Starmer

No offence taken. On a similar note, when I used to work in Scandinavia, because I'm white and British I wasn't an economic migrant, I was an "entrepreneur". I'm pro-immigration, obviously, but I'm not blind to the hypocrisy.

 

Yes. It’s essential due to an ageing demographic. Given our birth rate as near 1 without immigration we cannot afford to look after our ageing population

Starmer speech is just a rehash of the rivers of blood speech and equally repellent. The Starmer who ran for election promised to make the progressive case for immigration. I’m sure you recall that.

 

This was in his manifesto when he was running for Labour leader.

When he steps down as Labour leader after the next election due to such a devastating loss to Reform, he'll be viewed as one of the most hated PMs in the last 50 years.

 

Yes anyone who supported him after his wholesale lying was revealed is culpable and the Reform govt is on them

 

Yeah Cabbages.

 

I don't think it's my job to dictate to other countries what their immigration language requirements should be.
Nor should the immigration requirements of this country be determined by Brits that choose to emigrate and live abroad.

The British public have consistently voted for stricter immigration requirements to apply to individuals that want to come and live in the UK.
They've become increasingly desparate and extreme in who they will consider voting for in order to deliver what the mainstream parties have promised but then ignored once elected.
I think Labour and the Conservatives are only now waking up to what an existential threat to their electability immigration is becoming.
At least in part wanting to prompt this reaction is why so many people have voted Reform.
It remains to be seen both if Labour and Conservative actions will fit their latest words, and moreso if those who have stopped voting for them on the immigration issue can be convinced to do so again rather than persist with Reform.

 

As someone also fortunate enough to have worked extensively in other countries I am often reminded of Billy Bragg's paraphrasing Kipling's phrase 'What Do They Know Of England, Who Only England Know?'.

 

Reform are dictating the narrative of the government. As Reform are the party of the moment and Labour are now clearly scared of them as they are now a credible threat, the only way of garnering favour is to be seen to be clamping down on issues that gain Reform traction.

The next to go will be the net zero gubbins - we are the laughing stock of the world because of this.

The next to go then will be Sir Keir in about 2/3 years time to try to win an election with a new leader as he will be getting lots of votes of no confidence from his backbenchers

You can tell that not many of Labour have ever run a business before!

 

So the answer to 2) then is 'No'? (Immigration doesn't matter.)

 

Starmer couldn't run a tap.

 

You can't run a country like a business, whatever Mrs Thatcher might have said.

 

Kemi for No. 10 then, Mr D? Or have you gone over to the Dark Side?

 

No. Very interested what the Libdems stance on a few things will be.

 

It depends if you want Reform UK in charge or not, if you don't care if they win the next election then it doesn't matter. If you don't want them in charge then the popular perception that it is out of control needs to be addressed. (hint - calling anyone who says it is out of control a racist won't help.).

 

Edit: Just for the record, I am, for the moment at least, a UK citizen, resident and taxpayer.

 

Yes, immigration is out of control, yes, it matters.

The root cause of most problems in the UK right now (for people under 40, at least) is that people can't afford to live and the reason they can't afford to live is because rents and mortgages are so high and the reason rents and mortgages are so high is because house prices are insane.

This government has pledged to build 1.5 million homes over five years, at the same time net migration is at 750,000 a year.

People say we need migrants because the birth rate is low - the birth rate is low because people aren't having kids because they can't afford them.

If you add in all the additional stuff that you need to support people, schools, GPs, dentists, it's no wonder people feel their lives are getting worse because none of that stuff is getting built either. If you could build enough homes and related services to accomodate everybody then no, it wouldn't matter.

 

He’s pandering to the parts of the electorate he’s lost to reform.

He can’t out-bigot the party of bigots - but he feels he has to do be seen to do ‘something’ - the problem being it’s absolutely repugnant and he fails to understand the still left leaning and socialist folk that backed the party will be appalled at such language.

Or more likely fully understands but thinks there’s more to be gained from appealing to the other lot.

He’s probably not wrong. In that alone.

Disgraceful though.

 

I agree with that to a point, however you have to understand how business and industry works to run a country - you cannot tax yourself to wealth or stifle aspiration - this government are having a good go at both

 

Imo
If any party is able to make change better for the population on the whole its labour. Some policies may not be popular. But I pml at Bravermans lame attempts to put their side forward. As much as a clown, as BJ.

Less than 12 months in power. After 14 yrs of austerity. And its a though labour are to blame. Hard decisions have to be made. I have some misgivings because for example care homes are at risk. (My Mrs was a nurse at one) due to the high percentage of foreign workers. Places that can't or won't be filled by British workers. I would say clamp down on illegals but allow a bit of movement as we had b4 Brexit. in fact if folk want to vote on owt, because imo one of the biggest mistakes was voting for that.
Free movement of workers in 2021. within the Union one of biggest downfalls.

Maybe subsidise the nursing homes to offer bigger wages and relief on the national insurance on companies in any care sector and the NHS to attract British workers. Hence the attempt to get British workers back into work. As in workshy not disabled. While Mental health is a big issue. A lot can be laid down to inactivity. Social interaction etc. Summat needs doing. I'm not going to pretend as some would like to say. A job is a job.
In my workplace I was lucky that the work was variable. Not stood at a conveyor belt for example.
The tests carried out by tory agencies were a joke. Even having targets to meet.
I was listening to the radio the other day on housing targets in Sheffield. Not at the planning stage. Consultations to be done. Will take nearly 10 yrs if reach fruition. 3% of total green belt is on the list. (Not 3% of the total in general as not 100% has been located outside greenbelt) Those that live in those areas. Already up in arms. Yet Housing is in crisis. Not in my back garden though.

The fuel allowance removal wasn't popular and I do have much sympathy.
But how many it affects in real terms is open to question. Figures are not out either yet. On how many pensioners are now better off with labour's push to claim credits they are due to. Can't remember the tory roadshows. BTW.
If anything Imo labour are moving too quickly and the electorate don't like that. Doesn't mean it's wrong though.
I'm prepared to give labour until the next election then take it from there. Not a knee jerk reaction as some.
This is a personal opinion. No need to reply. come back in 4yrs.

 

I don’t get the strategy from Labour. They'll never out Farage Reform but they will loose centre left voters to Green/Lib Dems. Labours strategy seems way off as far as I can tell and just plays into Reforms hands by validating their arguments on immigration and fragmenting the centre left vote.