ago, Ozanne said:

I find Starmer so likeable, to me he seems genuine and down to earth. I want him to be PM so badly. 

Tell us what you really think.

[steviewevie]

John Harris on the New Conservativism thing.

 

[Guest]

I’m sure there’s nothing to see here. 

[steviewevie]

I see The Guardian has got in trouble for publishing a cartoon over the weekend about Richard Sharp and Johnson with antisemite tropes...Sharp is Jewish.

Edited May 1, 2023 by steviewevie

[steviewevie]

 

[lost]

consecutive weeks isn't a great look.

[Neil]

8 minutes ago, lost said:

consecutive weeks isn't a great look.

last sunday was the observer, a distinctly separate paper to the guardian.

[steviewevie]

13 minutes ago, lost said:

consecutive weeks isn't a great look.

?