[Politics] Tory meltdown finally arrived [was: incoming]...

[Stat Brother]

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Great post.

I don't think the present Government are Tories in the way I understood it when I grew up, the Republicans in the US have the same issue and are effectively a two wing party. Say what you like about Maggie, there were at least some solid policies declared and they were financial rather than cultural or social.

I had the same issue with Labour. I've mostly been centre-left in my outlook and there was no way I could support Corbyn, although I voted for Kyle in Hove as an individual, a selfless constituency MP with a modicum of sense.

We somehow need to get back to a position where understanding nuance and talking to one another isn't a bad thing or "hypocrisy" but actually leads to better governance. I'm not holding my breath, because if that sort of attitude became prevalent the likes of Murdoch and Zuckerberg might lose a few quid.

Thatcher understood the ' engine room ' of this country.....Small and medium sized businesses. She understood the need for entrepeneurial spirit and wealth creation. This lot only think corporate. They don't get it.
Our politicians are less and less experienced in the ways of the world. They lack commercial maturity. I had respect in the past for politicians of all shade and hue. John Smith, Tony Benn, David Penhaligon, Michael Foot, Hugh Gaitskill, Margaret Thatcher etc. I have absolutely no respect for anybody today. They have no gravitas, no strong sense of purpose, no real leadership, no inspiration. No real effort to curb spending. No real effort to control the size of the state. No real help for millions of smaller businesses. No real effort to address social housing. No real effort to unravel the overburdening middle management problem in the NHS. Too much emphasis on zero emissions and not enough time spent on discussing all energy options and alternatives. And so on and so on.

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

I think we established yesterday that the present Government continually finds new lows - it’s one of the few things they are actually good at.
Yvette Cooper has just been on TV about the missing children. Now there is a highly competent and decent politician(imo). Great pity she’s only Shadow Home Secretary

 

[The Clamp]

There is war in Ukraine. We have sanctions. So why would the UK Treasury help Putin’s brutal ally? | Pat McFadden

Claims that the boss of the Wagner Group, a key part of Russia’s military machine, was aided in a libel action must be run to ground, says shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Pat McFadden

www.theguardian.com

In my opinion, if you want to know why Boris Johnson is so vocally and financially supportive of Ukraine it’s to cover up and deflect just how much he and his cronies have been in bed with the Russians. Likely it’s also to buy some sympathy if it ever rises to the surface.

 

[The Clamp]

* I say “financially”. He’s spending other people’s money, of course. It’s what he does best.

 

[nicko31]

There is war in Ukraine. We have sanctions. So why would the UK Treasury help Putin’s brutal ally? | Pat McFadden

Claims that the boss of the Wagner Group, a key part of Russia’s military machine, was aided in a libel action must be run to ground, says shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Pat McFadden

www.theguardian.com

In my opinion, if you want to know why Boris Johnson is so vocally and financially supportive of Ukraine it’s to cover up and deflect just how much he and his cronies have been in bed with the Russians. Likely it’s also to buy some sympathy if it ever rises to the surface.

Cue Lord Hampton (no you can't have Moscow people might ask questions) of Siberia

 

[Bozza]

There was a chap called Tony Saggers, who worked for the National Crime Agency, on 5Live this morning.

His view was that many of the children (and also some he said who are not children at all, but pretend to be) who arrive from Albania are human-trafficked to the UK by organised criminal gangs under the guise of seeking asylum, where they are then picked up and put to work in various criminal activities.

He suggested that they don't go missing at all, in the conventional sense, as they were earmarked to be picked up all along, and they should be returned to Albania as they will be safer there than here where they are exploited.

Having just typed that, I've just found him on twitter, where he posted a thread on this topic yesterday:





Horrible stuff.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Coincidence?

Richard Sharp: BBC chair was shareholder in firm awarded £600k while he was a No 10 adviser

Man alleged to have helped organise loan for Boris Johnson has £3.4m stake in healthcare firm Oncimmune

www.theguardian.com

Being a No.10 advisor under this administration certainly has its advantages.

 

[nicko31]

Coincidence?

Richard Sharp: BBC chair was shareholder in firm awarded £600k while he was a No 10 adviser

Man alleged to have helped organise loan for Boris Johnson has £3.4m stake in healthcare firm Oncimmune

www.theguardian.com

Being a No.10 advisor under this administration certainly has its advantages.

You scratch the weeping sore and more puce comes out

 

[WATFORD zero]

HMRC boss tells MPs ‘innocent errors’ are not penalised amid Zahawi tax row

The head of HM Revenue and Customs has told MPs there are “no penalties for innocent errors” in regards to tax affairs, raising further questions over the circumstances that led to the Conservative party chair, Nadhim Zahawi, being fined by the tax office.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...pc=U591&cvid=84a5de1b8ec4457bb81e46d7ac19eacb

Maybe in these tough financial times where the Government has no money, Sunak could shut down some of these expensive enquiries and simply ask the people he employs to collect taxes instead

 

[rippleman]

HMRC boss tells MPs ‘innocent errors’ are not penalised amid Zahawi tax row

The head of HM Revenue and Customs has told MPs there are “no penalties for innocent errors” in regards to tax affairs, raising further questions over the circumstances that led to the Conservative party chair, Nadhim Zahawi, being fined by the tax office.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...pc=U591&cvid=84a5de1b8ec4457bb81e46d7ac19eacb

Maybe in these tough financial times where the Government has no money, Sunak could shut down some of these expensive enquiries and simply ask the people he employs to collect taxes instead

This is basically true. If, for example, you omit part-time PAYE earnings from a tax return, HMRC will just amend the Self Assessment and no penalty is charged. What would be interesting here is to know whether the disclosure was unprompted ie Zahawi realised his error and notified HMRC of the omission or "prompted" where HMRC contacts the taxpayer and says "we have reason to believe your tax return is incorrect". Any disclosure made after HMRC has contacted the taxpayer would normally get a higher penalty than 30% (unless there was a "reasonable excuse" for the error).

Of course, as HMRC refused to prosecute him (when they have prosecuted others leading to jail sentences for "fiddling" significantly less) we aren't ever going to get all the facts and details of the case.

Zahawi insisting that he "acted properly throughout" is of course a complete nonsense as is the claim that it wasn't "deliberate". You don't "forget" taxable income or capital gains that would have run into millions. Unless of course he is a total incompetent lacking the mental capacity to look after his financial affairs. In which case, WTF is he doing in the Cabinet?

It is impossible for Zahawi to come out of this looking good. An incompetent or corrupt? You be the judge.

 

[Lever]

I am a Tory voter, but I truly believe that there should be a General Election asap as the present shower are unfit for office and require 10 years in opposition to regather and sort themselves out. I will not be voting for them at the next GE.
.
I am appalled by the likes of Zahawi and am staggered that he still holds office.
I am sure that there are many, like me, who hold moderate views, that are equally appalled.
Unlike some of the views expressed on here, not all those who don’t conform to the general NSC view of the world of politics are unspeakable morons.
P.S. I didn’t vote for Brexit, just in case anyone is in any doubt

I salute you or your honesty and fair assessment

 

[The Clamp]

This is basically true. If, for example, you omit part-time PAYE earnings from a tax return, HMRC will just amend the Self Assessment and no penalty is charged. What would be interesting here is to know whether the disclosure was unprompted ie Zahawi realised his error and notified HMRC of the omission or "prompted" where HMRC contacts the taxpayer and says "we have reason to believe your tax return is incorrect". Any disclosure made after HMRC has contacted the taxpayer would normally get a higher penalty than 30% (unless there was a "reasonable excuse" for the error).

Of course, as HMRC refused to prosecute him (when they have prosecuted others leading to jail sentences for "fiddling" significantly less) we aren't ever going to get all the facts and details of the case.

Zahawi insisting that he "acted properly throughout" is of course a complete nonsense as is the claim that it wasn't "deliberate". You don't "forget" taxable income or capital gains that would have run into millions. Unless of course he is a total incompetent lacking the mental capacity to look after his financial affairs. In which case, WTF is he doing in the Cabinet?

It is impossible for Zahawi to come out of this looking good. An incompetent or corrupt? You be the judge.

Ooh! I know this is one; corrupt.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I am a Tory voter, but I truly believe that there should be a General Election asap as the present shower are unfit for office and require 10 years in opposition to regather and sort themselves out. I will not be voting for them at the next GE.
.
I am appalled by the likes of Zahawi and am staggered that he still holds office.
I am sure that there are many, like me, who hold moderate views, that are equally appalled.
Unlike some of the views expressed on here, not all those who don’t conform to the general NSC view of the world of politics are unspeakable morons.
P.S. I didn’t vote for Brexit, just in case anyone is in any doubt.

Rod Stewart agrees with you.

 

[The Clamp]

Rod Stewart fixes his own pot holes. I’ve always admired someone who gets on with stuff. I imagine it’s on a private road but still, he’s out there with the tools.

 

[The Clamp]

Well, not entirely altruistic ….


“A council has invited Sir Rod Stewart to spend a day with its pothole-patching crew after it fixed the potholes in the singer's road. Sir Rod filmed himself fixing the holes in the road near his home in Harlow back in March - complaining it was too damaged to drive his Ferrari on”.
19 Aug 2022

 

[happypig]

It is impossible for Zahawi to come out of this looking good. An incompetent or corrupt? You be the judge.

Can he not be both ?

 

[Bodian]

Can he not be both ?

Yes.

edit - or No. The negative in the question has got me confused as to my answer now. I think 'yes' as an answer to your question may mean he is neither.....

He is both.

 

[The Clamp]

10 Tory MPs who have disgraced themselves in Boris Johnson's government

The Conservative Party is once again at the centre of controversy this week (actually, when is it not?), after a Tory MP resigned from a top government job amid allegations he groped two individuals at a London private member’s club.Just when the Tories were trying to move on from accusations...

www.indy100.com

All you need to know about the latest Tory sleaze scandals involving Nadhim Zahawi and Boris Johnson

Rishi Sunak promised to govern with integrity and professionalism.

leftfootforward.org

 

[Stat Brother]

Hard to keep up.