Thread 12 Starmer: From Prescott to Rayner, working class grit

[DuncinToffee]

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https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5203242-thread-11-starmer-will-that-phone-call-be-to-harris-or-to-trump-the-decidedly-superior-looking-cats-thread?page=40&reply=139989436

I can share some peoples concerns with regards some decisions (WFA cut off - especially because we are due a cold winter) but overall everything I've heard the past few days has just seemed more and more positive.

I have had a giggle today though at some media outlets trying to make this "get into work and cut the benefits bill" into a negative. It would be if it was simply benefit bashing (which we've had for past few years). But they are actually putting money into prevention rather than moaning about the outcome.

It feels like a return to the surestart days when things felt much more positive - and have proven to have been a success and their removal a catalyst for many failures.

itsgettingweird I think some people are disappointed that the White Paper isn't about cutting disabled people's benefits or giving them vouchers etc. They would have loved to use that as a stick to bash Labour with.

I want nationalisation for trains!

The bill passed last week. Please now British red trains all across the country and stations with reasonable toilets. Long distance trains to have decent tea trolley service. Reinstate whisky bar on the Edinburgh sleeper also.

I mean I know we have vastly bigger issues but it would be excellent to have a well put together public service with a bit of British style to it. Because when we do put the effort in it usually looks great. I hate how shabby and basic everything has become.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqxwv3n87g4o

The prime minister said the reforms would "put an end to the culture of blaming and shaming people who for too long haven’t been getting the support they need to get back to work".

On Tuesday, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will announce funds to cut waiting lists at the 20 NHS trusts with the highest levels of economic inactivity, in a bid to get more people currently off sick back to work.

She will also announce plans to expand mental-health support and efforts to tackle obesity.

In other measures to be unveiled:

Every 18 to 21-year-old in England will get access to an apprenticeship, training or education opportunities or help to find a job as part of a new "Youth Guarantee" project

Job centres will be rebranded as the National Jobs and Careers Service
There will be an independent review of what UK employers are doing to promote health and inclusive workplaces

The North East, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire will get more cash to stop people falling out of work because of ill health

If we can add all trains to be fully accessible, with more than one wheelchair accessible loo I am with you!

Well thst is good, but I hope for a significant uptick in the quality of officials making asylum decisions

You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

I'd be happy with affordable, accessible trains. When it's cheaper to fly than go by train there's a problem.

Well he visibly lacks spiritual sustenance, then.

The latest complaint from the Tory Party is that Labour stole their ideas for getting people back to work… not so much an opposition more of a moan.

Just to make you jealous this is a Finnish long distance train.

That is amazing!

Well exactly. I was on the Swedish train network and it was exquisite. If ours were even half as good it would be a massive improvement. Who likes getting on to a train with a hose down floor, ordnance grey fittings, seats uncomfortable and television screens everywhere. It is terrible. The cost is incredible and it looks ugly.

I know we can do better!

Several British police forces have largely withdrawn from Elon Musk’s X social media platform as concerns over its role in promoting violence and extreme content persist, a Reuters survey of forces’ social media output showed

https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-police-forces-quietly-withdraw-x-platform-amid-content-concerns-2024-11-26/

Here is Helen Whately

https://bsky.app/profile/bestforbritain.bsky.social/post/3lbub6co7oc2f

Shadow DWP Secretary, Helen Whately, on welfare reform: "You have had fourteen years to think about it. IS THAT IT?", says party that has had fourteen years to actually do it.

It’s completely ineffectual. The Tory Party just cannot get a grip. They are going to be eaten by Reform

Over here, that would have a very screechy hen party in it.

I thought that was the boardroom at Southern Rail.

Given how many ideas the Tories nicked from Labour ...

Worth reminding ourselves that the Labour Manifesto and it's implementation were deliberately obscured to prevent the Tories nicking their ideas.

What we are seeing in the Tory party, as it slowly slips beneath the waves, is the ultimate fate of politics when all ideology has been removed and the vacuum filled with inveterate grifters.

Meanwhile, here's some less discussed news about politics - political system reform.

You can't compare the UK to Finland though. Geographically Finland is larger but population is tiny compared to us, less than 6 million.

That just wouldn't be viable here.

@2dogsandabudgie surely more people means more travellers means more viability?

You can't compare the UK to Finland though.

That rather depends on what you are trying to prove though. Remember when it suits the Tories, they will compare the UK with all sorts of countries. Or reject the comparison with others.

Isn't part of the current rail "strategy" to keep passenger numbers down so the system can cope ?

Surely trains should be more viable in a more densely populated country.

Currently on a packed platform waiting for a delayed train, my refund from my cancelled and then delayed train on Thurs was paid today .

i just want an on time train & a seat- both at same time are rare.

DS 5hour train journey on Sunday ended up taking 12 hours & involved 3 different trains & 2 replacement buses.