Starmer's speech

I am always amazed how the party not in power has all the answers. The same applies to ex Prime Ministers.

The problem is that many of them are so heavily contaminated that the cost of decontamination to the standard required for residential development is such that they have a negative land value

Quite

We’ve seen no evidence that councils implementing the 15 minute cities concept are attempting to place restrictions on how often residents can go to the shops.

The word that comes to mind is...yet.

They would hardly tell people that at the beginning would they?!

Not that I necessarily think going to the shops would be restricted. At least not for a few years.

Eirlys

I am always amazed how the party not in power has all the answers. The same applies to ex Prime Ministers.

Labour have proved that regeneration of former industrial sites, including the massive project at the former Ebbw Vale steelworks, as well at the Llanwern redevelopment can bring huge benefits to local populations. They may not be in power UK wide, but housing is devolved, and this is one of the success stories. Funding for site decontamination for these schemes was awarded directly by Welsh Government to the developers to make the schemes viable.
I think it’s easy to forget that regeneration schemes have a human benefit even if they are more expensive than developments on greenfield sites - it’s simply the right thing to do.

I hope that the next government also makes the requirement for the minimum numbers of affordable housing harder for developers to get out of.
neweconomics.org/2022/02/how-private-developers-get-out-of-building-affordable-housing

An interesting piece about Wales’s fiscal deficit:

www.cambridge.org/core/journals/national-institute-economic-review/article/devolution-independence-and-wales-fiscal-deficit/083D8AB2F8AD351EDB8FD1D9773DEECC

Primrose53

Starmer always reminds me of the very boring Priest in Father Ted who, as soon as he starts talking, sends people to sleep. 🤣

If you think Starmer is boring, how would you describe Corbyn, Primrose53 ? 😁

Johnson wasn’t boring but he wasn’t reliable, genuine or honest either

Johnson was a crook - utterly corrupt and dishonest.

Germanshepherdsmum

An interesting piece about Wales’s fiscal deficit:

www.cambridge.org/core/journals/national-institute-economic-review/article/devolution-independence-and-wales-fiscal-deficit/083D8AB2F8AD351EDB8FD1D9773DEECC

It is interesting Germanshepherdsmum, I particularly noticed this section.
‘Where the fiscal imbalance is explained by higher spending in Wales, it is mainly attributable to the larger population share qualifying for social protection schemes—state benefit payments that tend to have uniform pan-UK eligibility criteria. Despite devolved and local government accounting for a majority of public sector expenditure in Wales, most inter-regional fiscal transfers occur implicitly through the tax-and-benefit system.’.
The post industrial legacy in Wales is massive. The Welsh government isn’t profligate, spending money on regeneration of post industrial areas is a very important way to restore pride and sustainability to decimated communities.

varian

Johnson was a crook - utterly corrupt and dishonest.

libel i would have thought

TBH after Johnson and Truss, I’d happily take ‘boring’. A PM is supposed to be a trustworthy leader, not a clown, buffoon or comedy act!

Not libel

fancythat

*We’ve seen no evidence that councils implementing the 15 minute cities concept are attempting to place restrictions on how often residents can go to the shops.*

The word that comes to mind is...yet.

They would hardly tell people that at the beginning would they?!

Not that I necessarily think going to the shops would be restricted. At least not for a few years.

For goodness' sake! Do you see conspiracies round every corner?

I see potential.

I see an unfounded case of persecution complex.

Where have you seen Starmer or his party say they have "all the answers"? Eirlys Could you evidence this please?

So far, what I have heard them say, is that it will take a decade to get the country back on track.

On the other hand, just as we have seen Trump proved, as the judge ruled, to have engaged in years of massive fraud, it looks like there will be historical proportions of fraud revealed by the Covid enquiry and also possibly by the HS2 enquiry. All this, just as with Trump, has the outcome of undermining democracy and make serving the country extremely difficult.

Obviously, this doesn't worry the current Conservatives as they do not see service to the county as adjunct to power. The only thing they, and those with a similar sense of entitlement, believe power is for, is their own advancement. Sunak is using a scorched earth and lies policy. That became apparent at their conference. If he ever had a moral compass it has now disappeared in his attempt to cleave to power.

There is no proof fancythat. The need for swaths of the public to believe these conspiracy theories used to be seen as an immature solution to an actual issue. Currently it seems reaseach is showing that it is more influenced by culture than a less than adult approach. Cultural background creates a need that makes each person susceptible to particular type of conspiracy theory.

Sadly this often leaves us with a "right question, wrong answer" situation where progress can't be made. But, of course, that is the aim of those spreading such theories; the disruption of democracy. Just think back to the influence of Dominic Cummings, known as the disruptor's disruptor. Many on thst side of politics have followed in his footsteps.

What does that mean cultural background creates a need that makes each person susceptible to a particular type of conspiracy theory?
Are you saying northerners or the red wall are susceptible to 15 min city conspiracy theories, those in Wales are susceptible to the flat earth one. What do you mean.

*So far, what I have heard them say, is that it will take a decade to get the country back on track.

On the other hand, just as we have seen Trump proved, as the judge ruled, to have engaged in years of massive fraud, it looks like there will be historical proportions of fraud revealed by the Covid enquiry and also possibly by the HS2 enquiry. All this, just as with Trump, has the outcome of undermining democracy and make serving the country extremely difficult.

Obviously, this doesn't worry the current Conservatives as they do not see service to the county as adjunct to power. The only thing they, and those with a similar sense of entitlement, believe power is for, is their own advancement. Sunak is using a scorched earth and lies policy. That became apparent at their conference. If he ever had a moral compass it has now disappeared in his attempt to cleave to power.*

👏👏👏

Galaxy

What does that mean cultural background creates a need that makes each person susceptible to a particular type of conspiracy theory?
Are you saying northerners or the red wall are susceptible to 15 min city conspiracy theories, those in Wales are susceptible to the flat earth one. What do you mean.

Perhaps DAR would link to some of the research she's talking about?

It is interesting, though, the way that individuals or groups tend to regard ideas coming from other groups with great suspicion and are willing to believe that the underlying motive for any idea is malign.

Is it the result of experience, or critical examination of the idea or just an automatic reaction?

Oh I understand that a little more! Football team thinking almost. So a reaction to every Tory policy as bad from the left and a reaction of every labour policy as bad from the right. I think that's very difficult not to fall in to.

Galaxy

Oh I understand that a little more! Football team thinking almost. So a reaction to every Tory policy as bad from the left and a reaction of every labour policy as bad from the right. I think that's very difficult not to fall in to.

I am determined not to support Labour regardless if they get into power, and will criticise any policies I’m not sure are good for the country.

I will support them entirely before the election, as anything is better than the last 14 years.

Galaxy

Oh I understand that a little more! Football team thinking almost. So a reaction to every Tory policy as bad from the left and a reaction of every labour policy as bad from the right. I think that's very difficult not to fall in to.

I think the more to the centre you are the more able you are to see both sides point of view? No party has a monopoly on good ideas, it’s just that one fits nearer to your own values. So, the government proposals on smoking for example is likely to appeal to most in the middle.

And it makes you look untrustworthy. I am a member of the labour party as centrist as they come but the Tories legalising gay marriage was a good thing. I know many didnt support it and it was a coalition government but it was a good decision. I actually am not sure what I feel about the smoking thing vaguely in favour I suppose.