Starmer son finds a quiet place to study for GCSEs

They are an embarrassment to left wing politics, the state of politics in the UK is absolutely shameful, finger pointing and no accountability left or right. I’m not going to be patronised about the choices I have made for my child, by someone who is also willing to buy educational advantage and is paying nothing for it. Shame on you Starmer - and anyone feeble minded enough to cast a vote for him. Don’t think you’ll be waiting long for the fall @Dollybantree

God, this is so true.

It’s actually amusing seeing them trying to cough and splutter and make pathetic excuses for what has already turned into a shitshow of a government.

Labour are just wolves in sheep’s clothing but who also try to occupy some moralistic pedestal in which they talk down to those who don’t think like them. They are the biggest hypocrites of the lot.

I can’t wait to see them fall.

Opponents of Labour should be sensible in their criticism (especially as most Labour supporters aren’t when they attack the Tories). In which case it should be said that the Tories moved to end non dom status, but were to introduce some softening conditions, largely about trust-based exemption against IHT, as I understand it.

Labour said it would do away with these ‘loopholes’. Now it seems that the OBR is likely to conclude that a harsher non dom regime won’t raise anything. And the wealthy are reported to be moving out.

If Labour just said “fair dos, we’ll leave it where the Tories planned to” I’d respect them for that. It would come wrapped up in political excuses, but that’s the same for all parties. Even so, it would at least be creditable.

I fear that changes of course are off the table now, though, after all the bad press about freebies etc.

And talking of anti bribery. Wiki gives a succinct overview.

In 2024, The Guardian reported that Alli had donated £500,000 to the party since 2020, as well as giving Starmer personal donations worth over £50,000

In August 2024, The Times reported that Alli had been given unrestricted access to 10 Downing Street, uncommon for anyone not formally employed in the Prime Minister's office, and that he had held a reception for party donors in the Downing Street garden.[37]

He was also reported to have gifted Starmer nearly £16,200 of free clothing, which initially was not properly declared, while Starmer’s wife, Victoria, was given £5,000 of free clothing, which at first was not declared.[38] The Daily Telegraph referred to Alli's loan of a "swanky" apartment to the Starmers, with a value of £20,000, as "donor-gate."[39] The Telegraph also reported that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner faced an investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner over the use of Alli's $2.5-million New York apartment.[40]

the whiff of corruption is now a stench.

And when we look at anti bribery laws, it isn’t just money as said, it is anything of high value to the recipient, be it attending a prestige sports event,,like starmers season ticket upgrade, or a holiday, travel in a private jet, clothing etc.

becsude if you accept the gift, then you may need to give something back, effectively it is a bribe, to do something , in this instance politically, or use your power to benefit the giver.

it is illegal. Starmer is a lawyer, he knows it is illegal. He knows why you can’t accept high value gifts due to the perception of corruption.

and yet, him, his wife and raynor started accepting before they even won. And carried on taking after.

Not an educational advantage, no. A way to prevent an educational disadvantage, maybe.

Are any of you able to address the policies of the current Labour government rather than continually looking to deflect?

You were relatively rude to another poster. Labour supporters aren’t very comfortable unless they feel they occupy the moral high ground, which isn’t looking very plausible. Respectfully, I think your mock indignation is laughable.

Do you think Sunak was incompetent when he had to find a way to deal with the Covid lockdown months, being Chancellor at the time?

Shock horror!!! report commissioned by the Independent Schools Sector, finds VAT on fees would be a disaster.

More independent research - IFS - shows it would raise £6bn over the course of this Parliament.

I think they lack competence, and broader financial acumen

Yes Cameron (Brexit) Osbourne, Johnson, Sunak, Truss and Kwarteng has these by the bucket load didn't they?

What a fantastic place they have left the UK after 14years, no growth, a shattered NHS (14000 deaths each year caused by AE failings, 8m on waiting lists) crumbling roads and buildings..... what a legacy.... no wonder the idiots focus on a suit, they ve nothing else to say.

I think they lack competence, and broader financial acumen

It's much worse than this - lack of competence (assuming there's some intellect) can be compensated by hiring experts or at least listening to those who have competence and experience.

The fundamental issue is that they put ideology above actual outcomes and this is what I find terrifying.

So his position got him an educational advantage for his son. Does that mean he will be paying 20% VAT on it? To improve the education of all other children?

Just like he is insisting parents, whose positions mean they can afford the educational advantage for their children, pay 20% VAT?

Money may not have changed hands but his job is buying his children and educational advantage. Seems only fair he puts his hand in his own deep pockets and pays the 20% out.

Shock horror!!! report commissioned by the Independent Schools Sector, finds VAT on fees would be a disaster.

More independent research - IFS - shows it would raise £6bn over the course of this Parliament.

I think they lack competence, and broader financial acumen

Yes Cameron (Brexit) Osbourne, Johnson, Sunak, Truss and Kwarteng has these by the bucket load didn't they?

What a fantastic place they have left the UK after 14years, no growth, a shattered NHS (14000 deaths each year caused by AE failings, 8m on waiting lists) crumbling roads and buildings..... what a legacy.... no wonder the idiots focus on a suit, they ve nothing else to say.

What even is the noise?

Can someone say why a band of journos would be outside Keir's door when he's doing press events up and down the country due to actual campaigning

It's nuts how he's lied about this

And noise cancelling headphones.

And noise cancelling headphones.

Round here we have these things called libraries ...