[Politics] The Labour Government

[Bodian]

@nevergoagain

What do you mean 'haha'? Are you laughing at the suggestion that it might cease/change? Why do you think it won't?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

This seems to be the civil servants and the department rather than the actual politicians - and seems to have been going on for some time. For instance, this was in February this year - before this Government came to power

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6605890091a320b20282b05c/DCMS_February_2024_GPC_Card_transactions_over__500.ods

View attachment 193561
Here's another one from March
View attachment 193562


So, hopefully, now it's been highlighted, it will cease.

Of course it's the civil servants.

 

[nevergoagain]

@nevergoagain

What do you mean 'haha'? Are you laughing at the suggestion that it might cease/change? Why do you think it won't?

I'm laughing at someone immediately coming back defending the government and blaming civil servants. No I don't think it will change, the whole public sector is riddled with this kind of ridiculous wastage. Thanks for posting that SSheet though I'm going to have a look through some other depts. For clarity I think this wastage goes across any government and has for decades.

Another example, one of my local MP's is claiming a £15k payment as a county councillor for her work of 15hrs a week on top of her role as an MP. Absolute tosh when you think new MP's supposedly work 60hrs a week. One big gravy train and they are all dipping their yorkshire puds in.

 

[Bodian]

I'm laughing at someone immediately coming back defending the government and blaming civil servants. No I don't think it will change, the whole public sector is riddled with this kind of ridiculous wastage. Thanks for posting that SSheet though I'm going to have a look through some other depts. For clarity I think this wastage goes across any government and has for decades.

Another example, one of my local MP's is claiming a £15k payment as a county councillor for her work of 15hrs a week on top of her role as an MP. Absolute tosh when you think new MP's supposedly work 60hrs a week. One big gravy train and they are all dipping their yorkshire puds in.

Fair enough.

I wasn't specifically 'defending' the government - just pointing out it's a long-term thing rather than something new. The government(s), of all hues, are ultimately to blame for not reigning in spending like this over time.

Still shocking that a leather folder can cost almost £600. I'm a bit of a pen/stationary nerd - but even I wouldn't dream of paying that sort of amount!

 

[nevergoagain]

Fair enough.

I wasn't specifically 'defending' the government - just pointing out it's a long-term thing rather than something new. The government(s), of all hues, are ultimately to blame for not reigning in spending like this over time.

Still shocking that a leather folder can cost almost £600. I'm a bit of a pen/stationary nerd - but even I wouldn't dream of paying that sort of amount!

Nitrile gloves for handling artwork at £597 - A quick google search suggests you can buy 100 pairs for £2.49.

 

[chip]

Fair enough.

I wasn't specifically 'defending' the government - just pointing out it's a long-term thing rather than something new. The government(s), of all hues, are ultimately to blame for not reigning in spending like this over time.

Still shocking that a leather folder can cost almost £600. I'm a bit of a pen/stationary nerd - but even I wouldn't dream of paying that sort of amount!

I wondered what the fuss was about, then realised these weren't sofas - I was imagining folding day beds to get a power nap on, not something to keep expenses receipts in.

 

[Rdodge30]

Fair enough.

I wasn't specifically 'defending' the government - just pointing out it's a long-term thing rather than something new. The government(s), of all hues, are ultimately to blame for not reigning in spending like this over time.

Still shocking that a leather folder can cost almost £600. I'm a bit of a pen/stationary nerd - but even I wouldn't dream of paying that sort of amount!

Any specifics on the folders ? Criminal waste but I like a good pen/folder/briefcase

 

[Pavilionaire]

Quietly, but steadily, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been playing a blinder on the immigration front.

We're today hearing about the deal with Germany where she has persuaded them to criminalise the act of smuggling people out of the EU to third countries, such as the UK.

And remember at the end of November when Gregg Wallace was dominating the front pages and you may have been wondering what the real news was? Well while that was going on, Yvette was in Iraq on a 3-day mission. The gov.uk website reports: "A world-first security agreement has been reached between Iraq and the UK government to target people smuggling gangs and strengthen border security co-operation.

The UK will also support Iraq law enforcement to tackle other serious organised crime, including countering narcotics.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) this week to seal a series of co-operation deals, to tackle shared threats and boost the security of its citizens.

The Home Secretary is the first UK government Secretary of State to visit the country since 2021."

My apologies if you already knew this, but since Labour have got in they're immediately delivering on their promise of 'smashing the gangs' but it is getting no traction.

 

[Is it PotG?]

Quietly, but steadily, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been playing a blinder on the immigration front.

We're today hearing about the deal with Germany where she has persuaded them to criminalise the act of smuggling people out of the EU to third countries, such as the UK.

And remember at the end of November when Gregg Wallace was dominating the front pages and you may have been wondering what the real news was? Well while that was going on, Yvette was in Iraq on a 3-day mission. The gov.uk website reports: "A world-first security agreement has been reached between Iraq and the UK government to target people smuggling gangs and strengthen border security co-operation.

The UK will also support Iraq law enforcement to tackle other serious organised crime, including countering narcotics.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) this week to seal a series of co-operation deals, to tackle shared threats and boost the security of its citizens.

The Home Secretary is the first UK government Secretary of State to visit the country since 2021."

My apologies if you already knew this, but since Labour have got in they're immediately delivering on their promise of 'smashing the gangs' but it is getting no traction.

As with football, it's a results business.

Let's see where we are in 12 months before giving out the medals.

 

[Bodian]

Any specifics on the folders ? Criminal waste but I like a good pen/folder/briefcase

His Majesty's Government | Barrow Hepburn & Gale — Barrow, Hepburn & Gale

Official supplier of Despatch Boxes to The Sovereign and HM Government. Only our boxes meet security requirements for transporting classified material.

barrowhepburnandgale.com

towards the bottom of the page

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Result. Jobs saved in county Durham

Hitachi train factory: Newton Aycliffe jobs 'protected' by deal

Sir Keir Starmer says the deal has given "certainty and stability" at the Newton Aycliffe factory.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Rdodge30]

Quietly, but steadily, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been playing a blinder on the immigration front

She’s a heavyweight in a party of lightweights

 

[Is it PotG?]

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

View attachment 193569

Three of those I can totally understand.

A helicopter in a Jeremy beadle style sketch lifted the car and perched the car in the tree.
The horse is a pantomime horse.
The cat had been drinking.
Nope the third one is unexplainable.

 

[nevergoagain]

Result. Jobs saved in county Durham

Hitachi train factory: Newton Aycliffe jobs 'protected' by deal

Sir Keir Starmer says the deal has given "certainty and stability" at the Newton Aycliffe factory.

www.bbc.co.uk

What does a £500m deal mean ?. Hitachi promising to spend it on building new trains ?, our government spending that on a new contract to build the trains ?

 

[Bodian]

What does a £500m deal mean ?. Hitachi promising to spend it on building new trains ?, our government spending that on a new contract to build the trains ?

Have you considered using google, or another similar search engine??

"Hitachi Rail has won a contract to manufacture 14 new five-car class 80X Hitachi electric or bi-mode trains for FirstGroup, with an option to potentially produce 13 more, in a deal worth approximately £500m."


"A £500m deal for 14 new trains has secured hundreds of jobs at Hitachi’s factory in north-east England. The rail operator FirstGroup plans to use the five-carriage trains on its open-access services running from London, and has an option for an additional £460m investment if more services are granted."


"Fourteen new trains are to be built at a Hitachi plant in County Durham, securing hundreds of jobs. The plan safeguards 700 jobs with a £500m investment for the Newton Aycliffe site.

The plant and its workers had faced an uncertain future with an upcoming gap in its order book before work begins on HS2 (High Speed 2) trains.

British transport group First Group, leasing firm Angel Trains, and Hitachi have reached a deal to order 14 five-carriage trains to run in 2027 on the new Carmarthen-London route and East Coast Mainline service. They will also provide further capacity on existing Lumo and Hull Trains services.

A further £460m investment for 13 five-car trains is an option for the plant."

 

[A1X]

My apologies if you already knew this, but since Labour have got in they're immediately delivering on their promise of 'smashing the gangs' but it is getting no traction.

Because it isn’t something performative and cruel to appeal to the little Englander’s inner fascist wet dreams

 

[nevergoagain]

Have you considered using google, or another similar search engine??

"Hitachi Rail has won a contract to manufacture 14 new five-car class 80X Hitachi electric or bi-mode trains for FirstGroup, with an option to potentially produce 13 more, in a deal worth approximately £500m."


"A £500m deal for 14 new trains has secured hundreds of jobs at Hitachi’s factory in north-east England. The rail operator FirstGroup plans to use the five-carriage trains on its open-access services running from London, and has an option for an additional £460m investment if more services are granted."


"Fourteen new trains are to be built at a Hitachi plant in County Durham, securing hundreds of jobs. The plan safeguards 700 jobs with a £500m investment for the Newton Aycliffe site.

The plant and its workers had faced an uncertain future with an upcoming gap in its order book before work begins on HS2 (High Speed 2) trains.

British transport group First Group, leasing firm Angel Trains, and Hitachi have reached a deal to order 14 five-carriage trains to run in 2027 on the new Carmarthen-London route and East Coast Mainline service. They will also provide further capacity on existing Lumo and Hull Trains services.

A further £460m investment for 13 five-car trains is an option for the plant."

Oh I do love a condescending reply.

So it's FirstGroup placing the order then who run a number of different franchises who are all going to be nationalised and then rely on open access services ? Hmm sounds legit. I wonder how much is being paid by UK Gov.

But thankyou for being so kind googling for me.

 

[alanfp]

Sums up the Public Sector - it's not their money - so they don't give a ****

I know. That's why they're all driving around in company Ferraris and Bentleys. Oh hang on, wait a minute ... that's the private sector, isn't it!

When I worked in the public sector (before our company was privatised) we all genuinely worked in the best interests of our customers. Things might be different in Whitehall, but that's what it was like in my public sector industry.

I also know a number of people who work in schools and they DO care about spending money carefully. I would guess that you've never been a school governor.

 

[Pavilionaire]

As with football, it's a results business.

Let's see where we are in 12 months before giving out the medals.

I'm taking some satisfaction from the process. It's nice to see a problem identified, analysed, a reasonable course of action agreed, the meetings held with foreign governments and the laws changed.

And it's not just about results, it's also about avoiding huge unnecessary costs , i.e. £700million on a Rwandan gimmick.