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?

@Discovereads
I like your idea. However, I also like Single Transferable Voting and PR and I often feel I may be wholly alone in this. Certainly no government in my lifetime has shown much enthusiasm.

I’m British born and raised as are my family back to before records go & before English was even a language. My DNA proves it.

I know it’s a figure of speech but I can still object to it per my own ethical and moral compass. Firing squads are no joking matter, especially when a British grandmother Lindsay Sanford is currently on death row in Indonesia awaiting execution by firing squad for a minor drugs offence.

I view these sorts of “hyperbole” relating to violence in the same way as I do “rape jokes”. As in those who say “the garage raped me with their extortionate prices to fix my car”.

Neither are appropriate and I’m not going to hit a YANBU and tacitly approve the use of such phrases.

It’s certainly made the “I vote Tory for the economy” people look very fucking foolish.

If you view facts as ‘bashing’ that is your own problem.

Hiya, I’m not a big fan of STV tbh, but I do think MP elections should be done with PR.

The biggest issue affecting our credit rating was Brexit. It's not going to improve until we get a close and secure trading relationship with the EU going. This isn't going to happen under the current government.

It's AN AAA rating not A AAA rating.
This was A ranting!

Yes quite amazing really and very easily fixed, if Sunak wants growth that is almost cost free, he could get us back in the SM.

Shot is a bit strong, but no, I don’t disagree on the more general sentiment. The rot started with Cameron.

The Tories have pulled us out of the EU, ruined our excellent public services, increased poverty, allowed men in to women’s prisons (however much they say the dislike it now), trashed the economy AND they didn’t even fix the bloody deficit anyway.

It’s all been for nothing. Just a world of pain. They should never be allowed to hold office again.

The Tories o oy have power because enough of society agreed with them and put them in power.

If anyone should have the sensitive areas repeatedly tickled with a snapping turtle it's the Tory supporters.

Well in that case Discovereads I hope you upbraid every person you meet who uses the following phrases which are part of every day English vernacular:

When push comes to shove
Give it a shot
Adding insult to injury
Take a shot at it
Hitting on an idea
Right on target
Take a stab at it
Need more ammunition
Shot in the dark
Bullet points
Push over
Take your best shot
To be brutally honest
Shot in the dark
Soften the blow
Shoot off your mouth
Beats me
Gun shy
That really bombed
Gunning for trouble
Pushed over the edge
Blown away
Whole shootin’ match
Killer smile
Shoot the breeze
Kick the bucket
Son of a gun
Set the world on fire
Shooting holes in the argument
Pick your battles
Armed with the facts
Drop dead gorgeous
Overkill
Kicking around an idea
Get away with murder
Killing time
Shooting blanks
If looks could kill
Shotgun wedding
That kills me
Roll with the punches
Traffic was murder
Jumped the gun
Moving target
Kick in the pants
Bite the bullet
Bring out the big guns
The beaten path
Went in with guns blazin’
Hit the road
Keep your powder dry
Hair-trigger temper
Twist your arm
Straight shot
Break a leg
Set your sights on the prizE
Breaks my heart
Bang for your buck
Killing me softly
Loose cannon
Knocked up
Rally the troops
At the end of my tether
Not on my radar
The straw that broke the camels back
Leading the charge
Shoot from the hip
Had a blast
Straight shooter
He/she’s dynamite
Shoot yourself in the foot
To go ballistic
To have something blow up in your face

Shot is a tad harsh! Otherwise, you’re not wrong. We deserve a GE.

So agree on John Smith. The last true Labour leader.

🍪
The vast majority of those are not even remotely related to interpersonal violence. For all your mithering on about “if English isn’t your mother tongue” one would think you would have restricted your list to comparable phrases instead of posting a pile of dog shit.

Its shocking but this is the way of the Tories. Most of them come from money or a well educated background and have held high paying jobs before becoming MP's so have no concept of reality for most people. I mean, it speaks volumes when Truss leaves after 44 days with £110k a year to spend, plus her MP's salary, plus a golden pension when she retires just because she was PM for a month. Oh, and she also gets to give knighthoods to people as a parting gift! Its fu**ing ridiculous! It beggars belief they can be that flippant with money so its not surprising that 12 years of Tories have screwed the country up so much its going to take a lifetime to recover.

Tbf to people arguing about the shot bit.
An MP was shot for being a traitor in the eyes of that person...

Yes, good point. We’ve had two MPs literally assassinated in the past few years. So it’s not funny or appropriate to “joke” about murdering an entire party of MPs.

Hear, hear.

The vast majority of those are not even remotely related to interpersonal violence. For all your mithering on about “if English isn’t your mother tongue” one would think you would have restricted your list to comparable phrases instead of posting a pile of dog shit

Charming! :)

I was actually making the point Discoverewds that it is quite normal in English to use language that has its origins in combat without pendantry or literalism. We do it every day in all sorts of contexts. Language is constantly evolving and that's good but equally it's just not possible to divorce a nation's language from its history and I am not sure we should aim to do so totally. It's surely possible to appreciate that it's possible to use language as the op did in a non literal manner and still abhor violence.

Shame you have to resort to using insulting language to make your point but never mind.

Just for the record, I deplore violence of any kind. I thought the recent murders of UK MPs were utterly appalling and horrifying. I am trying to make the point that as adults, it is surely possible to appreciate that the op was using hyperbolic metaphorical language to emphasise her huge frustration with the current political situation, not that she literally wants to do violence to anyone! Surely grown adults are discerning enough to appreciate the difference?

As adults thought, people can still point out they find issue with this particular instance.

Even us ESL who understand things don't have to be literal.

The Tories need to reformat the economy to work for Britain as it is in 2022, now how it used to be, or how some people want it to be. The public sector needs to be streamlined, at the moment some people expect the government to literally do everything for them, when IMO the government should create an environment where people can succeed and do things for themselves.

Of course they can, just as I am allowed to express an alternative viewpoint. I am literally making a point about freedom of speech! And expressing surprise that posters were taking the op's language so literally. I hope that is ok with everyone?

They weren't taking it literally. People are just pointing out that some language might not be the best considering what happened not so long ago.

I don't know. Maybe it's English not being my mother tongue so I am misunderstanding

@Mindthegap725

First off no one was taking it literally. Secondly, your list was insulting because it wasn’t even remotely comparable to saying “the Tories should be taken out and shot for treason”

You say it is “normal” to use these phrases like the one the OP used but you are ignoring that it is also normal to consider the broader context and your audience when you decide whether or not to use these phrases.

Shame you have to resort to using insulting language
Shame on your insulting presumption anyone with a different opinion must be a damn foreigner who doesn’t “get” English as obviously your opinion must be the only view a native speaker would have and is thus superior in every way.

First off no one was taking it literally

I beg to differ and I am not the only poster on the thread who thinks so!

Shame on your insulting presumption anyone with a different opinion must be a damn foreigner who doesn’t “get” English as obviously your opinion must be the only view a native speaker would have and is thus superior in every way

Dear me, I didn't and don't, presume any such thing! You are twisting my words. My comment about people who are not EMT was genuinely meant to be inclusive and understanding of them not potentially understanding metaphor or hyperbole - and yes I am aware that many do before you jump down my throat again - but carry on being professionally offended!

The op has not returned to the thread so I am not going to continue arguing the point.