Has our country ever been in such a state?

I doubt that much has really changed - but, at least, there was always a thin veneer of decency, values and fair play attempted - yet now, it's all laid bare. The lunatics are running the asylum.

Over the past ten years I've lived within two council districts Down South. Both are safe Tory seats held by famously lacklustre MPs.

Repeated cuts to council funding impact both districts visibly and tangibly with a worsening of services, streets getting shabbier, grass areas unmown and untended, street signs falling down and not being replaced, well used services are withdrawn - often those beloved of people with greatest need. It is the fault of funding, not of the local Council, yet people keep voting for this.

Things constantly and gradually worsen and whilst we have this Conservative government with their policy of underfunding councils there is no hope of things improving.

If we think we are in a state now I have no idea how things will look when inflation and tax rises hit in the spring. As for more austerity - I ask myself how that will even be possible and I know who will suffer most.

Boris is a dictator he is power mad he is the worse sort of person I have ever known in Government

Coastpath

Good post, interesting comments.

If we think we are in a state now I have no idea how things will look when inflation and tax rises hit in the spring. As for more austerity - I ask myself how that will even be possible and I know who will suffer most.

The burden of Austerity is always borne by those least able to shoulder / cope with it. Yet some of them will still vote Tory. Probably enough of them - and others - to ensure the party remains in power. It is what it is, and that's where we're at. Possibly the majority of the electorate don't want this but with our FPTP system, it's what we'll get. Taking to the streets and protesting could, if the bill goes through (which I think it will), mean a 10 year maximum prison sentence.

And, as for "levelling-up" - I await a convincing plan from the White Paper at the end of January to see how the prospects of those neglected areas in the north and Midlands (these areas have been neglected for decades) will benefit (tho' I don't live there, I'm 'darn sarf') because Sunak has made it clear there is no new money on offer, and the little pots of money distributed piecemeal so far from the levelling-up funds have been a mere drop in the ocean.

Ho hum!

My Gransnet arrives in my inbox 24 hours after the first posting of each topic. This means that any comment I make fall onto the final page by which time I’m guessing hardly anyone reads as they’ll be reading the next day’s topic. I’m in the UK do other members receive their’s a day late?

Very confidential investigation then, Robert Peston is a biased lying toad

Quite a ridiculous statement considering we are still in the grip of a pandemic not seen in any of our lifetimes, Russia and China causing problems, not the first time, world energy prices going up, inflation, which is worse on most of Europe and the USA but media won’t mention that, hardly the fault of any political party and too many seem to believe all the media crap , a party in May 2020, is not exactly earth shattering news when other things are happening, hardly compares to selling all our gold at a loss and taking us into an illegal war

Remember the outrage over John Major?

As someone-else has said (sorry can't find the post) - at least in the past there was the veneer of decency and if someone was found out, they would resign. But now, it's Trump politics - he got away with so much in the USA that it's given politicians elsewhere the gall to brazen things out. Words like honour and decency seem to have been conveniently forgotten. But with Johnson's past record of lying,, what did we expect? Full list of allegations here: www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/dec/10/lies-accusations-boris-johnson-full-list-dishonesty-christmas-party

If you watch the TV broadcasts all you hear is how bad this Government is and there has been a constructive witch hunt to bring down our Prime Minister amounting to bullying. I think people should consider whether those parties (if they were parties) were that serious in the scheme of things bearing in mind the apology. We shall see. I would say that taking this country into an illegal war resulting in many deaths by Tony Blair, and the signing out of the Treasury by Labour leaving a note saying There Is No Money Left and Gordon Brown selling off our gold assets at the bottom of the market are much more serious. I really think people should be careful what they wish for.

What strikes me is that it's all about "Loyalty to the Party" - it's about doing what you're told, a facade of solidarity - all to stay in Power no matter what. Never mind loyalty to the UK, or even What's Morally Right.

DUVETDIVA

I don’t receive mine until the day after too!

I totally agree with you, we will be straight back in the EU withmopen borders if Labour get in.

Yes Duvetdiva I note that the initial post was made mid-Thursday morning. My Gransnet email arrived at 11.01 on Friday morning. I often feel that I've 'missed the boat' as well.

Brownowl564

Quite a ridiculous statement considering we are still in the grip of a pandemic not seen in any of our lifetimes, Russia and China causing problems, not the first time, world energy prices going up, inflation, which is worse on most of Europe and the USA but media won’t mention that, hardly the fault of any political party and too many seem to believe all the media crap , a party in May 2020, is not exactly earth shattering news when other things are happening, hardly compares to selling all our gold at a loss and taking us into an illegal war

Johnson was the figurehead of a leave the EU campaign that said it would cut VAT on energy if we left the EU. And yet he is now in power in the middle of a huge hike in energy prices but is refusing to reduce VAT on energy. One of his MP’s even lost the whip when she dared to oppose her own party on this matter.

Agree.. but the govt laid down rules that stopped people being with their dying loved ones and arrested and fined people for having coffee together on a walk and destroyed hospitality and many other businesses whilst allowing fraudulent covidgrant loans to be written off bythe tax people so tax payershave been shafted dreadfully..and allowedtotalitariansfree reign..Drakeford and Sturgeon..

What I don't understand is why the majority of Tories don't realise that to get rid of Boris now gives someone else (goodness knows who) a chance to settle in, maybe do some good etc etc before the next election otherwise they are likely to lose so many seats and let labour into power.
I say this not as a previous Tory voter but as imo a reality.

knspol

What I don't understand is why the majority of Tories don't realise that to get rid of Boris now gives someone else (goodness knows who) a chance to settle in, maybe do some good etc etc before the next election otherwise they are likely to lose so many seats and let labour into power.
I say this not as a previous Tory voter but as imo a reality.

They are trying to get rid of him. But they only have one shot at doing it. If the confidence vote loses they can’t have another one for a year so they’re having to pick their moment very carefully.

well what did you expect from Boorish (sorry Boris ) Johnson. The only apology he made was for being found out not for what he had done. No humility or shame so didnt even have the guts to leave. Good for Sue Gray, to present her findings without fear or favour. Sounds as though she could be a good replacement for Boris. An honourable person who does her job properly , and wont be swayed by threats and snide comments.

Fashionista1

I totally agree with you, we will be straight back in the EU withmopen borders if Labour get in.

That's extremely doubtful. The EU wouldn't have us straight back in.

knspol

What I don't understand is why the majority of Tories don't realise that to get rid of Boris now gives someone else (goodness knows who) a chance to settle in, maybe do some good etc etc before the next election otherwise they are likely to lose so many seats and let labour into power.
I say this not as a previous Tory voter but as imo a reality.

I agree, but I wonder if removing Boris will see the imploding of the conservative government as it seems to be being run on you get a job if you keep a secret, there must be an awful lot of secrets being kept all ready to jump into the headlines and bring the downfall of many.

Do we want him to go now or do we want a complete change of Government in the next election. My bore would be for the First Minister of Wales! I feel that I could trust him! And his Pandemic measures have been exemplary.

bore should be vote!

My great grandmother was on the local council where she took up issues for the local people, whether it was housing or the drains or whatever was happening. (and in those days no money for expenses) All our family tried to do a bit to help in whatever way we could. When my father was a councillor he was asked why he wouldnt stand for the elections that were coming up and I may be paraphrasing it a bit but his reply was that as an individual he was guided by his conscience and not by party rules and that he agreed with I think it was Groucho Marx who said " I wouldnt want to belong to any club that would have me!"

Duvetdiva

My Gransnet arrives in my inbox 24 hours after the first posting of each topic. This means that any comment I make fall onto the final page by which time I’m guessing hardly anyone reads as they’ll be reading the next day’s topic. I’m in the UK do other members receive their’s a day late?

Can't you just log each day - it's what I do.