The opinion of the IFS on the parties’ manifestos

When we’ve had fourteen years of Tory mismanagement it is inevitable that here will be few people in the shadow cabinet with government experience. Those who see this as reason for them to be denied it appear to be arguing for a one party state. I’d rather not live under such a regime. Democracy means that there will always be new blood at the end of a long reign from one party.

Better the devil you know is never a mantra I would follow, particularly when we’ve had 14 years of this devil and it’s made the country worse!

You know who I’ll be voting for. Those of you who choose the devil … fine, your choice🤷‍♀️

Germanshepherdsmum

How many in the shadow cabinet have experience in government MayBee?

Five. Not that the shadow cabinet will necessarily be the ministers in a new government.

This was in yesterdays Sunday Times."Schools hit by VAT rise could join state sector." Liverpool College converted to the State sector in 2013 , is seen as Liverpool's outstanding co-ed school and the head teacher said private school principals had been contacting the school to ask how they went about converting to the state sector. Interesting.

I'm surprised you didn't see this GSM (page 2) as you saw the article about Keir Starmer or at least a footnote .





ex

Depressing but not a surprise. Thanks for posting this the link.

Germanshepherdsmum

How many in the shadow cabinet have experience in government MayBee?

Thats a non issue, how can they after 14 years?

Current 'experience in government" doesn't inspire confidence.

Put all my money under the mattress.

We all know the answer to that GSM! I’m sure there were Tories who had no experience in government at some point. Anyway, my younger son is a Civil Servant (I won’t say which Dept) and he says one of the first things they have to do with a new Minister is teach them how to be a Minister. What are their strengths, weaknesses etc.
what will you do GSM when and if Labour are elected?

How many in the shadow cabinet have experience in government MayBee?

I don’t vote for crime, law breaking, corruption, cronyism or fraud, whatever the colour of the party.

Never have, never will

Think I’d rather have Reeves as chancellor who at least has a background in the subject ( and Mark Carney think highly of her) than someone that wasn’t a particularly good health Secretary whose austerity cuts made us ill prepared for a pandemic. But the main problem with this Conservative government is that most of the good, decent experienced MP’s have gone and we’re left with the Bravermans, Patels etc. Plus a new intake ( if they get elected) of MP’s with no experience in government at all. The party is tired and fragmented. So it isn’t a case of better the devil we know because we won’t know many of them and those we do know of don’t exactly inspire confidence.

The devil we know is so spectacularly bad that I can't see why anyone would want to continue supporting it!

I’m glad to say I’m not going to be supporting any devils. All the hyperbole about school fees which won’t result in mass private school closures leaves me as unmoved as it leaves 95% of the population.

If it’s between the devil and the deep blue sea I’m inclined to agree, better the devil we know than drowning in the deep blue sea.

You already know my views, GSM.

I don't rate the IFS very highly, their economic analysis isn't based on the reality of how governments finance their spending. It's based on the concept of finite amounts of money available which has to be raised by taxation or 'borrowing.'

This is the empirically researched reality:

www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/sites/bartlett_public_purpose/files/the_self-financing_state_an_institutional_analysis_of_government_expenditure_revenue_collection_and_debt_issuance_operations_in_the_united_kingdom.pdf

Good. I wish more people would realise that the only change likely in the near future is VAT on school fees and even more overstuffed state schools.

GSM I am beginning to think that way also.

As far as I’m concerned, better the devil I know.

Interesting remarks analysing the general election 2024 manifestos, though, from Paul Johnson, Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies, someone on neither side of the election seesaw. The analysis in a few words seems to be that we are between the devil and the deep blue sea.