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

Nigel has NEVER been an investment banker. He was a commodities trader.

wendym8116

i think it needs a complete over haul . needs sifting out the idiots and let reform uk in . after all they cant be as bad as karmer .. all illegal immigrants ,should be sent back to where they came from . or not give them any money at all. if they havent found work in 3 months ship them off to ruanda . am not racist ,but enough is enough ,we are funding them with our taxes ,and yet they get free everything ..karmer over turning heating payments too late ..elderly and disabled need to be means tested ,,

You can’t even spell the name of the country where you want to send the migrants. 🤦🏼‍♀️

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.

As ever the problem is finding the money that needs to be spent. None of us want to pay more tax, but equally few would suggest that those who are in genuine need of benefits should have them removed or reduced.
Something does need to be done about people claiming benefits if they are capable of work - without destroying the lives of those with real disabilities. Equally people living in social housing must live in housing suitable for their household size, freeing up space for others in greater need.
And yes, as eazybee suggests, we simply cannot afford a huge influx of illegal immigrants, many of whom are not genuine asylum seekers. The authorities must start returning immigrants to their country of origin, which clearly is often not where they claim.
Economic migrants can only be welcomed if they are able to support themselves, i.e. we need a system similar to that in Australia and other countries where people coming in have to show that they are offering a skill that will enable them to earn a living.
There must always be space for genuine asylum seekers, but they can't all come to the UK.

Tories managed to hide the depth of their depravity by showing false accounting. Labour's manifesto was based on a serious debt, but they had, naively, no idea just how bad it was.
The country is broke, and we are in a depression, but folks are sticking their heads in the sand and not willing to take the pain needed to get us out.
Starmer is trying to show positivity because that brings investment. Let us all get behind him and talk up the situation instead of such damaging negativity
It is not long since we were bleating on about "benefit scroungers", and then when he tries to do something about it, he is evil. The process is broken, designed to stop anyone getting anything rather than being rigorous about helping those who need it, and helping those who want help to work to transition.
But we seem to be in an entitled, dependent world these days, that we cannot afford.
Rachel Reeve is being called all sorts, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the team of economists and civil servants behind her came up with the book balancing that she is trying to achieve.

growstuff

wendym8116

i think it needs a complete over haul . needs sifting out the idiots and let reform uk in . after all they cant be as bad as karmer .. all illegal immigrants ,should be sent back to where they came from . or not give them any money at all. if they havent found work in 3 months ship them off to ruanda . am not racist ,but enough is enough ,we are funding them with our taxes ,and yet they get free everything ..karmer over turning heating payments too late ..elderly and disabled need to be means tested ,,

Well, you could start with the truth!

How can asylum seekers find work when they're not allowed to work? Just asking!

Register them give them work permits and a hostel for accommodation it’s not rocket science

David49

growstuff

wendym8116

i think it needs a complete over haul . needs sifting out the idiots and let reform uk in . after all they cant be as bad as karmer .. all illegal immigrants ,should be sent back to where they came from . or not give them any money at all. if they havent found work in 3 months ship them off to ruanda . am not racist ,but enough is enough ,we are funding them with our taxes ,and yet they get free everything ..karmer over turning heating payments too late ..elderly and disabled need to be means tested ,,

Well, you could start with the truth!

How can asylum seekers find work when they're not allowed to work? Just asking!

Register them give them work permits and a hostel for accommodation it’s not rocket science

What a sensible suggestion!

I don’t think it is broken but there are definite repairs needed! I would like to see transport, water, gas, electricity nationalised so we all have a stake in them !
I want house builders to build community facilities first then their estates ! House builders should also be made to refurbish flats above shops or old properties as well as build new homes!
The state pension should not be included in taxable income!
Income tax base at 10% then incremental tax levels ! Let’s face it,
those who earn the least spend the most so put more in their pockets!
All rail fares to be standardised!
Have walk in clinics in all towns !
Singing and walking on prescription
Scrap SATS. And trust teachers again plus go back to training teachers at teacher training colleges
I could go on but I would be shouted down !!

FranP

It is not long since we were bleating on about "benefit scroungers", and then when he tries to do something about it, he is evil. The process is broken, designed to stop anyone getting anything rather than being rigorous about helping those who need it, and helping those who want help to work to transition.

This is the bit which just doesn't make sense.

I don't understand why this coincides with a fall in Labour support and a rise in Reform support. Surely former Labour voters aren't now supporting Reform as a result of the welfare bill. It just defies logic.

Tha country has been broken by two disastrous policies - privatisation- every example has been damaging from council house sales to water, railways, energy, and brexit - huge hit to our GDP and our standing in the world.

Susieq62 I wouldn't be shouting you down, but might be insisting you stand as an MP!

No it's not broken. We're being rushed into some kind of horrible agenda by the media, we need to stop and focus on our commonality. This division is vile.

varian

Tha country has been broken by two disastrous policies - privatisation- every example has been damaging from council house sales to water, railways, energy, and brexit - huge hit to our GDP and our standing in the world.

I 100% agree with you.

Maramia I've no idea if you are subjected to water meters fir your suppky but in Scitkand where water is "owned" by the government but totally managed by a private company I as a single occupant pay pay £680 per year. And, we have our polkution issues too.

If we ever see the rubbish this country is covered in disappear, I'll start to believe we are on a new track.

Well: According to Margaret Thatcher.

“Everything will be so much cheaper”.
Once privatised.
Well, my utility bills certainly are not.

I can't stand Reeves. I think she is a nasty piece of work.

I agree with all you've said. I also think there should be a complete overhaul of the benefits system and a task force to tackle benefit related fraud. I don't believe that I am the only person who is aware of several people claiming benefits yet working cash in hand on top.

Is that really a problem? Misspelling of Rwanda?

There are some broken countries in the world. No reliable power or transport infrastructure. Public violence and people 'disappearing'. The sort of inflation that makes our rising prices seem trivial. We are nowhere near that. Keep on tinkering. Even Trump in America is only tinkering.

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Yes!! And 'thumbs up' and 'thumbs down' symbols under each comment.
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Trump in America is only tinkering Yes agree although it's because his powers are curtailed by Constitutional process.
USA looks far more broken than GB to me. Rioting, mass shootings, the opioid epidemic, & a very divisive president.
I do watch the news & feel that we're in trouble, but the picture is painted of a country where most people are really struggling. Then I go to the shops or to walk the dog or on a day-trip & the country & people I'm seeing bear no resemblance to the picture of misery represented on the news.
I do know a lot of people have it very hard, & they are the ones a casual observer doesn't see. But there are plenty of community-minded people out there trying to do their bit & give something back, & although life can be a witch sometimes wherever you live, I don't think that we are an un-caring or deeply divided society.

The current Tory and Labour parties are too close together in the centre ground. Labour needs to move more to the left here it ised to be and the Tories need to give up and let Reform occupy the right side of politics.

The Tories gave far too much away to try to get votes from various groups, knowing they were highly unlikely to get elected. Now of course Labour have got to find the money to pay for the Tory mistakes.

The Conservative Party is giving the illusion that they are centrist, don’t kid yourselves, leopards don’t change their spots, they will very quickly revert to right wing policies.

A move of Labour the left would leave Reform plus Tory a real chance at the next election, Labour economic plans always looked shaky, now they are in tatters.

The welfare system and the NHS both need radical change. So much money wasted in both. Checks should be done randomly on people on benefits. The Government need to support people back into work and not just leave them on benefits, its not good for peoples mental health.
I know that maintenance work in the NHS is often vastly overpriced and there is alot of waste.
I agree with Doodledog, I would also like to see renationalisation of water and other utilities (including transport) they should never have been sold off.
We also need to support our farmers and grow much more of our own food in the UK.

I don't think the country is broken but it is certainly in a mess and govt seems unable to turn things around: water pollution, NHS, PIP payments, ID cards, tax collection, etc. At the very least they could now reintroduce face-to-face meetings for PIP assessment - how can 1000 people a day become entitled to this benefit. I shudder at the thought of either Reform or a Corbynist/Green party coming to the fore but the centre ground is looking very shaky.