But does he really 'understand'?

eazybee

No it is not getting ridiculous.
This man is a new Prime Minister who has come to power in part through relentless attacks on his predecessors. party and person, therefore he is being subjected to intense scrutiny,
He and his colleagues have alarmed many of the electorate by their doom-laden pronouncements, unusual so early in a new government, and by the duplicity being exposed in their acceptance of hand-outs; all right for us, not for you. Therefore he and they are being closely questioned on anything and everything, and so far, not doing terribly well.

Exactly. Well said.

I think that’s the nub of it GrannyGravy.
It’s a new learning curve.

Doodledog

I am also on here less than usual, as it's so toxic.

N & P threads have always been toxic

It’s just now the poison is directed towards a Labour Government as opposed to the Conservatives.

Those used to opposing are now the opposed.

I am not a Labour supporter, but I want them to succeed and make decisions that will benefit society not penalise it.

I've been here a lot, because I thought it was better than decluttering.
I'll be decluttering more, I think.

I've been miserable as sin the last couple of days.

I am also on here less than usual, as it's so toxic.

lixy

eggplant

God it's especially vile on here today.

Memo to self......change morning routine.

This has been going round in my head all day on and off.
If I joined a social group and heard discussions such as those on several of the politics threads I wouldn’t go back for a second meeting. And so I have decided to opt out of Gnet discussions.
I do hope you will think positively and ‘give the man a break’ while he gets to grips with a very demanding job, and I really hope he lives up to my expectations.

I’m trying to stay of gransnet as much as possible these days. Anyone would think that Keir wasn’t actually in America* trying to help avert war in the Middle East.
*I assume it’s America. I lose track of where he is. He must be exhausted.

eggplant

God it's especially vile on here today.

Memo to self......change morning routine.

This has been going round in my head all day on and off.
If I joined a social group and heard discussions such as those on several of the politics threads I wouldn’t go back for a second meeting. And so I have decided to opt out of Gnet discussions.
I do hope you will think positively and ‘give the man a break’ while he gets to grips with a very demanding job, and I really hope he lives up to my expectations.

kittylester

Thanks DoodleDog. I have never been called petty before

I didn't call you petty. I said that in the context of the political situation we are in, (in my opinion) complaining about KS's way of speaking is petty. As (in my opinion) are many of the things being dragged up by way of criticism.

kittylester

Thanks DoodleDog. I have never been called petty before

In my opinion you are not petty kittylester

Thanks DoodleDog. I have never been called petty before

Oreo

Doodledog

kittylester

Doodledog, it is particularly annoying to me and I haven't said anything else about KS. I presume I am allowed to mention it.

You are 'allowed' to do what you like, but equally, others (including me) are allowed to point out when doing so is petty.

Petty in your own view of course.

It's the only one I have . I do try to see the points of view of others, but it is not my responsibility to express them for them.

Are we supposed to point out in every post that the view we put forward is our own? It is my opinion that there is absolutely no balance in many posts on here - particularly lately.

Ok. It is my personal opinion that kittylester is 'allowed' to express her own point of view on here about the way Keir Starmer speaks, and it is also my opinion that if feel that point of view is petty - given the far more pressing concerns with which I consider we are all surrounded - then I (and others) am also 'allowed' to express that disagreement by offering my/our own viewpoints about the relative seriousness of said concerns.

Does that cover it, in your opinion?

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

Casdon

It might not be either of those things, if one of the ways of reducing pensioner poverty in the budget is to uplift all pensioners by the same amount. That would be a very sensible step if pension inequality is to be addressed. Let’s hope that’s what happens.

Equalising pensions would simplify the system and remove the need for pension credits which if you are on the new state pension you are not eligible for.

Even though those of us on the new state pension have had to wait up to an additional six years to receive it? Not only that, but we've been penalised for the time we were "opted out" and lost any SERPs entitlement. As you say, most recipients of the new state pension aren't eligible for Pension Credit either.

I know, I’m a post 2016 pensioner so share the pain at working six years longer. It’s a fact though that the pensioners struggling the most are older, pre 2016 retiree females on reduced pensions living alone, and if the same rise was given to everybody it would maintain the existing differential between the schemes, rather than allowing it to increase every year, and help them heat their homes. I think it would be a good thing.

Wyllow said "I await ideas for alternative policies that might work to put things right eagerly?" Well, they could start with the £300+ PER DAY paid to those turning up at the House of Lords - just imagine how much that could say in a year!

I await ideas for alternative policies that might work to put things right eagerly?

That would amount to another freebie!
The amount they’re earning, plus the amount they’re taking away?
I’m not about to do their job for them.

Wyllow3 so many pensioners are struggling, even more so without the WFA especially those who are a pound or two over the PC threshold, but hey ho all MPs will be warm this winter.

I doubt those who are having to change their children’s school due to the 20% (VAT) hike in fees are over the moon either?

Announcing they are going after benefit fraud, really if they find any it won’t make any difference to the fictitious fiscal black hole.

Labour are not for the people, if so they would have immediately announced plans to go after the likes of Amazon, Costa etc., They would be supporting pensioners and those in need of the safety net of benefits.

I think all parties use ‘conference’, and it’s irritating - as all clique-y things are to outsiders. The equivalent to Cabinet, or possibly church come to that.

Yes, all politicians of all parties want things to be ‘clear’.

And another phrase often used ‘That’s very interesting…’

What policies do those criticising the current government, given the situation the country has in, should have adopted/be adopting?

All very easy to nitpick but why are we hearing no alternatives in the news or on GN?

Or perhaps, there aren't any?

so many of us and so many younger people are struggling in so many different ways, yet its pile on after 12 weeks and tbh not much critique of policy but of peripherals.

I await ideas for alternative policies that might work to put things right eagerly?

Oreo

RosiesMaw2

kittylester

And another thing - not just Keir Starmer - why is it called 'conference' not our, the or any thing else.

At the risk of shouts of "Prejudice!" I imagine it reflects Labour's Northern roots.

🤣
Wouldn’t it have been t’Conference in that case?

Tha’s not wrong there, lass
Just off up’t mill….

“Those in receipt of the old state pension aren't penalised for having opted out.“

Not true Growstuff - Mr PG (retired 2014) had contracted out for a number of years and was penalised accordingly! However his high salary ensured that he paid enough SERPS which means he has a higher SP than me.

Also, like you I’m one of the first 1955 batch having to wait til 66th birthday 🤬

RosiesMaw2

kittylester

And another thing - not just Keir Starmer - why is it called 'conference' not our, the or any thing else.

At the risk of shouts of "Prejudice!" I imagine it reflects Labour's Northern roots.

🤣
Wouldn’t it have been t’Conference in that case?

Doodledog

kittylester

Doodledog, it is particularly annoying to me and I haven't said anything else about KS. I presume I am allowed to mention it.

You are 'allowed' to do what you like, but equally, others (including me) are allowed to point out when doing so is petty.

Petty in your own view of course.

You are 'allowed' to do what you like, but equally, others (including me) are allowed to point out when doing so is petty

But everyone says it now.

Doodledog

GrannyGravy13

I watched him being interviewed on GMB by Susanna Reid this morning, hats off to Sir Starmer, in 10 minutes he managed to get in £22 million black hole 9 times, stabilising the economy 11 times.

He did refuse to apologise regarding removing the WFA.

He did say all pensioners are getting a £440 increase in their pensions next year, which is incorrect only this born after 1953 and on the new state pension will receive that amount others a lot less.

Do people on the old pension get a percentage of all their pension when there is a rise, or just the basic bit?

As has been pointed out on here before, those on the old pension who were able to pay into SERPS, who get widows' pensions etc can get a lot more than the new pension. It is not the case that everyone on the old pension is worse off than everyone on the new one. Many on the new pension don't get the headline rate either, so a percentage rise will be less for them, too.

I realise that there has to be some baseline for quoting rises, but the assumption that all pensioners get the same (whether on old or new pensions) is misleading, whatever it is intended to suggest.

Very true! Despite 47 years of contributions, I don't receive the full new state pension (most "new" state pensioners don't either). I have three occupational pensions. One isn't index linked at all and the other two are linked to inflation, but not triple locked. Those in receipt of the old state pension aren't penalised for having opted out.

PS. Life's too short for envy - I just get on with the time I have left and have stopped bothering about what everybody else gets.

paddyann54

Does he understand that £440 a year is £8.49 a week not much you can get for that these days It will be swallowed up in price rises and we won’t see any benefit from it at all.Why doesn’t,t HE volunteer to live on a state pension for a year ….no freebies no subsidies no expenses and see how he would spend that £8.49 a week .It would be very interesting to see.Isn,t it his JOb to work FOR us not fill his own pockets?

Pension increases aren't supposed to be an increase. They're only supposed to cover inflationary price rises.