To think the UK has gone to hell in a handcart?

[Superlambaanana]

I’m just so fed up hearing about powerful people (usually men) getting away with things. It seems to have become the norm for them to do whatever the hell they like with zero consequences beyond a bit of handwringing in the media, which dies down fairly quickly, and never results in anything changing or being overturned. Leaving us ‘little people’ just having to suck it up.

Examples:

P&O sacked 800 workers in 2022. The CEO, Peter Hebblethwaite even admitted it was illegal. Yet nothing was ever done about it and he’s still CEO!

Liz Truss’s honours list. Bit of a roasting in the press for a day or two, but all the Truss supporters still got their honours in the end. Add to that Boris Johnston’s and the very dubious Charlotte Owen, and now Rishi Sunak creating a whole new honours round to make sure some party donors were rewarded in a blatant exercise in corruption.

Prince Andrew. Apparently still thinking of making a return to public life!!!!!! I mean, wtaf?!!!!!!

Michelle Mone. Has she really faced any actual consequences?

Phillip Scofield. Cheats on wife, bullies colleagues and his boyfriend, but achieves victim status because he was coming out of the closet.

Post Office scandal. Yes it’s managed to get some traction, but people will tire of it eventually and I bet that happens long before the sub-post masters get any justice or decent compensation.

Cost of living crisis and energy companies making absolute fortunes at all our expense with no prospect of bills actually coming back down to where they should be - no, instead we should be happy that they aren’t going up just as fast as last year!

Water companies. Borrowing money to give shareholders big payouts instead of actually managing the water and sewage systems to the extent that rivers are now full of faeces.

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Indeed. The Electoral Commission ensures that our electoral system is one of the fairest and least corrupt in the world.
However, you can't make people vote, or vote in a certain way. That's individual choice.

@DiamondArtists

you could show a little respect & restraint.

it was clear what the thread was about, so just scroll past if you're just going to come on & blah at everyone.

ok , we're lucky not to be in Ukraine or Gaza but we're still allowed to have a vent about the country we do live in!

@MissyB1
"As is repeatedly pointed out in these threads it’s not a race to the bottom! We should and could demand higher standards for the behaviour of our politicians and the super rich, why wouldn’t you want that??"

Indeed.

To those saying, the UK is better than other places and history was just as bad, are you really saying we should accept blatantly terrible behaviour from people in privileged positions? Surely the reason progress has been made and the UK is better than many other nations is because people didn't just suck it up?!

I personally think we should accept none of it.
Then actively do something about it.

The issue with most of the examples is that they aren't exactly illegal, immoral perhaps but not illegal. Eg the P&O case, they were on maritime contracts so not illegal, morally appalling behaviour but not legally wrong. Prince Andrew, again major ick factor but not illegal as was over 16, you would think he'd count his blessings and hide away but , well horrible behaviour but nothing legally can be done.

And so on even the Liz Truss situation, legally speaking she was allowed because writing the laws nobody expected a situation like that!

The problem is that laws are written in a way that deals with expected problems but all of these weren't predicted. Oh and by the way other countries are laughing, not at these things happening but that we were surprised because it happens all the time elsewhere!

Of course with this hindsight we can close some of these loopholes/oversights but honestly? we are no more in hell than other places, it's just we know about it these days. Utopia doesn't exist, instead perhaps it's time we all stop whining and instead start actively taking part in politics

Well that's great for you but what are you comparing with? It might be an improvement for your family in one generation, but generally speaking the social mobility has slowed down. It's harder to improve your living standards than it was a generation ago.

One half of my family is British and always has been, thanks.

@mitogoshi Even P&O admitted the sackings were illegal and I'm pretty sure people trafficking is illegal regardless of age and consent is required regardless of age so PA may well have acted illegally, it's just these things haven't played out through the courts to a final judgment.

amp.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/24/po-ferries-boss-says-800-staff-were-sacked-because-no-union-would-accepts-its-plans

But I take your point that it's not straightforward. I suppose my main point is why on earth do we put up with it? We handwring for a few days while it's in the press, comment to friends and family about how disgusting it is, then it's on to the next thing and no consequences, learning or overturning of the thing which caused the outrage.

It's always been the case that the rich and powerful shit on the poor. This is not a modern phenomenon. If anything these days those in power get bollocked more for it because with the advent of the Internet and people generally becoming more socially aware it's much harder for them to get away with hiding what they get up to.

If you're talking about a fundamental shift of power so that every person regardless of wealth or background is fully equal then good luck with that, because that's not the case for any single country and never has been in all of recorded history.

I feel embarrassed of our shit public transport. I am fine in London but so much of the country is effectively inaccessible for non-drivers.

If I was PM I would genuinely want my country to work better and have decent public services and transport. Because with good education and health care comes greater ‘productivity’ and less crime etc of nothing else. Why don’t they care more?

That basically. ^
We have been like boiling frogs. The people in charge have conditioned us to gradually get used to worse and worse conditions, services and lives while they get away with stuffing their trousers with profit and laughing at us.
I hope the next government have some actual balls to sort things out, instead of wimping about in the edges ( which given Starmers demeanour so far seems depressingly likely)

??? Then ask them.

I do. They agree with me. HTH.

I think what the OP is asking for and basically like most of us is looking at people being held responsible and accountable. Morals,fairness and high standards seem to be lost with people who can affect so many lives for the better. The cover ups and scandals erode trust and we have to stand by and watch it happen. It is very wrong in my view. I get the OP in her opening post. I think many of us feel the same.We feel let down badly.

This I do agree with, public transport everywhere but London is shite. Also people's attitudes to non drivers outside London. I don't drive (outside London) and people simply cannot fathom how it is possible I go about my daily business with 2 DC and no car.

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I don't disagree with this but what I do disagree with is the notion that this is something that is new - this has literally always been the case. Politicians and government as a general rule of thumb have never had integrity.

Get the fucking Tories out for a start, then nationalise essential services/utilities. Shareholders take precedence over customers and the environment. It's a bloody disgrace and a disaster.

Also OP I totally agree with you. All these corrupt men (it is usually men) get away with murder. Front page news one day and the threat of inquiries left right and centre and then everyone just walks away whistling, like nothing happened.

It just all seems so blatently out there now. Almost like oh we will do what we like ..well its not right! I know teenages who wouldnt think some of these ideas the powerful have could ever possibly work! There seems a bad lack of common sense around in Westminster and the boardrooms around the country.

I feel embarrassed of our shit public transport. I am fine in London but so much of the country is effectively inaccessible for non-drivers.

This - and it's gotten worse and worse - more expensive less reliable* *to point not driving may not be viable much longer for us.

YANBU

You have also missed, Sunak and all the contracts that benefit his wife / in-laws (Infosys / Koru kids etc.) Companies she is connected with took out covid loans then wound up without paying back the money.

Ben Houchen and the Teeside Freeport - taxpayer money invested, for private gain.

14 years ago, the NHS was one of the best healthcare systems in the world, now waiting lists are through the roof, as are A&E waiting times, PAs are being used in place of doctors and a private ambulance service for £99 has been introduced in one part of the UK.

I can't see it getting better any time soon!

I don't think Philip Schofield got away with anything TBH. He has paid the price for his actions.

The rest I completely agree with.

I think it hit new lows like we’ve never seen before in this country when Boris came into power.

If anything these days those in power get bollocked more for it because with the advent of the Internet and people generally becoming more socially aware it's much harder for them to get away with hiding what they get up to
I think this is very true.
People in power will always try to exploit those over whom they have power, their ability to do it depends on their ability to fool us, to pull the wool over our eyes.
They can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Yes and his sister is still allowed to big him up on LBC
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