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

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.

Quite - how anyone could wish a return of the Tories at this critical point in time is beyond me. Can you imagine Boris dealing with Trump right now? Or even Sunak?

Much needs changing, Conservative government in power for 14 years yet Labour under attack after 12 months

Reply was meant for Aveline . One of those days ….

daughterofbonniebelle

Are all posted contribution to discussions visible? Or are some edited out? I can’t see what I contributed the other day, and I can’t see that it could have contravened any ethical guidelines…

I should have been clearer here, sorry. I was thinking of things like water and electricity, possibly public transport. Certainly not small businesses! They are the lifeblood of our communities.

got through it

I suppose a lot of people ( self included) would like more than to be getting through.

I have shaved a bit of my DD for power, meaning I won't be building up credit for winter. Also stopped a charity DD as I can't afford it.

Anyhow, probably too personal.

The country isn't brilliant, but it's not on the verge of collapse either. I was in Glasgow last month and I know the city still has its problems, but it's a vastly better place than it was in the early eighties. Gang crime has mostly died out, sectarianism is far less of a problem, and large parts of the city have been regenerated. I can remember a walk on the Clyde would have been past derelict docks, empty shipyards, miserable looking council estates and you would have been laughed at for saying this would become a tourist area.
Nowadays Glasgow is a much more vibrant place. The entire western Clyde has been regenerated with television studios, hotels, tourist attractions, new housing and bank offices. People want to come to Glasgow, not try to get out the place, and the city also has a more diverse population than 40 years ago.
This is one example, but many other cities known for their social problems and negatiive image have really changed over the last 40 years. I think obviously there are problems, millions of people are poor and there is a negative mood in the county, but we've been through this before and got through it.

Notagranyet1234

I would have more sympathy for RR if I wasn't currently spending a fair amount of my working week supporting families in absolute fear of losing their disability benefits. Not one family in my opinion is taking any
liberties with their claim and they genuinely feat being unable to afford to live without it.
I have explained nothing is decided yet but their fears are very real and placing tremendous stress on families already caring for people with significant health problems and disability. I wonder how much they already save the economy?

Have these people actually looked at the changes which are going to be made? I admit that I don't have any personal experience, but my understanding is that people with significant health problems and disabilities won't be affected. In fact, it would appear that some of the most severely ill and disabled will benefit because they won't be called for further assessments.

It seems to me that the media has done a good job at putting the fear of God into people who won't be affected.

Are all posted contribution to discussions visible? Or are some edited out? I can’t see what I contributed the other day, and I can’t see that it could have contravened any ethical guidelines…

There are all sorts of private enterprises nanna8. They are not all huge faceless corporations. Thousands of small businesses support thousands of jobs and this contributes millions to the public purse via taxes. People who start businesses do it because they're interested and care about their product or service whatever that is. They may have borrowed to start the business and may not take any money from it in the early years.
Public service jobs are safe options for those who don't want to take risks.

I would have more sympathy for RR if I wasn't currently spending a fair amount of my working week supporting families in absolute fear of losing their disability benefits. Not one family in my opinion is taking any
liberties with their claim and they genuinely feat being unable to afford to live without it.
I have explained nothing is decided yet but their fears are very real and placing tremendous stress on families already caring for people with significant health problems and disability. I wonder how much they already save the economy?

The thing with private enterprise is that they are not in it because they love and respect you. They are in it to make money. There may be a lot of waste in public utilities but at least they are on the side of the people.

Very, very broken need to do something about those that have other homes in countries with tax advantages use the Infrastructure but don’t pay taxes .

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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Yes!! And 'thumbs up' and 'thumbs down' symbols under each comment.
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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.

Is that really a problem? Misspelling of Rwanda?

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.

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

Well: According to Margaret Thatcher.

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

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

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.