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

[abc]

"
However, business leaders have found time to talk, with one telling us, “It’s pretty simple, the government has created an increasingly hostile environment in which it’s increasingly difficult to thrive.

“From the last PM almost bankrupting the entire nation, to the current one doing nothing to mitigate the issue of them introducing trade barriers with our closest and biggest trade partners.

“Asking why we’re in recession would be like asking a sprinter why he came last after tying his shoelaces together.

“It’s absolutely f**king obvious to everyone who isn’t wearing a blue rosette.”"

Its the government that declared 'f**k business' and lied to bring us Brexit. Economic incompetence has accompanied every policy and subsequent action.

 

[Audax]

I sort of agree with you but I think there is a difference between 'indifferent because I choose to be', compared to 'indifferent because I feel disenfranchised and don't have any faith in the democratic system or the people in charge of it

Whatever it is, it isn't a "now" phenomenon. Looking at by-election turnouts since 1979, there's a clear reduction in average turnouts. Across 79-22, the average is 50.2% apparently. But if you look at the graphed timeline, you've got the 80's running around 60%, then a gradual decline through the early-mid 90's towards 50%, and then a bit of a step-change lower from 97/98ish to sit around 40%.

The last 15 average 37.88%, but that average is dragged down by 3 sub-30% turnouts; although even the lowest of those 3 isn't out of the ordinary as there were comparatively similar (indeed, slightly lower) turnouts in the late 90's and then again in the early 10's.

 

[Bob!]

Whatever it is, it isn't a "now" phenomenon. Looking at by-election turnouts since 1979, there's a clear reduction in average turnouts. Across 79-22, the average is 50.2% apparently. But if you look at the graphed timeline, you've got the 80's running around 60%, then a gradual decline through the early-mid 90's towards 50%, and then a bit of a step-change lower from 97/98ish to sit around 40%.

The last 15 average 37.88%, but that average is dragged down by 3 sub-30% turnouts; although even the lowest of those 3 isn't out of the ordinary as there were comparatively similar (indeed, slightly lower) turnouts in the late 90's and then again in the early 10's.

Isn't this part of the Conservative strategy.
Denying the vote to poorer people that don't have ID?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Isn't this part of the Conservative strategy.
Denying the vote to poorer people that don't have ID?

There were rumours of people having ID but still refused a vote as the photo looked out of date.

 

[Ethelwulf]

Part of me thinks they’ll just want to hang tough and see what happens at the GE.

We have a history of voting against our own best interests.

And you know what? Don’t rule them out winning.

Don’t worry . The Scum bag tories have no chance and I think there is a good chance they get less than 100 seats . Labour has a once in a generation opportunity to make sure the scum
never get back into power again

 

[Ethelwulf]

JRM is a grade A see you next Tuesday .

 

[Greg Bobkin]

WHERE’S PERCY TAU

NO SOUTH AFRICANS!

 

[WATFORD zero]

Don’t worry . The Scum bag tories have no chance and I think there is a good chance they get less than 100 seats . Labour has a once in a generation opportunity to make sure the scum
never get back into power again

Unfortunately, the only way of ensuring a similar cabal don't take over one of the two parties and get absolute power again is by changing the voting system, and I don't think that's going to happen

 

[Pavilionaire]

"Mid-term by-elections are always difficult for incumbent governments"

The words "mid-term" are doing an awful lot of lifting there. We're now into Year 5 of a 5-year parliament. By law there needs to be a General Election by 28 Jan 25.

And when Rishi says taxes are coming down, that's bollocks. Corporation Tax is up, Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax and VAT remain the same, but the tax-free thresholds for Capital Gains and dividends are going down, the 45% Additional Rate tax band is down from £150K to £125,140.

Similarly, the Personal Allowance and Higher Rate tax threshold bands have been frozen so millions are crossing them and paying more tax through stealth.

More Tory lies. They are truly washed up, but now have the added complication of Reform UK, which promises not only to worsen what already promises to be a 2024 General Election horror show but is also likely to mess up the post-election rebuild and rebrand.

 

[schmunk]

"
However, business leaders have found time to talk, with one telling us, “It’s pretty simple, the government has created an increasingly hostile environment in which it’s increasingly difficult to thrive.

“From the last PM almost bankrupting the entire nation, to the current one doing nothing to mitigate the issue of them introducing trade barriers with our closest and biggest trade partners.

“Asking why we’re in recession would be like asking a sprinter why he came last after tying his shoelaces together.

“It’s absolutely f**king obvious to everyone who isn’t wearing a blue rosette.”"

Newsthump is a spoof website.

 

[beorhthelm]

"Mid-term by-elections are always difficult for incumbent governments"

The words "mid-term" are doing an awful lot of lifting there. We're now into Year 5 of a 5-year parliament. By law there needs to be a General Election by 28 Jan 25.

And when Rishi says taxes are coming down, that's bollocks. Corporation Tax is up, Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax and VAT remain the same, but the tax-free thresholds for Capital Gains and dividends are going down, the 45% Additional Rate tax band is down from £150K to £125,140.

Similarly, the Personal Allowance and Higher Rate tax threshold bands have been frozen so millions are crossing them and paying more tax through stealth.

More Tory lies. They are truly washed up, but now have the added complication of Reform UK, which promises not only to worsen what already promises to be a 2024 General Election horror show but is also likely to mess up the post-election rebuild and rebrand.

its ironic how they become a party of higher taxes and couldnt even get credit for or do anything positive with it. though I expect a large personal allowance change as the easy way to soften up the electorate in the next budget.

 

[Bodian]

"Mid-term by-elections are always difficult for incumbent governments"

The words "mid-term" are doing an awful lot of lifting there. We're now into Year 5 of a 5-year parliament. By law there needs to be a General Election by 28 Jan 25.

And when Rishi says taxes are coming down, that's bollocks. Corporation Tax is up, Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax and VAT remain the same, but the tax-free thresholds for Capital Gains and dividends are going down, the 45% Additional Rate tax band is down from £150K to £125,140.

Similarly, the Personal Allowance and Higher Rate tax threshold bands have been frozen so millions are crossing them and paying more tax through stealth.

More Tory lies. They are truly washed up, but now have the added complication of Reform UK, which promises not only to worsen what already promises to be a 2024 General Election horror show but is also likely to mess up the post-election rebuild and rebrand.

Yes - I was also wondering which taxes exactly are 'coming down'? Does anyone know?

Fact check: Sunak’s ‘tax cut’ claims

Rishi Sunak seems to have a New Year’s resolution: to claim that taxes are falling and say it so often that people start to believe him rather than their own lying payslip. He says that the last Budget was the biggest tax-cutting event since the 1980s, etc. He tells today’s Sunday Telegraph that...

www.spectator.co.uk

 

[BLOCK F]

Don’t worry . The Scum bag tories have no chance and I think there is a good chance they get less than 100 seats . Labour has a once in a generation opportunity to make sure the scum
never get back into power again

Well, they’ll have to do a mighty good job if that is to happen.

 

[Lever]

Well, they’ll have to do a mighty good job if that is to happen.

...or the tories remain the toxic brand they are at present.

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

I'm not sure they are as much shy as ashamed of themselves. They know they are doing something which might case them some good individually but collectively disastrous for society. They know that the real reasons they do it, they don't like brown people, they are well off enough not to need the NHS or local services, so don't mind if they go to ruin are unsayable in public, so they come up with implausible excuses, such as they can't vote labour, because there were power cuts in the 70s.

These are Thatchers children and are not shy or ashamed, just a belief there is no such thing as society.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Yes - I was also wondering which taxes exactly are 'coming down'? Does anyone know?

Fact check: Sunak’s ‘tax cut’ claims

Rishi Sunak seems to have a New Year’s resolution: to claim that taxes are falling and say it so often that people start to believe him rather than their own lying payslip. He says that the last Budget was the biggest tax-cutting event since the 1980s, etc. He tells today’s Sunday Telegraph that...

www.spectator.co.uk

Rishi does tend to repeat phrases from the Tory playbook in a very predictable way, whether they are applicable or not. A lot of the time it's like having a robot as P.M. His plan plainly isn't working as we have just go into recession, inflation has stopped falling and Tory voters are staying at home or turning to Reform.

His defence of Israel immediately after the horrific 07 Oct attacks was a response from the pre-9/11 era, was far too generous to Israel and too dismissive of the Palestinian people, and gave Netanyahu carte blanche to do whatever he wanted. I fail to see what he brings to the party.

 

[Peteinblack]

Don’t worry . The Scum bag tories have no chance and I think there is a good chance they get less than 100 seats . Labour has a once in a generation opportunity to make sure the scum
never get back into power again

That would require electoral reform (PR) which Starmer is opposed to, sadly - which means that the Tories will probably be back in 5 or 10 years time, even more Right-wing, nasty, toxic, and 'Trumpian', and possible led by Nigel Farage*

* Faraj is the Malaysian word for female genitalia

 

[clapham_gull]

They are snookered.

Not by Labour but the aftermath of the "populism" of Johnson. That weird (but quite liberal for a Tory) who went for the red wall Brexit vote and let in their fruit loop ERG fringe.

If they lurch further to the right to see off Reform they will lose their traditional voters who won't bother to turn up.

If they return to the centre they'll lose those who have voted for reform.

All they have left is to try and convince voters that Starmer is more scary than them. Evidence suggests it isn't working.

 

[Bodian]

All they have left is to try and convince voters that Starmer is more scary than them. Evidence suggests it isn't working.

And that is why Starmer is being deliberately bland and low key.

 

[clapham_gull]

Now this going to annoy some people, but if you were advising the Conservative party what strategic changes would you suggest to close the polls with Labour ?

Put allegiances to one side.