I hope you're right. Since Summer 2024, this endless waiting for the "excrement to impact the rotary ventilation system" has been excruciating. Just watching everything - on all fronts (economy, freedom of speech, civil liberties) - getting worse and worse; trying to protest to my MP but she's not listening.
This "government" are determined to double down on their crazy track, they're away from reality. Can't collapse soon enough.
My Labour MP is exactly the same, never responds to any communication or protest, they are not only incompetent but also extremely rude and condescending.
I hope you’re right but disagree. This government knows they are done for, but lack any ounce of decency and will hang on until 2029, the turkey’s will not vote for Xmas .
They are now on a scorched earth strategy to complete everything they want to do regardless of what the public want, and will leave the biggest mess possible for Reform to sort out.
But who will force them? Labour MP’s know they are toast, so will go for a desperate relaunch to continue employment until 2029. More promises, more lies.
It won’t be a who as such their situation will become untenable if several major circumstances coincide. Economic catastrophe coupled with a general strike , civil unrest ,massing migrants across the border on a scale not hitherto seen, another tragedy like Southport , rising crime circumstances such that they are unable to govern. Can’t predict exactly what
I can’t see the current Government lasting until 2029. The difference between Britain before and after the 2024 general election is that the problems that people were concerned about before 2024 were disguised (hidden and denied by the establishment) but after 2024 they could no longer be. There are reasons (it has happened throughout history) why a country’s decline can be disguised for decades (even centuries in the case of Rome) and then suddenly manifest themselves in a way that only the most myopic can’t or won’t see. 2024 was the moment decades of bad policy making in Britain could no longer be disguised. Britain’s serious problems are now out in the open. Yes, the likes of the BBC are still denying them but the people, who are often ahead of the politicians, now know the score. Which means that the elections in the next few months are crucial to creating new voices, new potential leaders and a truthful narrative. If that happens, the BBC (an incredibly smug organisation) will have to fall into line.
Very few of these clueless, talentless MPs will ever be able to earn anything like the £100,000 they are overpaid in the real world. But if the markets stop lending they will have to start cutting welfare handouts.
So let's hope Lowe puts his spat with Farage aside and does what needs to he done for the sake of the country, which is to pull his candidates where Reform can win. Restore won't win a single seat because to build a movement like Reform takes decades. So let's put the country first. And perhaps even the Tories can pay back Reform by pulling their candidates too. Farage did it it 2019 after all.
Am afraid I think Lowes thirst for vengeance against Farage and Reform is his top priority . Lowe will ally with the Tories if anyone the cosying up has already started . The Tories won’t pull candidates for reform unless there is a quid pro quo
How would you react if you had been falsely accused of a serious crime, putting your reputation in doubt, and then the accusers denying their charge, but use another excuse for cruelly and publicly sacking you? I certainly would not either apologise, or lower myself to work with such snakes. Reform are not honest.
I didn't comment on HOW Lowe was treated. I didn't say he ought to apologise nor that he ought to work with Reform. What happened is not important at this point. I'm merely saying that in 2029 it's make or break and Lowe must put the country first by avoiding a vote split.
How about Farage standing down from his high horse, he is the one who should go crawling toRupert Lowe, anyway Reform are not the answer,we need positive action not luke warm attempts.
I wouldn't react by trying to destroy the country by helping to keep the Uniparty in power. There is absolutely to defence for his behaviour.
How did you expect Farage to react to Lowe publicly stabbing him in the back and trying to stage a hostile takeover of the party Farage started?
The police/CPS deciding there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction does not mean the claims were false. And when it comes to politics we all know the police & CPS are utterly untrustworthy. A comedian suggested throwing battery acid at Farage. She wasn't prosecuted either but we all know it happened.
NEITHER of the accusers have denied their charge. ONE has clarified that while the abuse did not come directly from Lowe, he was aware of the abuse and did nothing to stop it. The other accuser has made a formal complaint to Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), which afaik is still ongoing.
I think if Rupert’s party has any clout by the next election the signs are that he and the Tories will be helping reach other . Reform must not make a pact with the Tories ahead of the GE. The one exception I would be tempted to make would be for Jacob Rees Mogg but if that constituency polling indicates overwhelming support for Reform then they must stand against him.
Several Tory leaning commentators give Rupert Lowe a lot of attention and I conclude that is intentional. RL's background is recent support for the Tories and I wonder if he is now a shill of theirs.
The news needs to get out. Quite a lot of people deserted Reform for Restore because Reform took in a number of Tories . I wonder how they would feel about potentially being hoodwinked by Lowe
We've had the same in Northern Ireland, with six different Unionist parties which have allowed sinn fein/Ira to hold the First Minister post for the first time ever ffs.
I wouldn't put it past Starmer to bail out and go for a General Election, rather than be toppled. Let's face it, none of them know how to run a country. That image of him sitting in the HoC with his head in his hands says it all. Restore/Advance are irrelevant anyway but, an early General Election would be a disaster for them, and the Tories who will be toast after the May elections, in terms of any hope of being able to split the right. A crisis that Matt predicts here would be a seismic moment and I think would be just what was needed to provoke a Brexit style turnout for Reform UK at a General Election, giving an emphatic two-fingers to the establishment and blowing away any hopes the left might have of a tactical coalition. Similar is happening across the West, the populist uprising will not be stopped,
Starmer is discovering that very large majorities are a mixed blessing. ‘Members of the other party are your opponents. Your enemies are in your own party’. Or something like that. A PM’s only hold over his backbenchers in these circumstances is the possibility that he could if he wanted go for an election.
I do hope you are correct about an early General Election and all the evidence you have listed suggests it is likely. Starmer fluked an election and was always going to be an unmitigated disaster. The fact he, and the rest of the government, have proven so spectacularly inept, clueless, weak and corrupt, has surprised even their biggest detractors. The confected BBC/MSM outrage over Liz Truss, or even Boris and his cake, is nothing compared to the financial damage, sleaze and dishonesty Starmer/Labour have brought to office.
Does the Green Party care at all for the environment? It seems to have ditched ecology in favor of Islamism and trans rights – as well as legalised crack. How long can such a rag bag of conficting ideals hold together?
They’re not interested in the environment. The original Green Party has been parasitised by the Islam/Hard Left alliance and have been eaten alive. It’s a Zombie party currently controlled by extremists and idiots. The idiots won’t outlast their usefulness.
Well, in Iran the Leftist/Islamist alliance held until they seized power, at which point the Islamists had several thousand (5K~8K) of the Leftists killed. Every cloud...🤔🙄👍
If you look at the council results, The Greens are not getting a high number of votes, only in areas with high levels of immigration. In many they are not even in double figures. Their support amongst normal UK people is severely limited.
I cannot see that an early GE is the answer to our problems. Our extraordinary electorate seems to think that the Greens are worth supporting and the so called right vote will be split unless there is some sort of agreement between the remains of the Tories and Reform. You will recollect that Boris got an 80 seat majority because Farage stood down 160 Reform candidates in 2019 - which Boris squandered. Another imponderable is the enfranchisement of 16 years olds; bizarre. Starmer is dishonest and a coward, never acting in the best interests of this country - Chagos being the classic example.
I do wish that people would read the manifesto of the Green party, that might well change their minds. Largely people are fed up and disconnected from politics and it's easy to see why.
Personally I would rather lance the boil that is this government now than leave it festering away weakening the entire organism that is this country . Short term pain for long term gain. Get a general election as soon as possible.
They would be forced to if a number of things coalesce at the same time. A catastrophic financial crash with a record number of migrant boats, Starmer has just threatened and blackmailed junior doctors , if the NHS ground to a halt , civil unrest . It could be any number of things to the point where they become unable to govern . We have seen this happen in other countries not yet in ours. Doesn’t mean it can’t .
Decades of open borders Globalisation has hollowed us out. Our manufacturing and industrial base has gone to China and we have imported millions of workers when so many of our people are on benefits living in post Industrial wastelands.
If the nation state doesn't control international finance capitalism, international finance capitalism will control the nation state.
I don't have much hope for the centre Right across the West to be honest. They aren't understanding the scale of the problems, particularly for young people.
2022 was an engineered crisis driven by the Deep State's Truss Derangement Syndrome.
Which is not to claim that we are not approaching a financial crisis.
One factor not mentioned is what happens if we can't get oil and gas out of the Strait of Hormuz? The idiots we have in charge (across Europe, not just in Britain) have been very slow to wake up to the pressing need to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to escort shipping, though of course if (as in our case) we don't have any warships, that makes the decision-making part a bit easier.
The problem Richard is that deploying any warship in such a constrained area as The Straits of Hormuz would be far too vulnerable to attack by various modern weaponry and I doubt that any western naval senior officers would permit it.
The problem is that the United States does not need the hydrocarbons as it is energy self-sufficient.
Europe desperately needs them.
Making nice to Trump might be a way of getting them, although after 12 months of being rebuffed by the Europeans on recognising Palestine, free speech online, the Greenland issue, and use of Diego Garcia, maybe he doesn't feel over-inclined to help.
It's like the common joke about the RAF a relative (ex-Army) told me. Fabulous, shiny weapons systems - but far too expensive to actually risk putting somewhere where they might get shot at.
What is the Labour plan? What reasonably good decision have Labour made since being elected? Are Labour simply incompetent or are they purposefully driving us off a cliff?
I’m afraid no one, including Reform, can save us from our current predicament which is the result of years of bad governance by both major parties. I’m so bloody angry I’d like to see them all face severe consequences.
My book arrived today, somewhat late and after I paid the extra postal charge on-line.
I don’t mind but have a word with your logistics people please.
I asked what Labour had done of a green/Labour voting "actooooorrr" friend. He said they've put more money into early years care. It's all he could think of. So the answer rounded down is "nothing".
I asked a Labour voter why he continued to vote labour 'I always have and always will'. One cannot change people like that but I did point out that voting is not a tribal issue like football.
Yup, I have friends like that too. It's so damned short sighted. I don't really get it in football either. I often ask who people would support if two rival teams were to switch players. The support doesn't change.
Ha indeed. I mean, a great idea for those on free school meals. Feed the kids, no problem. But honestly given the global order, the economy, the assault on our freedoms, immigration etc etc etc etc and it's all he came up with. I look forward to seeing him soon to see if he's added to the list.
When your book arrives have a look at the label. Mine said "Large Letter 229g". That's only the weight of the book. The book plus the sturdy envelope weighs 360g! Looks like someone at the distributor did a lousy job. 🙄👍
that'll be Royal Mail. I ended up going to sub post office, paying the £1.50 & noticed the book title on envelope had been inked out. Asking why (not who), no answer. As said above, I would not put it past GINO to have told Royal Mail to slow it down
We have been living beyond our means for decades, with successive governments handing out bribes in order to secure votes, and this has reached its zenith with this current excuse for a 'government', which in reality is simply a collection of lacklustre, criminal nonentities who are only interested in personal aggrandizement. There is only one way out of this disaster now and that is Thatcherism on steroids - sacking of most public employees; slashing of public spending; ending the splurging of money on welfare; deporting millions of layabouts who leech off-of the state, and the fostering of entrepreneurial talent by cutting taxes and red-tape, exactly as has been done in Argentina to revitalize their economy.
We have wasted so much on public spending and welfare that we no longer have any armed forces to defend ourselves, and it is rather interesting that we gave most of our arms and weaponry to Ukraine, leaving ourselves defenceless; was this by accident or by design? We are now at the mercy of bullies who can push us around at will, because our 'leaders' have taken this path, and we have estranged ourselves from the country that has defended and protected us since WWII - the USA, which we will live to regret. The USA is openly discussing removing our nuclear missiles to prevent them falling in to the hands of Islamists, which demonstrates the danger that we are in. The clock is ticking and the chimes that sound the end of Britain are not far away.
I still don’t see it Matt. They know they have a unique historical opportunity in their grasp. Their prime interests are cultural and demographic not boring old fiscal. Let’s be grateful Sunak capped the Boris wave - but I expect they’ll stop enforcing those curbs. I think they may deliberately crash the economy for as long as they can to scupper any incoming Reform UK government.
The medicine will unpalateable and therefore you are right. We have to face reality sooner or later but we seem to be accustomed to living on tick - which as far as I am concerned is totally against every one of my principles. The silent majority is just not being heard, the floating irresponsible voter decides who the government will be and that's that. Starmer has a 150 seat majority with 34% of the vote and that is not democracy.
I leave financial matters to people better qualified than me. What concerns me most is the loss of our culture which cannot be reversed in the way that finance can be. Whichever way we look, disaster looms, so I suppose it would be best to just get on with it before Labour can do more damage.
I think most people will settle for a few big wins and signs that we are heading in the right direction . Stopping the boats would be an enormous national symbol . Am hoping Reform will do what Trump did at the start of this term and arrive with a batch of critical legislation ready to go . Obviously they will need a working majority to get it through . They need to hit the ground running unlike this government which is still floundering after 18 months. I have faith in Reforms top team and Farage is a canny operator .
Currently I think happiness is something we can only aspire to . Rupert makes a lot of noise in politically aware circles but polling shows 90% of the country don’t know who he is. It’s very difficult to get over 600 candidates, that’s why he’s not standing candidates in the local elections I hear. He won’t have the national machinery and he will have to find all those deposits. Most people won’t vote for a one man band either with no track record. My worry is he has chosen a name similar to to Reform and I don’t want people voting for him by mistake . I hope he loses his seat
A worrying point - Reform (and hopefully a right wing coalition) will have an awful lot to deal with BUT if they start moving things in the correct direction I hope people will give them longer.
My concern is that Labour are going to leave such a mess - I mean, look at what they've done already - that a new government (whatever it is) would have to spend all its time preventing the country from falling over a cliff, and not have to time to get rid of Labour's poisonous legacy on regulation, free speech, civil liberties.
On the other hand, just wiping out the protest laws, the Online Safety Act, the soon-coming further Internet censorship "to protect the Cheeeeeeldren", the no jury trials, the "Islamophobia" business - these could be just dumped with a few votes.
Perhaps an early crowd-pleaser from a new govt, before they turn to more serious business?
The usual suspects will scream and shout about Saaaaaaafety 'n' Secuuuuuuurity - but let them, ignore them.
Agreed. Their incompetence and mismanagement is staggering. Alongside that though, some of the legislation they have passed or attempted to pass is vile, nothing short of evil. I know I am ideologically (I would say rationally) opposed to them, but what they do is above and beyond. As you say, their aim appears to be to totally destroy us culturally.
I hope you're right. Since Summer 2024, this endless waiting for the "excrement to impact the rotary ventilation system" has been excruciating. Just watching everything - on all fronts (economy, freedom of speech, civil liberties) - getting worse and worse; trying to protest to my MP but she's not listening.
This "government" are determined to double down on their crazy track, they're away from reality. Can't collapse soon enough.
My Labour MP is exactly the same, never responds to any communication or protest, they are not only incompetent but also extremely rude and condescending.
I hope you’re right but disagree. This government knows they are done for, but lack any ounce of decency and will hang on until 2029, the turkey’s will not vote for Xmas .
They are now on a scorched earth strategy to complete everything they want to do regardless of what the public want, and will leave the biggest mess possible for Reform to sort out.
I agree it's unlikely they'll call an early election as to do so would put them all out of jobs. But one can hope.
They won’t choose to call an early election but they may be forced into it if things get sufficiently bad .
But who will force them? Labour MP’s know they are toast, so will go for a desperate relaunch to continue employment until 2029. More promises, more lies.
It won’t be a who as such their situation will become untenable if several major circumstances coincide. Economic catastrophe coupled with a general strike , civil unrest ,massing migrants across the border on a scale not hitherto seen, another tragedy like Southport , rising crime circumstances such that they are unable to govern. Can’t predict exactly what
I can’t see the current Government lasting until 2029. The difference between Britain before and after the 2024 general election is that the problems that people were concerned about before 2024 were disguised (hidden and denied by the establishment) but after 2024 they could no longer be. There are reasons (it has happened throughout history) why a country’s decline can be disguised for decades (even centuries in the case of Rome) and then suddenly manifest themselves in a way that only the most myopic can’t or won’t see. 2024 was the moment decades of bad policy making in Britain could no longer be disguised. Britain’s serious problems are now out in the open. Yes, the likes of the BBC are still denying them but the people, who are often ahead of the politicians, now know the score. Which means that the elections in the next few months are crucial to creating new voices, new potential leaders and a truthful narrative. If that happens, the BBC (an incredibly smug organisation) will have to fall into line.
Good post Michael
Thanks, Lesley.
Very few of these clueless, talentless MPs will ever be able to earn anything like the £100,000 they are overpaid in the real world. But if the markets stop lending they will have to start cutting welfare handouts.
They set out to create this mess from the beginning,they want to bring us all down to there level so we are more controllable.
You're 100% right, Oldreo, I think that has already started.
Ps your spot on Oldreo
In which case there must be NO split on the right! Because whatever you
say one thing is certain the Left will unite to keep Reform out. They will use
tactical voting in order to achieve this whatever their policy differences. On this they are totally united - making sure Reform never gets elected!!!
So let's hope Lowe puts his spat with Farage aside and does what needs to he done for the sake of the country, which is to pull his candidates where Reform can win. Restore won't win a single seat because to build a movement like Reform takes decades. So let's put the country first. And perhaps even the Tories can pay back Reform by pulling their candidates too. Farage did it it 2019 after all.
Am afraid I think Lowes thirst for vengeance against Farage and Reform is his top priority . Lowe will ally with the Tories if anyone the cosying up has already started . The Tories won’t pull candidates for reform unless there is a quid pro quo
Yes his thirst for revenge is my fear too. Quid pro quo could work in both parties' favour.
How would you react if you had been falsely accused of a serious crime, putting your reputation in doubt, and then the accusers denying their charge, but use another excuse for cruelly and publicly sacking you? I certainly would not either apologise, or lower myself to work with such snakes. Reform are not honest.
I didn't comment on HOW Lowe was treated. I didn't say he ought to apologise nor that he ought to work with Reform. What happened is not important at this point. I'm merely saying that in 2029 it's make or break and Lowe must put the country first by avoiding a vote split.
How about Farage standing down from his high horse, he is the one who should go crawling toRupert Lowe, anyway Reform are not the answer,we need positive action not luke warm attempts.
I wouldn't react by trying to destroy the country by helping to keep the Uniparty in power. There is absolutely to defence for his behaviour.
How did you expect Farage to react to Lowe publicly stabbing him in the back and trying to stage a hostile takeover of the party Farage started?
The police/CPS deciding there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction does not mean the claims were false. And when it comes to politics we all know the police & CPS are utterly untrustworthy. A comedian suggested throwing battery acid at Farage. She wasn't prosecuted either but we all know it happened.
NEITHER of the accusers have denied their charge. ONE has clarified that while the abuse did not come directly from Lowe, he was aware of the abuse and did nothing to stop it. The other accuser has made a formal complaint to Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), which afaik is still ongoing.
Farage admitted the claims were false. Do you really want this man to become PM , he is a liar!(
It is self centeredness and ego that drives Rupert.
Whatever happens there must be no deal with the Tories b
I think if Rupert’s party has any clout by the next election the signs are that he and the Tories will be helping reach other . Reform must not make a pact with the Tories ahead of the GE. The one exception I would be tempted to make would be for Jacob Rees Mogg but if that constituency polling indicates overwhelming support for Reform then they must stand against him.
I quite agree.
Several Tory leaning commentators give Rupert Lowe a lot of attention and I conclude that is intentional. RL's background is recent support for the Tories and I wonder if he is now a shill of theirs.
The news needs to get out. Quite a lot of people deserted Reform for Restore because Reform took in a number of Tories . I wonder how they would feel about potentially being hoodwinked by Lowe
We've had the same in Northern Ireland, with six different Unionist parties which have allowed sinn fein/Ira to hold the First Minister post for the first time ever ffs.
I wouldn't put it past Starmer to bail out and go for a General Election, rather than be toppled. Let's face it, none of them know how to run a country. That image of him sitting in the HoC with his head in his hands says it all. Restore/Advance are irrelevant anyway but, an early General Election would be a disaster for them, and the Tories who will be toast after the May elections, in terms of any hope of being able to split the right. A crisis that Matt predicts here would be a seismic moment and I think would be just what was needed to provoke a Brexit style turnout for Reform UK at a General Election, giving an emphatic two-fingers to the establishment and blowing away any hopes the left might have of a tactical coalition. Similar is happening across the West, the populist uprising will not be stopped,
Labour MP's will not vote for an early GE, they know they will lose their seats and it's naive to suggest that they will.
I believe you will find that the right to call an election lies with the Prime Minister.
Didn't Rishi do it without any of his team knowing about it?
Singing in the rain 🌧️ without his umbrella 🌂 wasn’t it? Betrayal personified, any explanation?
Starmer is discovering that very large majorities are a mixed blessing. ‘Members of the other party are your opponents. Your enemies are in your own party’. Or something like that. A PM’s only hold over his backbenchers in these circumstances is the possibility that he could if he wanted go for an election.
Never hurts to be glass half full. Far too much negativity around at the moment ;-)
I do hope you are correct about an early General Election and all the evidence you have listed suggests it is likely. Starmer fluked an election and was always going to be an unmitigated disaster. The fact he, and the rest of the government, have proven so spectacularly inept, clueless, weak and corrupt, has surprised even their biggest detractors. The confected BBC/MSM outrage over Liz Truss, or even Boris and his cake, is nothing compared to the financial damage, sleaze and dishonesty Starmer/Labour have brought to office.
Does the Green Party care at all for the environment? It seems to have ditched ecology in favor of Islamism and trans rights – as well as legalised crack. How long can such a rag bag of conficting ideals hold together?
They’re not interested in the environment. The original Green Party has been parasitised by the Islam/Hard Left alliance and have been eaten alive. It’s a Zombie party currently controlled by extremists and idiots. The idiots won’t outlast their usefulness.
They don't even mention the environment now. A joke of sorts.
Well, in Iran the Leftist/Islamist alliance held until they seized power, at which point the Islamists had several thousand (5K~8K) of the Leftists killed. Every cloud...🤔🙄👍
😂😂😂
If you look at the council results, The Greens are not getting a high number of votes, only in areas with high levels of immigration. In many they are not even in double figures. Their support amongst normal UK people is severely limited.
That is reassuring.🤞
The sooner the better for this country.
I cannot see that an early GE is the answer to our problems. Our extraordinary electorate seems to think that the Greens are worth supporting and the so called right vote will be split unless there is some sort of agreement between the remains of the Tories and Reform. You will recollect that Boris got an 80 seat majority because Farage stood down 160 Reform candidates in 2019 - which Boris squandered. Another imponderable is the enfranchisement of 16 years olds; bizarre. Starmer is dishonest and a coward, never acting in the best interests of this country - Chagos being the classic example.
I believe the sixteen year old lads are quite keen on Reform but the girls go Green.😬
I do wish that people would read the manifesto of the Green party, that might well change their minds. Largely people are fed up and disconnected from politics and it's easy to see why.
We can but hope, Matt. On a related matter, the Moggcast with Lord Goodman is very much worth a listen.
Personally I would rather lance the boil that is this government now than leave it festering away weakening the entire organism that is this country . Short term pain for long term gain. Get a general election as soon as possible.
Ok, but how? Why would Labour turkeys (MPs) vote for Xmas?
They would be forced to if a number of things coalesce at the same time. A catastrophic financial crash with a record number of migrant boats, Starmer has just threatened and blackmailed junior doctors , if the NHS ground to a halt , civil unrest . It could be any number of things to the point where they become unable to govern . We have seen this happen in other countries not yet in ours. Doesn’t mean it can’t .
Hmm. To be wished for or not? I suppose it would prove the old saying about clouds and silver linings.
Decades of open borders Globalisation has hollowed us out. Our manufacturing and industrial base has gone to China and we have imported millions of workers when so many of our people are on benefits living in post Industrial wastelands.
If the nation state doesn't control international finance capitalism, international finance capitalism will control the nation state.
I don't have much hope for the centre Right across the West to be honest. They aren't understanding the scale of the problems, particularly for young people.
We've also imported millions of skivers many of whom are sitting pretty in nice council houses.
2022 was an engineered crisis driven by the Deep State's Truss Derangement Syndrome.
Which is not to claim that we are not approaching a financial crisis.
One factor not mentioned is what happens if we can't get oil and gas out of the Strait of Hormuz? The idiots we have in charge (across Europe, not just in Britain) have been very slow to wake up to the pressing need to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to escort shipping, though of course if (as in our case) we don't have any warships, that makes the decision-making part a bit easier.
The problem Richard is that deploying any warship in such a constrained area as The Straits of Hormuz would be far too vulnerable to attack by various modern weaponry and I doubt that any western naval senior officers would permit it.
The problem is that the United States does not need the hydrocarbons as it is energy self-sufficient.
Europe desperately needs them.
Making nice to Trump might be a way of getting them, although after 12 months of being rebuffed by the Europeans on recognising Palestine, free speech online, the Greenland issue, and use of Diego Garcia, maybe he doesn't feel over-inclined to help.
It's like the common joke about the RAF a relative (ex-Army) told me. Fabulous, shiny weapons systems - but far too expensive to actually risk putting somewhere where they might get shot at.
What is the Labour plan? What reasonably good decision have Labour made since being elected? Are Labour simply incompetent or are they purposefully driving us off a cliff?
I’m afraid no one, including Reform, can save us from our current predicament which is the result of years of bad governance by both major parties. I’m so bloody angry I’d like to see them all face severe consequences.
My book arrived today, somewhat late and after I paid the extra postal charge on-line.
I don’t mind but have a word with your logistics people please.
I asked what Labour had done of a green/Labour voting "actooooorrr" friend. He said they've put more money into early years care. It's all he could think of. So the answer rounded down is "nothing".
I asked a Labour voter why he continued to vote labour 'I always have and always will'. One cannot change people like that but I did point out that voting is not a tribal issue like football.
Yup, I have friends like that too. It's so damned short sighted. I don't really get it in football either. I often ask who people would support if two rival teams were to switch players. The support doesn't change.
But Breakfast Clubs!!
Ha indeed. I mean, a great idea for those on free school meals. Feed the kids, no problem. But honestly given the global order, the economy, the assault on our freedoms, immigration etc etc etc etc and it's all he came up with. I look forward to seeing him soon to see if he's added to the list.
Me too. It is now going to be delivered today. Still, worth the extra £1.50 for the Founders’ copy.
No surprise at all. At this point I’d put nothing past this shower!
When your book arrives have a look at the label. Mine said "Large Letter 229g". That's only the weight of the book. The book plus the sturdy envelope weighs 360g! Looks like someone at the distributor did a lousy job. 🙄👍
Same as me, late delivery and £1.50 to be paid.
Paid my £1.50. 2. Days ago. Still waiting
that'll be Royal Mail. I ended up going to sub post office, paying the £1.50 & noticed the book title on envelope had been inked out. Asking why (not who), no answer. As said above, I would not put it past GINO to have told Royal Mail to slow it down
We have been living beyond our means for decades, with successive governments handing out bribes in order to secure votes, and this has reached its zenith with this current excuse for a 'government', which in reality is simply a collection of lacklustre, criminal nonentities who are only interested in personal aggrandizement. There is only one way out of this disaster now and that is Thatcherism on steroids - sacking of most public employees; slashing of public spending; ending the splurging of money on welfare; deporting millions of layabouts who leech off-of the state, and the fostering of entrepreneurial talent by cutting taxes and red-tape, exactly as has been done in Argentina to revitalize their economy.
We have wasted so much on public spending and welfare that we no longer have any armed forces to defend ourselves, and it is rather interesting that we gave most of our arms and weaponry to Ukraine, leaving ourselves defenceless; was this by accident or by design? We are now at the mercy of bullies who can push us around at will, because our 'leaders' have taken this path, and we have estranged ourselves from the country that has defended and protected us since WWII - the USA, which we will live to regret. The USA is openly discussing removing our nuclear missiles to prevent them falling in to the hands of Islamists, which demonstrates the danger that we are in. The clock is ticking and the chimes that sound the end of Britain are not far away.
I still don’t see it Matt. They know they have a unique historical opportunity in their grasp. Their prime interests are cultural and demographic not boring old fiscal. Let’s be grateful Sunak capped the Boris wave - but I expect they’ll stop enforcing those curbs. I think they may deliberately crash the economy for as long as they can to scupper any incoming Reform UK government.
If we’re in that much trouble won’t it mean failure for a Reform govt and total disaster in the sense that people will never again vote Reform?
The medicine will unpalateable and therefore you are right. We have to face reality sooner or later but we seem to be accustomed to living on tick - which as far as I am concerned is totally against every one of my principles. The silent majority is just not being heard, the floating irresponsible voter decides who the government will be and that's that. Starmer has a 150 seat majority with 34% of the vote and that is not democracy.
I leave financial matters to people better qualified than me. What concerns me most is the loss of our culture which cannot be reversed in the way that finance can be. Whichever way we look, disaster looms, so I suppose it would be best to just get on with it before Labour can do more damage.
I think most people will settle for a few big wins and signs that we are heading in the right direction . Stopping the boats would be an enormous national symbol . Am hoping Reform will do what Trump did at the start of this term and arrive with a batch of critical legislation ready to go . Obviously they will need a working majority to get it through . They need to hit the ground running unlike this government which is still floundering after 18 months. I have faith in Reforms top team and Farage is a canny operator .
🤞 I’m sure you’re right depending on the majority. I’d feel happier if the Restore crowd weren’t hell bent on destroying Farage. Pathetic.
Currently I think happiness is something we can only aspire to . Rupert makes a lot of noise in politically aware circles but polling shows 90% of the country don’t know who he is. It’s very difficult to get over 600 candidates, that’s why he’s not standing candidates in the local elections I hear. He won’t have the national machinery and he will have to find all those deposits. Most people won’t vote for a one man band either with no track record. My worry is he has chosen a name similar to to Reform and I don’t want people voting for him by mistake . I hope he loses his seat
I agree
I have a feeling job number 1 is appoint 500 new Lords to make sure legislation can be passed! 😯😉👍
As long as it’s passed Ian they can populate it with leprechauns as far as I am concerned . Can’t be worse than many of the present incumbents
A worrying point - Reform (and hopefully a right wing coalition) will have an awful lot to deal with BUT if they start moving things in the correct direction I hope people will give them longer.
My concern is that Labour are going to leave such a mess - I mean, look at what they've done already - that a new government (whatever it is) would have to spend all its time preventing the country from falling over a cliff, and not have to time to get rid of Labour's poisonous legacy on regulation, free speech, civil liberties.
On the other hand, just wiping out the protest laws, the Online Safety Act, the soon-coming further Internet censorship "to protect the Cheeeeeeldren", the no jury trials, the "Islamophobia" business - these could be just dumped with a few votes.
Perhaps an early crowd-pleaser from a new govt, before they turn to more serious business?
The usual suspects will scream and shout about Saaaaaaafety 'n' Secuuuuuuurity - but let them, ignore them.
I agree, they’re the worst and most dangerous govt I’ve ever known.
Agreed. Their incompetence and mismanagement is staggering. Alongside that though, some of the legislation they have passed or attempted to pass is vile, nothing short of evil. I know I am ideologically (I would say rationally) opposed to them, but what they do is above and beyond. As you say, their aim appears to be to totally destroy us culturally.