Oh Mr Starmer … could things be any worse only 4 months in?

Westminster certainly is an elite bubble. Not surprising when you think of how they are treated, rich doners, gifts worth thousands, food most of us would pay a fortune for if bought in a restaurant, but subsidised for them, subsidised alcohol, use of parts of Westminster for parties, massive heating allowance, all costs of second homes paid, travel allowances, private jet for cabinet members. Nice work if you can get it.

I’ve never understood the bleating by Parliamentarians and indeeed sometimes on here, that MPs are really not paid very well. Really? The £90,000 a year, plus all the extras, adds up to a very nice salary indeed, way out of the reach of many people, and they don’t need even a single GCSE to qualify. Everyone should be eligible to be an MP of course, but please remember that the benefits are way beyond what many of these people would be able to command outside of Parliament. Some would command higher salaries, but only some, and those often find a lucrative, if for minimal hours, second job.

Mamardoit

Grantanow

Opposition (as the Tories are now finding) is a lot easier than Government. It's early days for Labour and they have a sizeable Commons majority to override any problems.

That's true of course but the wheels have come off very quickly. Not helped by the freebies which show a complete lack of common sense. They really are as detached from reality as the Tories.
Voters will blame the government of the day. Many people feel poorer. Feeling poorer if you have a well paid secure job or retired on a generous pension is different from those just about managing.

They really are as detached from reality as the Tories.

This.

They seem, from what they say and do, to be a metropolitan elite.

Some of claims about being "working class" etc, Starmer knowing about farming because he once did a holiday job on a farm etc make them sound just like some of the Tories. As ludicrous as Badenoch's claims about working in McDonalds as a sixth former meaning she became working class.

They are all out of touch with real life.

Mamardoit

Syracute

Ilovecheese

I think a problem here is that FGT starts so many of these negative threads that it is hard to discuss the issues properly. I am no fan of Starmer but these samey threads are bit tiresome now.

I couldn’t agree more .The same smug people that twist facts to suit Tye arguments. Straight from the Daily Mail,headlines usually. Tories left an unforgivable mess . It will take years to clean up the mess they left!

What's wrong with starting discussions? Others do just the same but thankfully it is just a discussion not endless links to the Guardian or quotes from the BBC.

The same smug people that twist facts to suit Tye arguments.

What is a Tye argument please?
I don't read the Daily Mail, is it a DM columnist?

I voted Labour.
Am I allowed to criticise if they make decisions for which they criticised the Tories when Labour was in Opposition?

Please let us know what is smug and not smug so we know not to cross a line when posting Syracute.

And a good post and exactly what I think.

Grantanow

Opposition (as the Tories are now finding) is a lot easier than Government. It's early days for Labour and they have a sizeable Commons majority to override any problems.

That's true of course but the wheels have come off very quickly. Not helped by the freebies which show a complete lack of common sense. They really are as detached from reality as the Tories.
Voters will blame the government of the day. Many people feel poorer. Feeling poorer if you have a well paid secure job or retired on a generous pension is different from those just about managing.

Actually you did say that GG, I’d forgotten.

Freya5 I think you have misunderstood my post, or I wasn’t clear.

The NHS and Public Sector will not have to pay the increased employers NI contributions.

All other businesses with over five employees will, including GP practices, Hospices, care homes, care agencies etc.

The Government have made a two tier system, why is a hospital exempt but a hospice not. Why are civil servants exempts but GP’s and practice nurses not.

They have not thought this increase and implications to all care givers who now do the work that the NHS has contracted out.

What I would prefer Freya, is that the money the government put into the NHS and other services is all used for the benefit of the population, and not have a good proportion of it simply going back into the coffers of government.

You are entitled to your opinion of course.

GrannyGravy13

madalene the NHS and rest of the public sector are exempt from the NI increase.

Like you I think all Health care/providers should be exempt from the increase.

No they shouldn't. They are paid to do a job, they use the NHS as much as anyone else. Will it be two tier NI rise, same as two tier everything else. Do you really think this will help the country. It will not happen.

Mamardoit

Syracute

Ilovecheese

I think a problem here is that FGT starts so many of these negative threads that it is hard to discuss the issues properly. I am no fan of Starmer but these samey threads are bit tiresome now.

I couldn’t agree more .The same smug people that twist facts to suit Tye arguments. Straight from the Daily Mail,headlines usually. Tories left an unforgivable mess . It will take years to clean up the mess they left!

What's wrong with starting discussions? Others do just the same but thankfully it is just a discussion not endless links to the Guardian or quotes from the BBC.

And that "SMUG" label for right leaning posters!

Syracute

Ilovecheese

I think a problem here is that FGT starts so many of these negative threads that it is hard to discuss the issues properly. I am no fan of Starmer but these samey threads are bit tiresome now.

I couldn’t agree more .The same smug people that twist facts to suit Tye arguments. Straight from the Daily Mail,headlines usually. Tories left an unforgivable mess . It will take years to clean up the mess they left!

What's wrong with starting discussions? Others do just the same but thankfully it is just a discussion not endless links to the Guardian or quotes from the BBC.

Iam64 Mr Trump may well be perfect for America. Their choice. Their economy. Yes we are in trouble here.

He's increasingly weak and indecisive, furthermore he always sounds as if he's trying to speak with a mouthful of Lego bricks.
On a more serious level, his creepy-crawling to the Chinese was the finish.

I was a bit surprised to see Eric Trump’s interview on GB news last night. He came across as a decent person and communicated well. I wish current politicians here could rethink how they present themselves in the media. Labour is always in full rant about the big black hole and is still planning a crazy set of spending on carbon capture.

Well if we are being expected to see Mr Trump as a positive alternative to Mr Starmer were in trouble

Opposition (as the Tories are now finding) is a lot easier than Government. It's early days for Labour and they have a sizeable Commons majority to override any problems.

Perhaps they should have been more honest about who is a working person

Well he can't define what a woman is so not much chance of that GG13

This Government attacking working people, favouring foreign countries and it's people over their own, billions to Africa for farmers and pot holes. 500 million off our defence spending, when the Russian bear is showing his claws

Agree 100%

I did not vote for this lot. Never voted labour in my life. They are too good at spending other peoples taxes. How can you trust a bunch of people who lie, accept freebies and allow their own citizens to freeze and starve while sending billions abroad to support corrupt foreign dictators?

Much as I dislike the man I understand how people can vote for a person like Trump (convicted criminal though he is) because he talks the language people want to hear. Put your own country and your own citizens first.

Ilovecheese

I think a problem here is that FGT starts so many of these negative threads that it is hard to discuss the issues properly. I am no fan of Starmer but these samey threads are bit tiresome now.

I couldn’t agree more .The same smug people that twist facts to suit Tye arguments. Straight from the Daily Mail,headlines usually. Tories left an unforgivable mess . It will take years to clean up the mess they left!

Keir Starmer and his MPs time after time said

no extra taxes for working people

Farmers are working people, business owners are working people, GP’s are working people, care homes, care agencies, along with hospices all these from 2026 are subject to extra tax liabilities.

Perhaps they should have been more honest about who is a working person

MayBee70 all the wrongs of the previous government do not justify this Labour government’s failure to carry out their election promises

They repeatedly held the others accountable for every single action and rightly so, as did GN members.

As I said upthread this government is not exempt from criticism.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

*actually I prefer the word ‘radish’.
It enhances your word salad. And no, I won’t put a smiley.

Bulk buying of anything - phones, hotel bookings, food, drink, warm socks - ought not to be on the UK taxpayer. This has become ridiculous and so much so it appears not only to be normalised but accepted now.

It’s time to sort this mess out. We cannot afford it any more as a country. The majority of these men end up net recipients of the State. A proven fact. Check it out for yourselves. Google is your friend here.

You really should make more use of Google yourself.

GrannyGravy13

Keir Starmer’s pre election pledge was to reduce our energy bills by £300 a year.

By January 2025 there will be two increases in energy bills on his watch. I am currently listening to Labour’s Secretary of State for Energy, who is repeatedly saying that bills will be £300 less, but adding by 2030.

So not any cheaper then as they are consistently rising…

And we were told that leaving the EU would reduce our energy bills, too. So much for that lie. But no one goes on about that ( except me). Brexit is still the elephant in the room. The Conservative government never fully restored the subsidies the farmers used to get from the EU but I don’t recall the farmers taking to the streets to protest about that.

Iam64

And this ‘Labour grannie’ won’t be convinced by FGT or her supporters. News n Politics on gransnet, where opposing views are expressed

This right of centre Granny could see the failings of the Conservatives and posted on here and to my MP.

I wouldn’t dream of trying to convince you or anyone, but MP’s words in opposition are cheap and strewn across the divide in parliament, when reality of governing hits they go very quiet and it’s everybody else who is to blame.

FGT I would not waste your breath. Until Labour voters wake up and realise they are Turkeys voting for Christmas, nothing will change.