22 billion black hole. depends on how you look at that, a lot of it was already offset according to the OBR, also a big chunk was added due to the decisions Labour have made in office. It is being used mainly as a tool to try and avoid scrutiny over policy decisions.
Obviously a piss take post. What do you mean accept the decision, I voted for the current set of lunatics running the asylum. Under the current direction and leadership, I wouldn't vote for them again.
Have you not being following UK politics? Winter fuel payments, WASPI to name two. He or his senior ministers have thrown their full weight lambasting such possible decisions in opposition. As soon as they take office, ignore the people that were swayed to vote for them on such issues. Sooner Labour wake up and ditch Starmer and his front bench cronies the better. Time for fresh ideas not lies. It's like the Tories never left office.
I would hope there would be some strong fresh faces within the political ranks. Within Labour, someone who seems quite impressive is Darren Jones.
I can’t go along with this. There’s lots of brilliant local candidates wanting to represent their communities who constantly get shafted for candidates parachuted in by Starmer’s faction of the Labour Party. I assume it happens with the Tories too but I don’t follow their party enough to know how often it happens.
Correct. Plenty of left wing journalists were talking about this black hole before the last election. It wasn’t a surprise at all. There’s constant money for foreign aid & wars. Ukraine can have £3b a year for as long as they need it. We’ve constantly supported Israel’s genocide. When independent & SNP MP’s ask Starmer & when they asked Sunak before him about what support we’re giving them they won’t reveal it as it’s classified information. They just keep conning the public about the need to make our lives worse.
Why wouldn't you select candidates that mirror your views? Corbyn did the same and his attack dogs constantly threatened deselection of anyone not leaning as far left as they wanted. All parties do it, and it makes complete sense why they do. Why hamstring yourself in the commons if you have a constant rebellion on your hands?
This bloke has got it right. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/23/tax-the-rich-extreme-wealth-dale-vince
No idea why this thread keeps peeling off into other avenues. But while I’m here… I think the criticism so early into Starmer’s government’s tenure is OTT. But I’m happy that I didn’t vote for them. They’ve proven to be exactly as I expected. Such a shame these days that the choice now boils down to different shades of right wing. But, it appears to be a global issue so maybe I’m the bad guy wanting left wing politics.
I voted tactically for Labour and would do so again - the last lot were THAT bad. We need electoral reform.
Agreed. But you know there will be some temporarily embarrassed multi million/billionaires on here who think this is wrong or somehow applies to them. "They'll just move" will also come the simps excuse, with a resigned shrug, as if this somehow validates sociopaths silently killing and starving tens of thousands of people whilst denying civil society the money it needs to function.
But that’s the problem. People are suggesting paying higher salaries to attract better candidates but it won’t make a blind bit of difference. You’ll still get candidates parachuted in who are only there to act as mouthpieces for the leader who shouldn’t have the role.