10 years ago the UK had a AAA credit rating.

[JohnStuartMill]

10 years ago the UK had a AAA credit rating. The UK had been in the top tier of economies (similar to Australia, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, Singapore) since 1978.

In 2013, our credit rating was downgraded and our cost of borrowing increased. Cuts in public spending were required.

In 2022, the UK's credit rating has been further reduced to a third or fourth tier economy with a credit rating on a par with the Czech republic. This is all down to Liz Truss and her unfunded tax cuts for the rich.

The increase in borrrowing costs means further cuts in public spending are required.

AIBU to think the Tories should be taken out and shot for treason for the mess they have made with our country?

I voted YABU because I am against the death penalty and any armed insurrection or coup d’etat. But I agree with you wholly that the Conservative government over the past decade has been an unending shower of shit.

We need our MPs to change the rules on general elections. I think a ruling party should get 2 chances to have good government and if 2 PMs are forced to resign, then that’s it, general election happens.

I think we need a general election, I don't want to shoot anyone. But I agree the Tories have absolutely fucked the country up.

@LasagnaLoverr what the hell is wrong with you?

Well the Tories always had a reputation for prudently managing the economy. You knew they were going to degrade the NHS, you knew education would be run on a shoestring and you knew the poor, sick and disabled would be impoverished further under their regimes. But you also knew the economy would be run competently.

Not anymore, it would seem. So what are they actually for? What do they think is their USP that will get voters to overlook the above? It’s baffling.

How is cutting essential public services a prudent way to run the economy?

Does the economy not need an educated, healthy workforce?

Wow, that escalated quickly

That’s a misconception, the Tories are actually worse for the economy than Labour

“New research has challenged the popular preconception that the Conservatives are better managers of the economy, a perception that has been a bedrock of the ruling party’s political support.

Economists Dr Amr Algarhi and Dr Alexander Tziamalis have examined the performance of the UK economy from 1955 to 2019 and compared the strength of Labour and Conservative track records. The overall picture that emerges is that growth has been more stable during periods when the Labour party is in power.

“Our main finding is that the UK economy has grown with a similar pace under either government, however Labour administrations seem to do better in tackling recessions and show a more consistent performance”

The Conservative party, by contrast, was found to be disproportionately likely to preside over a shrinking economy: “Indeed, despite the 2008 recession during Labour’s watch, from a total of 24 quarters which can be classified as in recession, only 7 came under Labour versus 17 under the Conservatives.”

Not all recessions can be blamed entirely on the government at the time. The authors of the research anticipate this criticism and show that if external shocks are disregarded, such as the 2008 financial crisis and the 1973 oil shock, then Labour presides over just two quarters of negative growth, compared to 14 for the Conservatives.”
www.thelondoneconomic.com/business-economics/new-research-reveals-labour-is-better-at-handling-the-economy-than-the-conservatives-295748/

I second the 'what are they for?' sentiment. Crap economy, shit services, out of Europe, looking forward to even worse with no human rights, employment rights or growth.

I wish for an opposition with teeth, proper working class socialism, none of this bullshit identity, right-on cobblers. Actually working hard to make most people better off and the least able and rich have a decent standard of living.

It really makes me angry that there's no sensible, vaguely left-of-centre, sensible option. I WISH John Smith had lived. There is an alternate universe with him in it.

OP, you really ruined your post with your last sentence. I assume you didn’t mean it literally, but as an AIBU, it’s an awful thing to write. I agree the Conservative management of the economy has been atrocious

I remember when the UK was downgraded under the Tory government. It's unfair to blame our recent Negative rating on Liz Truss alone.

It's the fault of 12 years of Tory policy and Tory voters.

The increase in borrrowing costs means further cuts in public spending are required.

The Conservatives have wrecked our economy these last 12 years. First austerity which didn’t promote much growth but did decimate our public services. Then Truss’s balls up. One thing though public spending cuts are not necessary, wealth tax and windfall tax on energy producers could all help.

Public spending cuts should not be the first to be considered. Whilst growth has been poor in the last ten years it’s good to remember the collective wealth of the 1000 most richest people in the U.K. shot up by £500 million. Tax reform is needed but this govt certainly won’t do it.

Jesus it's just Mumsnet. Relax. Seek help.

The tories are gonna Tory.

Seems they've out toried themselves with the recent debacle.

I'm extremely worried about what's going to happen under Rishi's stint as PM. He put the country under a lot of financial strain as Chancellor of the Exchequer, god knows what's going to happen now. He's richer than the King - it makes me feel a bit sick to be honest.

I'm just hopeful that during the next GE, the tories won't have a hope in hell of getting in and the successive government can fix whatever is left of our country.

Hi Liz!

This is all down to Liz Truss and her unfunded tax cuts for the rich

I'm just watching from afar, but I think all the huge contracts given out during the pandemic to members of the old boys club probably didn't help. I also wonder how much new sovereign debt was taken out to bail out big business.

I wish for an opposition with teeth, proper working class socialism, none of this bullshit identity, right-on cobblers

I second that emotion.

Isn't it a fairly common figure of speech, saying that such-and-such should be taken out and shot for something-or-other? If I said "I hope heads are gonna roll for this" about a decision, I wouldn't expect people to take that as an actual desire for guillotinings, and if someone said "They'll be first against the wall come the revolution" I wouldn't assume that they even thought a revolution was going to happen, let alone genuinely want people put in front of a firing squad. There are quite a lot of violent figures of speech and generally they're not intended or taken as actual incitement to violence.

This!
Identity politics is just divide and conquer, splitting us up into smaller groups and pitting us against each other. What really matters is working together to improve circumstances for everyone.
I was a fan of Jon Smith, although he started the move towards New Labour and we have no way of knowing what direction he would have taken it in.

That you Liz?

I agree, but online, it’s hard to gauge tone and convey sarcasm. It’s made worse by the quote in question being the AIBU question.

I’ll give the OP the benefit of the doubt and assume they’re not a bloodthirsty maniac. Still, it’s an unfortunate AIBU.

Discovereads and BomboChipolata

“ they should be taken out and shot “ is not meant literally by the op!

Sorry but unless English is not your mother tongue, it’s not difficult to gauge tone at all as that phrase is a very well known figure of speech! It’s hyperbolic and metaphorical. It means that you strongly disapprove of someone or their actions.

Do I think a democratic government following a mandate they were elected on, should be murdered in a coup?
No.

Truss should certainly be ostracized for her undemocratic efforts to tank the economy.

The rest of it is what the majority wanted. A withdrawal from the world stage and global economy. Such are our citizens.

This.

Sunak has a fucking cheek saying he will fix Truss’s mistakes as though our issues only started last month. They started with Osborne’s unnecessary austerity which resulted in Brexit, the longest economic suicide note in history.

Sunak’s poor judgement resulting in writing off billions also contributed. Truss’s handling in the economy was poor but she wouldn’t have had to implement a ‘growth’ plan if our economy hadn’t already been on life support.

I’m a native speaker and again, I partially agree, but the OP messed up by directly making it the AIBU question. It gives it a more literal force.

Ah, it's yet another Conservative bashing thread, I SEE!
#Outta here