Well, here we are. 100 days of Labour tomorrow.

MaizieD

^This is going to be a freeport, so will operate outside normal laws.^

I don't think people realise the full significance of this. And by 'people' I include the Labour government. For a start, all their workers rights legislation won't apply inside a freeport.

Um 😄. I’m sure the government is more than aware if this. It is A level stuff.

It is now up to MPs, councillors etc to pressure the government into re-assessing where they want to go with this Tory s heme

I agree - what a dismal start but they took on a poison chalice and it was never going to be good at the beginning. I am annoyed though that the pensioners seem to be a target. Start taxing big companies that don’t pay tax. Clamp down on the fat buggars who plague the NHS. Take money from over paid footballers and those who have 2/3 houses. NOT the pensioners. Leave us alone.

Whitewavemark2

MaizieD

This is going to be a freeport, so will operate outside normal laws.

I don't think people realise the full significance of this. And by 'people' I include the Labour government. For a start, all their workers rights legislation won't apply inside a freeport.

Um 😄. I’m sure the government is more than aware if this. It is A level stuff.

It is now up to MPs, councillors etc to pressure the government into re-assessing where they want to go with this Tory s heme

If they are aware of this I really can't understand why they are letting it proceed. There are 70 of these 'special Economic Zones', instituted by the tories, which include freeports but cover an enormous amount of their hinterland.

Why would any government encourage the setting up of huge enclaves where the law of the land doesn't apply?

I must apologise for bad misinformation. There aren't 70 SEZs. There are 12 . I am mortified...

I’m not sure and to be honest, I haven’t thought to read it up since labour took office.

I got very annoyed when I first read of the Tory plans, particularly in relation to the anti-democratic aspect of the whole thing. Looking at the sort of power these Freeport’s will have filled me with horror.

Free ports have been in existence in the U.K. before, but never to the extent this current version allows.

Oh. Ok. A more balanced view

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/explainer/investment-zones

Thanks for that, Maisie, it does make understanding it easier. It's all in the regulations/controls applied, isnt it?
I'm glad its become a source of disagreements at a high level as to what the guidelines should be - think its healthy.

So, Starmer says that being PM is the hardest thing he has ever had to do.

He should try doing it straight after coming out of intensive care, surrounded by snakes, with the Civil Service undermining him; politicised Judiciary against him, MSM gunning for him, and a a lot of the MPs in his party desperate to reverse the decision of the electorate.....

And look what a pigs ear he made of it too!

FriedGreenTomatoes2

So, Starmer says that being PM is the hardest thing he has ever had to do.

He should try doing it straight after coming out of intensive care, surrounded by snakes, with the Civil Service undermining him; politicised Judiciary against him, MSM gunning for him, and a a lot of the MPs in his party desperate to reverse the decision of the electorate.....

You have an interesting take on the time line "straight after coming out of intensive care"

28th August 2019 before Covid
the Parliament of the United Kingdom was ordered to be prorogued by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Conservative prime minister, Boris Johnson—advice which was later ruled unlawful by judiciary.

5/6 April 2020 Covid/intensive care

20th May 2020 He chose -clearly well enough! to Partygate

9th June 2023 - 3 years later Resigned

5/6 April 2020 Covid/intensive care

20th May 2020 He chose -clearly well enough! to Partygate

I'm as annoyed as anyone about Padtygate but those who disbelieve the fact that Johnson was very ill and in ICU are disbelieving the wonderful medical staff at St Thomas's too.

From today’s Guardian:

“By the time of the next election, they believe, the country will be back on its feet, and voters who put their faith in Labour last time round reassured. Another insider is more succinct: “It’s all about delivery now. And if we don’t deliver, we’re fucked.”

Wyllow3

Thanks for that, Maisie, it does make understanding it easier. It's all in the regulations/controls applied, isnt it?
I'm glad its become a source of disagreements at a high level as to what the guidelines should be - think its healthy.

So DP World will be attending the summit after all. I agree with you that it's healthy that any deal involving them should be scrutinised. Hopefully, they will tow the line and the country will benefit from the investment.

However, I wonder if people have really thought through what would happen, if things don't work out and people end up being sacked and/or foreign agency workers employed for a pittance (or something else). People would be up in arms that the Labour government turned a blind eye to the problems involved in giving a contract to an employer with a history of 'sharp' employment practices. They would be accused of not listening.

Well, if Starmer didn't realise how hard the job would be, he didn't have much of a grasp of its requirements then!

Initially I see Starmer as a fairly level-headed and self-composed man, but whether that is enough to be a great Prime minister or leader, I'm not convinced. My opinion is that he probably won't reach his full potential because he changes his mind and makes too many feeble excuses.

Boris, as we know, was bipolar and exhibited reckless behaviour, but he went head first into things and grabbed at challenges. What with Covid and Brexit, I think he'd be justified in saying the job was the most arduous thing he'd ever done.

Doodledog

winterwhite

I'm not a Labour Party supporter and am disappointed in KS's leadership, but goodness I'm fed up with this relentless gleeful carping after only three months.

It was a serious reputational error to have announced two measures likely to hit the poorest hardest without parallel measures ensuring that the richest contribute fairly. We trust that these will come later.

It was a silly mistake not to realise how the freebies would look. Someone should have spotted this and stopped it before it happened. I don't think it was greed. Sorted out when realised.

I assume there is more to the Sue Gray episode than meets the eye and she doesn't come out of it well, but sorted out, we hope, when realised.

Do these early blunders shake my preference for a new Labour Government over more years of the Tories? Certainly not.

Well said, winterwhite, particularly as you’re not a Labour supporter.

I am a Labour supporter (although not a slavish one) and as someone who has spent most of my adult life with a government I didn’t want, and policies such as Brexit that I didn’t vote for, I am utterly fed up with the bitterness, hypocrisy and moaning from those who got used to things going their way for so long.

There have been mistakes and miscalculations, but these have been around public relations, rather than corruption and dishonesty, and there has not been time for the new government to get everyone on board - policies need time to bed in.

It’s good to see that at least some who didn’t vote Labour are able to stand back a bit and give them a chance. Thank you.

****************************************************
Doodledog, you ( and winterwhite) have summed up perfectly how I feel. For once in my life, I| have got what I wanted with my vote ie to get the Tories out. I have had to suffer the effects of other people's short sighted acts such as Brexit, and although disappointed with some of the actions of the new government, so far, I am (1) prepared to give them a fair chance and (2) consider every report on the basis of who is reporting it ie most newspaper owners who have 'skin in the game' and will certainly not benefit from a Labour administration. My mild disappointment has been tempered by seeing that chancer Johnson touting his book, I felt such relief that we have finally got rid of him, it is like having flashbacks to a bad dream seeing him and hearing his bluster and lies.

How do you know that Johnson is bipolar? Have you seen his medical records?

Two physicians, who worked with him, have said Boris is bipolar. One an eminent neurologist. Hope that is good enough evidence.

Patrick Vallance
Lord David Owen.

escaped wasn’t the greatest statesman of all time Winston Churchill also bipolar?
It’s about time a very severe and difficult illness to treat was treated with compassion and not used as some insult against Boris Johnson. I don’t think BJ shows the classic bipolar symptoms. In reality bipolar is impossible to hide.

Sir Patrick Valance said Johnson was bi-polar during the covid
inquiry.

I believe so in the case of Winston Churchill, ronib. Certainly Roosevelt and some other great leaders too.
Certainly no insults directed at Boris on my part. No name calling either!

If anyone is interested, David Owen has written an interesting book on various statesmen's mental states, through the behaviour they exhibit.

Yes, westendgirl, that was it.

escaped

Well, if Starmer didn't realise how hard the job would be, he didn't have much of a grasp of its requirements then!

Initially I see Starmer as a fairly level-headed and self-composed man, but whether that is enough to be a great Prime minister or leader, I'm not convinced. My opinion is that he probably won't reach his full potential because he changes his mind and makes too many feeble excuses.

Boris, as we know, was bipolar and exhibited reckless behaviour, but he went head first into things and grabbed at challenges. What with Covid and Brexit, I think he'd be justified in saying the job was the most arduous thing he'd ever done.

Where are the reputable reports of Johnson being bipolar?

Like all of his previous jobs in journalism, Johnson was exposed as a liar.

Check out college lectures and medical journals on Hubris Syndrome. It is all mentioned there.

Also, the biggest area of lies told by politicians is about their own health.

escaped

Two physicians, who worked with him, have said Boris is bipolar. One an eminent neurologist. Hope that is good enough evidence.

Patrick Vallance
Lord David Owen.

Patrick Vallance did not say Johnson is bipolar! He said that he was bipolar in his decision-making in one of his diary entries. It's a clumsy use of a medical term to describe the way Johnson changed his mind. The actual quote is ‘it’s like bipolar decision-making’.

This is Bipolar UK's response:

www.bipolaruk.org/news/bipolar-uks-response-to-sir-patrick-vallance-comments

Lord Owen never examined Johnson, so doesn't know either.