Is The IMF taking Over perhaps just what the country needs

Yes because it is always, without exception, someone else's fault isn't it? Usually Tories or Reform. Or right wing press/posters stirring up negativity etc.

Unable to take accountability or responsibility for plainly shit policies and decisions. Just always the fault of someone else.

"What about the Tories"? Wore thin after 6 months. Labour have been in power for 14 months now. They need to start owning it and taking responsibility. Will they still be blaming Tories at the next election? (Oh of course they will 🙄).

Surely it depends on just how many black holes Rachel ‘finds’ ? You can’t keep finding them and expect Giit yields not to shoot up.

I’m enjoying the space theme.

Because (unlike an asteroid) there would be warnings. When they stepped in in 1976 (because Labour had inherited the mother of all debts from the previous Tory government) it was flagged up for months before hand. By a jubilant press who were really upset that the Tories lost the October 1974 election when Ted Heath famously asked the country "Who's in charge".

Of course part of the debt spiral was driven by energy prices spiking after a foreign war.

As they say, history may not repeat itself, but it rhymes.

I can also assure all posters that no matter what they read (or think they read) there will not be conscription in the next 10 years.

I never was one for diaries, but I'm quite happy to go through all and every headline and find out the predecessor and where the sky didn't fall in.

Have we had "the army is being put on standby" yet ? That's a perennial favourite.

The truth is, it's taken 14 of declining living standards to crystallise them into a political movement i.e. Reform and with the help of the right wing media, the ramping up of this fear (just like this thread) makes people afraid and seek out simplistic solutions from populist, authoritarian politicians.

Because (unlike an asteroid) there would be warnings. When they stepped in in 1976 (because Labour had inherited the mother of all debts from the previous Tory government) it was flagged up for months before hand. By a jubilant press who were really upset that the Tories lost the October 1974 election when Ted Heath famously asked the country "Who's in charge".

Of course part of the debt spiral was driven by energy prices spiking after a foreign war.

As they say, history may not repeat itself, but it rhymes.

I can also assure all posters that no matter what they read (or think they read) there will not be conscription in the next 10 years.

I never was one for diaries, but I'm quite happy to go through all and every headline and find out the predecessor and where the sky didn't fall in.

Have we had "the army is being put on standby" yet ? That's a perennial favourite.

Don't small asteroids hit earth quite frequently?

Just googled it and it appears so. Large ones with devastating consequences are rare but not so much the small ones.

The reality is no-one on this thread knows what will happen if the IMF have to bail us out.

However as a condition of helping they will impose changes to bring us back to a sustainable position where we start to repay our debt rather than adding to it each month.

This will almost certainly involve cuts to areas like benefits, the NHS and the retirement age. I mean how could it not?
The current spending is getting us into a lot of trouble - it has to be changed and I think everyone will be impacted.

As to the exact areas which will be hit the hardest nobody can say for sure. However based on all the outcry about welfare state and PIP which has dominated the news I would think these areas will definately get hit. I would also expect some changes to immigrants based on the current protests/spending on them. I also think things like housing benefit will be cut but I could be wrong of course.

For me who gets no benefits but was planning on the state pension I am already anticipating the age going up to 70 before I get it.
It may turn out to be worse than that and then i will need to think again how I will manage. For example if they remove the triple lock. Worst case scenario they stop it all together.

I am planning on needing to pay for some of my own medical care as the NHS is phased out or becomes private. I am trying to get my health in tip top condition just now to avoid huge bills.

I have a 3 bed house. I would hate lodgers but it's an option if things get really bad. So is downsizing to free up cash.

I think it would be wise for people to start mentally preparing that life is quite likely going to get more difficult and we will need to be more self sufficient.
Nobody wants to do this. Denial is a lovely comforting place to be. That won't stop the changes coming though. Sorry!

I honestly think it's very unhelpful to say 'oh course benefits won't be cut'

Why so certain?

Just for some balance as I have been accused of getting all my information from the telegraph (I don't)

Here is todays Guardian.
Pressure rises on Reeves as government borrowing costs hit 27-year high | Economics | The Guardian

The reality is no-one on this thread knows what will happen if the IMF have to bail us out.

The chances of which are the same as being struck by an asteroid.

Don't small asteroids hit earth quite frequently?

Just googled it and it appears so. Large ones with devastating consequences are rare but not so much the small ones.

Ideological faith seems to be what it comes down to, keep believing.

The reality is no-one on this thread knows what will happen if the IMF have to bail us out.

The chances of which are the same as being struck by an asteroid.

Ideological faith seems to be what it comes down to, keep believing.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the thread.

I think what has come of of the thread is that there is no clear solution that we all agree on and people are angry and frightened at what the future holds.

I think labour's first mistake was reversing the winter fuel allowance.
This showed they were a goverment that could not stand up and make hard decisions which lets be honest is what we need.

I guess I admire Maggie Thatcher because she stood by her policies and decisions even when she faced lots of opposition. People may not have liked some of her policies but she was strong and decisive and didn't let public opinion push her about.

RR from the very start seemed to be more interested in being popular than being good at the job. Anyway from todays news it seems she is on her way out and that I would say is a good decision. (I disagree with the papers saying she is putting on a brave face by the way. I think she is just super relieved to not be responsible anymore and I can't blame her for that)
Reeves undermined as Starmer poaches her Treasury deputy in No 10 reshuffle

I don't want our country to need an IMF bailout. My question was 'could it be the best thing in the long run'. What a want is a strong goverment creating growth and returning us to prosperity. I do think there are lots of areas that need cut and changed. If our goverment isn't strong enough to do this then yes the IMF might be best for us if they are going to make the hard choices that our goverment can't or won't. It will be an interesting autumn budget for sure.

Ok bear with me. This sounds like an idiotic thing to say because if the IMF are involved it means the country is officially in a mess and the IMF will slash spending and enforce their own budgets and rules. So anyone on benefits might lose them, NHS funding will likely go down, same for the police force etc

It just occurred to me today that the country is in a complete mess and there isn't really any end in sight.

Headlines today - I didn't read the detail but I am just getting more angry, helpless feeling and frustrated and want 'somebody' who has some balls to step in and say enough. Things change from today. Todays headlines are rising taxes, 1/10 high school kids on benefits, families of migrants can claim benefits from day 1 even if they don't speak english.

Now i will caveat this by saying the housing market does need sorted but lets be honest that's not what they are trying to do here - it's just about raising taxes. I also say there is another articles claiming ' a crackdown on bring families into Britain' - something that made me snort with derision giving the whole small boats/protests going on just now.

I mean lets just get to the point. Does ANYONE think RR/KS are able to fix this mess. I know they didn't cause it. I know they have been in office less than a year but if we give them another year are they able to fix it. I personally don't think so. It is going to need someone very tough to brave the mess and take it in hand (Maggie Thatcher where are you now).
So what are we left with - voting Reform - which I have joked about doing but i don't actually think that is the way to go. That's borne out of desperation. So who is going to fix it then.

AIBU to think a complete reset, painful as it will be by the IMF is just what the country needs?

House prices drop unexpectedly amid property tax fears - latest updates

The ‘ludicrous’ migrant family rule pushing councils to breaking point

One in 10 secondary schoolchildren on disability benefits

Agree. If I ever feel like faltering about this Government, I come onto threads like this one and my faith is restored. Keep up the good work everyone!

Agree. If I ever feel like faltering about this Government, I come onto threads like this one and my faith is restored. Keep up the good work everyone!

It's 1% who think UK is in a much better place than last year.
Less than 0.5% who think it will get much better in next year.

They need some faith from somewhere!

Yes this is what drives these sorts of threads, the Cons can't stand losing power.

They don't give a 4x about the country, its power only, they'd see the UK go down the pan than see it succeed under another Govt... see Hunts NI cuts, not done as an election bribe even but to hamper Labour or rather the UK.

So suck it up buttercups, you had 14 years and wrecked everything.

It's 1% who think UK is in a much better place than last year.
Less than 0.5% who think it will get much better in next year.

They need some faith from somewhere!