The UK has borrowed too much money, has a massive debt - £105 billion goes on paying our debt interest

The NI policies have stalled growth and Labour were relying on that. Putting a tax on work was counter productive.

As for welfare cuts and other cuts I guess we’ll see whether Labour’s version is different in some way.

I'm fine with the welfare cuts tbf. The welfare state is too big and too generous. I assume it's one of the reasons UK productivity is lagging.

Lockdown definitely made the economy worse and was way overblown. Just seen how Sweden avoided it

That may be the case but it's pointless to compare is to Sweden and we don't know what impact the alternative would have had.

Brexit also damaged the economy but fundamentally we never recovered from 08

I heard someone wanting change in electric pricing market on Radio 4 PM - suggesting that we have cheaper electricity where it's produced often in poorer areas rather than building massive infrastructure to transport it across UK we could try encouraging though price things like data centers who use a lot to those areas and kick start those areas.

Lockdown definitely made the economy worse and was way overblown. Just seen how Sweden avoided it

It wasn't just underinvestment by government private companies also didn't invest enough. Also we have too much regional differences with high productivity concentrated in London where it should be spread across other cities. We need a radical change really & more long term thinking as this will take years to change.

People who know economics etc, was Tory austerity ever needed?

Uncharted with Hannah Fry 10. Devil in the Detail

At time there was a paper that said at 90% debt countries economies collapse - it seems the research that supported this seems to have been a spread sheet error. Though the conclusion of program was the polticans arguing for asterity did before and after this paper and it was more ideology driven and now some of the previous proponents outside UK think it damaged the UK.

We need more investment

@EasternStandard I think means testing wfa is ok although perhaps the cut off could be higher. I think we do need to look at reforms to pip, AA etc but more overall austerity won't increase growth.

What do you think has worked or will work??

It’s grimly fascinating to see how few people have mentioned the real elephant in the room - mass immigration. They’d rather shaft/ blame pensioners and the disabled than even mention the population explosion, which is the ACTUAL reason that housing is so limited and expensive. The real reason their kids are finding it impossible to move out.

An ageing population does matter & one reason governments haven't reduced immigration

What do you think of Labour’s cuts to welfare and other departments?

Some of us tried to point out that months and months of lockdowns (way beyond what was needed) would have very bad economic consequences. We were told to shut up and stop murdering grannies.

Many countries locked down. We had economic problems before covid.

People who know economics etc, was Tory austerity ever needed?

It didn't work

Been thinking then why do austerity if you can spend, invest in the economy and help people? Why did all the parties say some form of cuts were needed?

No, he was spot on.

It's just said I used to watch Paul Krugman videos criticizing austerity saying that stimulus spending was the way to go. Was he wrong?

Wasn't it Ed Milliband who also admitted he'd have to impose austerity if he won that GE? Now of course, RR is about to impose it due to her incompetence last year which collapsed growth which was the bedrock of her finances! So it's really not just a Tory policy. If there's no money, there's no money. Successive governments don't seem to understand the difference between spending and investment. Even worse, Gordon Brown tried to fool the international financial markets by trying to claim that wages, say to NHS nurses, wasn't an expense but an "investment" in the nation's health - he was put back in his box very swiftly by the international financiers and told not to be so bloody stupid!

People who know economics etc, was Tory austerity ever needed? Why can't Keynesian spending and investment save us?

But clearly NOT the ones being talked about in this thread relating to that property for sale!

Yup. All those making bread all day happily being paid furlough to do nothing. It also caused a lot of people to start spouting nonsense about how "the future" would be universal income so people wouldn't need to work. Not a thought as to how it was all going to be paid for. Lots of people knew it would cripple the economy for years to come, but yes, were told to shut up and stop murdering grannies. Total muppets! This is what happens when you have widespread financial illiteracy among the population.

Some of us tried to point out that months and months of lockdowns (way beyond what was needed) would have very bad economic consequences. We were told to shut up and stop murdering grannies.

OP said her D's could get £100k and that house was only £90k money left for roof replacement but it would probably not have to be done immediately. It might be fine for another year. Anyway they might accept an offer slightly lower because of roof.

And there are towns where you won’t find jobs in certain trades and professions. People aren’t going to move, give up their trade or profession and work in retail or hospitality or an Amazon warehouse.

Different materials, different construction methods. Are you really saying dozens of new roofs on that street were all done for shit and giggles? In your world there should be no new roofs as you clearly think all will last 200 years. Bad news for roofing contractors.

Some people have jobs that tie them to an area or family they need to be around for. I could not move up north as I need to be near my elderly parents. We can’t all just pick up and move.