Gransnet forums

News & politics

Rachel Reeves and David Lammy have been sacked by Andy Burnham as the Prime Minister begins appointing his Cabinet.

(303 Posts)
FriedGreenTomatoes2 Mon 20-Jul-26 16:16:54

A good start in my opinion.

fancythat Tue 21-Jul-26 20:00:15

Reply to Fallingstar.

fancythat Tue 21-Jul-26 20:02:36

Casdon

fancythat

Oreo

Having good intentions doesn’t always morph into great outcomes.

Correct.

On the other hand, having bad intentions never does. I know which I’d prefer.

The statement still stands, and is correct.

[Yes I know you didnt say it doesnt still stand, and you can give an opinion].

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 21-Jul-26 20:05:49

One thing that has become increasingly common online is what could be called "innuendo by accumulation." Rather than making one clear factual allegation, a post strings together phrases like:

"she seems to have..."
"I think..."
"many professionals were surprised..."
"would that I were so lucky."

Each phrase is framed as opinion or impression, but together they leave the reader with the impression that misconduct has been established.

It's perfectly legitimate to criticise politicians, question decisions, or argue that an investigation should have reached a different outcome. That's part of democratic debate. But there's an important distinction between saying:

"I think the authorities got this wrong." and saying: "She's a serial non-complier."

The first is an opinion about an investigation. The second presents a character judgement that implies repeated wrongdoing, despite there being no official finding to support it.

Casdon Tue 21-Jul-26 20:07:21

I just think it’s better to try to do good, but fail, than it is to set out to do bad, not caring about the consequences on others.

Doodledog Tue 21-Jul-26 20:11:16

fancythat

^those who were doing things decently in the first place would, IMO, have nothing to worry about^

But a landlord cannot ask a tenant to leave if they have been a good tenant?
We had a discussion on this a while back, and if I remember correctly, you, and two or three other posters thought that was perfectly ok? If I remember correctly.
I do call that, something to worry about. Presonally. [Not that we personally, are renting a house out.]

I don't remember the previous conversation in detail (was someone saying that they recarpeted every time the tenant changed?) but my POV is that if a landlord wants to sell then it's fine to ask a tenant to move, but (assuming no fault on the part of the tenant) if they want to evict someone to increase the rent, or to let it to someone else, that is different.

To the tenant, it is a home, and they might have all sorts of connections to the area. Also, moving is expensive and disruptive, so IMO tenants should be protected against having to do so regularly.

Is your opinion on NI 'obvious to all', Oreo? It's not obvious to me, and in any case, there has to be a balance between giving people decent rights and possibly limiting job opportunities. IMO, someone running between, say, working 16 hours a week in a shop to 10 hours cleaning to 12 hours in a pub should absolutely have the tight to sick pay and a state pension, but when all of the jobs were below the threshold no NI was paid on any of them, and the employee had no rights. Whether the possibility of losing one of those jobs would be worth it if they got workers' rights is debatable, and would, I think, vary from person to person. A pension is important, and things like sick pay and protection against unfair dismissal are too.

I am very aware that good intentions don't necessarily mean good outcomes, incidentally - I'm sure all of us are.

fancythat Tue 21-Jul-26 20:18:00

No.

A poster had lifted a thread form Mumsnet.
The lady op of it, wanted her daughter[or maybe neice] to use the house while at uni.
But the existing tenant was a good tenant.

fancythat Tue 21-Jul-26 20:18:33

No, to the recarpet bit. I meant to copy and paste that bit.

Doodledog Tue 21-Jul-26 20:27:55

Ah, I remember the Mumsnet thread, and yes, I think the landlord there was unreasonable, as, IIRC did the vast majority on the MN poll.

She had a long-standing tenant family with children at school and jobs in the area, and her niece wanted to move in because she didn't like her student halls, so the landlady was willing to evict the family. I think that is awful, and if legislation can prevent that I would support it.

Primrose53 Tue 21-Jul-26 20:31:00

Oreo

Doodledog

So what has she done so badly that makes you think that? I think she got a lot done in the time she was last in the cabinet. She got the Workers' Rights Bill and the Renters Rights Act through, which will make a huge difference to 'ordinary people'.

Am not so sure that the Renters Rights Acts helps all renters, it’s been said that making life more problematic for landlords means fewer rentals on an already stretched rentals market.
Some policies which sound good on their own have knock on effects, like the extra NI put onto employers at the same time as increasing the minimum wage has meant fewer jobs going for those who need it.

Correct Oreo.

I know a couple of people who work in different Estate Agents and they say Landlords are selling their rental properties so there will be a shortage of rental properties. We are seriously considering selling ours. I read the same thing on many Landlords sites.

Casdon Tue 21-Jul-26 20:39:52

There is a solution to landlords pulling out of the rental market. It’s down to councils having sufficient money to invest in buying additional properties to add to their portfolios. Where I live the council has added to its stock by developing new properties, buying "turnkey" off-the-shelf homes from developers, repurchasing former council houses, and the council is planning a significant building programme. Provided the government provides earmarked funding to councils, that is a better solution for tenants.

Primrose53 Tue 21-Jul-26 20:42:13

Sunshinegirls

Louise Haigh, a convicted fraudster, is being stripped of responsibility for tackling public sector fraud in her new Cabinet role.

Ms Haigh, the new Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was appointed to Andy Burnham’s top team on Monday.

She admitted admitting to misleading police a decade ago.

As the minister in charge of the Cabinet Office, she inherited responsibility for the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) – the Government’s centre of expertise on scams involving public money.

Within hours of her taking office, that brief was handed to Pat McFadden, the Work and Pensions Secretary, instead.

It is unclear when the decision was made to shift responsibility for the PSFA. The Daily Telegraph today

They could hardly leave her in charge of Fraud could they? 🤣🤣🤣

WithNobsOnIt Tue 21-Jul-26 20:43:52

Never liked David Lammy.
Full of himself. But didn't seem to have genuine bone in his body.

All Prime Minsters surround themselves with Yes men, sycophants and the like.

Its a game called Politics.

Casdon Tue 21-Jul-26 20:44:02

This is a departure I wasn’t expecting. Anas Sarwar to leave his role as Labour leader in Scotland and assume a ministerial role.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce970y1n7plo

Wyllow3 Tue 21-Jul-26 20:55:47

Now that is interesting
Thoughts ....AB's commitment to regionalism... what was his business background..

BTW, WithNobsOnIt there actually are women in the cabinet too. (we women are still inching our way, it's a little bit of the jigsaw).

Casdon Tue 21-Jul-26 21:00:42

It’s the first time ever that women make up 50% of the Cabinet, there are 14 men and 14 women, and regardless of our politics, surely that is something to applaud.

Wyllow3 Tue 21-Jul-26 21:03:24

I was just going to check! Top news.

Graphite Tue 21-Jul-26 21:22:47

I’m counting 15 women and 13 men:

members.parliament.uk/government/cabinet

Casdon Tue 21-Jul-26 21:28:14

Sorry, you’re right Graphite, I had read it was 50/50, but there are 15 women. It’s a bigger Cabinet than average, too.

Primrose53 Tue 21-Jul-26 21:28:55

Never had a female Labour PM though.

Doodledog Tue 21-Jul-26 21:33:51

Casdon

There is a solution to landlords pulling out of the rental market. It’s down to councils having sufficient money to invest in buying additional properties to add to their portfolios. Where I live the council has added to its stock by developing new properties, buying "turnkey" off-the-shelf homes from developers, repurchasing former council houses, and the council is planning a significant building programme. Provided the government provides earmarked funding to councils, that is a better solution for tenants.

Yes, that's one way to ensure that those who don't want to operate under the new rights can pull out, and tenants will get properly regulated contracts and reasonable (rather than 'market') rents. That seems like a good deal all round.

Reasonable social rents will also cut the amount of money spent on shoring up low wages so private rents are affordable.

Tuliptree Tue 21-Jul-26 21:42:18

Primrose53

Never had a female Labour PM though.

I’m not sure what the relevance of this point is? Unless Luz Truss is someone to be proud of ?

Wyllow3 Tue 21-Jul-26 21:46:13

Primrose53

Never had a female Labour PM though.

I expect it will come one day: in the meantime, it's getting the job done that comes first.

I can't say I'd be very happy in the Conservatives to have Braverman and look at the ghastly Liz Truss. In my opinion Thatcher was absolutely ghastly, all the stuff about "there is no such thing as society" was toxic, and selling off social housing we see the consequences now.

....but I would think that as a leftie, wouldn't I.

I quite liked Yvette Cooper for the job but it wasn't to be, the time came and went.

Primrose53 Tue 21-Jul-26 21:54:05

Doodledog

Casdon

There is a solution to landlords pulling out of the rental market. It’s down to councils having sufficient money to invest in buying additional properties to add to their portfolios. Where I live the council has added to its stock by developing new properties, buying "turnkey" off-the-shelf homes from developers, repurchasing former council houses, and the council is planning a significant building programme. Provided the government provides earmarked funding to councils, that is a better solution for tenants.

Yes, that's one way to ensure that those who don't want to operate under the new rights can pull out, and tenants will get properly regulated contracts and reasonable (rather than 'market') rents. That seems like a good deal all round.

Reasonable social rents will also cut the amount of money spent on shoring up low wages so private rents are affordable.

Tenants already have to have proper contracts, deposits in protected accounts etc.

Mojack26 Tue 21-Jul-26 21:55:38

Din't care all as bad as each other! Self serving the lot of them

fancythat Tue 21-Jul-26 21:56:44

Provided the government provides earmarked funding to councils, that is a better solution for tenants

I wont be holding my breath.