Britain is Broken protest in London

Agree. The coalition government, encouraged by the Lib Dems, ensured a fixed term parliamentary system. We presumably have to sit this government out? I tend to share the view that it doesn’t really matter who has parliamentary power as this country is being administered by the Civil Service. The government is therefore a sort of facade or almost shop window for the bureaucracy to govern as they wish!

I live in blissful ignorance. Stopped watching the news (never any good news).

Are you off on a flight of fancy? Saying that the civil service are in charge of the country not the government is as deluded as Boris Johnson saying at COP that it was 40 degree temperatures that cost him his job as PM. Clearly people who say that have never worked as public servants, and certainly never in the civil service.

The Fixed Term Act was repealed by the Johnson government a couple of years ago.

Parliaments are still limited to a maximum term of 5 years, but a PM can call an election at any time. The current government won't call a general election because it knows it will be trounced, with, on current polling, the tory parliamentary party all but disappearing.

I think that rejecting a whole movement because it has an association with someone one disapproves of is sad.

The people who marched care deeply about what our country has become and the adverse effects it has on many of its citizens. I think this is a perfectly legitimate reason for protesting.

Casdon

Are you off on a flight of fancy? Saying that the civil service are in charge of the country not the government is as deluded as Boris Johnson saying at COP that it was 40 degree temperatures that cost him his job as PM. Clearly people who say that have never worked as public servants, and certainly never in the civil service.

Are you taking a narrow view of what comprises the ;civil service', Casdon?

If the state funded administrators and workers aren't keeping our poor country ticking over, who is? Because it certainly isn't the government...

Corban supports Iran , for this reason he will never get my vote

Yes, government ministers are totally dependent on the civil service - without them nothing would happen.

The ecorabble have blocked the motorway today in some pointless protest about oil, the UK IS phasing out Petrol cars what else do they expect to achieve.
Or do there lunatics expect to move food around using hand carts

Husband ex civil servant took early redundancy … can’t say why!

JenniferEccles

What are they protesting about this time?
No more oil, no more gas?
‘Savage Tory cuts’?

I suppose poor Londoners should be thankful they haven’t glued themselves to roads, stopping everyone going about their business, or dangling from a bridge over the M25, bringing the motorway to a close like before.

With any luck the torrential rain would have sent them scampering.
Every cloud eh?!

Straight out of the RW tabloids there. Why not have a read about what these myriad groups were protesting about? Some of it, in fact most of it, will affect you and your life. NHS cuts, austerity, global warming etc. It's a good job some people care, even if you don't. Read, educate yourself, listen to people, you may be surprised. The women who went through dreadful treatment in prison in order that you got the vote Jennifereccles probably upset and annoyed people too

Nan0

Corban supports Iran , for this reason he will never get my vote

It is Corbyn. Not Corban.

MaizieD

Casdon

Are you off on a flight of fancy? Saying that the civil service are in charge of the country not the government is as deluded as Boris Johnson saying at COP that it was 40 degree temperatures that cost him his job as PM. Clearly people who say that have never worked as public servants, and certainly never in the civil service.

Are you taking a narrow view of what comprises the ;civil service', Casdon?

If the state funded administrators and workers aren't keeping our poor country ticking over, who is? Because it certainly isn't the government...

There’s a difference between administration of the country, which of course is the responsibility of the civil service and the rest of the public sector for their remits, and making the decisions about policy which the public servants have to adhere to MaizieD, that was the point I was making, perhaps not clearly enough, sorry. To suggest that ‘ The government is therefore a sort of facade or almost shop window for the bureaucracy to govern as they wish!’ is a flight of fancy.

To suggest that ‘ The government is therefore a sort of facade or almost shop window for the bureaucracy to govern as they wish!’ is a flight of fancy.

Aaah. Put that way I understand

I wonder why that poster's husband retired early.

Let’s try and think about this empirically that is evidence based. Where to start? Maybe with the list of election promises set out so eloquently by Boris Johnson. Easy enough to gauge progress or not…. If no action, then who would have failed to implement them? Maybe the Civil Service as administrators?

Katie59

The ecorabble have blocked the motorway today in some pointless protest about oil, the UK IS phasing out Petrol cars what else do they expect to achieve.
Or do there lunatics expect to move food around using hand carts

I think they're worried that motorists haven't got the message, and that a glacially slow phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles isn't enough to prevent further catastrophic warming...

We could move food around by rail and with electric distribution vehicles. Where there's a will, there's a way. There really isn't a great deal of will, though.

ronib

Let’s try and think about this empirically that is evidence based. Where to start? Maybe with the list of election promises set out so eloquently by Boris Johnson. Easy enough to gauge progress or not…. If no action, then who would have failed to implement them? Maybe the Civil Service as administrators?

Election promises have to be translated into action by the minister in charge of the relevant department. It's not up to the civil service to implement manifesto promises, they have to do what they are instructed to do.

And a PM who was genuinely interested in fulfilling the manifesto (which Johnson never was) would be making sure that it was happening.

MaizieD

Katie59

The ecorabble have blocked the motorway today in some pointless protest about oil, the UK IS phasing out Petrol cars what else do they expect to achieve.
Or do there lunatics expect to move food around using hand carts

I think they're worried that motorists haven't got the message, and that a glacially slow phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles isn't enough to prevent further catastrophic warming...

We could move food around by rail and with electric distribution vehicles. Where there's a will, there's a way. There really isn't a great deal of will, though.

I’m actually surprised the government has not devised a plan where more freight and distribution is done by rail, electric vans for local distribution are being phased in now.

MaizieD

ronib

Let’s try and think about this empirically that is evidence based. Where to start? Maybe with the list of election promises set out so eloquently by Boris Johnson. Easy enough to gauge progress or not…. If no action, then who would have failed to implement them? Maybe the Civil Service as administrators?

Election promises have to be translated into action by the minister in charge of the relevant department. It's not up to the civil service to implement manifesto promises, they have to do what they are instructed to do.

And a PM who was genuinely interested in fulfilling the manifesto (which Johnson never was) would be making sure that it was happening.

This is a reasonable attempt at describing the reasons why the Levelling Up manifesto promise isn’t happening.
Fundamentally, it was a promise that was always unrealistic, and was not backed up by funding or infrastructure either. There was never an intention to deliver. The real tragedy is that the majority of the electorate don’t see when they are being manipulated.
www.bloomberg.com/graphics/uk-levelling-up/boris-johnson-level-up-plan-in-trouble.html

Also tragic for the minority who do see through the manipulative behaviour of politicians and who are powerless to act.

HousePlantQueen

Nan0

Corban supports Iran , for this reason he will never get my vote

It is Corbyn. Not Corban.

Also, Nan0, unless you live in Islington North, you will not have the chance of voting for Corbyn.

I’m actually surprised the government has not devised a plan where more freight and distribution is done by rail, electric vans for local distribution are being phased in now.

You are funny (ha ha), Katie59.

Do you honestly believe that our current government would bother to do something like that?

Maybe all you Gransnetters should step up to the mark and put yourselves forward to run the country! This site is getting far too political just look in the forums page as to how many times politics has been discussed compared to other topics. Do you remember Liam Byrne's (? spelling) "there's no money left" comment when handing over to the Con/Lib coalition. All I am saying is be careful for what you wish for.

We'll theres certainly no money left now.

I'm in the Labour Party and thank goodness we now hold the position that we do - a long way from the Corbyn era. I so wish they wouldn't trot (deliberate use of word) him out for a heartfelt rally on matters that effect all who don't have private medical insurance and an adequate income to face the trials and tribs ahead. I believe that Starmer and co do have a realistic grip on economic matters now. Pragmatists, but pragmatists who actually care more.

I don't think they will have a lot of wiggle room but if you look at the Shadow Cabinet there is a lot of talent and integrity in there.

I think almost certainly it will mean rises in income tax for those on middle and high incomes. I think there is simply no other choice. And it may or may not be declared upfront as its not "popular".

We have - or sorry, many have - a strange attitude to income tax in our country. We expect decent NHS and Care provision, but do not want to actually put hands in pockets and pay. And grumble at the failings of same.

In the Scandi counties especially it's generally accepted that you actually have to pay for what you need.

We are in the very real danger of the collapse of support systems for those at the bottom of the pile.

I'm glad to read that there are some DM readers who have an alternative POV but honestly I despair at the headlines.

How CAN these smug people who read and agree not see what is going on? I despair. To me, its an "I'm all right Jack" stance.

It doesn't seem to occur even that, for example, the asylum system AND border policing forces/police generally need a lot of money putting in and that money has to come from somewhere. They just decry what's happening.

We need the a Labour Government not because they will be able to produce any miracles but because they will run a more compassionate ship. Change is slow, will be slower than ever in current climate.

It seems to me that this demonstration, which I have only just heard of, was utterly pointless.

A couple of thousand people demand an election, what effect are they going to have? Especially when we know this government has a good majority and does not have to call an election until the end of 2024. It might make the demonstrators feel better, but its effect will be nil,

Why didn't they organise a demonstration to support COP27 and demand that more is done to move the country towards no carbon emisssions and help for smaller poorer nations, this government is vulnerable on this issue, not not on the election issue.