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Original poster

To be starting to really worry about Liz Truss

785 replies

Anothernamechangeplease · 04/08/2022 15:00

OK, so I'm not a Tory. I hate Boris, and despise the rest of them. I don't hold or much hope of any of them actually doing anything to address the problems that we're currently facing, because I don't think any of them actually give a toss about ordinary people. Of the two candidates that are left in the Tory leadership contest, I would pick Rishi, because I think he has a more realistic understanding of the economic challenges, but obviously, I'm not a party member so I have no say in the matter.

Nevertheless, I have been relatively sanguine and the prospect of Liz Truss as leader, a) because I figured that things couldn't get much worse than the shit show that we have had under Boris, and b) because I am pretty sure that she will be utterly unelectable when it comes to the next general election, so worst case scenario would be that we have another couple of years of crappy Tory government, exacerbated by the cost of living crisis, and then we can be pretty confident of getting shot of them. So, pretty shit all in all, but survivable.

But listening to everything that she is saying she wants to do, to the economic forecasts, and to the analysis from both within and beyond the Tory party, I'm starting to get really very worried. All this talk of huge tax cuts and massive reductions in public spending...I fear that she is going to make the looming economic crisis infinitely worse at a time when we can least afford to risk it. Nearly all economists seem to agree that her plans are going to make things worse, not better.

We are already at breaking point. Public services are on their knees. Businesses are struggling to stay afloat. People both in work and out of work are struggling. The most vulnerable are already having to choose between bare essentials such as eating and heating. Inflation continues to soar, energy prices are going off the scale, interest rates are going up... and she is about to make it worse! We just don't have the resilience in the system to cope with this.

I am actually very worried about what is going to happen. This could be very bad indeed, and a lot of people are going to suffer. If we end up with austerity on steroids in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis, there will be massive civil unrest, surely?

OP posts:
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9
Blossomtoes · 19/08/2022 11:37

There’s apparently going to be a Labour policy announcement next week and if it’s of no interest to you @Dalint, you’ll probably be in a very small complacent minority because there are a lot of people in growing despair at what the future looks like now, with no glimmer of hope from the Tories.

Sporty2022 · 19/08/2022 11:50

I think there’s many better alternatives to Keir Starmer. But isn’t he better than Liz Truss?

Dalint · 19/08/2022 12:44

Sporty2022 · 19/08/2022 11:50

I think there’s many better alternatives to Keir Starmer. But isn’t he better than Liz Truss?

Anyone is better than her!

I should say that I'm a labour voter.

Festoonlights · 20/08/2022 14:51

Blossomtoes · 19/08/2022 11:37

There’s apparently going to be a Labour policy announcement next week and if it’s of no interest to you @Dalint, you’ll probably be in a very small complacent minority because there are a lot of people in growing despair at what the future looks like now, with no glimmer of hope from the Tories.

Unless he has been growing a huge money tree in the void then I wouldn’t hold your breath!

Labour are fracturing all over the place over brexit and the pickets - and actual policy which is why we are unlikely to see anything interesting.

I am not sure people are getting this dalint this is far far far bigger than party policy. Looking for glimmers of hope seems hopeless to me.

Personally I think Truss will grow into the job

Blossomtoes · 20/08/2022 14:57

Labour are fracturing all over the place over brexit and the pickets - and actual policy which is why we are unlikely to see anything interesting

Yet still 15 points ahead of the Tories in the latest YouGov poll. 🤷‍♀️

Festoonlights · 20/08/2022 15:07

Yes my point exactly ONLY a few points ahead - given the state of the world and the con leadership contest you would expect Labour to be much more ahead!! It says everything about the lack of confidence people have in the LP actually.

Blossomtoes · 20/08/2022 15:14

Funny thing is 4% wasn’t just a few in the Brexit vote but suddenly now 15% is. Strange how some people’s comprehension of numbers changes to suit their own purposes ..

Festoonlights · 20/08/2022 15:52

Even Labour are disappointed in the small lead a me, I couldn’t care any less. They need a new leader if they want to win.

Blossomtoes · 20/08/2022 15:54

Really? Who said they were disappointed and when did they say it? I’m over the bloody moon.

Blossomtoes · 20/08/2022 15:57

Blossomtoes · 20/08/2022 15:54

Really? Who said they were disappointed and when did they say it? I’m over the bloody moon.

Meant to add, particularly as it’s the biggest lead since 2013.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 20/08/2022 16:57

15 points is quite a lot…..

PiffleWiffleWoozle · 20/08/2022 20:58

I have zero confidence in the current Labour or Conservative parties.

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 21/08/2022 10:03

If it gives you any reassurance OP, there is no way the Tories will win the next general election. Much less under the likes of Truss. They will be sealing their own fate if they vote her in as leader. If I was a voting member of the Torie party then I would be voting for Sunak for this very reason. People thought Boris was bad. Just wait until we end up with Truss 😢

If I had the means to move myself and my family to a different country right now then I would.

MissyB1 · 21/08/2022 11:43

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 21/08/2022 10:03

If it gives you any reassurance OP, there is no way the Tories will win the next general election. Much less under the likes of Truss. They will be sealing their own fate if they vote her in as leader. If I was a voting member of the Torie party then I would be voting for Sunak for this very reason. People thought Boris was bad. Just wait until we end up with Truss 😢

If I had the means to move myself and my family to a different country right now then I would.

totally agree.

Dalint · 21/08/2022 13:22

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 21/08/2022 10:03

If it gives you any reassurance OP, there is no way the Tories will win the next general election. Much less under the likes of Truss. They will be sealing their own fate if they vote her in as leader. If I was a voting member of the Torie party then I would be voting for Sunak for this very reason. People thought Boris was bad. Just wait until we end up with Truss 😢

If I had the means to move myself and my family to a different country right now then I would.

I'm not sure that they're kamikaze. I think there's a play at play that we're not following. I still don't get how Javid ended up out of the race as I would have voted for Tories on him alone.

Dalint · 21/08/2022 13:27

I'd believe it was a bus situation if Sunak wasn't in it. I'm not convinced. Unless he's thrown in there and told to lose the game.

I've just recalled this conversation with Javid. www.tiktok.com/@marteen_/video/7051182524734688518?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&q=sajid%20javid%20with%20doctor&t=1661084674141

Dalint · 21/08/2022 13:28

That doctor OWNED HIM!!!!!!!!

Zilla1 · 21/08/2022 13:32

Depends which 'they' is in play. The current 'they' are relatively elderly and richer party members hence arguable playing to prejudices about lazy workers even though economic evidence shows the opposite. The previous 'they' were MPs who perhaps should have prioritised election winning during the down-selection to two but arguably didn't do that over a mix of policies preferenes and scope for personal ambition. At the risk of conspiracy-theory promotion, the 'they' that will reassert in September will be the party powers and significant economic interests though I expect the second and third order economic interests or big but not over-powering corporates who will scream louder and louder when they see the impacts of recession and consumer spending being directed away from their businesses. I expect those corporates should have realised the party haven't seen them as key stakeholders in the way they were decades ago, much like farmers I suppose.

Dalint · 21/08/2022 13:32

If the Labour Party don't come up with viable financial shit, then the Tories really don't need to do anything.

Blossomtoes · 21/08/2022 13:38

Dalint · 21/08/2022 13:32

If the Labour Party don't come up with viable financial shit, then the Tories really don't need to do anything.

You mean like the Labour proposal to freeze the energy cap that 65% of Tory voters support? Or the windfall tax the Tories have already stolen? Reeves and her team are seriously good.

Dalint · 21/08/2022 13:39

Zilla1 · 21/08/2022 13:32

Depends which 'they' is in play. The current 'they' are relatively elderly and richer party members hence arguable playing to prejudices about lazy workers even though economic evidence shows the opposite. The previous 'they' were MPs who perhaps should have prioritised election winning during the down-selection to two but arguably didn't do that over a mix of policies preferenes and scope for personal ambition. At the risk of conspiracy-theory promotion, the 'they' that will reassert in September will be the party powers and significant economic interests though I expect the second and third order economic interests or big but not over-powering corporates who will scream louder and louder when they see the impacts of recession and consumer spending being directed away from their businesses. I expect those corporates should have realised the party haven't seen them as key stakeholders in the way they were decades ago, much like farmers I suppose.

It's an interesting point of view, but none of it actually adds up. I am holding my hands up and saying that I have no fucking clue what's going on. Sunak was the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He knows more than most. I'm not getting it really. None of it makes fucking sense unless you try to believe one of the contenders is acting in good faith. If you believe that, then I'd trust Sunak more. If Truss is a ploy for them to lose the next election, she's certainly not aware of it. That said, it's possible that they believe women will vote for her over the men in public spaces thing? Perhaps their policy drivers read too much MN! Most women don't give a fuck about that issue. It's not a pressing concern.

Dalint · 21/08/2022 13:41

Blossomtoes · 21/08/2022 13:38

You mean like the Labour proposal to freeze the energy cap that 65% of Tory voters support? Or the windfall tax the Tories have already stolen? Reeves and her team are seriously good.

Show quote history

To be honest I don't watch enough politics to even know what you're referring to. I'm sorry, but I genuinely black out most politics and news now. At my level in life, with one tiny vote, nothing is going to help me really.

Dalint · 21/08/2022 13:46

I have watched politics where the opposition of course opposes everything (Ireland). But when the maths doesn't add up, they lose every argument and some of their policies are so hard-line that temperate voters don't vote for them. It would be interesting if I was reading about it in history, but my life depends on this.

People tend to like a status quo. They won't take risks on change. That's my personal opinion only though.

Dalint · 21/08/2022 13:47

Blossomtoes · 21/08/2022 13:38

You mean like the Labour proposal to freeze the energy cap that 65% of Tory voters support? Or the windfall tax the Tories have already stolen? Reeves and her team are seriously good.

Show quote history

I don't even know about this. I would say that I'm probably more informed than most though!

Zilla1 · 21/08/2022 13:50

FWIW I don't use the concept of 'good faith' but I think both are ambitious people who want to be PM as did most of the others. These two offered the right combinations of policies/beliefs and jobs to MPs to make the final two and both are tweaking their prejudices to set out policies and make statements to appeal to the 200k? relatively older and richer members hence the 'lazy' statement I think. When one is chosen, they'll probably pivot again with one eye on balancing priorities and hard choices that have consequences and another on the election in a couple of years. The recent interesting development to me is Gove declaring for Sunak when the odds show Sunak had no chance and Gove was alleged to be close to Truss in Cabinet. Perhaps Sunak has legs or perhaps there'll be a rabbit pulled from the hat. I'd expect Truss to go quieter to reduce the risk of a foot in mouth moment.