After all these years of Tory government, does anything in the UK still work?

Manufacturing - cars, ships, trains, steel, textiles, all sold off like our utilities companies to foreign buyers - the national grid is owned by the Chinese.

So, if we're going to talk about weaponry, does anyone recall the 'multiplier' of 4 that I mentioned (once or twice or more) in relation to state spending on the NHS? That every £1 spent into the NHS generates £4s worth of economic activity.

Well, state spending on defence has a negative multiplier, a multiplier of less than 1. So state spending on defence generates no economic activity. Would that stop a government spending on defence if we were in a crisis, e.g. at war? I think not.

So, we're in a health service crisis and the government refuses to mitigate it by putting the much needed money into resolving the crisis. Despite the fact that it would not only improve the NHS but would also lead to economic growth (don't forget that last month's growth figure showed no growth whatsoever).

Puzzling...

Katie59 … okay so Uk scores points for recycling?

ronib

We are standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine but since that’s out of the country, I guess it doesn’t count?
Paying for war is expensive to be fair…

Actually we’re mostly sending them our obsolete weaponry
The tanks are 30 yrs old and helicopters are 40 yrs old, much of it was on the list to be scrapped. Most of the Russian weapons are Cold War stockpiles, there seems to be a delay on any campaign, reports are being heard about supply delays.

And yet - some people will still vote for them next time - so I really do despair!

Siope

Things that still work:

- tax havens in British territories
- non-dom status for rich residents
- lobbying

The class system
Nadine Dorries’ hairdresser

We are standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine but since that’s out of the country, I guess it doesn’t count?
Paying for war is expensive to be fair…

I'm not sure that the environment is too protected when we have our rivers and seas awash with sewage.

Which bit of the environment do you have in mind, fancythat?

Does industrial relations being no worse than in the 1970s make it a Good Thing? Lots of people were pretty worried about it in the '70s.

Conservative Conservatives

GrannyRose15

Is this all the fault of the Tories I wonder. Or might New Labour have sowed the seeds of destruction. Remember we haven’t had a properly Conservative government since 1997. Perhaps it’s time to try one.

The Conservative voted for this government. Why on earth would we believe that your "proper" Conservative government would be allowed to take power.

How would you define "proper Conservative" GrannyRose. I have friends who have been Conservative voters all their lives but are in despair. Who and what would you offer them?

Ah - it's moving away from god that has caused the Tories to wreck every public service. NOW I understand. Thank goodness you explained.

Just for clarity - which particular god did you have in mind? A relevant question in our multi-faith country.

By above, I mean the points in the other posts.

Not sure whether to write this but here goes.

As a long time floating voter -

I would argue that the environment is too protected.
Industrial relations are no worse then they were in the 70s.
Eliminating poverty will never happen.

Apart from that you have a point.

I will add two things which probably will not go down well..

Immigration, which the left seems to be even more fond of than the right, is bound to squeeze budgets on the above.

And if people in this country increasingly choose to move away from God, the above situations will only get worse. No matter who is in power.

Things that still work:

- tax havens in British territories
- non-dom status for rich residents
- lobbying

It’s so hard to read someone suggest the issue is that the government for the decade has not been “proper” Tories”.

Was the short lived government of LIz Truss a "proper Conservative government * GrannyRose15*?

The Tories have been in power for a very long time.

What kind of government do you think we've had since 2015 if it is not (in the opinion of GranntRose15) a prop[er Conservative government?

Is this all the fault of the Tories I wonder. Or might New Labour have sowed the seeds of destruction. Remember we haven’t had a properly Conservative government since 1997. Perhaps it’s time to try one.

The railways?

Environmental protection?

Morale in the civil service?

Control of illegal drugs?

Waiting time for an ambulance?

Percentage of rapists ever charged, let alone convicted?

Dealing with corruption - eg MP's taking money for lobbying?

Have any of these been a success story?

I despair too, I find that online news and comment is as much about H&M and trans people as it is about the important things in life. We seems to have reached a time when minority issues (whatever they may be) take greater importance than poverty and health. I wish people cared more about actual politics these days. Yes I do show an interest in some of these sagas myself but I also know that what really matters is all of those things above.

State of our road surfaces
Litter clearance

NO and we can add the following:
The Probation Service
Social Services
Nursery Provision
The quality and value for money of our Universities
Modern apprenticeships and vocational training
Public transport
Water companies
I could go on but it is just too depressing........

Transport… nope, not that either.

You have to admire them though at the efficiency in the way they have completely ruined our country.