Is the country ready for a Farage government?

fancythat

StripeyGran

And what about you StripeyGran

I'm not sure what you are asking?

I would have liked to have been European. I have no feelings of patriotism, never have. I will be happy if there is no need to call up young men to fight.

You would not fight for the Country. As I suspected.

Oh dear. Get yourself off to the naughty step, StripeyGran.

You’ve just failed fancythat’s patriotic UK citizenship test and clearly need to be re-educated…

So wanting to be ‘European’ is treasonous, is it?

It’s worse than Norman Tebbit’s ‘which cricket team would you support?’ test. 😲

fancythat

StripeyGran

And what about you StripeyGran

I'm not sure what you are asking?

I would have liked to have been European. I have no feelings of patriotism, never have. I will be happy if there is no need to call up young men to fight.

You would not fight for the Country. As I suspected.

I don't think they'd want a 70 something with arthritis/poor eyesight and hearing would they?

I suppose I could wield a large brown teapot and be of service that way.

www.spectator.co.uk/article/starmer-officially-most-unpopular-pm-ever/

DaisyAnneReturns

The UK left the EU, it hadn’t been towed into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, we are still European 🤦‍♀️

GrannyGravy13

The UK left the EU, it hadn’t been towed into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, we are still European 🤦‍♀️

I think you know exactly what I mean. I would have liked to have been part of the EU....clearer?

That is where my heart lies,not waving a flag and singing Rule Britannia or fighting for my country.

That is where my heart lies,not waving a flag and singing Rule Britannia or fighting for my country.

Ummmm.

I suggest you read paragraph 2 again. They are REPORTING on the IPSOS poll not giving their view. Primrose

I fully understood, in fact I said it was CNNs view of the poll. I'm not at all sure your use of the word "report" instead of my "view" makes a blind bit of difference.

What it does mean is that we were reading someone's (an American multinational news media company's in this case) biased opinion not the poll itself. Even the poll is only a snapshot of a moment in time - not that this stops it from being viable information but it does need that consideration.

Casdon gave her opinion on Starmers speech. Allira, with her usual lack of acceptance of others right to an opinion which doesn't agree with hers, made her views clear.

The speech took place some 10 days after the poll and it's reasonable to suppose that a) people may have opinions of it regardless of the poll, and b) it may have changed views.

It was not unreasonable to bring it up, nor can you hang on to the poll findings for long, There will, I believe be an October one which will outline any changes.

eazybee

^That is where my heart lies,not waving a flag and singing Rule Britannia or fighting for my country.^

Ummmm.

Oh, come on. I'm sure yo're dying to say it.

"Why do you hate your country?"

There's a feeling of something not very nice to these replies to StripeyGran. Something very unBritish. Intolerance...

Or is insularity and a desire for conformity the British 'thing' and I've got it all wrong?

Allira

Doodledog

Allira

‘Working people’ is shorthand for ‘taxpayer’ or ‘contributor’ - those who are supporting everyone else. The people who get up every morning and go to work whilst others choose not to, to make profits for employers (who often use taxpayers’ money to top up low wages) so they can pay rent to those with more than one house, and bills to make profits for shareholders. Retired working people are included in that, as I see it.

We are not working. We are retired. We pay tax.

Same here. Not sure of your point.

People who work (or who made their living by working until they retired) are 'working people' in the sense that the term is currently being used, I think.

I thought my point was obvious.

We are not people who get up every morning and go to work.

Not for a long time.

Right, but as you are (or appear to be) arguing with my definition, why are you ignoring the fact that I explicitly said that IMO it includes this who have retired from doing so?

Well there you go, you’ve just proved my point as you’re using laughing emojis now.As am I 😂😂
It’s not up to you to decide what’s inappropriate btw.
No, you have apparently missed mine! The 🤣 was used deliberately (as was pointed out in case it wasn't obvious enough) to show that I was 'rolling on the floor laughing' at the irony of you accusing others of thread policing whilst policing the thread yourself as usual.

It's not an emoji I use, ordinarily.

And if you read what I post before reacting, you would see that I was asking for clarification before deciding whether I should think their use was inappropriate. I have every right to think what I like - I was not deciding on what others should think or do, and wouldn't dream of telling others what or how to post. Is it ok with you if I think what I like, or do I have to run that by you first?

Doodledog

Allira

Doodledog

Allira

‘Working people’ is shorthand for ‘taxpayer’ or ‘contributor’ - those who are supporting everyone else. The people who get up every morning and go to work whilst others choose not to, to make profits for employers (who often use taxpayers’ money to top up low wages) so they can pay rent to those with more than one house, and bills to make profits for shareholders. Retired working people are included in that, as I see it.

We are not working. We are retired. We pay tax.

Same here. Not sure of your point.

People who work (or who made their living by working until they retired) are 'working people' in the sense that the term is currently being used, I think.

I thought my point was obvious.

We are not people who get up every morning and go to work.

Not for a long time.

Right, but as you are (or appear to be) arguing with my definition, why are you ignoring the fact that I explicitly said that IMO it includes this who have retired from doing so?

Right, but as you are (or appear to be) arguing with my definition, why are you ignoring the fact that I explicitly said that IMO it includes this who have retired from doing so?

You did say that, but also said that it is your opinion.

That is not what was made clear in the speech - in fact it was fairly obvious it was not what was meant in the speech. We can all have opinions but it does not make them fact and may not be the same as that of another person or of a Government spokesperson.

Doodledog

*Well there you go, you’ve just proved my point as you’re using laughing emojis now.As am I 😂😂*
It’s not up to you to decide what’s inappropriate btw.
No, you have apparently missed mine! The 🤣 was used deliberately (as was pointed out in case it wasn't obvious enough) to show that I was 'rolling on the floor laughing' at the irony of you accusing others of thread policing whilst policing the thread yourself as usual.

It's not an emoji I use, ordinarily.

And if you read what I post before reacting, you would see that I was asking for clarification before deciding whether I should think their use was inappropriate. I have every right to think what I like - I was not deciding on what others should think or do, and wouldn't dream of telling others what or how to post. Is it ok with you if I think what I like, or do I have to run that by you first?

Whom are you addressing?

I only used one smiling emoji when I mentioned being a shareholder and a working person. It was a general comment, not addressed to you in particular.

It sounds suspiciously like a personal attack - why?

I did post yesterday Wed 01-Oct-25 15:25:46 about who Starmer has said he considers to be working people. Page 16.

Thank you for the explanation about QT, Maizie.

I’m 70 so have seen a lot of Budgets too! I remember when the top rate of income tax was 83% with an investment income surcharge of 15% on top.

Then came Thatcher but I would like to see something similar to what we had from 1979 on with a lower rate band to help those earning the least and progressive higher rate bands for those earning the most. I don’t think 60% at the top is unreasonable.

Reeves seems committed to leaving the tax allowance frozen until 2028 as Hunt had set. I’d introduce a lower band of say 18% that would reduce tax for people working full time on minimum wage and the next slice at 20% to cover most people earning average wage and slightly above - the working people that Labour talks about. Then 5% increments on £10,000 slices up to 60% on income over £115,570. ONS says more than a million people have income over £100,000. MPs would have a marginal rate of 45%. Ministers 60%.

Back to whether we are ready for a Farage government. I see the latest chat is over who exactly is paying for his security, said to be costing £1 million a year and whether it’s from an impermissible donor (which would be an Electoral Commission matter and possibly a criminal offence). Farage bankroller Arron Banks has been making noise again about wanting the Electoral Commission abolished.

Also why there are no entries for Farage in the MPs Register of Interests since May 2025? Declarations have to made within 28 days. He hasn’t declared any earnings from GB News since April or income from any other source. It’s known that he pays his earnings from the channel into a company to reduce his tax liability from 40% to 25% but he should still declare it. Why hasn’t he?

Allira

Doodledog

Well there you go, you’ve just proved my point as you’re using laughing emojis now.As am I 😂😂
It’s not up to you to decide what’s inappropriate btw.
No, you have apparently missed mine! The 🤣 was used deliberately (as was pointed out in case it wasn't obvious enough) to show that I was 'rolling on the floor laughing' at the irony of you accusing others of thread policing whilst policing the thread yourself as usual.

It's not an emoji I use, ordinarily.

And if you read what I post before reacting, you would see that I was asking for clarification before deciding whether I should think their use was inappropriate. I have every right to think what I like - I was not deciding on what others should think or do, and wouldn't dream of telling others what or how to post. Is it ok with you if I think what I like, or do I have to run that by you first?

Whom are you addressing?

I only used one smiling emoji when I mentioned being a shareholder and a working person. It was a general comment, not addressed to you in particular.

It sounds suspiciously like a personal attack - why?

Oh God. No, I was not addressing you. That post was part of a conversation with Oreo, who had attacked me for 'policing' the thread when I asked about the use of the 'rofl' emoji earlier . the fact that she was policing the thread by doing so appeared to have escaped her. I can't always quote from my phone for some reason, so copied the relevant bit from her post.

WRT the earlier post - yes, the definition is just my opinion, but (a) it was given in response to a question about what the phrase 'working people' means, and (b) you quoted my definition, which includes the retired (if they have retired from working) so I didn't understand your objection. No attack, personal or otherwise.

But you were policing the thread by questioning posters on their use of emojis Doodledog though that seems to have escaped you.Why say anything at all about it, you liberally use them yourself.
The only thing that I do is report a very personal attack on me when it happens, or an anti-semitic post. If we all did that maybe the threads would become a better place.By leaving those kind of posts for others to see does nothing.If you or other posters don’t like that it’s just too bad.

PaynesGrey

I did post yesterday Wed 01-Oct-25 15:25:46 about who Starmer has said he considers to be working people. Page 16.

Yes, I did read that, thank ou PaynesGrey
It is also set out here:

www.spectator.co.uk/article/what-does-keir-starmer-think-a-working-person-is/

I was asking why a power was subjected to ridicule by the use of several 'rofl' emojis in response to her post. I can't remember who it was now, but we have all said in the past that if people spot that sort of thing they should comment on the thread rather than risk people feeling bullied, so I commented on it. I would be very surprised if you can find an example of me using 🤣 (other than on this thread where it was used very deliberately) as it is such an unpleasant reaction to someone's opinion, and whether I agree with people's opinions or not, I do respect their right to hold them. I don't think that asking about the intention behind the use of an emoji is policing, but of course you may think differently.

You decided to police the thread by telling me I shouldn't police it, and I responded by 'rolling on the floor laughing' which was done for effect, although that seemed to go over your head. You are making a mountain out of a molehill now though, so I will say no more.

I do not “hate my country” (whatever that might mean)

But I’m often ashamed by the attitude of what I consider a small, but very loud, bunch of people, not adverse to violence and aggression, who like to blame those without British citizenship for all their woes!

I think a mountain is being created out of a molehill here.
Many posters have used emojis on this thread.

Doodledog, the comment, as I read it, was meant to point out the irony of the subject; surely many of us noticed that at the Labour Party Conference?
But your leader endorses flag flying. How very dare you disagree with him! 🤣🤣

Some members do not look very enthusiastic.

Oh, come on. I'm sure yo're (sic) dying to say it.

Not a good idea to try and put words into people's mouths, Maizie D.

Allira

I think a mountain is being created out of a molehill here.
Many posters have used emojis on this thread.

Doodledog, the comment, as I read it, was meant to point out the irony of the subject; surely many of us noticed that at the Labour Party Conference?
But your leader endorses flag flying. How very dare you disagree with him! 🤣🤣

Some members do not look very enthusiastic.

😂
Their faces!

Oreo

Allira

I think a mountain is being created out of a molehill here.
Many posters have used emojis on this thread.

Doodledog, the comment, as I read it, was meant to point out the irony of the subject; surely many of us noticed that at the Labour Party Conference?
But your leader endorses flag flying. How very dare you disagree with him! 🤣🤣

Some members do not look very enthusiastic.

😂
Their faces!

Is that Yvette Cooper who has shoved it down between her knees?

Am I allowed to 😂

Oreo

Allira

I think a mountain is being created out of a molehill here.
Many posters have used emojis on this thread.

Doodledog, the comment, as I read it, was meant to point out the irony of the subject; surely many of us noticed that at the Labour Party Conference?
But your leader endorses flag flying. How very dare you disagree with him! 🤣🤣

Some members do not look very enthusiastic.

😂
Their faces!

They look tired, aren't we all?

More bad news today.

They look tired, aren't we all?
They're younger than us, mostly.
Why should they look tired? They looked fed up and, frankly, embarrassed.

I did think Rachel Reeves looked quite exhausted but she did give a big speech.