To think Liz Truss MUST call a general election to make “unpopular” and “difficult” decisions that deviate from the last GE manifesto?

[CurseOfBigness]

I get that Liz Truss is a keen new prime minister full of beans and ideas. I just don’t think she has the mandate to push through decisions that are “unpopular” and “difficult” if it deviates from the last general election’s manifesto.

Liz Truss plans radical shift in economic policy: New UK prime minister readies tax-cutting mini-Budget and says she is prepared to be unpopular.

This new prime minister has not gained her position by winning a general election. If she wants to radically change things and be “unpopular” then she needs to put the vote to the people.

Truss talked the talk about promoting “freedom” and not being dictated by “instructions”. But Freedom is not for free. The rule of law applies as “instructions” to help keep society civilised. Checks and balances.

Removing the cap on bankers’ bonuses is a poor PR move. Trickle down economics is problematic and already being criticised as ineffective.

Truss thinks she can do what she wants because she’s party leader and by default became prime minister. But Truss can’t afford to be “unpopular” because she needs to win a general election in her own right first.

AIBU to think Liz Truss must call a general election to make “unpopular” and “difficult” decisions that deviate from the last GE manifesto? Isn’t that how democracy works?!

That’s speculation.

In any event, poor country doesn’t mean the people don’t have more to offer when they have the right level of support. Immigrant families from poor countries often want to better themselves and invest in education as a ticket out of poverty. A background in poverty can be the reason people are keen to succeed and have a better work ethic. In short: they’re less likely to be complacent.

Scientists had predicted a pandemic for some time. It was a volcano waiting to erupt. Still seems live now.
This scientific evidence was not factored into Brexit and any even have been disregarded as “fanciful”. But look where we are now…

@Clavinova ”The fall of the Euro is to do with war in eastern Europe and high US rates, just as both affected the £.
Yes, I know - tell that to CurseOfBigness.”

The difference is that the Euro and US dollar reflect two major trading blocs. Doesn’t it make sense that they are more likely to weather a storm better?

Confidence in the UK government impacts the pound too.

I understand that Truss is doing what she thinks is best. But she’s gambling on trickle down economics that her closest ally across the pond is saying doesn’t work.

Truss has form for this, according to her own Oxford tutor. “According to Marc Stears Truss’s time at Oxford was marked by an ability to come up with unusual angles on issues and stick to them even when informed that facts showed she was wrong. Secondly an ability to fiercely argue a position only to drop it and equally fiercely promote something different.” How did she get a degree?!

You mentioned Macron and his tax cuts earlier. Did he have to borrow to afford tax cuts?

huh 🤔

No.

The UK elects political parties to government and not individuals to office of Prime Minister.

This is a crucial point to understanding UK democracy.

"Firstly, it’s important to note that UK voters don’t elect a Prime Minister directly.

There also isn’t a requirement for the Prime Minister to have won a general election as a party leader before they come into office, or to stay in office.

Voters select a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent their constituency. Prime Ministers are officially appointed by the Queen, and stay in office as long as they can command the confidence of the House of Commons (or until the next election).

This is usually the MP who leads the party with the most seats in the House of Commons, or who can unite a coalition of MPs or parties into a working majority.

Political parties select their leaders in various ways, but most include a vote of their members."

Source: FullFact

We've had 16 unelected Prime Ministers since 1900 and only 10 stayed on following a GE.

In contrast, we've had 12 elected Prime Ministers with one of these having come second in a GE.

The Governing Party has the democratic and legal right to make decisions for the country. We are a representative democracy rather than a direct one.

CurseOfBigness
Truss has form for this, according to her own Oxford tutor. “According to Marc Stears Truss’s time at Oxford was marked by an ability to come up with unusual angles on issues and stick to them even when informed that facts showed she was wrong. Secondly an ability to fiercely argue a position only to drop it and equally fiercely promote something different.” How did she get a degree?!

That's Marc Stears - Professor of political theory at the University of Oxford and chief speechwriter to the UK Labour Party?

www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/marc-stears-director

Anything from her economics tutor?

So that means what he’s saying is false by default?

Compare what he experienced with her stances over the years.

How about… she was a Lib Dem then changed to a Conservative position. She was a republican who loudly voiced her views on the abolition of the monarchy but is now a staunch monarchist. She was a Remainer and now a Brexiteer.

What Marc Steers has said seems to fit the description of her political career. Sounds like a fair assessment.

Why don’t you seek out her economics tutor and find out?

CurseOfBigness·
You mentioned Macron and his tax cuts earlier. Did he have to borrow to afford tax cuts?

Yes:

www.kitco.com/news/2018-12-11/French-borrowing-costs-surge-on-Macron-wage-rises-tax-cuts.html

www.cnbc.com/2021/05/07/frances-debt-pile-is-surprisingly-high-but-experts-arent-worried.html

CurseOfBigness
But I still think Sunak’s Indian heritage was a factor too. No one will openly admit this for obvious reasons.

You're wrong. I will tell you why a lot of Conservative members didn't vote for Sunak and that's because of his disloyalty to Boris Johnson and the fact that he had no experience in other Government Departments. He also showed an arrogance in his head to heads with Liz Truss by repeatedly interrupting and talking over her.

CurseOfBigness
How about… she was a Lib Dem then changed to a Conservative position. She was a republican who loudly voiced her views on the abolition of the monarchy but is now a staunch monarchist. She was a Remainer and now a Brexiteer.

You could almost be describing Keir Starmer:

Corbynite - New Labour
Republican - staunch monarchist
Staunch remainer - ?

CurseOfBigness
Why don’t you seek out her economics tutor and find out?

Alas, I am signing off now - away for the weekend.

No you are, which shows a disgraceful lack of awareness of Ukrainian's situation, comparing theirs to countries not at war - hang your head Clavinova

I might add that the majority of Poles etc have returned to their original countries and despite multiple visa programs have no desire to return - hence our labour shortages.

Are you saying nothing has changed in the free trade deal with the EU?

We do have a free trade deal. We are however no longer in the Customs Union. This is why VAT is no longer carried over across borders.

For UK consumers in EU, vat is paid and can't be reclaimed or avoided, other than at border or specialist areas.

Or do you mean something else?

No I haven't. See here:

www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices

The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) rose by 8.6% in the 12 months to August 2022

@DdraigGoch Your same ons link puts it at 9.9% with RPI at over 12%.

Another: tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/inflation-cpi

Ed Miliband managed a 15 point lead in 2013. Cameron went on to win an overall majority in 2015.

I still think that the conservatives could win a spring election despite everything they have done. It wouldn't surprise me ( plus Labour are refusing to get a new leader)
Never underestimate the conservatives.
They are very good at elections.

Cameron didn't wreck the UK economy with 150 to 200 billion of un controlled borrowing.
GE's are normally won or lost on the economy.

But you 've a point, the media have yet to turn on Starmer, other than accuse him of owning an imaginary £10m field.

walkingonsunshinekat
No you are, which shows a disgraceful lack of awareness of Ukrainian's situation, comparing theirs to countries not at war

I am going away for the weekend so I will have to be brief.

I quite clearly posted about Ukraine joining the EU in 10 years time.

Not only can you predict when you are going away but also what Eastern Europe will look like in 10 years time... amazing!

Enjoy your break.

Maybe we'll try to join at the same time.

Labour doesn’t need a new leader, there’s nothing wrong with the one they’ve got. No Tory government rules for ever, however clever they might be at elections. Especially one that’s presided over economic catastrophe. Fiscal responsibility has always been their ace in the hole, they’ve chucked that overboard now.

I said it was a factor. One of many.

At one point a news commentator (if memory serves me right) said voters would be factoring in if the people would vote in a leader from an Indian heritage in the general election. Chances are whoever won would go on to represent to party in 2 years time.

A non-white leader would be new territory for the country.

New territory also means uncertainty. And conservatives can be risk averse.

I think the tories know they have zero chance of winning the next election so are cashing out now with their rich cronies.

I think it’ll be a hung parliament with conservatives still in the majority, but they’d have to partner up with another party.

That’s hilarious 😂