Labour Lib Dem coalition

and, of course, inflation reduces the value of debt and the interest we pay.

So our national debt is roughly £2,500 billion, but in real terms we will probably end up paying only £1,500 billion.
about

The Tories and Labour have enough problems satisfying factions within their own parties, adding to that outside ambitions of another party makes government so much more difficult.

Pascal30, it probably would be. From past experience is the majority party in a coalition likely to hand over any power to
the minority group? Or accept any suggestions from the minority group that didn’t meet with their approval.

Whitewavemark2

I think that all parties prefer to govern on their own, but pragmatically if push comes to shove they will endeavour to form some sort of lose coalition.

let's hope it's not a lose coalition..

I’m talking about coalition governments Katie, not the influence that factions within a governing party and elements outwith that party can cause, of which we know much.

Germanshepherdsmum

Junior partners cannot exert much pressure. Look at the Conservative/LD coalition. I merely comment . I don’t expect the Conservatives to lose the next GE.

Sorry GSM you are wrong, small parties can have a very large influence, the unionists caused chaos to the May government, in the same way extreme religious parties cause chaos is Israel.

The Tories are not to be written off but a hung parliament is highly likely, Starmer is going to need every vote he can get to get a majority

The schedule of speakers with titles of speeches is available on the NatCon website.

No wonder I hadn’t heard anything😄

Whitewavemark2

How’s the Nat Con conference going, anyone heard anything?

Oh thanks, I’m ahead of myself

Fleurpepper

Worse actually

£2,445.2 billion at the end of Quarter 3 (July to September) 2022, equivalent to 100.2% of gross domestic product (GDP).

And up and up. What is it now???

Debt on its own is not the problem there are many nations with larger than 100% debt to GDP ratios, including the US.
What is more important is what we are spending it on, currently we are not spending enough on development to improve growth. Because of the we have now fallen far behind in new technology and we are having to import far too much.

15th to 17th May for the NatCon conference.

How’s the Nat Con conference going, anyone heard anything?

The problem with the Tory party is that the extreme right wing is quite large, they have held power for many years. Cameron was only allowed to be leader if he held a Brexit referendum, May wasnt tough enough and had to go, Johnson was chosen to lie his way through. Their pinnacle of power was Truss, totally unsuitable and a miserable failure, Sunak is still in their grip but as election looms they do recognize him as best bet to retain what power they can.

Fleurpepper As I said I deal in realities. It is always the time for co-operation etc. But the fact is it doesn't happen, we need to deal with the situation as it is.

Demonising any individual because of they way they vote is offensive and demeaning. All but a tiny group of voters, vote the way they do for what they consider good reason, whether people of a different political persuasion agree with them or not.

I find it uncomfortable when those on the left are so dismissive and patronising, and sometimes quite offensive, of those voters who do not share their political views and vote for more rightwing parties.

I find this very odd because the left of the political spectrum see themselves as being of and part of the majority of the population - yet at the same time they look down and patronise, those same people.

Fleurpepper

Worse actually

£2,445.2 billion at the end of Quarter 3 (July to September) 2022, equivalent to 100.2% of gross domestic product (GDP).

And up and up. What is it now???

How much is the UK paying in interest on the debt? That figure is more important than the total debt itself.

Freya5

Fleurpepper

M0nica, time for this to change. It has been the way due to First Past the Post- see saw disaster. Time for cooperation, putting heads together and find balance- and exclude the far right politics of the current Cons Party.

Calling the Conservative party far right is disrespectful , crass, and an insult to those victims of those extremes.

I really am struggling to understand this post.

There are elements within the Conservative Party which most certainly are far right. To whom is it disrespectful?

It's not crass to describe reality. It's not the calling out of right-wing politics which is an insult, but the way right-wing politics affects some people certainly is an insult.

Worse actually

£2,445.2 billion at the end of Quarter 3 (July to September) 2022, equivalent to 100.2% of gross domestic product (GDP).

And up and up. What is it now???

How much debt is the UK currently in?

Currenty at over 2,530 b

2021/222,372.6
2020/212,146.1
2019/201,919.2
2018/191,925.2

Germanshepherdsmum

Almost bankrupt (sic) the country? What nonsense. I assure you we won’t be bowing our heads or holding our noses or keeping our choice secret - unlike all those many (as always) people you know. I must post the definition of ‘ many’ sometime.

Could you remind us of the debt burden of the UK at the moment?

I am fully aware YOU will do so with glee- I was talking about the MANY (yes I do understand the meaning of the word, no need to help at all) we know who are so disappointed with the Cons performance and behaviour for the past 12 years, the destructive and costly Brexit, and so much more - and will hold their nose very tightly if and when they vote Tory again- to protect their assets. Many will vote Lib Dem this time for the first time ever too.

Who are you to doubt who I do know or not, lol!?!

I agree WWM2, but 'loose' should be the operative word.

I think that all parties prefer to govern on their own, but pragmatically if push comes to shove they will endeavour to form some sort of lose coalition.

*Fleurpepper what a lovely Lib Dem sentiment, The chances of it happening, is unfortunately extremely low. Meanwhile we have to deal with things as they are.

I have now belonged to the Libs/Lib Dems for over 60 years and this 'perfect world' thinking of theirs, rather that dealing with the 'actualities' has always been one of their traits that has most irritated me.

Fleurpepper

M0nica, time for this to change. It has been the way due to First Past the Post- see saw disaster. Time for cooperation, putting heads together and find balance- and exclude the far right politics of the current Cons Party.

Calling the Conservative party far right is disrespectful , crass, and an insult to those victims of those extremes.

Just on one of your points about MPs not understanding Bills. Every MP gets 'Notes on Clauses' which is essentially a plain English guide to the contents of a Bill so they really have no excuse for not understanding the legal language in the Bill. Of course, the ones who can't read may have difficulty.

We have a friend who’s an estate agent. He says people are still suffering from the fallout from the Truss/Kwarteng budget.