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Politics
Original poster

Andy Burnham's new cabinet - who's in, who's out.

357 replies

Twiglets1 · 20/07/2026 17:46

John Healey, who quit as Keir Starmer's defence secretary last month, has been pictured walking up Downing Street - is he about to be reinstated as Defence Secretary, I wonder.

Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood also photographed walking up Downing Street together - but we still don't which positions they will be given in Cabinet.

OP posts:
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Original poster
Twiglets1 · 23/07/2026 06:41

Business rates to be cut by 20% for pubs, clubs and live music venues

Business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues will be cut by 20% across England from April next year, Downing Street has announced.

It adds the government will also "crack down" on businesses selling through online marketplaces which "do not comply with their tax obligations".

Downing Street says the tax cut, which will cost around £100 million a year, will be funded by a review of tax reliefs currently given to businesses which "do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops".

“Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of communities across the UK," says Chancellor John Healey of the business rates cut announcement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cdewkelwrgjt

OP posts:
RodneyKitten · 23/07/2026 06:39

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 23:19

1.6 million available to work. Goodness we could have cleaner streets than Switzerland !

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Yes, but work is cruel punishment, don’t you know?

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 23:19

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 22:52

Economically inactive doesn’t equate to receiving benefits. There are 1.6 million people claiming out of work benefits.

1.6 million available to work. Goodness we could have cleaner streets than Switzerland !

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 22:52

Economically inactive doesn’t equate to receiving benefits. There are 1.6 million people claiming out of work benefits.

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 22:46

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 22:33

Numerous reasons, the main one being that there are very few job vacancies.

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There’s around 700k job vacancies at the moment. Not all minimum wage I grant you. But surely some of the 10 million adults of working age who are economically inactive will have experience to place them higher up the job ladder?

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 22:33

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 22:16

If the minimum wage pays hundreds a week more than benefits, why are so few not rushing into work?

It’s a puzzle wrapped inside an enigma.

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Numerous reasons, the main one being that there are very few job vacancies.

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 22:16

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 22:09

Benefits aren’t often higher than minimum wage. A single person gets less than £400 a month. If we want work done we should pay minimum wage not exploit people. The difference is more than £300 a week.

Edited

If the minimum wage pays hundreds a week more than benefits, why are so few not rushing into work?

It’s a puzzle wrapped inside an enigma.

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 22:09

Benefits aren’t often higher than minimum wage. A single person gets less than £400 a month. If we want work done we should pay minimum wage not exploit people. The difference is more than £300 a week.

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 21:57

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 21:16

My argument is entirely correct. If we want people to pick up other people’s crap then we pay them minimum wage to do so. We don’t exploit them by expecting them to do it in exchange for benefits.

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What difference does it make if it’s benefits (often higher) or minimum wage in return for litter picking?

Either way, if you don’t turn up for your shift, you don’t get paid; this is how it works in the real world.

RodneyKitten · 22/07/2026 21:25

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 21:16

My argument is entirely correct. If we want people to pick up other people’s crap then we pay them minimum wage to do so. We don’t exploit them by expecting them to do it in exchange for benefits.

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Don’t you want to pay back to society for what you are happy to receive?

Sad.

You seem a lovely poster, so disappointing you think working is punishment.

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 21:16

RodneyKitten · 22/07/2026 20:31

Sorry, but your argument is utterly wrong.

When you don’t work you run the risk to end up on the street you don’t pay your rent or your mortgage.

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My argument is entirely correct. If we want people to pick up other people’s crap then we pay them minimum wage to do so. We don’t exploit them by expecting them to do it in exchange for benefits.

RodneyKitten · 22/07/2026 20:31

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 20:20

Your idea is the epitome of forced labour. Go and pick up other people’s crap or you starve and live on the street. People forced to work under threat of punishment.

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Sorry, but your argument is utterly wrong.

When you don’t work you run the risk to end up on the street you don’t pay your rent or your mortgage.

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 20:29

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 20:20

Your idea is the epitome of forced labour. Go and pick up other people’s crap or you starve and live on the street. People forced to work under threat of punishment.

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No. It’s providing a service to the community. Helping create a nicer environment. One of my first jobs I was paid to pick up litter. There is great pride in making a place clean and tidy.

RodneyKitten · 22/07/2026 20:28

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 19:47

Yes it is. It’s forced labour.

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What’s wrong with working for the money you get?

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 20:20

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 20:05

It isn’t forced. If my kids don’t do their chores they don’t get their pocket money. That doesn’t make them modern slaves!

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Your idea is the epitome of forced labour. Go and pick up other people’s crap or you starve and live on the street. People forced to work under threat of punishment.

Talltreesbythelake · 22/07/2026 20:11

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 20:05

It isn’t forced. If my kids don’t do their chores they don’t get their pocket money. That doesn’t make them modern slaves!

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You are being flippant, but think how hard it can be to make one child do something they don't want to. Now imagine that you have to make an unwilling adult pick up dog crap. How much coercion would be needed? It would be an awful job for the person tasked with this.

PropertyD · 22/07/2026 20:11

Can we stop making excuses for the feckless and lazy who grab at benefits but don’t want to do anything in return.

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 20:05

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 19:47

Yes it is. It’s forced labour.

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It isn’t forced. If my kids don’t do their chores they don’t get their pocket money. That doesn’t make them modern slaves!

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 19:47

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 16:46

So litter picking for benefits isn’t modern slavery then. Thanks for clarifying.

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Yes it is. It’s forced labour.

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 16:46

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 12:20

  1. Modern Slavery
While illegal worldwide, slavery continues to exist in various coercive forms. Modern slavery refers to situations where a person cannot refuse or leave exploitation due to threats, violence, coercion, or abuse of power. Forms of modern slavery include: Anti-Slavery International +3
  • Human Trafficking: The use of force, fraud, or coercion to recruit or harbor people for labor or exploitation.
  • Forced Labor: People being made to work against their will under the threat of violence or punishment.
  • Debt Bondage: The most widespread form of modern slavery, occurring when people are forced to work to pay off an impossible or un-payable debt.
  • Descent-based Slavery: A condition where people are born into slavery because their ancestors belonged to the enslaved class.
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So litter picking for benefits isn’t modern slavery then. Thanks for clarifying.

BurntBroccoli · 22/07/2026 13:16

EasternStandard · 22/07/2026 12:29

The centre left party Labor in Australia have kept it as a programme. If you’d like an example.

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And what have been the successes?

EasternStandard · 22/07/2026 12:29

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 11:32

‘modern slavery’ picking up litter in return for benefits.

Talk about hyperbole. 😄

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The centre left party Labor in Australia have kept it as a programme. If you’d like an example.

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 12:20

PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 11:32

‘modern slavery’ picking up litter in return for benefits.

Talk about hyperbole. 😄

Show quote history
  1. Modern Slavery
While illegal worldwide, slavery continues to exist in various coercive forms. Modern slavery refers to situations where a person cannot refuse or leave exploitation due to threats, violence, coercion, or abuse of power. Forms of modern slavery include: Anti-Slavery International +3
  • Human Trafficking: The use of force, fraud, or coercion to recruit or harbor people for labor or exploitation.
  • Forced Labor: People being made to work against their will under the threat of violence or punishment.
  • Debt Bondage: The most widespread form of modern slavery, occurring when people are forced to work to pay off an impossible or un-payable debt.
  • Descent-based Slavery: A condition where people are born into slavery because their ancestors belonged to the enslaved class.
PinkFruitbat · 22/07/2026 11:32

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 11:21

I’m not the one slagging off “benefit scroungers”. Or advocating modern slavery. I’m surprised workhouses haven’t featured yet.

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‘modern slavery’ picking up litter in return for benefits.

Talk about hyperbole. 😄

BIossomtoes · 22/07/2026 11:21

NorthXNorthWest · 22/07/2026 10:26

Where are yours?

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I’m not the one slagging off “benefit scroungers”. Or advocating modern slavery. I’m surprised workhouses haven’t featured yet.