To wonder what could Starmer do, to turn things around?

I’m not calling for anything.’

Do you know what “hypothetically” means?

Look it up. Im sure there is an online resource you can use.

I take it you mean the fact that Labour's lead in the polls has tanked recently and they are only a couple of points ahead?

Were you calling for a GE when the Tories "squandered" their lead in the polls and were well behind Labour for months on end?

Well the logical rational thing any government should do to improve the economy immediately would be to rejoin the EU.

But a load of idiots make that impossible.

Exactly. I'm not loving a great deal of what I see as yet, but the situation running up to this has been horrendous.

What would people expect the Torys to do differently?

The biggest reason they were voted out is the NHS. That's seriously under funded and not something that can be fixed over night.
It needs extra beds which in turn would next extra staff at all levels from cleaners to surgeons.
And actually the bed they have are understaffed too.

Hypothetically?

Because they’ve squandered it?

@PandoraSox

"Bit why would any PM with a massive majority even think of calling an election less than seven months after their party was elected?"

Exactly- it's just not going to happen!

Bit why would any PM with a massive majority even think of calling an election less than seven months after their party was elected?

Totally this. But he won’t because I think he knows he would lose.

No your neighbour doesn't get that money. Their greedy landlord does.

My neighbour gets over £350 per week in housing benefits alone! That's over £18k just for housing! Those not eligible have to make £18k after tax just to be equal

Very strange how all these posters seem to know so many neighbours and friends who are so willing to share their financial information and even more odd, the exact figures

Funny that

It should be for everyone. We should absolutely join a customs union, single market and adopt schengen borders. Not EU membership out of respect for the desire to leave the EU. But Swiss style relations.

But the problem here is that people aren't really earning what they deserve in relation to what they do so they get angry at others they see as having an easy ride. If people were generally paid better by the organisations that can well afford to, then many would not be so upset and angry at people on benefits.

People on benefits who can work will also be motivated to work. ( If they can).

What about those beasts in the Royal Family. Are you as upset by them and their questionable exploitation of your hard earned money? Smoke and mirrors.

Tax big polluting companies. Tighten up tax loopholes. Stop huge corporations avoiding tax.

@noblegiraffe

"And if Labour were introducing it you know that it would be called a tax on the elderly and disabled who can’t get to the shops."

I'm sure they would be criticised like this, but equally so would any party that introduced it.

@justteanbiscuits

"But it won't be the companies paying for it. And I'm not just talking about Amazon."

You're right- Amazon et al would most likely cover the tax through passing it on to consumers.

But equally all taxpayers are in effect currently carrying the cost of the tax avoided by online retailers offshoring their profits.

Lastly by retaining a working local high street stores there are additional benefits such as local employment and a reduction in crime etc.

Has Labour prioritised the old over the young?

join the customs union at a minimum
stop prioritizing the old over the young
reduce time people can claim benefits for not working. It shouldn’t ever be a choice to work part time and claim benefits. Same with not having to work until a child is 3, it’s normal to work from when a baby is 1.
stop subsidizing employers with low pay.

And if Labour were introducing it you know that it would be called a tax on the elderly and disabled who can’t get to the shops.

But it won't be the companies paying for it. And I'm not just talking about Amazon.

Ok, here’s what Starmer should do:
Remember it’s still very early days
Get better PR - find a way to counteract the right wing media
Carry on making the difficult decisions
Push through planning reforms
No more budget measures that target business - we need business to prosper
No more massive public sector pay increases
Next time raise money by increasing income tax across the board (eg by 1 percent)
Prioritise the reform of social care
Be honest with people about the damage wrought by Brexit
Rejoin the single market
Bring essential services back under government control
Renationalise rail
If we can’t realistically renationalise power and water then at least need to reform these industries - develop proposals
Rethink net zero climate change targets (push them back)
Start preparing people for pension reform (discuss it)
Discuss introducing a health insurance system (reforming the NHS)
Delay free prescriptions to 67 yrs (currently 60)
Introduce NI for pensions over a certain level (ie rich pensioners)
Cosy up to Trump eg let him visit Prince and Princess of Wales in their home, have photo ops with their kids etc (they let Obama do this, before people object)
Smash those illegal immigrant gangs - make some progress!
Do not, repeat do not, legalise cannabis

@justteanbiscuits

"That's an entirely different discussion!"

Is it an entirely different conversation?

Online retailers avoid corporation tax by offshoring their profits, so an online sales tax simply redresses that tax avoidance.

That's an entirely different discussion!

Because the online companies all pay their fair tax right?.... Right?

Normally, they take over when the economy is in a good way and trash it, not when the economy is awful post-COVID. It's quite scary what they could do. We really need them to hold back massive public sector pay increases and reverse their tax on jobs. I'm in the process of not replacing a colleague who has resigned and this doesn't help.