Current Affairs

[Manoverboard]

I didn't know the Pope was a Catholic, is that right but I did know many of Starmer's hair brained policies cos they'll follow the same lunatic agenda as repeatedly dictated by the Unions.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I didn't know the Pope was a Catholic, is that right but I did know many of Starmer's hair brained policies cos they'll follow the same lunatic agenda as repeatedly dictated by the Unions.

And therein lies the problem.

He's told us he's not Boris.

He's not told us he's not Corbyn.

(Though he might have told Ken).

And if he decides he's not Corbyn he'll lose a chunk of the voters. If he decides he is he'll lose the other chunk instead.

At the moment being Not Boris is enough to sway the opinion polls. But when the Tories have a leader who isn't Boris either Sir Hindsight will have to decide which way to jump. And he needs to tell us. Not just expect us to Goggle it.

[Bensham33]

What's the point of Labour having policies when they are in Opposition. The government has a hugh majority and there ain't going to be an election for over 2 years. Any policy Labour have is just going to be
'pie in the sky'. Now I don't know but my guess is we won't really get to know what Labours policies are until March/April 2024. It's then that I'll make my mind up as to who I vote for. Just like I do every time there is an election.

[Mervyn and Trish]

If they expect to be seen as a government in waiting they need to give us a clue.

[towny44]

Blair, Brown and Campbell spent 3 years wooing business and the media with their policies, which was why they secured the landslide majority in 1997.

[Bensham33]

I'm sure Starmer is doing the same. You just don't read about it in the Mirror, the Sun or any of the other newspapers. He would be stupid not to, wouldn't he? And one thing that Starmer ain't is stupid.

[Onelife]

I'm sure Starmer is doing the same. You just don't read about it in the Mirror, the Sun or any of the other newspapers. He would be stupid not to, wouldn't he? And one thing that Starmer ain't is stupid.

Starmer certainly isn’t stupid but his political game plan is sh*t… he must realise that Boris’s departure will lead to someone far more capable facing him across the dispatch box.

[oldbluefox]

I'd rather hoped we could keep that quiet from the Boris bashers and now you've spilt the beans OL. I told you not to say anything!!!

[Mervyn and Trish]

I had hope of a credible Labour leader when Sir Hindsight got the job. In his first days he said he wouldn't just oppose for opposition's sake. A good start. Sadly he's done nothing else since.

[Kendhni]

I'm not sure what Ken is referring to but if it's Starmer's speech to the Labour Party Conference there was little there which made me think Labour would be worth voting for. Much of it was pie in the sky which actually meant very little and much of it mentioned "investment", reduction of VAT in some quarters, increases in benefits, more lockdown, extending the furlough scheme and increasing Universal Credit but little mention of where this money was coming from.
Have you got a source for this information Ken, which gives more detail than an applause opportunity for the left wing faithful at their conference?

I think your description applies equally to conservative policies as well ...most conservative policies are pie in the sky with little real meat behind them. As far as money is concerned I doubt if there will be much left given the amount of magic tree shaking and manufacturing of money that Johnson has been doing ... the coalition government had been doing well in rebalancing the economy (during their period of make believe austerity), but from 2015 this has gone totally tits up for them.

The conservatives/coalition inherited about £1tn of debt, the skillful mis-management of the economy ever since has taken that to £2.2tn ... they can only blame COVID on about £350bn of that (much of which was spent on funding cronies and family) ... that leaves about £800bn that has been spent elsewhere (even allowing for £20bn per year on inherited debt repayments that is still one huge hole of expenditure). Well done them!!!

One example and then I am sure you will e able to google rest ... yesterday Labour released a 10 point plan for living with COVID (easy to find the detail of it on their website). On the other hand, outside of some vague announcements by Sunak, all we seem to have from the current government, who should have a well defined plan in place, is just their usual bafflegab and making it up as they go along.

[Kendhni]

What's the point of Labour having policies when they are in Opposition. The government has a hugh majority and there ain't going to be an election for over 2 years. Any policy Labour have is just going to be 'pie in the sky'. Now I don't know but my guess is we won't really get to know what Labours policies are until March/April 2024. It's then that I'll make my mind up as to who I vote for. Just like I do every time there is an election.

All very good points, Starmer bashers expect him to provide detail while accepting much lower standards from their beloved leader.
The opposition does not have to have policies, but they always do ... however they get less focus than the party in power.

I think some people seem to forget the role of the 'Leader of the Opposition', whichever party it is ... spoiler alert ... there is a clue in the job title. Personally I have never liked our style of government and would prefer a much more collaborative government.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I don't need detail Ken. But I and other floating voters need more than I'm not Boris and (with the benefit of hindsight) I wouldn't have done that. But if he doesn't want my vote fair enough.

By the way Starmer Bashers doesn't work. It's not alliterative. Doesn't have the same ring as Boris Bashers.

#MustTryHarder

[Kendhni]

I agree with you on the first point, but why would you expect him to reveal his hand when the party that is in power has not yet revealed theirs? I am actually surprised he has detailed as much as he has already. Given that the electorate are incredibly fickle it is better that he plays his cards close to his chest at this point ... or to put it another way, do exactly the same as every other opposition party has done in the past.

In that case I will use Starmer Sh**t-talkers from the Boris Buttkisser camp.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Very good. But there's only one * in sh*t.

[towny44]

We have belatedly been watching last years the Blair & Brown years documentaries, and, despite the Iraq war, I am warming, again, to what Blair was trying to do to the country, and the Labour party. Unfortunately I do not see any signs of anything approaching Blairs New Labour, from the Labour front bench, in fact the thought of Angela Raynor being deputy PM is just too terrible to contemplate.

[Kendhni]

Very good. But there's only one * in sh*t.

That depends on how well you know the urban dictionary

[Kendhni]

I wonder how long it will be before Johnson will start his politics of distraction to get himself out of the headlines ... some say the announcement on the BBC licence is it, but I don't think so ... something so petty and predicted will never hack it. #WortsPMEver

[Mervyn and Trish]

I wonder how long it will be before Johnson will start his politics of distraction to get himself out of the headlines ... some say the announcement on the BBC licence is it, but I don't think so ... something so petty and predicted will never hack it. #WortsPMEver

More trouble with the urban dictionary?

[Stephen]

I wonder how long it will be before Johnson will start his politics of distraction to get himself out of the headlines ... some say the announcement on the BBC licence is it, but I don't think so ... something so petty and predicted will never hack it. #WortsPMEver

More trouble with the urban dictionary?

[towny44]

I wonder how long it will be before Johnson will start his politics of distraction to get himself out of the headlines ... some say the announcement on the BBC licence is it, but I don't think so ... something so petty and predicted will never hack it. #WortsPMEver

More trouble with the urban dictionary?

Is it just me or do others think that Ken has it in for Boris!!

[Onelife]

Foxy asked me not to say anything.... but has the incompetent fool resigned yet?...asking for a friend better future.

[Onelife]

More trouble with the urban dictionary?

Is it just me or do others think that Ken has it in for Boris!!

I can't say I've noticed

[Mervyn and Trish]

Foxy asked me not to say anything.... but has the incompetent fool resigned yet?...asking for a friend better future.

No. I think Sir Hindsight is still clinging on

[screwy]

Bring back Guy and blow the whole bloody lot of them up.!

Anyway on a more serious note.

I’ve got 30 sq meters to pave. Natural stone or Porcelain.?

[Ray B]

Bring back Guy and blow the whole bloody lot of them up.!

Anyway on a more serious note.

I’ve got 30 sq meters to pave. Natural stone or Porcelain.?

Porcelain? In white or Avocado?