The U.K. 2022

varian

Blinko

I'm being dim, I know, but - regarding the energy crisis, why can't the price cap remain as is - or raised but not to the levels we're hearing about - and HMG pick up the shortfall? Why isn't this even being put as an option?

Someone will have the answer on here, I'm sure.

LIbDem leader Ed Davey has already suggested this.

Thanks, varian. It seems the most equitable and least complicated solution to me. I guess it must potentially cost squillions, otherwise surely it would be on the table.

rosie1959

Just about Growstuff with a little help from Mastercard and our parents
Just had to let to credit roll up and sort it out later I had one card that was still in use the rest had been frozen. All the best bits about having your own Company times get tough and you have to paddle your own Canoe

Yes, I know quite a bit about having your own company. Most of my family, including my husband at the time, had companies.

Have you opened your eyes recently? Even my hairdresser, who has been in business in this town for 30 years, doubts if he will survive winter.

Aveline

That's not my point. My point is that somehow we always pull through! We've had worse times before.

When were those Aveline?

We are also relieved that we are living in France and worry about our daughters and their families.

Just about Growstuff with a little help from Mastercard and our parents
Just had to let to credit roll up and sort it out later I had one card that was still in use the rest had been frozen. All the best bits about having your own Company times get tough and you have to paddle your own Canoe

Aveline

Growstuff Covid lockdowns weren't great but the country rallied. Economic support was given etc.
1970s were awful. 80s not much better. Two world wars? Really hellish times.
Right now energy prices are the main concern and the knock on effects from that.
Cry we're all doomed as much as you like but it won't do the country much good. A positive attitude would-be more useful.

Oh yes? How is a positive attitude going to help anybody, if they're freezing and starving?

rosie1959

growstuff

rosie1959

2007 - 2010 were not exactly rosy

I don't remember inflation, shortages or attacks on democratic systems like we have now.

No it was at that time the most serious crisis to hit the global economy since the Great Depression
I remember it all to well nearly left us bankrupt

Only nearly? Could you still afford food and heating?

Aveline

Growstuff Covid lockdowns weren't great but the country rallied. Economic support was given etc.
1970s were awful. 80s not much better. Two world wars? Really hellish times.
Right now energy prices are the main concern and the knock on effects from that.
Cry we're all doomed as much as you like but it won't do the country much good. A positive attitude would-be more useful.

Covid lockdowns weren't long-term and were nothing compared with what this government has imposed on the country. Democracy itself has been undermined. The scandals of Covid, including the mates' contracts will no doubt be covered up.

Were you an adult in WW2? I certainly don't remember it.

I worked for the Royal Navy as a Naval Social Worker 1997-2005, a total of 7 years. This entailed dealing with families facing all of life's major challenges including pregnancy/birth complications, rape, injury and death that many civilians face as well. The difference being that the serving person - 'SP' - was often on deployment when these challenges occurred. Our job was to assess the level of need for the SP needed to be brought back and to arrange often complex packages of care in the meantime and for a period of time after the SP was redeployed... We covered Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England from Faslane RN base. I look on with horror at how fragmented and dysfunctional all the services have become since the current government took power. Much of this is because services have either been sold off by the current govt like the 50 London GP surgeries to an American buyer or contracted out to Community Interest Companies or other private suppliers and because funding for related charities has been significantly reduced and/or closed down. There is no way I could do my job now at all. Meanwhile " The World Health Organization today announced the appointment of The Rt Hon Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing. Mr Brown is widely credited with preventing a second Great Depression through his stewardship of the 2009 London G20 summit. He mobilized world leaders to commit an additional $1.1 trillion to restore credit, growth and jobs to help the world economy through the global financial crisis." www.who.int/news/item/20-09-2021-former-u.k.-prime-minister-gordon-brown-appointed-world-health-organization-ambassador-for-global-health-financing. Of course that was when we had a leader and a government, although by no means perfect, which was respected by the world. I am proud to say I have never been a Conservative voter. Our local Lib Dem MSP has my enthusiastic support but I know from both personal and professional experience both at the present time and under Thatcher, that a Conservative government is a disaster and may well be voting SNP in future to rid my country of the folly of the England based electorate.

Growstuff Covid lockdowns weren't great but the country rallied. Economic support was given etc.
1970s were awful. 80s not much better. Two world wars? Really hellish times.
Right now energy prices are the main concern and the knock on effects from that.
Cry we're all doomed as much as you like but it won't do the country much good. A positive attitude would-be more useful.

growstuff

rosie1959

2007 - 2010 were not exactly rosy

I don't remember inflation, shortages or attacks on democratic systems like we have now.

No it was at that time the most serious crisis to hit the global economy since the Great Depression
I remember it all to well nearly left us bankrupt

I agree with you Oldnproud. History books will not be kind to Johnson and his lacklustre cabinet.

rosie1959

2007 - 2010 were not exactly rosy

I don't remember inflation, shortages or attacks on democratic systems like we have now.

Blinko

I'm being dim, I know, but - regarding the energy crisis, why can't the price cap remain as is - or raised but not to the levels we're hearing about - and HMG pick up the shortfall? Why isn't this even being put as an option?

Someone will have the answer on here, I'm sure.

LIbDem leader Ed Davey has already suggested this.

2007 - 2010 were not exactly rosy

Neilspurgeon0

wheniwasyourage I suspect that the key factor here was lasting longer in ‘power’ than Theresa May.

Don’t politicians always talk about ‘their legacy’? Johnson’s legacy might include ‘Getting Brexit done’, ‘surviving’ the pandemic, and ruining our democracy but to have been the shortest PM in history would be too much for his massive ego.

I can’t wait for the history books on now to be written,

I certainly agree with you about Johnson's need to stay in power longer than Teresa May.

Regarding his legacy though, I think that when the dust settles, Johnson is more likely to go into the history books as the person who destroyed the UK by getting Brexit done, and it will be clear that he only ever had his own personal motives for jumping on that band wagon, neither knowing nor caring about the repercussions it would have for the ordinary people of the UK

Time to fight back for the country we once had and to help those in need: EnoughIsEnough launches a national campaign of 50 rallies across Britain in the coming weeks.

The start of a fight back that will take place in every community in this country. MPs need to reminded what their job is.

wesayenough.co.uk

growstuff

Aveline

That's not my point. My point is that somehow we always pull through! We've had worse times before.

When?

The ice age?

Aveline

That's not my point. My point is that somehow we always pull through! We've had worse times before.

When?

Whitewavemark2

If you have made the mistake of following the Tory leadership election then you will, presuming you suspended your disbelief, now know that we are facing a bright future under Liz Truss, where growth, prosperity, light touch regulation, low tax and strong international trade will deliver us all we have ever aspired to.

In fact, more than that, the climate crisis will, under her rule, be so insignificant it can be ignored; the rule of law will no longer be required; every town, village and hamlet will be a freeport making its own regulations and laws under the benign guidance of a company given the task of doing so; and the land will flow with milk and honey.

None of this is true, of course.

This morning we have news of drought and the risk of hose pipe bans and even outright water shortages.

There is also a warning of power cust to come this winter as electricity supply will not meet demand.

Avanti has just axed two-thirds of its train services on the West Coast mainline.

Six million people are waiting for NHS treatment.

Half the UK's households do not know how they will pay their fuel bills when the average energy price increases to £4,200pa this winter. The likelihood that many will simply be unable to pay is high.

As a consequence, the rest of the economy is under severe threat of recession.

A banking crisis is possible as rents go unpaid, landlords fail to service their debts, joining those mortgage holders who will be in the same boat.

Schools and hospitals face impossible choices due to their increasing energy costs this winter.

Hardly talked about, but something I fear greatly is the risk that many care homes - which have to be warm - will simply be unable to afford to carry on trading this winter as those they p[provide for cannot pay increased bills, creating a massive care crisis.

It is actually quite hard to think of anything that is working well in the UK now, and which is not at risk of failure quite soon.

The Tory leadership election is taking place in some fantasy space created by a political party wholly out of touch with reality. The difficulty is that one of those taking part - and making the absurd promises on offer to the Tory party faithful, will be governing us soon. There is little sign that they will embrace reality then.

We are in deep, deep trouble.

Richard Murphy
10/08/22

Yes WWM , I am very worried about the future . More so under Truss . She is monstrous .

That's not my point. My point is that somehow we always pull through! We've had worse times before.

Aveline

The UK has always been a hotbed of political upheavals and economic ups and downs. I'm certainly not being rushed into the doom and gloom being promoted so heavily. We've had far worse times before and most likely will again in the future.

It's not a race to the bottom.

wheniwasyourage I suspect that the key factor here was lasting longer in ‘power’ than Theresa May.

Don’t politicians always talk about ‘their legacy’? Johnson’s legacy might include ‘Getting Brexit done’, ‘surviving’ the pandemic, and ruining our democracy but to have been the shortest PM in history would be too much for his massive ego.

I can’t wait for the history books on now to be written,

Bring it on !! Political upheaval required! Time for we ordinary folk to stand up and be counted ! Join “ Enough is Enough” !

Here, here susieq. I’ve already signed up to Enough is Enough. It’s a brilliant, direct action, people’s movement IMO. I’m looking out for a protest march in my area. A large scale show of solidarity by millions of ordinary people is the ONLY thing that will scare this cruel, bullying gov. It’s time to stop being passive and just accepting the sh** constantly thrown down on us by the rich elite - time for direct action!

It’s not being promoted. It’s actually happening now!