The U.K. 2022

Thanks for that, growstuff.

I've followed him for a number of years now and I've learned a great deal from his blogs and links to other economists.

Especially about how a national economy actually 'works'.

I think Martin Lewis has an “agenda” too apparently. To save people from freezing and starving.

growstuff

maddyone

Richard Murphy is a very left wing person who has advised Corbyn according to Wikipedia, so it could be argued that he has an agenda.

For the record, I've been following Richard Murphy's blog for years and he isn't left wing. He was very critical of Corbyn when he was Labour leader. He's on record as saying that he doesn't support any political party. If anything, he's more Green than anything. He does, however, have a very good understanding of macro-economics. He's a Quaker and is passionate about social justice.

? cheers! A good man I think

Farzanah

I think Martin Lewis has an “agenda” too apparently. To save people from freezing and starving.

?

At the Cheltenham hustings Truss is saying if she becomes PM she will commence fracking as an answer to our energy problems.

I’m not surprised about this RichmondP and the new law on demos are so restrictive now that if any locals think they can disrupt fracking in their area they haven’t a cat in hell’s chance, or go to prison trying. An Autumn of discontent looms.

growstuff

maddyone

Richard Murphy is a very left wing person who has advised Corbyn according to Wikipedia, so it could be argued that he has an agenda.

For the record, I've been following Richard Murphy's blog for years and he isn't left wing. He was very critical of Corbyn when he was Labour leader. He's on record as saying that he doesn't support any political party. If anything, he's more Green than anything. He does, however, have a very good understanding of macro-economics. He's a Quaker and is passionate about social justice.

I have followed him for some years too. I found his work on MMT very interesting. I'm not sure why you would say he isn't left-wing. The Green party is left-of-centre in this country.

His comments can appear far-left at times and more centrist at others. He is very precious, doesn't actually like discussions, and will not allow comments on his blog that don't agree with his political standpoint. He name-calls those who disagree with him and seems to enjoy the sycophantic praise many give him on his blogs. He also undermines Starmer in the way the far-left does, so perhaps he is one of those who only want their sort of left in power. Or perhaps it's because Starmer hasn't consulted him in the way Corbyn did.

I have found him a very flawed man. However, those with character flaws have changed how we look at the world in the past. All those working on MMT may yet do that. If we are mistaking the way country's economies now work it would seem to be a good thing to sort it out. In which case, no doubt his flaws will be forgiven.

Farzanah

I think Martin Lewis has an “agenda” too apparently. To save people from freezing and starving.

That certainly seems to be true. Martin Lewis could be taking a back seat with all the money he has made, but he works very hard to bring the nonsense of this government to everyone's attention. The great thing about the non-political is that they are much more believable, as are those who used to be in power but no longer chase the crown.

I've tried (very hard) to find any bright side - or silver lining - to all this, but no, my hopes of things turning out alright have dimmed. In despair, I'll reluctantly have to join the 'We're all doomed' brigade as it seems the only logical option.

Thank you for for your comments DaisyAnne, I found them very balanced. I don’t know much about Richard Murphy, just looked him up on Mr Google, and then made an observation based on what I found out. I wasn’t out to rattle anyone’s cage, but felt by a couple of comments that perhaps my observation had done just that. Perhaps I’ll avoid making any observations on threads such as this in future. I don’t feel very welcome here.

I don’t know much about Richard Murphy, just looked him up on Mr Google, and then made an observation based on what I found out

In which case, don't you think, maddyone , that it would be fairer to actually read some of his work and make a judgement from that, rather than on other people's interpretations? It's always worth going to primary sources when they are readily available.

DaisyAnne

growstuff

maddyone

Richard Murphy is a very left wing person who has advised Corbyn according to Wikipedia, so it could be argued that he has an agenda.

For the record, I've been following Richard Murphy's blog for years and he isn't left wing. He was very critical of Corbyn when he was Labour leader. He's on record as saying that he doesn't support any political party. If anything, he's more Green than anything. He does, however, have a very good understanding of macro-economics. He's a Quaker and is passionate about social justice.

I have followed him for some years too. I found his work on MMT very interesting. I'm not sure why you would say he isn't left-wing. The Green party is left-of-centre in this country.

His comments can appear far-left at times and more centrist at others. He is very precious, doesn't actually like discussions, and will not allow comments on his blog that don't agree with his political standpoint. He name-calls those who disagree with him and seems to enjoy the sycophantic praise many give him on his blogs. He also undermines Starmer in the way the far-left does, so perhaps he is one of those who only want their sort of left in power. Or perhaps it's because Starmer hasn't consulted him in the way Corbyn did.

I have found him a very flawed man. However, those with character flaws have changed how we look at the world in the past. All those working on MMT may yet do that. If we are mistaking the way country's economies now work it would seem to be a good thing to sort it out. In which case, no doubt his flaws will be forgiven.

I guess it depends what you mean by "left-wing". Murphy believes in a mixed state/private economy, but believes in fair taxation.

He doesn't undermine Starmer in the same way as the far left does, but because he believes that Starmer hasn't grasped the reality that spending doesn't have to be funded out of prior taxation. He gets frustrated that so few politicians from any party talk about being able to "afford" things, when it's not true. Corbyn consulted Murphy, but he and McDonnell were quite dismissive of his ideas and he didn't work with them again. He certainly didn't advise the Labour Party for very long.

I agree that the Green Party is left of centre, but Murphy isn't a member as far as I know. He believes in "green" growth, but that doesn't mean that he's a follower of the party.

I agree that he can appear opinionated and grumpy, but that doesn't mean he's wrong. It's his blog and he's not the only blogger who refuses troll-type posts. I can't blame him for not wanting to get involved in online spats. There are some regular contributors who disagree with him, but he handles them in a reasoned and adult way.

I'm not one of his sycophants, but to dismiss him as a left-winger is just wrong. Of course he has an agenda - to make tax fairer - and I'm wondering how many people object to that.

Ooops! I meant "so many politicians talk about being able to afford things".

Who isn’t flawed? Shooting the messenger still leaves the message and Murphy’s message is consistently clear.

We need a fairer society.

I’m happy to go with that.

I see that the Daily Mail has turned their hate onto Martin Lewis.

I noticed that Whitewave. If I could meet a geni and be granted a wish, it would be to give our country 3 months without the daily Mail. I do believe we’d be better for that

Iam64

I noticed that Whitewave. If I could meet a geni and be granted a wish, it would be to give our country 3 months without the daily Mail. I do believe we’d be better for that

Oh yes, Amen to that (and people who read it too - perhaps)!

Richard Murphy is a very left wing person who has advised Corbyn according to Wikipedia, so it could be argued that he has an agenda

Exactly - he has his own agenda.
That doesn’t mean he’s wrong, ( all news is biased as they say ) but he’s no more right than anything you’ll read in the daily mail.

It’s an opinion piece.

Whitewavemark2

So despite a high level meeting today between the PM and chancellor

Nothing was decided.

Unless it is to do with winning the next election, I think "nothing was decided" could be the mantra of this government. Yes, they did move for the pandemic - but then they didn't have a choice where that was concerned. Even so they still managed to do it badly.

I hope more like Brown come out of the woodwork. I don't care about the flavour of their politics. I even find John Major more interesting and more interested in the country than today's so-called politicians. I want a reminder that, one day, we may be able to have good people, with or without charisma, managing our country.

What does our Head of State say about the cost of living crisis?

You can imagine that members of the Royal Family will always have the best food on hand, even when at the airport. When most Brits travel they settle for a big breakfast and an extortionate pint.

Unsurprisingly this is not the case for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who are served by a personal butler and enjoy Michelin-star menus and unlimited champagne. They eat in the Windsor Suite when they visit Heathrow Airport, reports My London, and it costs £3,300 for a two-hour service in the hidden terminal five spot.

Bully for them

maddyone

Thank you for for your comments DaisyAnne, I found them very balanced. I don’t know much about Richard Murphy, just looked him up on Mr Google, and then made an observation based on what I found out. I wasn’t out to rattle anyone’s cage, but felt by a couple of comments that perhaps my observation had done just that. Perhaps I’ll avoid making any observations on threads such as this in future. I don’t feel very welcome here.

Just keep reading and posting maddyone. So far no one has been able to dictate how or what we think. Where that is a concern is more with this government than the posters on GN.

growstuff
... but to dismiss him as a left-winger is just wrong.

I wonder why you feel the need to misrepresent what I said.

It occurs to me that my mother who died in 2020, and lived independently her entire life, could no longer afford to heat her home now. She was on state pension with benefits etc, but her income would no longer cover the cost.

It also occurs to me that if consumers as a result of rising fuel costs, no longer have disposable income to spend then the economy will simply crash.

Kandinsky

*Richard Murphy is a very left wing person who has advised Corbyn according to Wikipedia, so it could be argued that he has an agenda*

Exactly - he has his own agenda.
That doesn’t mean he’s wrong, ( all news is biased as they say ) but he’s no more right than anything you’ll read in the daily mail.

It’s an opinion piece.

Another poster depending on secondhand opinion.

Despite the fact that the statement made has been debunked.

Whitewavemark2

It occurs to me that my mother who died in 2020, and lived independently her entire life, could no longer afford to heat her home now. She was on state pension with benefits etc, but her income would no longer cover the cost.

It also occurs to me that if consumers as a result of rising fuel costs, no longer have disposable income to spend then the economy will simply crash.

Sadly, I think you are right. As I have said before, I am a little wary of nationalisation. However, I think we need to, at least temporarily, nationalise the energy-producing companies. But can we? Are they UK owned?