2024 Election thread
Comments
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I think I saw those numbers crunched that although Labour's % was a couple of points lower, it would still leave them with a massive majority, and Tories on 66 seats.
TBH, I take all these little variations with a pinch of salt. I think the overwhelming desire to get rid of the Tories combined with a sharper awareness of tactical voting has sealed the Tories' fate, and few people are going to believe anything any of the parties says. That said, I think anything the Tories say will be taken as a lie or a Trussian unfunded tax cut for the rich, and everyone else's 'plans' will be taken as an improbable 'aspiration'.
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It's a shame an election isn't like golf where you can just concede and save yourself the time and effort.
If Sunak had just called an election for 1 week after the announcement they would have likely held on to more seats.
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I'm not sure it's just wealthy people that wouldn't want to pay more to live in a better society, if indeed that's how wealthy people think.
The UK's aversion to tax rises comes from:
i) There not being enough really wealthy people (i.e. those who wouldn't really miss it if they paid significantly more tax) to sting for additional taxes to yield a significant extra amount of tax.
ii) The masses, who would therefore have to be involved in any significant extra tax raising measures, think they already pay too much tax and that (i) doesn't apply. (Evidence - mass complaining at frozen thresholds and calls to "tax the rich".)
Caveat - With circa 50 million voters, there will obviously be exceptions to the above. But I don't think the observations above are invalidated by a few (relative to 50 million) exceptions.
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iii) Everyone thinks the taxes collected either get spent on the wrong things/go in people's pockets/get spaffed up the wall.
The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.1 -
I would still be surprised to see Tories on less than 100. Last time the LDs polled better than the Tories it was Cleggmania and it didn't turn out that way.
Different story today, but I do think that the "do you really want to give Labour monster majority?" line is the most effective for the Tories.
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Ah finally, Sunak back on form, whining about D Day celebrations over-running and how he had hardships because he didn't have sky TV as a kid.
10/10 no notes. 22 days to go, lads!
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KGs post is also indicative of the slightly unrealistic view of some on the left thar 'if ony the rich/big business paid more tax then everything would be fine'. Tax levels are at a historic high and the rich/big business are paying a good chunk of that, but as everyone here keeps saying everything isn't fine then what can we conclude about the above leftie wish?
"I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]0 -
I can see why he had a couple of days off interviews 😬
BTW, on the question of whether Reform qualify as fascist, I think we can safely go for 'enthusiastic fans of..'
1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
Yes, my mother in law is unfortunately being radicalised by one of this lot. Don't really know what to do about it.
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Yup. If I could be bothered any more, I'd bash my head against the wall at political campaigns based on closing tax loopholes, taxing the rich and savings from public sector efficiencies.
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Voters punish politicians who are honest about tax though.
We get collectively the governments we deserve. And Britain really thought that being selfish and cutting every public service to save their own lower income tax was worth it. So that's what they got.
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Alternatively, the UK's aversion to tax comes from people with skin in the game like newspaper owners & think tank funders pushing the line that high taxes cause every problem that's ever existed for over 40 years, alongside unhelpful comparisons hugely different economies in the US and Asia; when the reality is much of western Europe performs equally as well as us under a slightly higher tax and spend regime.
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I mean, completely missed my point, but that's fine.
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I presume your point was that not all wealthy people are obsessed with minimising their tax bill, but persuading someone of that would be much like persuading Rick that not all boomers hate kids.
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You've forgotten the current Tory one of cutting £12 billion from the welfare bill. I'm amazed anyone is struggling with there being so much more apparently being handed out in welfare than is required.
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Jeez, it's even worse when you see how it was dragged out of him, that that's the best he could think of, and then his fake laugh afterwards. Labour just need to play this on loop.
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Pure performance art.
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Not sure that newspaper owners or think tank funders have much interest in the two lowest income tax rates or thresholds.
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Good point. I'd forgotten welfare savings.
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Oh, we're pretending the state pension isn't welfare again 🙄.
1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
Only cutting from the undeserving recipients - those in need are obviously being given extra protection instead,
It really is something any half decent interviewer should be pointing out.
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They'll be announcing a new Workhouse policy before we know it
1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
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Has there been any explanation of why this tweet came out of the blue?
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Are they announcing a scheme to reduce the backlogs in the courts?
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How does saying the law should show criminals no mercy be construed as an attempt to woo the convicted criminal that is the ex-President of the USA?
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