They really are determined to get that nasty party tag back. How are these tax cuts going to be funded? Some pretty chunky looking real term cuts to benefits (although not pensions, naturally). And of course, they're going for the Civil Service too where people haven't had decent pay rises for years and public services are on their knees.
I think they are considering scrapping the triple lock on pensions on the basis of the "leak" to one of their favourite papers (Telegraph) yesterday. They are normally testing the waters when they use the press this way. Obviously they would be daft from a political point of view to go after the pensioners. But this government have a record of being daft in the 3 weeks(!) they have been in office!!!!
Inflation means de facto cuts across the board, even before they start to wield the axe. Given the state of social care and the NHS waiting list (the NI ‘plan’ now out of the window), the pressures on the military, the absolute disaster that is the justice system etc I mean it all looks just grim if they start slashing it. It’s oft repeated, but this is a wealthy country. How on Earth did we get here?
As the two cliches go... By all means vote Tory as long as you don't intend to be unwell or get old. Or... There are two types of Tory voter – millionaires and the misguided. Check your wallet to find out which you are. Like all bon mots there's an element of truth to both of them.
I've often respected and perhaps even grudgingly admired some Conservative politicians. There have been many talented Conservatives and even if I've not agreed with their views, ideas and voting records I've at least recognised that they believed in what they stood for and they were competent and fairly decent. But this current bunch are absolutely woeful on all fronts. Their ideas are terrible, their ideology is even worse, their personalities are dreadful, their communication skills non-existent. It'd be really interesting to know more about the genesis of this Britannia Unchained group and who has backed them and why, because this is now a fundamentalist mob, not a Government.
I was extremely concerned with Boris. I'm just plain scared with Truss. If this continues, there's a very real possibility that I will lose my home. I'm already struggling to put food on the table. I've cut everything that I can realistically cut from my outgoings. I'm paid above average and my mortgage isn't even that high - but the fixed rate ends soon. 0.25% to 6% by then - probably higher. £100 extra per 1%. There will be millions in this situation and Truss disappears. It's a dereliction of duty.
Oh man. Sorry to hear that. Obliterating the ability of a huge number of people to be meaningful contributors to the economy is absolutely brain-dead but it all leads to the next step which is 'supply-side reforms'. A weasel, short-hand term for scrapping regulations such as the number of hours companies can insist people work, paid holiday and sick pay, health and safety regulations etc. Sorry 'elf n safety, it's political correctness gone mad. Next, along come the bootlickers to say that if you don't want to work 50 hours a week you can simply tell your employer to do one and get another job on better terms, ignoring the fact that if you allow the market to be rigged like this there will be very few winners because that's the entire aim.
What was it she kept saying? ‘I reject the premise of that question’ I think. She didn’t even have the ******** to defend the budget, just told us how grateful we should be that we will only get gently ****ed in the arse over energy bills.
That is excellent. It's what mainstream media should be doing to explain and contextualise. Back to my point made days ago on this thread or somewhere else about the infantilised nature of our economic and political discourse, talking about pennies in pockets and tax on pints of beer... It may have started out honestly as a way to put huge numbers and concepts into a context busy people could understand but it has evolved into a way to keep the public ill-informed. I would guess most people don't truly get their heads round the difference between a million and a billion. It's why there was so little real outrage over the test and trace scandal that scooped the GDP of a developing nation (37 billion pounds) into the pocket of Tory stooge Dido Harding and pals. No one could really visualise what the figures meant. Looking at that graphic and seeing the difference between a million and a billion really brings it home.
I’m in a similar position. Sold our house, just about to exchange contracts next week. Putting everything into storage and moving in with wife’s parents while we wait for a new build to be finished next March. I now have no idea what our mortgage might be when we move. Speaking to a mortgage broker/advisor in a couple of weeks. We’ll have a clear idea then of if we need to take a hit on holding fees etc and drop out. Hey at least if we need to find somewhere else to live prices are about to tumble…. And we’ve got a two month old baby. I’m trying to not to worry about it but it’s started causing sleepless nights. I’m praying that someone sees sense before Nov 23rd. Feels like pure sadism on the government’s part when you’ve got skin in the game.
That's a very sad read. But what's heartbreaking is that there are lots (I want to say millions) of people in this country in a very similar (if not identical) situation as @Heidar.
Sorry to hear. I have a little one as well. Fortunately she's going to be more interested in the wrapping paper than the present at Christmas but we shouldn't be the ones feeling guilty here. Ultimately I will sacrifice everything for my little girl. We've done everything right to get into a "strong" position and yet here we are. Something has to give. Unless the policy is to destroy the country and let people starve and freeze, which I'm starting to think it might be. I struggle to see how mortgage defaults won't hit 2008 levels.
Hang on in there, chum. I remember being in the same boat as you back in 80s (or was it the 90s?) when interest rates went up to about 14 per cent. Thankfully the only person I had to put food on the table for at the time was me, so I can only imagine how anyone with a young family to look after must be feeling at the moment.
Do you think this bunch are capable of devising a long term plan that, if your theory is right, has worked so perfectly? I don't
Certainly millions. I have the less than ideal (but most welcome) fallback of my parents house if the **** truly hits the fan - but only as their mortgage is paid off or else they'd be with me! I really fear for those that don't have such a fallback. While the figures say we're not in a technical recession, it sure feels like one.
I was just about to say that I hope you’ve got some sort of support network if it really does go south. Genuinely, I got a lump in my throat reading what you said about your daughter, I’ve been thinking the same about my boy. It’s still early days. Maybe I’m in denial, I know that I definitely don’t understand the situation well enough to feel confident either way but then who does? I could quite happily throw my hands up and ask why do I ******* bother? Why does anyone try to do the right thing and get by when some **** can just come along and kick your sandcastle over? As it is, we just need to try and keep our cool and hope we’re not witnessing some sort of head banging Tory death cult.
Not a constructive plan, for sure. It's just slash and burn. Disasternomics. Call it whatever you like. But low tax, low spending on public services and deregulation is a plan, of sorts. It might not benefit anyone but an extremely small number of already wealthy people and corporations but it is nevertheless a plan.
I’m liking the post, but very much not liking it. Hoping the worst doesn’t happen to you or anyone else.
Sincerely rooting for you both, @Filbert and @Heidar - you've been served a right sh1t sandwich. I'm fortunate enough that my mortgage is fixed rate through to expiry. I can't imagine how many people are about to be destroyed by ARMs.
I think it's actually driven by a malignant, messianic dogma: loose all restraints on 'the market'; let it roam free and all will be utopia....and if it doesn't work out those who have launched the 'project' will have enough resources & bolt-holes to protect themselves. And for those who are crushed? Well, obviously, they were just too 'plodding' to 'leverage their (non-existent) assets'. They honestly do not give a toss about how many of the 'ordinary, hard-working people' (TM) of this country go under...the more desperate those people become the lower they will be able to drive down wages & conditions. But, but they say 'we want a well-educated, well-trained, well-paid workforce.' If you believe that, they've got you right where they want you. There's a reason the education system has been continually 'systematised'. Learn languages? Ooh, no, develops your mind to think in different ways. Study literature or philosophy? Ooh, no, might give you some ideas we don't want you to have. Develop your interest in art? Ooh, no, might turn you into one of those radical creative types who forces other people to THINK. How about history? Ooh, no, you might actually realise our scams have all been tried before under different guises, and we can't have you realising that. Just stick to this little box of subjects that we can monitor on a scorecard; just tough luck we'll have to subject impressionable 7 year olds to the horrors of SATS.
Thanks all. We will get through it, because we just have to. Since it's a political thread, I'll say this: For years your vote doesn't feel like it materially affects you. So often you think your vote doesn't count. You think it is time to give up because you can't make a difference in a "safe seat". They want you to give up. When people stop participating in democracy, that's when you open the door for idiots to get in charge.
Spot on. Even if you don't think any of the candidates deserve your vote, at least you can spoil your ballot paper. Turning up & spoiling is preferable to not voting at all.
I was having a good moan to someone earlier and I actually heard the words ‘I’m going to write to my MP’ leave my mouth.
Do it. Keep it polite, relatively brief and spell out what you are most concerned about and why. Give real-world examples and detail if you can. Remember to include your postcode and say that you are constituent too, otherwise they can't reply. Not saying they will reply because I suspect most Tory MPs are groaning under the weight of a very unhappy inbox at the moment. But registering your concerns is a crucial part of the democratic process. We do have a voice, but we have to use it effectively.
Spot on. Piss poor candidates get in through apathy and fear of "the other side" getting in: "well, my lot are bad but theirs are worse!" We can and should demand more.
