The Sir Keir Starmer Labour Government July 2024-

[sendô]

Frontline seems as though it needs beefing up with manpower, and there seems to be a change in the way war is waged with drones etc which potentially creates a different type of soldier - a real keyboard warrior, remote controlling rockets and guns, surveillance etc That in turn potentially creates a very different profile of a certain type of soldier in terms of age, gender, physical capacity.

I personally think there's a great opportunity here for us to invest heavily in our defence/arms sector, developing weapons domestically that can be exported to allies. It'll increase our capabilities, and boost the economy long term, whilst lessening our dependence on the US and boosting our standing and prestige.

There's not many countries that could do it.

The money will certainly need to be found, and we will need to be stringent with where we spend elsewhere.

I agree re the way war is waged is changing. I don't see why we need to increase the size of our standing army.

[the pink palermo]

The USA spends 3.38% of its GDP on defence, and Trump stated he wanted to halve their spend.

Thats the key : he wants to cut his spend, while demanding the rest of NATO increase their spending. He of course wants the EU to support and sustain his defence industry in America.

I can only repeat, not one more cent should be spent with American defence contractors.

In terms of trade , America has demonstrated why they are an unreliable partner for agriculture- just imagine if they cut food supplies off in the same way they are threatening to cut off military aid to Ukraine.

The UK Government needs to raise tax surcharges on data centres and tax data by the Kb, as the one to get in some revenue from the digital industry - Amazon, Google, Meta etc. All of that should be invested in Green energy.

Its clear energy security is a priority and our dependence upon fosil fuels needs erradicating.

In good news, the Labour Government has met a key election pledge of 2m additional appointments and waiting lists have started to fall.

[Junco Partner]

They need to come up with a few billion to hit 2.5% GDP on defence - but another £12bn on top of that to hit 3%.

That's pocket money - just take it away from Miliband, Philistine, Lammy and Streeting.

Take a few relative pennies from Hinduja, Blavatnik, Reuben, Ratcliffe & Dyson.

Call it an Asset Preservation Surcharge, as their mansions, yachts and artwork become worthless under Russian occupation.

[snooperpooper]

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development said Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ £25billion hike to employers’ National Insurance from April is tanking confidence.

Its analysis of more than 2,000 firms found a “sharp increase in redundancy intentions” since her October Budget.

Businesses are planning the most brutal round of job cuts in a decade to offset Labour’s tax rises, a survey reveals.

A third of employers are preparing to slash staff through redundancies or reduced hiring, while two in five say they will raise prices.

[Junco Partner]

In good news, the Labour Government has met a key election pledge of 2m additional appointments and waiting lists have started to fall.

Two million EXTRA appointments.

The country is healing.

[bubbles1966]

The fact no one noticed is the most telling.

[sendô]

Probably because the news wasn't spread on social media in meme form.

Either that or we've just got a competent government getting on with their jobs rather than grandstanding.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4z4vw3p1do

[snooperpooper]

Two million EXTRA appointments.

The country is healing.

Wes is on manoeuvers

[bubbles1966]

Probably because the news wasn't spread on social media in meme form.

Either that or we've just got a competent government getting on with their jobs rather than grandstanding.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4z4vw3p1do

Comparing it to a junior doctor strike period.....that's an attempt to deceive.

And as I say, no one noticed.

When people start trying to force you to believe something is better etc but it doesn't tally with the life you live, you just end up thinking they're liars and peddlers.

[Plashet Grove Pete]

And the public sector "workers" yet again threatening trouble ...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -pay-rises

Surprise, surprise.

[sendô]

Who is "forcing" anyone to believe anything?

Extra people have been hired, waiting lists have gone down.

I've not been to a hospital in the last few months, so I can't really comment whether it's made a material difference or not, although that normally seems to be a perception thing. I've seen friends moan when they need to wait 3 hours in A&E .

[Turns to Stone]

When people start trying to force you to believe something is better etc but it doesn't tally with the life you live, you just end up thinking they're liars and peddlers.

But you also have to have an element of objectivity in life don't you?

Honestly, bubbs. You're starting to sound like the Ironing Board of NUMB when it comes to attacking the new regime/defending the old one.

I'll agree, that there's not a load of stuff to be positive about when it comes to our current government, but if you can't see waiting lists going down, cancer checks/treatments going up and ambulance response times improving as a good thing, then I'm not sure you'll ever be pleased.

[bubbles1966]

But you also have to have an element of objectivity in life don't you?

Ain't that the truth.

Honestly, bubbs. You're starting to sound like the Ironing Board of NUMB when it comes to attacking the new regime/defending the old one.

Almost everyone who posts frequently on here, including you, is a version of IB imo, with fairly intransigent ideas and a mostly fixed set of beliefs.

Now, it is unreasonable for people like your good self who have spent many years complaining to expect a free ride now a preferred option is in government. You should reasonably expect them to be held to the same standards and performance expectations which they, and their supporters, demanded. That's mostly what's happening. It's their own failings which are undermining them.

Now, objectivity.....

Additional appointments?

Q1) How much of a percentage increase is 2m on the current output? It sounds grand, but is it?
Q2) What are the outcomes?

If it turns out to barely 1% increase, you may want to consider whether you're being soft-soaped, especially when you consider how much extra money has been given in return for that level of increase.

NHS Waiting Lists

Yes, a small drop in the NHS waiting list is just as welcome as when it has happened previously, However, this doesn't alter the fact the wait list is about 7.5m and won't be cleared until 2056 if they maintain the current level of clearance.

How inspiring is that?

And my views about the NHS have been stated so many times that anyone who has read them must know my feelings aren't party political, which your comments seem to wrongly infer.

[Turns to Stone]

Now, it is unreasonable for people like your good self who have spent many years complaining to expect a free ride now a preferred option is in government. You should reasonably expect them to be held to the same standards and performance expectations which they, and their supporters, demanded. That's mostly what's happening. It's their own failings which are undermining them.

No-one expects a free ride. I think they just expect other posters to be able to recognise that there is nuance to stuff.

Labour can do some good stuff and bad stuff. That is possible. Just as not everything the Tories did was bad. I'd like to think that the people on these pages are able to recognise this outside of their general viewpoint on life.

Surely you are able to accept that Labour might get one or two policies right occasionally, no? And surely you're able to see that some of the stuff that Trump is doing is bad?

[bubbles1966]

No-one expects a free ride. I think they just expect other posters to be able to recognise that there is nuance to stuff.

Labour can do some good stuff and bad stuff. That is possible. Just as not everything the Tories did was bad. I'd like to think that the people on these pages are able to recognise this outside of their general viewpoint on life.

Surely you are able to accept that Labour might get one or two policies right occasionally, no? And surely you're able to see that some of the stuff that Trump is doing is bad?

Forgive me, but it seems to be ideal world, rather than real world.

Of course tribal, politically interested people would like a free ride/easy ride for their side - and they know they will get it from many who vote for them.

People come along, as they do here, and try to ramp up any meagre gains, whilst downplaying any disappointments if they are supportive of either a general idea, or specific persons. Just like IB with his managerial campaigns.

It's naïve to imagine differently, and I'm certainly not a unique case, if that's what's being levelled.

Yes, I'm able to see the occasional positive in those I generally disagree with, and clearly, having changed my vote in 2024 am more than willing to ditch those who I have previously agreed with when they disappoint. I suspect that a sizeable chunk of the electorate are not that open-minded.

In this brave new world of NUMB, I'm eagerly looking forward to a stream of positive posts from numerous hitherto, relentlessly negative posters (who shall remain nameless) praising Trump, Farage and the Tories for some of the excellent works they've done - but, alas, I fear a backwards audit might prove fruitless, and holding my breath waiting for future ones may prove to be the literal end for me.

[Turns to Stone]

In this brave new world of NUMB, I'm eagerly looking forward to a stream of positive posts from numerous hitherto, relentlessly negative posters (who shall remain nameless) praising Trump, Farage and the Tories for some of the excellent works they've done - but, alas, I fear a backwards audit might prove fruitless, and holding my breath waiting for future ones may prove to be the literal end for me.

But why do other people's prejudices affect your own? Some people are incapable of viewing life through any other lens. And generally, I choose not to debate with them because it wastes my own time. It's why I have no interest in Facebook or Twitter - because they are echo-chambers full of people agreeing with themselves.

For me, I think it's important that we are able to acknowledge the best of the people that we don't rate, and the worst of those we do. That's what objectivity and nuance looks like. And it's how we avoid getting into situations like the US is currently in when you are either fully left, or fully right. You're either MAGA or you're not. And that's not how life works for me. You should be able to look a each situation differently to take a view.

Just because some on this site (including myself) were anti-Tory, why should that impact your views? Does me being anti-Trump make you like him more?

[sendô]

Forgive me, but it seems to be ideal world, rather than real world.

I'd be more inclined to if you'd posted this in the Brexit thread.

[the pink palermo]

A good opportunity for the UK to link any commitment on the defence of Europe to improved and easier trading with other countries in Europe, along with control of borders.

Domestically it also provides an excuse for a finessing of fiscal policy and budget allocations.

Its time the UK and Europes politicians took Trump seriously. He is putting his countries interests, as he sees them, first, and we should do the same with what we believe is best for us.

[bubbles1966]

But why do other people's prejudices affect your own?

Prejudices? Blimey, that's a loaded word.

And it's how we avoid getting into situations like the US is currently in when you are either fully left, or fully right. You're either MAGA or you're not.

And how do you know this? Where do you get your information about the individual views of 350m people?

Just because some on this site (including myself) were anti-Tory, why should that impact your views?

Which views?

Does me being anti-Trump make you like him more?

How does my relative apathy towards Trump make you feel?

[snooperpooper]

A good opportunity for the UK to link any commitment on the defence of Europe to improved and easier trading with other countries in Europe, along with control of borders.

Domestically it also provides an excuse for a finessing of fiscal policy and budget allocations.

Its time the UK and Europes politicians took Trump seriously. He is putting his countries interests, as he sees them, first, and we should do the same with what we believe is best for us.

We did, but admittedly it's still a work in progress