Is the U.K. really broken, or does it just need tinkering?

A root and branch reform is needed, starting with the lobbying system. The bigger the chequebook, the more lucrative the bribes and the more lavish the freebies the more influence on government decisions the "haves" can acquire.

The "have nots" simply get insincere promises about jam tommorrow.

Oreo

In any case, a remark about someone’s expression isn’t about her hair or clothes so hardly personal in that regard.It’s always a bit of a bear pit at PMQ’s.

Yes Oreo I have watched PMQs over the years. I have to say I don’t remember Johnson being seriously attacked for his appearance, but recollections may vary🤷‍♀️

You’re correct that Badenough focused on Reeves’ facial expression, repeating, more than once, that she looked miserable.

IMO this is even worse than commenting on clothes etc because it may be that the person truly is unhappy, for personal reasons … but I’ll kick her when she’s down anyway!

Maybe this demonstrates Badenough’s lack of empathy.

It matters not a jot that Reeves is a woman - she’s a human being.

I’m not sure how you work out that someone’s facial expression isn’t personal?

the UK is not broken. It is thriving given you guys are paying benefits to whomever comes no matter who they are. Not many other countries can just put their hand in the pocket and come up with billions for benefits alone. Leave alone all other expenses a country has got

butterandjam

There is a lot to fix, but Conservatives had their chance and Reform will never be anything other than incompetent. You only have to look at Farage's ignominious "career" in politics.

Starmer has some redeeming qualities. His understanding of law, and real strengths as a statesman, in diplomacy and foreign affairs and handling Trump, that this country (and the world) cannot afford to lose right now.

The public agree with that view by the looks of it.
yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/52251-who-would-be-the-best-prime-minister-may-2025

On the subject of remarks about MPs personal appearance, does anyone else remember David Cameron telling Jeremy Corbyn to "get a decent suit".

Starmer has some redeeming qualities. His understanding of law, and real strengths as a statesman, in diplomacy and foreign affairs and handling Trump, that this country (and the world) cannot afford to lose right now.

Fine as far as it goes, but he has no understanding of how a country's economy works (neither does Reeves) and appears to have little rapport with his MPs or with disadvantaged groups. He also has too much rapport with big business.

Additionally, he appears to have depended too much on his advisors and his chief of staff, McSweeny is catastrophically focused on winning the next GE by making Labour more Reform than Reform to attract right wing voters.

Oh for an advisor who would tell him to nationalise the utilities, put some serious money into the NHS and get rid of the private companies which are milking it for profit, do something about making taxation far more progressive and stop deferring to the wealthy... Oh, and get rid of Reeves...(though who on earth would succeed her I don't know. I fancy Clive Lewis, at least he appears to know something about how a country's economy works...)

I agree MaizieD.

Magenta8

On the subject of remarks about MPs personal appearance, does anyone else remember David Cameron telling Jeremy Corbyn to "get a decent suit".

I sure do.
Get a suit man! Is what Cameron said, then went on to say something about how over large Corbyns ill fitting jacket was.
Corbyn shrugged it off which is what politicians do.

Ilovecheese

I agree MaizieD.

Me too.

It’s business that runs the economy pays wages, invests in the UK and pay wages, that may not suit your leftwing view of the UK utopia where we get everything for nothing.

To nationalize utilities would cost hundreds of billions, with no guarantee of improvement, because more will be needed to make the changes needed. Probably more important to fix the NHS first

It’s business that runs the economy...

If it's business that runs the economy David then perhaps they should let someone else have a go because they're making a bloody mess of it...

Where's that thread about people not understanding macro-economics?

No, I don't think the UK is broken. Just over a hundred years ago, the UK was at the top of the tree, but the world's dynamics have changed and other countries are catching up. A cursory study of history shows that's the way things are. All countries are in a permanent state of transition and there always tensions within and between countries.

British history has been characterised by evolution rather than revolution, with a couple of exceptions. Even the Civil War didn't result in a permanent republic and the country still has a royal family, despite is much diminished powers. The post-war Attlee government was in many respects revolutionary, but the catalyst for that was WW2 and I don't think many people want that.

There are also people (and always have been) whose agenda is to persuade others that the system is irretrievably broken and it's now "their" turn.

I wouldn’t think Britain is ‘broken.’It is a rich first world country offering largesse to all who land there. A really broken country would not be in a position to do that, nowhere near. If you are looking for a ‘broken’ country look at some in Asia and the Middle East and probably North Korea though they are so secretive I’m not sure about that one.

Britain is not broken but it is behaving very, very foolishly.
It is not in a position to 'offer largesse to all who land here' as is shown by our rapidly spiralling debt, and the demands made on those who are working to support those who cannot, or will not, work.

eazybee

Britain is not broken but it is behaving very, very foolishly.
It is not in a position to 'offer largesse to all who land here' as is shown by our rapidly spiralling debt, and the demands made on those who are working to support those who cannot, or will not, work.

That's why the country isn't offering largesse to everybody who just lands here. As ever, they're the scapegoats.

Most of those who cannot or will not work are born and bred in the UK. I'm not convinced they're at the root of the problems anyway.

To be honest, I welcome the fact that Britain is no longer top of the tree. If we could only get used to that idea, stop putting ourselves out there all the time and just concentrate more on fixing our own business, then I think the country would be a happier, more chilled place. ☺️

Oreo

Ilovecheese

I agree MaizieD.

Me too.

Me too

MaizieD

^It’s business that runs the economy...^

If it's business that runs the economy David then perhaps they should let someone else have a go because they're making a bloody mess of it...

David’s Its business that runs the economy I think he means businesses manufacture products, provide services, export and import goods along with employing millions of the population and paying various business taxes.

In my book that is not running the economy it is contributing to and providing employment to the economic system of the U.K.

Sorry I haven’t expressed myself very well.

That's why the country isn't offering largesse to everybody who just lands here. As ever, they're the scapegoats.
Most of those who cannot or will not work are born and bred in the UK. I'm not convinced they're at the root of the problems anyway.

I repeat, as a country we cannot afford a huge influx of people who will be dependent on the state, in the same way as we cannot afford the huge escalation of people claiming benefits, for whatever reason.
The burden falls on those who are working, particularly as after the fiasco of the Welfare Bill it seems inevitable that taxes will have to be raised.

Magenta8

On the subject of remarks about MPs personal appearance, does anyone else remember David Cameron telling Jeremy Corbyn to "get a decent suit".

Little did Cameron know that waiting in the wings was Boris! A sartorial disaster if ever there was one.
One brilliant photo taken at a world summit showed the country's leaders in smart suits with a tag mentioning who the designer was.
When it came to Boris it said Benny Hill.

It is in the media's interest to promote ideas about brokeness and chaos. No one wants to know when things are going well, so the media appeals to our baser instincts that revel in the downfall of others. You only need to read some of these posts for evidence of this.
People aren't interested in good news, that's the bottom line.
What saddens me about politics just now is that it is anti-politics.
What I mean by this is that not only are our political institutions under constant attack, but also the things that make our country such a great one; our tolerance of others, the stability of our institutions, our functioning democracy, our compassion for the disadvantaged, our common sense.
At least the Labour Party are trying to do something, unlike the previous ones who merely wanted to attack, as if getting rid of Europe, immigation, taxation, the NHS, were going to lead us into some halcyon sunlit uplands where we all behaved like proper Brits!
Come on, we are on the edge of another technological revolution which will impact on all our lives, and already is doing so.
Let's embrace the changes and innovations and stop this blaming of others all the time!
Yes, I get nostalgic but it is for the 1960s when as a child I felt we were all looking forward to a new kind of world- what happened to the future?

Well said keepingquiet.

eazybee

That's why the country isn't offering largesse to everybody who just lands here. As ever, they're the scapegoats.
Most of those who cannot or will not work are born and bred in the UK. I'm not convinced they're at the root of the problems anyway.

I repeat, as a country we cannot afford a huge influx of people who will be dependent on the state, in the same way as we cannot afford the huge escalation of people claiming benefits, for whatever reason.
The burden falls on those who are working, particularly as after the fiasco of the Welfare Bill it seems inevitable that taxes will have to be raised.

Errrmmm ... meanwhile some people complain about the declining birthrate.

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

It’s business that runs the economy...

If it's business that runs the economy David then perhaps they should let someone else have a go because they're making a bloody mess of it...

David’s Its business that runs the economy I think he means businesses manufacture products, provide services, export and import goods along with employing millions of the population and paying various business taxes.

In my book that is not running the economy it is contributing to and providing employment to the economic system of the U.K.

Sorry I haven’t expressed myself very well.

Don't do yourself down! You're right. Businesses do enable money to keep circulating, but (as you say) they don't run the economy - that's the government's job.