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Politics, politics, politics (so long and thanks for all the fish)

So Streeting has confirmed he is not going to stand.
Looks like it’s a coronation then unless someone else throws their hat into the ring jut so that there is an election.

I'm not sure the Pink Tories have another plausible candidate - Shabana Mahmood and Bridget Phillipson are deeply unpopular, whilst Al Carns, Pat McFadden, Darren Jones etc. are all small fish.
 
So Streeting has confirmed he is not going to stand.
Looks like it’s a coronation then unless someone else throws their hat into the ring jut so that there is an election.

So a man with no authority, mandate or concrete policies is swept into power with his claim to fame being some cheap bus fares. What could possibly go wrong?

I hope he succeeds, a successful PM is good for everyone but I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being as unpopular as the last few PMs.
 
So a man with no authority, mandate or concrete policies is swept into power with his claim to fame being some cheap bus fares. What could possibly go wrong?

I hope he succeeds, a successful PM is good for everyone but I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being as unpopular as the last few PMs.
Slightly underselling the work he’s done as mayor of Manchester but ok
 
Slightly underselling the work he’s done as mayor of Manchester but ok
Ive always considered myself as Labour through and through, a centre left progressive type. But I have never been more disillusioned by the party. Not because I thought Starmer was great but because of the utter disloyalty they have shown to their leader. I didn't like it when the party did it to Corbyn even though I disagreed with a lot of his policies.

Burnham may have been a great Mayor but as Boris showed, being Mayor and being PM are 2 entirely different things. Plus like that person who cheats on their partner, you do wonder if the same thing will happen to him eventually.
 
Burnham may have been a great Mayor but as Boris showed, being Mayor and being PM are 2 entirely different things. Plus like that person who cheats on their partner, you do wonder if the same thing will happen to him eventually.

I agree to an extent, but what other roles qualifies or guarantees success as PM? Burnham was an MP for 9 years before that, is isn't a political novice like some (not you) are making out. Didn't he have 3 years in office under Brown too?

Away from that argument, I saw an article at the weekend from Sunak who basically said the global political landscape was dead and the future for anyone entering the game looks bleak. I couldn't disagree with him on that
 
I agree to an extent, but what other roles qualifies or guarantees success as PM? Burnham was an MP for 9 years before that, is isn't a political novice like some (not you) are making out. Didn't he have 3 years in office under Brown too?

Away from that argument, I saw an article at the weekend from Sunak who basically said the global political landscape was dead and the future for anyone entering the game looks bleak. I couldn't disagree with him on that

He has Minister for Health for a year (2009-10). Which is the 5th biggest role in government (after PM, Chancellor, Foreign, Home)
 
Also, if you have worked hard to build those assets and save, then to me, it doesn't seem fair to just tax those assets to death. It doesn't necessarily make you rich because you own assets. We seem to only think of asset wealth as being for the super wealthy or dodgy criminal types who collect assets or use them to launder their money.

For those examples there are millions of of ordinary people who own assets just through hard work. And we shouldn't flog them to death for it ..

It's not wealth gain for nothing, we need people to invest and take risks knowing there's rewards for it. Ultimately it's detrimental to disincentive an entrepreneurial culture and is the reason why barely any places have a wealth tax. I believe they have it in Switzerland but then they don't have capital gains or inheritance tax which balances is out.
Jeez..I've stated we aren't talking about a big group of people here.

Taxed to death, seriously? :)

There's not much 'entrepreneurial' culture going on with the people we are talking about. Once upon a time, maybe (and maybe not).

I'm sure you all know what passive income is? At these levels it's massive. It roles in while literally doing nothing. And what they don't spend, they accumulate more assets, and so on and so on.

Tbh I'm not sure what these people are continuously accumulating for BUT I bet they love the (free) protective shield they receive from randoms defending their position.
 
When Starmer was first being talked about as a potential Prime Minister — even before he formally ran for the role — I quite liked him. He came across as a decent, serious man and a welcome alternative to the moral chaos and dishonesty that had come to define Boris Johnson's government.

However, despite all the rhetoric about competence, integrity and change, I don't feel the words have been matched by enough meaningful action. The situation at the border still appears largely out of control, although I accept that any government would face significant challenges in dealing with it.

More broadly, it feels as though the government lurches from one embarrassment to the next. Peter Mandelson's return to a prominent role is only the latest example, raising questions about Labour's promise of a fresh start. Added to that have been a series of awkward controversies and political missteps that have undermined Starmer's carefully cultivated image of professionalism and good judgement. While none of these incidents may be individually catastrophic, together they contribute to a growing sense that the government is struggling to live up to the high standards it set for itself in opposition.

Andy Burnham seems like a decent man from the outside. He appears to have genuine momentum and enjoys support from people across the political spectrum, which is increasingly rare in modern politics.

But this whole situation feels like yet another example of how politicians may enter public life with good intentions, only to lose sight of their primary responsibility once higher office comes into view. Too often, serving constituents appears to take a back seat when the prospect of becoming Prime Minister becomes a realistic ambition.

Perhaps that's the nature of politics. Once the top job is within reach, loyalty, principles and promises can quickly become secondary considerations. It makes me wonder whether there is any politician, from any political party who wouldn’t sell their own mum to step over the current PM to take their job?
 
Perhaps that's the nature of politics. Once the top job is within reach, loyalty, principles and promises can quickly become secondary considerations. It makes me wonder whether there is any politician, from any political party who wouldn’t sell their own mum to step over the current PM to take their job?

Amplified by a public who have no patience and are so hateful, regardless of achievements, its a perfect storm
 
7 PM’s in 10 years is it now? That’s a joke. Either make their terms shorter or allow them to complete them.

PMs don't have terms. Only parliament does.

Parliament can change its leader every week if it wants - have a rotation model. There's no specification or expectation that they need have longevity

Should the football fixtures be redrawn every time a team changes coach, or do you just get on with the season?
 
Jeez..I've stated we aren't talking about a big group of people here.

Taxed to death, seriously? :)

There's not much 'entrepreneurial' culture going on with the people we are talking about. Once upon a time, maybe (and maybe not).

I'm sure you all know what passive income is? At these levels it's massive. It roles in while literally doing nothing. And what they don't spend, they accumulate more assets, and so on and so on.

Tbh I'm not sure what these people are continuously accumulating for BUT I bet they love the (free) protective shield they receive from randoms defending their position.

These people are the ones that help pump everything up like the stock markets at the moment, keep gilts down etc. Without them borrowing costs would be higher, stocks (and by relation our pensions and ISAs etc) wouldn't be doing as well. Granted thats for the obscenely wealthy rather than just the merely wealthy.

Ultimately I think we need to spot being envious of people that are doing well in life and penalising them for everything, guess we'll see what happens soon enough.
 
These people are the ones that help pump everything up like the stock markets at the moment, keep gilts down etc. Without them borrowing costs would be higher, stocks (and by relation our pensions and ISAs etc) wouldn't be doing as well. Granted thats for the obscenely wealthy rather than just the merely wealthy.

Ultimately I think we need to spot being envious of people that are doing well in life and penalising them for everything, guess we'll see what happens soon enough.

Drivel, as I've already pointed out, wealth inequality is damaging the economy which in turn damages society, this has nothing to do with 'envy' and everything to do with sound economics and a decent society for our kids to enjoy, the envy sneer is just what right wingers trot out any time someone dares mention taxing the rich a bit more, same as 'they'll all leave!'.
 
a 2% tax on assets over £10mn is workable if it's done the right way and aimed at reducing wealth inequality. studies show the damage done to economies and societies by wealth inequality are an issue that need to be addressed.

You cannot ignore that rich people are leaving in their droves. 1/6 who appears in the 2024 Times Rich list have left and are no longer paying tax in the UK.
 
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