[Politics] Labour Party meltdown incoming.......

rippleman said:

I totally understand and fully accept the security issues of him "standing on the terraces" and that the cost of his personal security is significantly less if he is in corporate hospitality.

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rippleman said:

Starmer certainly hasn't helped himself by accepting free corporate hospitality from Arsenal.

I totally understand and fully accept the security issues of him "standing on the terraces" and that the cost of his personal security is significantly less if he is in corporate hospitality. All good. No problem.

But what Starmer appears to have overlooked (and I've not heard any journalist argue this point with him) is that it is actually possible to PAY for corporate hospitality. He isn't obliged to accept a freebie and open himself up to suggestions that Arsenal / the EPL are expecting something in return.

With a salary around £170K PA he can certainly afford to pay for corporate hospitality (and indeed a few suits).

He is coming across to me as rather politically naive and doing himself no favours at all whilst laying himself open to the accusation "they are all the same".

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nevergoagain said:

Newcastle council leader Nick Kemp resigns following bullying row

Newcastle council leader Nick Kemp says he "strenuously refutes" any allegations of bullying.

www.bbc.co.uk

Thug on the Tyne is all mine, all mine

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Bob! said:

Kuensburg wasting time on pursuing this.

Let's find out what Rayner and Labour are planning for the Country

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Bozza said:

You think she should ignore the major talking points of the last few weeks, that have completely dominated all conversation about this government, and has seen Starmer's approval rating plummet into the gutter?

Unfortunately for Labour die-hards, the government are currently having to sleep in the bed they made themselves.

I feel for Rayner. I like her a lot, unlike Keir Starmer it appears, and this was never going to be an easy gig.

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Bob! said:

No, I don't think LK should ignore it, but she got her answer from AR and then kept on and on.

I want the policies from a Politics TV programme.

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Bozza said:

Politics is a lot more than just policies. Anyway, I'm certainly happy to move on, particualrly now Labour's leadership have admitted to being wrong to accept thousands of pounds of free clothes.

So, back to policy, can we talk about Sharon Graham, general secretary of Labour-funding union Unite, who has spoken out about the Winter Fuel Payment today...

“It’s a cruel policy. He needs to reverse it. And I’d like him to say that he’s made a mis-step and to reverse that policy. I’d also like him to say that we’re not going to take this country down austerity mark 2.​

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“People voted for change. They need to see change. He needs to reverse the winter fuel allowance [decision] and let people have that £300 they can put their heating on this winter.​

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“The reality here is it’s a mis-step. You’ve got a situation where the poorest in our society, the first thing that Labour does is take away the winter fuel allowance from the poorest in our society whilst they leave the most wealthiest people pretty much untouched.”​

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Bob! said:

Yup, totally agree.
Should never have targeted the WFP for poorer folk.
I hope the Government can be persuaded to change their plans on this.

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Bob! said:

Yup, totally agree.
Should never have targeted the WFP for poorer folk.
I hope the Government can be persuaded to change their plans on this.

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Bob! said:

No, I don't think LK should ignore it, but she got her answer from AR and then kept on and on.

I want the policies from a Politics TV programme.

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Bozza said:

Why do you think they've not changed tack at all?

Starmer is a decent bloke who wants to effect positive change. Freezing some of society's poorest isn't the way he goes about things.

Do you think it's stubbornness and, having been on the other side of the despatch box, he knows exactly how any kind of U-turn will be seized upon?

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Zeberdi said:

I am hoping they don’t announce the withdrawal of the non-means tested 25% single person discount on Council Tax bills in the budget - that will be another situation that will push millions into financial hardship ( it will add nearly £400 per year on my bill that and with fuel price rises, and public transport costs rising and Council tax bills being hiked this year that’s another £600-700 per year for me )

This whole system of making financial aid/discounts dependent on being in receipt of a means tested benefit excluding everyone else just above the cut off income thresholds needs to be completely overhauled and some sort of non-means-tested Universal Basic Income be considered - one that isn’t set ridiculously low or doesn’t penalise older people who have saved all their lives and lived according to their means.

After all the means tested benefits have been claimed a person could be thousands of pounds a year better off than someone living just above the poverty line. It is a rot in the whole welfare system. It keeps millions on benefits in a poverty trap while prejudicing those that arguably need the help more than someone claiming every means-tested benefit under the Sun.

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pocketseagull said:

Sorry for repeating this point again but I believe this cut is ideological for Reeves, as shown in this House of Commons clip from 2014:

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Bozza said:

You think she should ignore the major talking points of the last few weeks, that have completely dominated all conversation about this government, and has seen Starmer's approval rating plummet into the gutter?

Unfortunately for Labour die-hards, the government are currently having to sleep in the bed they've made for themselves.

I feel for Rayner. I like her a lot, unlike Keir Starmer it appears, and this was never going to be an easy gig.

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Kinky Gerbil said:

Rayner seems to now be caught up in it, not properly declaring the use of a New York holiday home from Lord Ali

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