Starmergeddon: They Came And Ate Us

[dpedin]

I don't see how I'm misrepresentating that polling and labour door knockers said the tax attacks had cut through and labour still won a huge majority of both things happened.

Another depressingly predictable episode lying in politics is good actually if it's my side who are lying. Not so different from the Tories afterall.

As mentioned, massive majorities can hide how little of the electorate actually voted for a party. The number of seats Labour has vs. it's proportion of the vote is even more out of whack than Johnson's 2019 win. That Labour won despite the tax lie probably speaks more to just how many people were fed up with the Tories that even such falsehoods appearing to take hold with some people couldn't ultimately prevent Labour claiming the election.

We can never truly know the impact those things had. There's no other world we can monitor where the Tory tax lie didn't enter the electoral arena with all other factors remaining the same in order to calculate whether it did or didn't cost x% of the vote.

I'm a Lib Dem voter because they're the only viable non-Tory option in my constituency. Labour's politics are somewhat close to mine, but they're far from my side. Understanding why, given the state of the UK electorate, politicians shy away from mentioning tax rises during an election is hardly endorsing lying.

Like you I'm a lib dem voter because they were the opposition in my seat which until this election has been a Tory stronghold. I think that you're right the seat numbers is a distortion on voter %s because what they do show is a huge effort to vote out the Tories rather than endorse Labour. The idea that the Tories would be able to motivate people to vote for their own sh*t show because Labour are going to raise taxes is for the birds as they tried it and despite polling suggest people did listen ultimately what happened was a total repudiation of the tories.

The Labour leadership like all of us will have known for a long time you don't turn around failing public services with a demographic time bomb attached without higher taxes. Being deliberately dishonest to win an election is a wholehearted endorsement of lying and the debasing of politics we've had under the Tories.

A lot of us have spent more time than maybe we should have discussing the Tory lies (and other sins) on here. Only for it then to be okay for Labour to lie, doesn't make sense to me.

Looking at share of votes nationally in a FPTP system is a waste of time and effort. A significant number of voters are now clever enough to know that it is all about voting tactically in their seat in order to get the result they want - in this case getting rid of a sitting Tory MP. As a result they will vote to achieve their aim not vote for who they actually support. As a result the national picture of votes cast doesnt really give any indication of size of any 'mandate' from voters, the only mandate that counts is the number of seats in a FPTP system. If we don't like it then we need to change the voting system.

Anyone who believes what is said in any Party Manifesto is just naive at best and stupid at worst. Winning an election and running the country are two very different and in many ways conflicting objectives. The Tories were masters of winning elections and in the Blonde Bumblecunt had the ideal election winning tool (I use that word advisedly) who could lie and spout utter shite 24/7 in order to win elections and referenda. Ask him to tie his own shoelaces let alone run a country then he is exposed as the idiotic charlatan he was. However they ran out of road and voters judged them on their actual performance in government not the lies and empty promises they made in the GE.

Labour had to learn the dark arts of how to win elections and to be fair they did albeit an easy job given the shitshow of the Tory Gov. This inevitably meant playing the game as per Tory approach. The Lib Dems can be more honest and open in their GE approach because they know they will never get a majority and have to run the country. However judging Starmer and Labour on the basis of c50 days in power and have had less than 10 days of HoC to get things done is perhaps premature. Also they are just doing the usual getting all the shit you've inherited out onto the table in the first 100 days and make all the difficult decisions now. The political cycle means that every Gov tries to get the bad news out early in order to enable them to deliver good news by the time the next election is upon them - if anyone expected anything different then again they are naive. The Tories did exactly the same in 2010, using the joke note about no money left in the Treasury as a stick to beat the outgoing Labour Gov - Labour are doing exactly the same. Labour are also using the chaos in the Tory Party to move quickly on the bad news stuff, the tories are too busy fighting amongst themselves and eating their own faces in electing a leader to put up anything like a coordinated attack on Labour. Expect Labour to continue to get a lot of the difficult stuff out on the table over the next 50 days, such as the forthcoming budget, or as Starmer himself said ''fixing the foundations'!

[I like neeps]

A classic of the Tory lying is unacceptable but Labour lying is actually smart genre there dpedin.

[Sandstorm]

A classic of the Tory lying is unacceptable but Labour lying is actually smart genre there dpedin.

Starmer didn't lie about taxes, you sore loser. He said nothing.

[dpedin]

A classic of the Tory lying is unacceptable but Labour lying is actually smart genre there dpedin.

That's not what I said though! The implication throughout my post is that Labour have learnt how to play dirty just as the Tories have done in order to win the election. It's why I said don't believe anything you read in any parties manifesto! It's not to applaud them but a reflection of what actually happened - Labour have learnt how to win elections from the Tories and in that respect they have been smart.

Labour have also learnt from the Tories in making sure they expose all the shit they have inherited and blame the outgoing Gov on the mess they have to deal with. This was what theTories did in order to give them air cover for austerity in 2010 and it's what Labour will do to explain their strategy going forward ie Fixing the Foundations! The bigger test however after this initial 100 days is how Labour behave in Government and run the country and I hope Starmer will be radically different from the last 14 years of shit. Given his background Starmer appears to me to be a more honest, learned and principled man than the likes of the Blonde Bumblecunt and Mad Liz for example but he is still a politician and I have little doubt I will be disappointed to some extent.

[Hal Jordan]

Their strategy appears to be more austerity amd appeasing Brexit headbangers if recent announcements about the Budget and the Getman treaty are anything to go by. Fairly gutless stuff.

[robmatic]

Their strategy appears to be more austerity amd appeasing Brexit headbangers if recent announcements about the Budget and the Getman treaty are anything to go by. Fairly gutless stuff.

More austerity, great. Just what the UK needs after 15 years of being driven into the ground.

[fishfoodie]

A classic of the Tory lying is unacceptable but Labour lying is actually smart genre there dpedin.

Starmer didn't lie about taxes, you sore loser. He said nothing.

Exactly !, there is no lie; in fact there is a confirmation of a commitment to a policy; a balanced budget !!!

The problem is the massive black hole in committed spending that the Tories left, & waited for the incoming Government to discover & have to deal with.

[Hal Jordan]

Their strategy appears to be more austerity amd appeasing Brexit headbangers if recent announcements about the Budget and the Getman treaty are anything to go by. Fairly gutless stuff.

More austerity, great. Just what the UK needs after 15 years of being driven into the ground.

The Melchett Doctrine.

[SaintK]

A classic of the Tory lying is unacceptable but Labour lying is actually smart genre there dpedin.

Starmer didn't lie about taxes, you sore loser. He said nothing.

Exactly !, there is no lie; in fact there is a confirmation of a commitment to a policy; a balanced budget !!!

The problem is the massive black hole in committed spending that the Tories left, & waited for the incoming Government to discover & have to deal with.

Quite

The Home Office has been accused of submitting “woeful” budget figures under successive Conservative ministers – which officials knew understated the ballooning cost of asylum and illegal immigration spending.

In a report partially vindicating Rachel Reeves’s claim that the new Labour government inherited a far worse financial situation than initially thought, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) thinktank suggested the Home Office had repeatedly lowballed its budget estimates.

It found ministers knew budgets it had submitted were insufficient and habitually drew on Treasury contingency reserves, a practice which one Labour source described as “like the wild west”.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ ... m-budgets

[Slick]

Starmer didn't lie about taxes, you sore loser. He said nothing.

Exactly !, there is no lie; in fact there is a confirmation of a commitment to a policy; a balanced budget !!!

The problem is the massive black hole in committed spending that the Tories left, & waited for the incoming Government to discover & have to deal with.

Quite

The Home Office has been accused of submitting “woeful” budget figures under successive Conservative ministers – which officials knew understated the ballooning cost of asylum and illegal immigration spending.

In a report partially vindicating Rachel Reeves’s claim that the new Labour government inherited a far worse financial situation than initially thought, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) thinktank suggested the Home Office had repeatedly lowballed its budget estimates.

It found ministers knew budgets it had submitted were insufficient and habitually drew on Treasury contingency reserves, a practice which one Labour source described as “like the wild west”.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ ... m-budgets

I read that this morning in utter disbelief. How can you possibly supply a budget estimate of £320m and then spend £7.2 billion. If it’s not, it should be criminal

[Slick]

Their strategy appears to be more austerity amd appeasing Brexit headbangers if recent announcements about the Budget and the Getman treaty are anything to go by. Fairly gutless stuff.

The Brexit stuff he has been spouting makes me wretch

[petej]

Their strategy appears to be more austerity amd appeasing Brexit headbangers if recent announcements about the Budget and the Getman treaty are anything to go by. Fairly gutless stuff.

The Brexit stuff he has been spouting makes me wretch

Tell people how much fucking Brexit has cost them and will continue to do so. Then see the public's opinion on it.

[epwc]

Facts do not matter, this has been proved time and again in the last 10 years

[fishfoodie]

Exactly !, there is no lie; in fact there is a confirmation of a commitment to a policy; a balanced budget !!!

The problem is the massive black hole in committed spending that the Tories left, & waited for the incoming Government to discover & have to deal with.

Quite

The Home Office has been accused of submitting “woeful” budget figures under successive Conservative ministers – which officials knew understated the ballooning cost of asylum and illegal immigration spending.

In a report partially vindicating Rachel Reeves’s claim that the new Labour government inherited a far worse financial situation than initially thought, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) thinktank suggested the Home Office had repeatedly lowballed its budget estimates.

It found ministers knew budgets it had submitted were insufficient and habitually drew on Treasury contingency reserves, a practice which one Labour source described as “like the wild west”.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ ... m-budgets

I read that this morning in utter disbelief. How can you possibly supply a budget estimate of £320m and then spend £7.2 billion. If it’s not, it should be criminal

I have a feeling that revelations like this are going to be a regular feature for the rest of the year, as Ministry by Ministry the various follies & frauds are uncovered.

We've heard nothing yet from Health or Defense, but I think we can be sure there's going to be massive bills to be paid for Hospitals to re-built, & submarines that leak, or whatever; & that's before the imminent nationalisation of water.

[dpedin]

Quite

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ ... m-budgets

I read that this morning in utter disbelief. How can you possibly supply a budget estimate of £320m and then spend £7.2 billion. If it’s not, it should be criminal

I have a feeling that revelations like this are going to be a regular feature for the rest of the year, as Ministry by Ministry the various follies & frauds are uncovered.

We've heard nothing yet from Health or Defense, but I think we can be sure there's going to be massive bills to be paid for Hospitals to re-built, & submarines that leak, or whatever; & that's before the imminent nationalisation of water.

Remember we still have Module 5 of the Covid Enquiry on Procurement to come to as well - hearings start in March next year. That will be fun!

[inactionman]

Does anyone know what a party in opposition are actually entitled to know about budget and finances within government? Or what they know in practice?

I'm not sure what is required to be publicly disclosed and what additional detail parliament get that won't be generally disclosed.

I assume there's some parliamentary scrutiny, but that the opposition would have only a very basic view of what went on in government departments. As others have mentioned , I'm expecting to see other financial disasters emerging over the coming months.

[fishfoodie]

Does anyone know what a party in opposition are actually entitled to know about budget and finances within government? Or what they know in practice?

I'm not sure what is required to be publicly disclosed and what additional detail parliament get that won't be generally disclosed.

I assume there's some parliamentary scrutiny, but that the opposition would have only a very basic view of what went on in government departments. As others have mentioned , I'm expecting to see other financial disasters emerging over the coming months.

Presumably the OBR is intended to provide an independent view of finances, but as they admitted, the Tories didn't fully disclose data to them, so they're pretty much useless when Politicians can just ignore them, & not be breaking the law. Is there a Public Accounts Committee ?

[Paddington Bear]

Does anyone know what a party in opposition are actually entitled to know about budget and finances within government? Or what they know in practice?

I'm not sure what is required to be publicly disclosed and what additional detail parliament get that won't be generally disclosed.

I assume there's some parliamentary scrutiny, but that the opposition would have only a very basic view of what went on in government departments. As others have mentioned , I'm expecting to see other financial disasters emerging over the coming months.

Presumably the OBR is intended to provide an independent view of finances, but as they admitted, the Tories didn't fully disclose data to them, so they're pretty much useless when Politicians can just ignore them, & not be breaking the law. Is there a Public Accounts Committee ?

You are being unduly credulous towards the Labour party. They knew exactly what was going on and said so pre-election. They’re going through the same routine a tradie does when they sense a job can be upsold

[inactionman]

This is not a good look

The new rail minister threatened in a previous role to withhold public contracts from one of the UK’s largest engineering groups until it disciplined a senior engineer for raising concerns about safety at one of London’s busiest train stations.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/ar ... -criticism

[Sandstorm]

This is not a good look

The new rail minister threatened in a previous role to withhold public contracts from one of the UK’s largest engineering groups until it disciplined a senior engineer for raising concerns about safety at one of London’s busiest train stations.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/ar ... -criticism

He's generous with his mistresses too:

"Hendy, who earned a knighthood in 2013 and later that year was revealed to have given free travel in the form of four £10 Oyster cards and a London 2012 badge to a sex worker with whom he had a nine-month affair"

[dpedin]

Does anyone know what a party in opposition are actually entitled to know about budget and finances within government? Or what they know in practice?

I'm not sure what is required to be publicly disclosed and what additional detail parliament get that won't be generally disclosed.

I assume there's some parliamentary scrutiny, but that the opposition would have only a very basic view of what went on in government departments. As others have mentioned , I'm expecting to see other financial disasters emerging over the coming months.

Presumably the OBR is intended to provide an independent view of finances, but as they admitted, the Tories didn't fully disclose data to them, so they're pretty much useless when Politicians can just ignore them, & not be breaking the law. Is there a Public Accounts Committee ?

You are being unduly credulous towards the Labour party. They knew exactly what was going on and said so pre-election. They’re going through the same routine a tradie does when they sense a job can be upsold

Exactly this! Its a bit like the new Manager taking over the football/rugby team languishing at the bottom of the league despite having spent loads of dosh on new players.

I've done the same myself when getting into a new job - get all the crap you have inherited onto the table asap, make it clear that it will take time and pain for you to sort it out and then, once done, set out what you would like to do thereafter. Of course before getting the job you do your homework and find out what has been going on and why the job is on offer - usually because the previous incumbent has fecked up.

I'm amazed folk are surprised about Labour using this tactic, the Tories did exactly the same in 2010 with the 'there is no money' note in the Treasury. This time the Tories have left a huge financial black hole in public finances, a shithouse of public services, loss of public confidence in politics and an economy suffering badly from the impact of Brexit. Starmer et al would be mad not to blame them for the shit they have inherited and for not using this as air cover for making some difficult and painful decisions ie increasing some taxes etc. What is their alternative?

[Biffer]

Presumably the OBR is intended to provide an independent view of finances, but as they admitted, the Tories didn't fully disclose data to them, so they're pretty much useless when Politicians can just ignore them, & not be breaking the law. Is there a Public Accounts Committee ?

You are being unduly credulous towards the Labour party. They knew exactly what was going on and said so pre-election. They’re going through the same routine a tradie does when they sense a job can be upsold

Exactly this! Its a bit like the new Manager taking over the football/rugby team languishing at the bottom of the league despite having spent loads of dosh on new players.

I've done the same myself when getting into a new job - get all the crap you have inherited onto the table asap, make it clear that it will take time and pain for you to sort it out and then, once done, set out what you would like to do thereafter. Of course before getting the job you do your homework and find out what has been going on and why the job is on offer - usually because the previous incumbent has fecked up.

I'm amazed folk are surprised about Labour using this tactic, the Tories did exactly the same in 2010 with the 'there is no money' note in the Treasury. This time the Tories have left a huge financial black hole in public finances, a shithouse of public services, loss of public confidence in politics and an economy suffering badly from the impact of Brexit. Starmer et al would be mad not to blame them for the shit they have inherited and for not using this as air cover for making some difficult and painful decisions ie increasing some taxes etc. What is their alternative?

Let's face it, the Tories played that game for 14 years. Criticising Labour for it after 4 weeks is pretty dumb. And suggests where peoples sympathies actually lie.

[Paddington Bear]

You are being unduly credulous towards the Labour party. They knew exactly what was going on and said so pre-election. They’re going through the same routine a tradie does when they sense a job can be upsold

Exactly this! Its a bit like the new Manager taking over the football/rugby team languishing at the bottom of the league despite having spent loads of dosh on new players.

I've done the same myself when getting into a new job - get all the crap you have inherited onto the table asap, make it clear that it will take time and pain for you to sort it out and then, once done, set out what you would like to do thereafter. Of course before getting the job you do your homework and find out what has been going on and why the job is on offer - usually because the previous incumbent has fecked up.

I'm amazed folk are surprised about Labour using this tactic, the Tories did exactly the same in 2010 with the 'there is no money' note in the Treasury. This time the Tories have left a huge financial black hole in public finances, a shithouse of public services, loss of public confidence in politics and an economy suffering badly from the impact of Brexit. Starmer et al would be mad not to blame them for the shit they have inherited and for not using this as air cover for making some difficult and painful decisions ie increasing some taxes etc. What is their alternative?

Let's face it, the Tories played that game for 14 years. Criticising Labour for it after 4 weeks is pretty dumb. And suggests where peoples sympathies actually lie.

My sympathies are no secret. I dislike the Labour party and despair that the Tories offered such a poor account of themselves that we are left with *this*. I did not vote Tory at the last election.

If you’ve whined for years about sleaze and lying in public office as a denigration of democratic norms and the decline of the nation, but are willing to wave it away now the gRoWn UpS are in charge, that is also instructive.

[I like neeps]

You'll find a lot of that here Paddington. The same behaviours that the Tories were castigated for are waved away as a cost of business for a serious government.

At least Labour aren't so nakedly corrupt and unlikely to be so. But lying, authoritatian, pro-austerity, jobs for the boys and gals... You'll find for excuses for that come readily.

[Biffer]

Exactly this! Its a bit like the new Manager taking over the football/rugby team languishing at the bottom of the league despite having spent loads of dosh on new players.

I've done the same myself when getting into a new job - get all the crap you have inherited onto the table asap, make it clear that it will take time and pain for you to sort it out and then, once done, set out what you would like to do thereafter. Of course before getting the job you do your homework and find out what has been going on and why the job is on offer - usually because the previous incumbent has fecked up.

I'm amazed folk are surprised about Labour using this tactic, the Tories did exactly the same in 2010 with the 'there is no money' note in the Treasury. This time the Tories have left a huge financial black hole in public finances, a shithouse of public services, loss of public confidence in politics and an economy suffering badly from the impact of Brexit. Starmer et al would be mad not to blame them for the shit they have inherited and for not using this as air cover for making some difficult and painful decisions ie increasing some taxes etc. What is their alternative?

Let's face it, the Tories played that game for 14 years. Criticising Labour for it after 4 weeks is pretty dumb. And suggests where peoples sympathies actually lie.

My sympathies are no secret. I dislike the Labour party and despair that the Tories offered such a poor account of themselves that we are left with *this*. I did not vote Tory at the last election.

If you’ve whined for years about sleaze and lying in public office as a denigration of democratic norms and the decline of the nation, but are willing to wave it away now the gRoWn UpS are in charge, that is also instructive.

To pretend that after a couple of months none of the problems that exist are the fault of the previous government is, frankly, childish. They pretty much all are, given that policy, macroeconomics, and international relations all move relatively slowly.

[Paddington Bear]

Let's face it, the Tories played that game for 14 years. Criticising Labour for it after 4 weeks is pretty dumb. And suggests where peoples sympathies actually lie.

My sympathies are no secret. I dislike the Labour party and despair that the Tories offered such a poor account of themselves that we are left with *this*. I did not vote Tory at the last election.

If you’ve whined for years about sleaze and lying in public office as a denigration of democratic norms and the decline of the nation, but are willing to wave it away now the gRoWn UpS are in charge, that is also instructive.

To pretend that after a couple of months none of the problems that exist are the fault of the previous government is, frankly, childish. They pretty much all are, given that policy, macroeconomics, and international relations all move relatively slowly.

I didn’t say the problems are their fault (they aren’t). I’m saying that they’re lying when they do the ‘shocked, SHOCKED to find out that public finances are tight/prisons are full etc) routine, and people are waving it away because they’re the good guys. It’s tedious to watch. A minister getting someone sacked for doing their job with a history of paying hookers with oyster cards would have been five plus pages on here a few months ago, see also donors getting jobs/access to number 10. Same arse, different cheek.

They learned from Theresa May that the best way to maintain a surefire majority through a campaign is to do nothing, but ultimately this is a government that won 34% of the vote, faced knackered, divided and discredited Tory and SNP governments, had their leader repeatedly laughed at on the campaign trail and is running at disapproval numbers that are not quite Truss tier but aren’t far off. Their time will come soon enough.

[clydecloggie]

Their strategy appears to be more austerity amd appeasing Brexit headbangers if recent announcements about the Budget and the Getman treaty are anything to go by. Fairly gutless stuff.

More austerity, great. Just what the UK needs after 15 years of being driven into the ground.

The Melchett Doctrine.

Underrated post.

Hurrah!

[Sandstorm]

I’m saying that they’re lying when they do the ‘shocked, SHOCKED to find out that public finances are tight/prisons are full etc) routine, and people are waving it away because they’re the good guys. It’s tedious to watch.

They're setting the country up for a brutal (and necessary) new Budget. You say you dislike Labour - as a Tory-voting pensioner with a bit of money behind you, you're going to fucking hate them in October.

[Paddington Bear]

I’m saying that they’re lying when they do the ‘shocked, SHOCKED to find out that public finances are tight/prisons are full etc) routine, and people are waving it away because they’re the good guys. It’s tedious to watch.

They're setting the country up for a brutal (and necessary) new Budget. You say you dislike Labour - as a Tory-voting pensioner with a bit of money behind you, you're going to fucking hate them in October.

Yes, I understand what they are doing, I’m pointing out that it is dishonest. And ha - I am far enough away from retirement age to accept I am unlikely to receive a state pension.

[SaintK]

I’m saying that they’re lying when they do the ‘shocked, SHOCKED to find out that public finances are tight/prisons are full etc) routine, and people are waving it away because they’re the good guys. It’s tedious to watch.

They're setting the country up for a brutal (and necessary) new Budget. You say you dislike Labour - as a Tory-voting pensioner with a bit of money behind you, you're going to fucking hate them in October.

Yes, I understand what they are doing, I’m pointing out that it is dishonest. And ha - I am far enough away from retirement age to accept I am unlikely to receive a state pension.

Surely tou're used to it by now.
Going to be a long 5 years (or more) for you!!!

[Paddington Bear]

They're setting the country up for a brutal (and necessary) new Budget. You say you dislike Labour - as a Tory-voting pensioner with a bit of money behind you, you're going to fucking hate them in October.

Yes, I understand what they are doing, I’m pointing out that it is dishonest. And ha - I am far enough away from retirement age to accept I am unlikely to receive a state pension.

Surely tou're used to it by now.
Going to be a long 5 years (or more) for you!!!

Exactly the response I’m talking about

[vball]

They're setting the country up for a brutal (and necessary) new Budget. You say you dislike Labour - as a Tory-voting pensioner with a bit of money behind you, you're going to fucking hate them in October.

The wife and I were talking about this earlier today. She is 60, taking on part-time work so she can get her NI stamps so she can get a full pension as she did not work due to kids, etc . I have all mine. I am about to retire (being made redundant actually but have no plans to work after - or at least salaried work). 3 years until I (currently entitled to) get my state pension. We had factored in the state pension to our financial plans. So if we will no longer get some/all of our state pension (as is being discussed), I either have to start thinking about working or we need to reduce our expectations for the future. OK this is middle class issues and there are lots of people struggling, but feeling a bit miffed by it all.

[tabascoboy]

'Ants are everywhere': Labour MP's tenants reveal condition of flats

A Labour MP rents out flats with black mould and ant infestations, the BBC has discovered. Jas Athwal, the newly-elected MP for Ilford South, owns 15 rental flats, making him the biggest landlord in the House of Commons. In one block of seven flats owned by Mr Athwal nearly half the tenants said they had to regularly clean their bathroom ceilings to remove mould.

The BBC also saw evidence of ant infestations in a number of the seven properties.

"The ants are everywhere," one resident said, pointing to insects climbing up a door frame. "They are on my kid’s body and on their clothes."

Another resident said they had been threatened with eviction by the letting agent if they complained about problems in their flat or started claiming benefits. Mr Athwal said the properties were managed by an agency, he had not been aware of these problems, and denied any tenant had been threatened with eviction.

He said he did not take on tenants on housing benefit to avoid conflicts of interest with his role as the local council leader.

He described himself as a "renters’ champion".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyg1j0lv1go

[epwc]

Landlords need to be responsible, he cant just blame the agent

[weegie01]

They're setting the country up for a brutal (and necessary) new Budget. You say you dislike Labour - as a Tory-voting pensioner with a bit of money behind you, you're going to fucking hate them in October.

The wife and I were talking about this earlier today. She is 60, taking on part-time work so she can get her NI stamps so she can get a full pension as she did not work due to kids, etc . I have all mine. I am about to retire (being made redundant actually but have no plans to work after - or at least salaried work). 3 years until I (currently entitled to) get my state pension. We had factored in the state pension to our financial plans. So if we will no longer get some/all of our state pension (as is being discussed), I either have to start thinking about working or we need to reduce our expectations for the future. OK this is middle class issues and there are lots of people struggling, but feeling a bit miffed by it all.

What changes are being discussed beyond the known rise in pension age?

I can't find anything with Google.

[petej]

'Ants are everywhere': Labour MP's tenants reveal condition of flats

A Labour MP rents out flats with black mould and ant infestations, the BBC has discovered. Jas Athwal, the newly-elected MP for Ilford South, owns 15 rental flats, making him the biggest landlord in the House of Commons. In one block of seven flats owned by Mr Athwal nearly half the tenants said they had to regularly clean their bathroom ceilings to remove mould.

The BBC also saw evidence of ant infestations in a number of the seven properties.

"The ants are everywhere," one resident said, pointing to insects climbing up a door frame. "They are on my kid’s body and on their clothes."

Another resident said they had been threatened with eviction by the letting agent if they complained about problems in their flat or started claiming benefits. Mr Athwal said the properties were managed by an agency, he had not been aware of these problems, and denied any tenant had been threatened with eviction.

He said he did not take on tenants on housing benefit to avoid conflicts of interest with his role as the local council leader.

He described himself as a "renters’ champion".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyg1j0lv1go

Those who want power are often the least suitable to have it.
None of this is surprise. It will be to a lower degree with labour but the Tories have been pretty batshit ever since Brexit 2016 and been removing more capable and moral MPs

[Simian]

You'll find a lot of that here Paddington. The same behaviours that the Tories were castigated for are waved away as a cost of business for a serious government.

At least Labour aren't so nakedly corrupt and unlikely to be so. But lying, authoritatian, pro-austerity, jobs for the boys and gals... You'll find for excuses for that come readily.

while I take your point, there's surely a difference between engaging in those sorts of behaviours while being a wholly ineffective government over a protracted period of time and engaging in those sorts of behaviours when the effectiveness of the government is uncertain, no?

[fishfoodie]

I do love the Tories losing their shit over Starmer choosing not to have the awful cunt staring over his shoulder for his decade inside #10 !

Can I recommend he line the litter tray of #10's chirf mouser with her portrait ?

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Yes, I understand what they are doing, I’m pointing out that it is dishonest. And ha - I am far enough away from retirement age to accept I am unlikely to receive a state pension.

Surely tou're used to it by now.
Going to be a long 5 years (or more) for you!!!

Exactly the response I’m talking about

Two things here, Labour wasn't being honest going into the election, but too the Tories weren't either so in part Labour actually are surprised at just how bad the finances are. Which does beg the question why when an election win looked so likely did the Labour Party hamstring itself, and worse the country, by saying they wouldn't target the easy to target taxes or reverse some Tory giveaways.

Yes Labour are in a bad position, but they've volunteered to play what's coming next with one hand tied behind their backs because they were so scared they wouldn't win power. The same happened to Blair in 97 when he stuck to Tory spending plans, plans the Tories had no intention of sticking to themselves had they somehow finagled a win in that election.

So we can blame Labour for part of their dishonesty, but they've also learned the lessons of how the media and voters treat them and treat them differently to the Tories, those ardent defenders of 'fuck business' policies

[C69]

Yes, I understand what they are doing, I’m pointing out that it is dishonest. And ha - I am far enough away from retirement age to accept I am unlikely to receive a state pension.

Surely tou're used to it by now.
Going to be a long 5 years (or more) for you!!!

Exactly the response I’m talking about

Ffs make a point not a reactionary child like strange response.
How is that the response you were talking about?