The U.K. 2022

Gabrielle56 Exactly.

TanaMa

Without down-playing the current situation in the country, I do wonder why many people think the Govt (of whatever colour)) should pay them from cradle to grave. If course history moves on but, my grandparents and parents didn't have c.h., cars, no fridge, freezer, microwave, washing machine, ( my parents later in life) or any of the many allowances including 'the dole', even the NHS, and yet they worked and lived their lives according to the best of their ability. My GM had to wheel a barrow with milk churns about 3 miles to collect water when their well ran dry. No shopping on the internet with delivery, but the same 3 miles and back carrying the goods. My GF would gather wood and chop it for the big range and to heat water in the copper for the washing. I know many people grew up in, maybe, similar circumstances but they just carried on and didn't expect anyone to bail them out.
I know I will get unfavourable replies, but I feel so many expect too much from the Govt.

You seem to forget that we are all contributing towards the benefits that we all claim at some time. This includes the state pension which is by far the greatest proportion. Here is a chart of benefits paid in February 2021

Benefit Number of claimants
State Pension 12,355,000
Universal Credit 5,948,000
Housing Benefit 2,907,000
Personal Independence Payment 2,663,000
Employment and Support Allowance 1,846,000
Attendance Allowance 1,493,000
Pension Credit 1,447,000
Disability Living Allowance 1,347,000
Carer’s Allowance 1,301,000
Jobseeker’s Allowance 264,000
Income Support 247,000

One of the reasons for the introduction of NI Contributions was to provide a support network "from the cradle to the grave" for those falling through the net.

I'm almost tempted to go into "we were so poor we didn't even have a cardboard box to live in" mode. (With thanks to Monty P)

We all know how things have changed throughout our lifetimes.

When is our stupid snob riddled class obsessed country going to LEARN???? That THIS. Is what happens whenever Tories are in driving seat?!?!?!? EVERY time they get voted in they totally wreck the joint and it takes decades to recover.in 60s/70s/80s and now noughties too. We need to wake up and shake up our political landscape and look at true proportional representation and coalition in the true sense.only by working together and barring all the career chasers in politics can the country get on track.forget relying on dirty foreign money and shopping( yes! How much we spent in the shops!!!) As the basis of our GDP get back to industry and production values. time to bury Thatcherism once and for all to save us from self inflicted annihilation!. Speech over........

They have no need to worry because they will have heating and food on their tables and to hell with the rest of us. I don't believe the promises from any of them. Our lot here in N.Ireland are a bunch of idiots and it seems to be spreading, they are all getting paid a lot of money for doing nothing but talking rubbish.

Countries like France and Germany are actually doing something about planning to stop things getting worse. Heating public buildings etc.

Here? Our PM is lounging around like the worst benefits scrounger ever and the two people who want to be PM next are insulting leaders of other countries and scientists, and dodging any blame for anything. Also, not coming up with any ideas whatsoever to resolve the problems we face, or even acknowledging them. Just offering jam tomorrow.

On TikTok a lady living in France has said all public buildings cannot heat over 19° and other restrictions are being put on other businesses re electricity use. Will that not have a knock on effect on other things. The whole World is being held to ransome by Putin and greedy corporations and politicians of all parties are only interested I protecting their own interests.

Without down-playing the current situation in the country, I do wonder why many people think the Govt (of whatever colour)) should pay them from cradle to grave. If course history moves on but, my grandparents and parents didn't have c.h., cars, no fridge, freezer, microwave, washing machine, ( my parents later in life) or any of the many allowances including 'the dole', even the NHS, and yet they worked and lived their lives according to the best of their ability. My GM had to wheel a barrow with milk churns about 3 miles to collect water when their well ran dry. No shopping on the internet with delivery, but the same 3 miles and back carrying the goods. My GF would gather wood and chop it for the big range and to heat water in the copper for the washing. I know many people grew up in, maybe, similar circumstances but they just carried on and didn't expect anyone to bail them out.
I know I will get unfavourable replies, but I feel so many expect too much from the Govt.

4% cap in France on electricity bills currently but these are reputedly not going to last. In fact Macron is under severe pressure to produce a longer term plan at the moment as their nuclear plants are not up and running sufficiently to cope. And Germany, normally the economic powerhouse of Europe, is struggling with rising prices and predictions there of power shortages too and not only for business. It is easy to blame the poor handling of the power industry on todays government but it is in fact historic let alone with the somewhat naive input of Extinction Rebellion and the like. For example it was the Lib Dems who campaigned against fracking. Offgen should have been reformed years ago. And the current problems are greatly exacerbated by an illegal war started by one country seeking to dominate another and re establish itself as an imperialistic world power while at the same time trying to hold Europe to ransom.

It Isn’t true thst things are better abroad , just back from a holiday in Greece , petrol and diesel much higher , eating out more expensive , weekly power cuts to save energy and this inns island that relys on tourists, the Greeks are really worried about what is to come in winter

Once again, supporters of Keir Starmer feel the need to make assumptions about the more left leaning Labour supporters. There is absolutely no need for this. We should be trying to unite together, not widen the rift.

Mr Johnson’s hands have been tied so gff we can’t do anything

We get more than enough bad news on tv and newspapers. Don't want to have to switch Gransnet off as well do I. I don't bury my head in the sand but enough is enough.

Following on from the unpleasant comment directed at ‘you lot’ - I speculate you’re
A Tory voter with a
Moral compass like that demonstrated by johnson

I don’t even know where to start on this one so I won’t!! General election maybe??

I bet your fun at parties lol what has it got to do with Boris going on holiday he’s a acting caretaker he can’t make major decisions in two weeks time you still going to blame Boris.

So what was the point of him being 'caretaker', then, Nannashirlz? Why are we paying him all that money ? To go off on holiday and go to parties and doss down at Chequers for a few weeks?

Is that all you expect from a PM? Greed and idleness?

I am genuinely worried about the present state of the country, more so than I can ever remember. I'm not sure if my present state of mind is influencing this or if things really are worse than ever before. The cost of living, the energy crisis, the state of the NHS, the increasing number of concerns either organising or intending to organise strikes, the lack of social care for the vulnerable and the thought of Truss as PM. Let's hope for good news on the horizon.

I don't put much faith in Nadhim Zahawi to help with the energy and cost of living crisis : he claimed expenses from the taxpayer for heating his stables. Perhaps some of the poor could live there.

As all the Tory Party can offer by way of leadership is Lightweight Liz then we are all in the sh*t.

Good grief.

I bet your fun at parties lol what has it got to do with Boris going on holiday he’s a acting caretaker he can’t make major decisions in two weeks time you still going to blame Boris. Media is fear monger ppl it doesn’t matter if Boris or mr sit on fence was in charge we would still have these price rises because of putin. Can’t worry about something that hasn’t happened yet. Boris already said a huge package is ready to send to ppl.

So, at the end of the day, the lunatics are running the asylum.

You know at the next election we need to vote for the political party who has the whole of the U.K. at the centre of it’s policies and not just a few at the top, even though their weasel words say different.

Pithy and to the point

“The Tory Party functions purely as an administration team for billionaires who buy policy. Little more.”

They will MayBee70, whereas predictably /I’m with you

Keir Starmer was named after Keir Hardie. He would probably have had a much easier life if he’d stuck to practicing law. I personally believe he went into politics to make this country a better, fairer place. We’ll see if I’m right in a few years time and, as a betting person I’d quite happily have a bet on being right about that, although I’m sure the Corbyn supporters will disagree with me.

nanna8

Where are the decent, honest politicians with vision and the guts to put their views across without compromise ? Are they not paid enough to attract these sort of leaders? It is no longer an attractive job and it seems to attract self promoting liars and charlatans. Can you think of one really good, strong ,honest leader ? I can’t where we live, can you ?

It's probably more a case of the decent, honest ones being sidelined by those who are out to feather their own nest.

I was never keen on Teresa May, but I think that she was set up to fail. She never stood a chance because it didn't suit the agenda of Johnson, his apologists and the right wing of the party.