This Government

ronib

I think there are many jobs in the Civil Service which are controversial and probably not needed but the migration service is not one of them. Speeding up applications for asylum and also the appeals process can only be done with motivated and trained staff. Also I imagine computer software to speed up the process. It seems to be taking government too long to work out the basics. Casdon

It’s not taken them 14 years ronib. Look at the processing stats on the attachment I posted.

I’ve always said I’m labour because my parents were. I’ve always worked hard plus my husband still working at 68. I’m due to retire from work next Jan. however I’m worried will we have enough to retire and will this government provide the security we need for this. No I’m disappointed and worried.will I vote labour again probably not.

I think there are many jobs in the Civil Service which are controversial and probably not needed but the migration service is not one of them. Speeding up applications for asylum and also the appeals process can only be done with motivated and trained staff. Also I imagine computer software to speed up the process. It seems to be taking government too long to work out the basics. Casdon

Are you confusing the asylum applications process and the new appeals process ronib?

I was suprised to see you would recommend increasing the number of civil servants, as I know from previous discussions that you abhor them and think there are far too many.

Regardless, I think every effort is being made to both process applications and improve appeals processes to overcome the backlog, which is compounded by an increased number of applications.

Here are the facts and figures.
news.sky.com/story/government-struggling-to-reduce-migrant-hotel-use-as-asylum-claims-hit-record-level-13415697

The first change would be to speed up asylum applications and hire more civil servants to tackle the backlog. I understand this is apparently going to happen and why did it take so long? Labour has droned on about migration for many months before it seized power.
A bit slow on the uptake?
The only reason asylum is in the news is to combat the rise of Reform.
Casdon

Yes probably voted in GS because of tactical voting

If you’re the one with all the simple answers that will be effective ronib, I am waiting with bated breath to hear them.

Well it’s been made very complex that’s for sure. Casdon.

She isn’t taking action for the sake of it ronib, on migration she’s learning from what has been successful and unsuccessful in other countries, and working with them to improve what is a problem of the western world. If there was a magic wand it would have been waved years ago - there isn’t. The only way to improve things is to do the grind, make a range of changes which together will do so. Sometimes the lack of understanding of what a complex problem this is by some Gransnetters does amaze me.

It’s not about taking action for the sake of it but about having the correct policies to tackle the many issues facing our country. The jury is out … but at the moment many of the problems surrounding migration don’t seem to have abated. Casdon

Whether or not you agree with the measures she has taken is immaterial really sundowngirl. The fact is that she has taken action, a lot of it, for a minister who has been post a year, and is demonstrably therefore not incompetent, even if in your view she is misguided.

Casdon

sundowngirl

Casdon

I agree regarding Rachel Reeves, I don’t agree regarding Yvette Cooper. She isn’t inexperienced, she has held senior ministerial roles before, nor is she out of her depth, she is tackling an extremely difficult portfolio methodically. If you look at the number of changes she has made in just a year, she has moved a lot of intransigent issues forward. Before anybody says ‘but she hasn’t stopped the boats’ let’s get real about what a huge issue that is, and look at what she has done so far. I think her only ‘problem’ is that she isn’t a publicity seeker, she just gets on with her job. That is now a foreign concept in British politics unfortunately, we seem to have moved to the biggest mouths being heard regardless of their competence or track record.

Can you please be more specific and tell us actually what Yvette Cooper has achieved? What are these intransigent issues that she has moved forward??
I believe she is totally out of her depth. Now she is using tax payer's money to appeal against the court's decision on the hotel in Epping. Money that could be better spent to quickly build nightingale type accommodation or barracks to house these immigrants who arrived here illegally.

Yes of course. This is not a comprehensive list, but includes some of the key things:

Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill

Establishment of Border Security Command which will coordinate the (previously separate) activities of Immigration Enforcement, MI5, the Border Force and the National Crime Agency in tackling smuggling gangs which facilitate illegal migrant crossings over the English Channel

Working with French government to change their policies on small boat launches

Set up a public inquiry following Southport stabbings

Review of the Prevent threshold and appointment of an independent Prevent Commissioner

Designated Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist organisation

This is what came immediately to mind, but I can check further if you want more.

Do you therefore, consider these ‘achievements’ as successes? I’m afraid I don’t

With regard to the first three ‘achievements’ that you cite, none of them has made any difference to the increasing number of illegal migrants arriving on our shores. The French are laughing at us. Even Macron said we are making it too comfortable for them.

She is just tinkering around the edges. She maybe a nice lady but she is out of her depth

Furret

As a lifelong socialist I am disgusted and disappointed at our Labour government. I did see this coming - the lack of good leadership when Starmer excluded the likes of Corbyn and Abbott. It’s a weak man, a poor leader and manager who cannot work with those who hold disparate views.

I can sort of see their point of view.
Not sure I could a few years ago.

When working with say 12 people, all with different views, how does that work in reality?
A bit like the EU. It doesnt.

If you are a person of vision[whether you like the vision or not], you can get so much more done[rightly or wrongly], and quicker, with like minded people.

MaizieD

^Labour used to be for the working classes and the Conservatives were for the better off who owned their own homes, drove cars and often employed staff to cook and clean for them.^

Who voted for Thatcher in 1979, then? Because the 'working class' has by far outnumbered the middle class for many years so a lot must have changed sides.... Thatcher who promptly increased 1 million unemployed to 3 million unemployed and destroyed heavy industry...

And who voted for Cameron in 2010, whose chancellor promptly put loads of them out of work?

Since 1945 tories have been in government for 52 years; Labour for 28 (not including the current government. Not a lot of working class solidarity for Labour in that record...

Or we all dont know who is working class any more?

Partly as wages in some jobs have risen, relatively.

is a train driver, working class for example?

LizzieDrip

ronib

15 per cent NIC …. Who are the greedy bas!!!!! ?

Increased NI tax contributes to public services for the benefit of all UK citizens.

“UK supermarkets are posting substantial profits, with Tesco reporting £2.3 billion in pre-tax profits for the year ending February 2024 and Sainsbury's exceeding £1 billion in annual profits, reflecting both increased sales and strategic price.”

Tesco’s profit represents an increase of 160% on the previous year.

It’s up to you who you think is the greedy bas****!

And yet it's employees, around here anyway, get grants to do up houses as their wages are so low.

sundowngirl

Casdon

I agree regarding Rachel Reeves, I don’t agree regarding Yvette Cooper. She isn’t inexperienced, she has held senior ministerial roles before, nor is she out of her depth, she is tackling an extremely difficult portfolio methodically. If you look at the number of changes she has made in just a year, she has moved a lot of intransigent issues forward. Before anybody says ‘but she hasn’t stopped the boats’ let’s get real about what a huge issue that is, and look at what she has done so far. I think her only ‘problem’ is that she isn’t a publicity seeker, she just gets on with her job. That is now a foreign concept in British politics unfortunately, we seem to have moved to the biggest mouths being heard regardless of their competence or track record.

Can you please be more specific and tell us actually what Yvette Cooper has achieved? What are these intransigent issues that she has moved forward??
I believe she is totally out of her depth. Now she is using tax payer's money to appeal against the court's decision on the hotel in Epping. Money that could be better spent to quickly build nightingale type accommodation or barracks to house these immigrants who arrived here illegally.

Yes of course. This is not a comprehensive list, but includes some of the key things:

Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill

Establishment of Border Security Command which will coordinate the (previously separate) activities of Immigration Enforcement, MI5, the Border Force and the National Crime Agency in tackling smuggling gangs which facilitate illegal migrant crossings over the English Channel

Working with French government to change their policies on small boat launches

Set up a public inquiry following Southport stabbings

Review of the Prevent threshold and appointment of an independent Prevent Commissioner

Designated Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist organisation

This is what came immediately to mind, but I can check further if you want more.

Family members have closed their business after 16 years. They always paid higher than minimum wage. Now NI hike, energy costs, increase in material costs, Council tax, fuel for business vehicles (swopped one to electric to try reduce costs). Customers becoming very unreasonable as if all the price increases were to line pockets. Far from it, one didn't even have a salary. Small businesses are struggling.

Casdon

I agree regarding Rachel Reeves, I don’t agree regarding Yvette Cooper. She isn’t inexperienced, she has held senior ministerial roles before, nor is she out of her depth, she is tackling an extremely difficult portfolio methodically. If you look at the number of changes she has made in just a year, she has moved a lot of intransigent issues forward. Before anybody says ‘but she hasn’t stopped the boats’ let’s get real about what a huge issue that is, and look at what she has done so far. I think her only ‘problem’ is that she isn’t a publicity seeker, she just gets on with her job. That is now a foreign concept in British politics unfortunately, we seem to have moved to the biggest mouths being heard regardless of their competence or track record.

Can you please be more specific and tell us actually what Yvette Cooper has achieved? What are these intransigent issues that she has moved forward??
I believe she is totally out of her depth. Now she is using tax payer's money to appeal against the court's decision on the hotel in Epping. Money that could be better spent to quickly build nightingale type accommodation or barracks to house these immigrants who arrived here illegally.

JohnnyMo

Mt61

My now dead MIL, would be spinning in her grave. Staunch labour woman, who canvassed for the Labour Party when it was a proper Labour Party for the working classes. I think today she would have voted Reform for sure.. I know as I use to tell her off for not being very PC.

What few yet realise is Reform is economically left wing.

Most commentators assumes a party needs to be both economically and socially; progressive or conservative. As most of Reform's policies people are talking about are social most people assume it is a right wing party.

I don’t think so, Reform is a populist party - on the surface at least. However, at heart they are anti welfare, small state.

Mt61

My now dead MIL, would be spinning in her grave. Staunch labour woman, who canvassed for the Labour Party when it was a proper Labour Party for the working classes. I think today she would have voted Reform for sure.. I know as I use to tell her off for not being very PC.

What few yet realise is Reform is economically left wing.

Most commentators assumes a party needs to be both economically and socially; progressive or conservative. As most of Reform's policies people are talking about are social most people assume it is a right wing party.

I think voting against the Tories is actually the crux of the problem. Whatever people now think of Blair I think people voted for him. He gave a vision which they could get behind. When people voted Labour this time ( and I include myself in this) they weren't actually voting for anything.

Bridie22

I have never thought of myself as middle class... I'm working class, and this government are hammering me every which way.

This government are taking money from whereever they can find it.

GrannyGravy13

Yes, Sir Starmer appears to be out to get the middle classes, the SME owners, along with those who have saved for their retirements. We are easy targets, they know were we are, they see what tax we pay (both business and personal) and will probably squeeze us until we squeak.

I never thought a Labour government would be frightened to go after the mega rich, they are leaving the big boys alone just like the Conservatives.

Is it frightened, or is it a whole load of other things?

Lawyers get in the way, big time[ironic given Starmer being who he is or was].

Money. As I have said several times before, there are a whole lot of organisations, largely worldwide, who outrank country governments.
Which I dont think many people re even aware of that exist.

Then there is, who knows what about who[m].
Many skeletons in many cupboards.
That will make a difference too.

I agree regarding Rachel Reeves, I don’t agree regarding Yvette Cooper. She isn’t inexperienced, she has held senior ministerial roles before, nor is she out of her depth, she is tackling an extremely difficult portfolio methodically. If you look at the number of changes she has made in just a year, she has moved a lot of intransigent issues forward. Before anybody says ‘but she hasn’t stopped the boats’ let’s get real about what a huge issue that is, and look at what she has done so far. I think her only ‘problem’ is that she isn’t a publicity seeker, she just gets on with her job. That is now a foreign concept in British politics unfortunately, we seem to have moved to the biggest mouths being heard regardless of their competence or track record.

Yvette Cooper seems a bit out of her depth as Home Secretary

Yes indeed, as does Rachel Reeves as Chancellor.

Both finding ‘doing the actual job’ much tougher than spouting off about it when you are safely in Opposition.