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Oh come on Glad’, you’re being pedantic.
Although a country going “bankrupt” has no definite definition… Either the UK was bankrupt or Healey had to go cap in hand to the IMF to stop the country from going bankrupt.
Hardly “disinformation”. The country was on its knees. In much worse state then than it is now.Value Is EverythingNational ‘bankruptcy’ is basically Sovereign Debt Default in which a country can’t fulfill its debt payment obligations when they’re due
Has happened many times, mainly to ‘third world’ countries, though post-war Germany, Greece in 2015 and Russia in 2022 are notable European cases
The UK has never defaulted, though it was possible in 1976 had the IMF loan not been approved. This was repaid in a mere three years thanks, in part at least, to a basic income tax rate of 33% and a top rate of 83%, rendered 98% by an ‘investment income surcharge’, whatever that was.
Over to you Rachel…?
Tax has been so vilified by the neoliberals that any rises will be jumped upon by the rightwing media.
I’ll keep repeating myself but a aging population with a withering birth rate can only mean higher taxes , however when you have right wing loonies like Farage promising anything inc tax cuts to get a vote then really wonder how bad things are going to get , it’s like America , look at the anger at the shooting , will they take on the NRA , even Trump ain’t doing that , nope he suggests the death penalty , and on it goes , as Frankie Boyle said it’s akin to to a serial killer complaining about what stopping to pick up hitchhikers did to to his clutch… The right wing folks , point the finger with one hand while pulling the trigger with the other…
When the Conservatives government couldn’t do all they said they would – because of Covid and Ukraine etc needed to be paid for – the Left shouted of “betrayal” and “broken promises”.
So you cannot blame the Right Wing Press for attacking The Left, when they got into power promising “growth”, with any increased taxation only on the rich.
These were the “Six Milestones” Starmer himself told us to judge Labour on:
“1: Raising living standards in every part of the UK, as part of the government’s aim to deliver the highest sustained economic growth in the G7 group of rich nations.
2: Building 1.5 million homes in England and fast-tracking planning decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects.
3: Ending hospital backlogs to meet the NHS target that 92% of patients in England wait no longer than 18 weeks for planned treatment.
4: A named police officer for every neighbourhood in England and Wales, with the recruitment of 13,000 additional officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and special constables
5: Increasing the proportion of children in England who are “ready to learn” when they start school at the age of five, to 75%.
6: Putting the country on track for at least 95% clean power by 2030″.
How are they doing?
Increasing taxes for everyone may well be the wise thing to do – given today’s circumstances – but Labour’s previous promises are stopping them from doing so.
Value Is EverythingHow are they doing?
This first year has been an utter shambles but those six ‘pledges’ would, for even a competent government, take at least a full five-year term to organise and implement; which, if memory serves, was more or less what Starmer said when announcing them. The clue might be in the use of the word ‘milestone’.
So, as I decided at the outset of this administration, I won’t judge them on how succesful they’ve been on fulfilling the big 6, or anything else, until their term is done
Confidence declines daily, and I rather think that world events over the next few years will chuck domestic matters into the bin marked ‘trivia’
I agree we shouldn’t expect Labour to have achieved those “6 Milestones” yet.
Which is why I asked “how are they doing”?imo: On the things Starmer told us to judge Labour on – so far – it’s been very poor.
Value Is Everythingimo: On the things Starmer told us to judge Labour on – so far – it’s been very poor
imo: you’re being too polite Ginger
Before the last election a pal of mine said ‘I’ll be voting Labour but don’t expect much, just hoping that they’re less bad than the current lot’
Hopes dashed then
I recommend a 48-hour fast beginning tonight on touchdown of Air Force 1, ending when it buggers off again; otherwise there’s a distinct chance that the beleaguered sewage system will overflow with vomit
It’s a hold your nose job and do what we must with Trump , and that’s not just Starmer but Charlie and William to , this is a good example of where the royals have a vital use , down the line having Trump onside will help us
Yes, they’re using one of his weaknesses as a weapon against him. The only way to deal with someone like that. I don’t think many PMs would have dealt with Trump as well as Starmer has and he seems to work well with the King and William.
Those who believe that voting Liberal Democrat is a wasted vote because they will never get into power ensures democracy will fail.
As things stand, the Liberal Democrats are the only feasible choice. Trump, with his silly sanctions is systematically ruining the USA. It will be a sad day if we follow his policies, such as allowing Israel starving millions of Palestinians and constantly bombing their country and denying climate change. The problem we have is that Farage and Reform are Trump supporters who would mimic his disastrous policies. Then we have Labour who are afraid to criticise Trump. For example, it would be right to imprison those who broke in and damaged aircraft, but to define Palestine Action a terrorist group is over the top. The Conservatives could be described as ‘Reform Light’. This leaves the Liberal Democrats as the only sensible party. I admire, Ed Davey, their leader, for refusing to attend the Trump meets our King Event. I feel for King Charles as he is an obvious supporter of the Commonwealth and Canada, yet he has to meet the moron who is trying to destroy that country. For those who say, ‘but the King invited him’ the reality is that the King has to be non-political and has to do what the Government tells him to do.
I’ve always voted Labour but do vote tactically and we have campaigned with the LibDems at times. Decades ago our local Labour Party and the LibDems always got on well. I’m a bit annoyed with Nick Clegg at the moment though ( seems like I’m annoyed with everybody these days) for saying we’ve become a vassal state of America given that he b****ed off to American after Brexit and made a fortune. And it took a long time for the LibDems to recover from being in the coalition, even though it probably wasn’t their fault that they got the blame for everything. It’s beyond me why Reform are on tv every day given the number of seats the LibDems have. And they’ll get even more exposure if Sky News give airtime to every Conservative MP who switches party.
Utter hypocrisy from Starmer today, recognising the existence of the state of Palestine but not announcing that all military, economic and diplomatic support of Israel is being withdrawn.
He’s just cynically trying to claw back support in some inner city areas, where they lost MPs to independents representing ‘locals’.
And even today they’re still losing support, in latest opinion polls, in these areas.
A desperate PM, whose time in the highest office is almost up. I’ll give him ’til next May (best case scenario…for him) OR end this year (worst case).
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