[Politics] Are Labour going to turn this country around?

[jcdenton08]

Again, surely the issue is that that the Tories did absolutely nothing with the report for years, Labour got in and didn’t mention it once in either their campaign or their time in government until certain far right wags turned up the heat. Rightly or wrongly, at least something might actually get done now.

We have to be honest, this wasn’t being addressed as a priority - if at all - and is an issue which successive governments would obviously like to go away quietly.

 

[chickens]

Again, surely the issue is that that the Tories did absolutely nothing with the report for years, Labour got in and didn’t mention it once in either their campaign or their time in government until certain far right wags turned up the heat. Rightly or wrongly, at least something might actually get done now.

We have to be honest, this wasn’t being addressed as a priority - if at all - and is an issue which successive governments would obviously like to go away quietly.

Agree it wasn’t what the election was fought on, and absolutely if this is happening we want to find and catch those responsible. The Conservatives making political hay out of an issue they did f*** all about during their time in office is the worst kind of political opportunism.

The level of trauma suffered by victims makes this absolutely the worst possible type of case to become a political football. To say I’m unimpressed is the understatement of the century.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Thanks for highlighting the Eton development, first I've heard of their proposals near East Chiltington.
That constituency actually voted for LDs James MacCleary at the last election, so would have limited relevance in any further General Election swing.

If you have any further links of how development decisions are being made I'd be interested, it appears to me all the Party's are against it and rejected?

I haven’t I’m afraid. I will ask a local neighbour & councillor if she has any news.

 

[ROSM]

Excess deaths over ’expectations’ was the only accepted measure, I‘m going by James O’Brien’s mate at the Economist, but also John Hopkins Uni.

They only had one proviso. Countries such as Russia and China lie.

France, Spain and Belgium part emptied care/nursing homes in spring 2020, unknowingly sending Covid into the community. Sound familiar? The same error made in the UK’s 4 nations.

I'm glad you're using John Hopkins..working on covid response for a major multinational company we found it to be a very reliable source.

I'm not sure your points take away from anything I wrote in my response. You make a valid point on france and Spain (I can't speak for Belgium re Care homes) which makes our repeating of it all the more concerning I would have thought.

 

[dsr-burnley]

There are a series of posts elsewhere on this forum about Sweden and their covid progress focusing on 4 areas

Population density - larger space between communities

Economic approach - not a travel hub, communities more self sufficient etc

General population health - starting position of population less compromised

Misinformation - Sweden did undertake a number of control measure many earlier than uk. It wasn't the free for all that many had written at the time

Brazil has some similarities in terms of misinformation and population density. However the biggest issue is quality of data. So excess deaths are nigh on impossible ti quantify with any accuracy. Despite all this, Brazil did admit to having 750k covid deaths and an excess death ratio of c290 per 100k . However many health professionals report a serious level of under reporting in both columns amd until the next full census (which still won't include the favalas to any level of accuracy) the picture won't be fully clear. Edit - there was a census in 2022 but it was a much reduced one due to covid and budget being cut by 80% - results were published in June 23 but analysis is ongoing into death rates

Population density is the reddest of red herrings. The population density of the UK is significantly lower than the population density of England, and yet the number of deaths per head is (of course) very similar - if you double the size of the country by sticking a large lump of fairly empty land on it, you don't affect the impact of a pandemic on the rest. Most Swedes, like most Britons, live in towns and cities.

I agree all your other points as having merit.

However, the excess deaths still ongoing are of morbid interest - I understand that we diagnosed about 50,000 fewer cancer cases during lockdown than normal. One dreads to think if they are coming back to bite.

 

[mile oak]

clearly not as Farage gains popularity

 

[Chicken Run]

clearly not as Farage gains popularity

If the likes of Trump, Farage, Le Penn & Musk continue to gain traction in the Western World then surely it’s time for mainstream centrist politicians to start changing the playbook and perhaps understanding the electorate a little better, otherwise the alternative isn’t really worth thinking about

 

[abc]

Agree. Labour have been in power for 6 months out of a probable 5 year term. It's like deciding the outcome of a football match after 9 mins.

Unless you are already 5-0 down after 9 mins and down to 10 men!

Seriously though, you are correct. However, for me, the real story here is that at this point in time over 50% of the voting population say they would vote for one of two parties that sit well to the right of centre. This will make it politically very difficult for Labour to pursue any policies that are perceived to be left leaning - not because they can't with such a majority but out of the fear of losing more support that they cant recover at the next election. Life is going to remain very difficult for Starmer, however much he wants to pursue positive societal change. I foresee (and fear) a sort of political and policy paralysis that helps no one as a result

 

[Weststander]

I'm glad you're using John Hopkins..working on covid response for a major multinational company we found it to be a very reliable source.

I'm not sure your points take away from anything I wrote in my response. You make a valid point on france and Spain (I can't speak for Belgium re Care homes) which makes our repeating of it all the more concerning I would have thought.

The nursing homes were emptied simultaneously in March to May 2020, across western Europe. Knee-jerk from unknowing owners, health services and governments.

 

[Bodian]

However, for me, the real story here is that at this point in time over 50% of the voting population say they would vote for one of two parties that sit well to the right of centre.

25 + 22 = 47%, not over 50%.

But yes - a definite swing right.

 

[Rdodge30]

Well, finding an opportunity is what we do.
And the Brits used to be the best at that

Except….


However, Blackrock, a major investment management firm, has been actively investing in and acquiring farmland in the UK: Blackrock is launching a £100m hedge fund to buy up farmland across Britain .24 Nov 2024

 

[dsr-burnley]

Except….


However, Blackrock, a major investment management firm, has been actively investing in and acquiring farmland in the UK: Blackrock is launching a £100m hedge fund to buy up farmland across Britain .24 Nov 2024

Hedge fund? Must be a southern thing. It would be a dry stone wall fund up here.

What the government could have done with farms (and other businesses that have lost IHT relief as well) is charge IHT only on the agricultural value of the business and not on the speculative value. Then, if and when the land is sold, charge the full whack IHT at 40% on the profit. (Actually that would be fairer on all assets. It seems harsh that family heirlooms should be charged at 40% of their value again and again and again, every time someone dies.)

At present government practice (if not policy) is to encourage family farmers to sell up to hedge funds and the like, because it is far more advantageous for tax all round. If farmers are allowed to retain the land as long as it is farmed in the family, then I reckon it would be better for the industry and for the population in general.

 

[Rdodge30]

Hedge fund? Must be a southern thing. It would be a dry stone wall fund up here.

What the government could have done with farms (and other businesses that have lost IHT relief as well) is charge IHT only on the agricultural value of the business and not on the speculative value. Then, if and when the land is sold, charge the full whack IHT at 40% on the profit. (Actually that would be fairer on all assets. It seems harsh that family heirlooms should be charged at 40% of their value again and again and again, every time someone dies.)

At present government practice (if not policy) is to encourage family farmers to sell up to hedge funds and the like, because it is far more advantageous for tax all round. If farmers are allowed to retain the land as long as it is farmed in the family, then I reckon it would be better for the industry and for the population in general.

It all ties in with the loosening of planning restrictions for new housing- developers and investment funds buying up farmland

 

[abc]

25 + 22 = 47%, not over 50%.

But yes - a definite swing right.

Woops

 

[mile oak]

If the likes of Trump, Farage, Le Penn & Musk continue to gain traction in the Western World then surely it’s time for mainstream centrist politicians to start changing the playbook and perhaps understanding the electorate a little better, otherwise the alternative isn’t really worth thinking about

im VERY happy thinking about Farage running this country

 

[Is it PotG?]

What could POSSIBLY go wrong?

 

[Rdodge30]

Step in Ed Milliband…. Our next Prime Minister? What an opportunity to show what a team player he is AND put himself in the shop window.

Most dangerous place in Westminster is getting in between Ed and a tv camera

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Except….


However, Blackrock, a major investment management firm, has been actively investing in and acquiring farmland in the UK: Blackrock is launching a £100m hedge fund to buy up farmland across Britain .24 Nov 2024

I see.

Any idea who is behind this?

Is it to be used as farmland (I guess it would have to be)?

Run by a new class of tenant farmer?

Sorry, I'm not quite following the narrative here.

 

[Rdodge30]

I see.

Any idea who is behind this?

Is it to be used as farmland (I guess it would have to be)?

Run by a new class of tenant farmer?

Sorry, I'm not quite following the narrative here.

The suggestion is that (some of) the policies unveiled so far by the Labour government have been in a civil service wish list file for a long time - at least since the previous government.

The combination of financial pressure on small farmers and the expectation of relaxed planning laws to enable house building in an unprecedented level

Notwithstanding that the Chancellor’s husband is a civil servant who previously worked at the Treasury- a more likely link to my eyes is that James Bowler the permanent treasury secretary is still in place at the treasury despite being involved in the last Government’s alleged black hole cover up.

If any Government policies are in fact civil service policies then he would seem to be the connection.

So the obvious question as always is ‘who benefits?’

Blackrock already have over £1B worth of housing in the UK …and that figure is from 3 years ago and a couple of months ago they set aside £100m to buy UK farmland, I can only assume for building houses when planning restrictions are eased and small farms already on the edge decide to just sell up.

It is what it is and we are where we are, something doesn’t quite sit right but there you have it. It’s almost like something straight out of a Tory playbook

I revise my previous opinion that the Labour Government had no chance of building the number of houses they said they would- it seems now quite likely that they will

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

The suggestion is that (some of) the policies unveiled so far by the Labour government have been in a civil service wish list file for a long time - at least since the previous government.

The combination of financial pressure on small farmers and the expectation of relaxed planning laws to enable house building in an unprecedented level

Notwithstanding that the Chancellor’s husband is a civil servant who previously worked at the Treasury- a more likely link to my eyes is that James Bowler the permanent treasury secretary is still in place at the treasury despite being involved in the last Government’s alleged black hole cover up.

If any Government policies are in fact civil service policies then he would seem to be the connection.

So the obvious question as always is ‘who benefits?’

Blackrock already have over £1B worth of housing in the UK …and that figure is from 3 years ago and a couple of months ago they set aside £100m to buy UK farmland, I can only assume for building houses when planning restrictions are eased and small farms already on the edge decide to just sell up.

It is what it is and we are where we are, something doesn’t quite sit right but there you have it. It’s almost like something straight out of a Tory playbook

I revise my previous opinion that the Labour Government had no chance of building the number of houses they said they would- it seems now quite likely that they will

I see. A sort of conspiracy between civil servants, and HMG to build on farmland.
Presumably with massive back handers to the Labour party from 'Black rock'?
Or maybe family members of the cabinet are on the board of Black Rock?

If all this is true then it should deservedly bring down the government.

If only bits of it are true (the bits not involving family members of HMG making a fat wedge, or HMG allowing speculators to breach planning rules) then it would look like Labour meeting their election pledges.

Which is nice.

Unless you add in that Labour have made poor farmers pay a bit of inheritance tax in order to push them over the edge and into selling their farms for a pittance to developers. In other words a conspiracy of sorts.

I wonder what @abc (for I think it is he who as Insights) thinks.