To be absolutely looking forward to this Tory wipeout

[Viviennemary]

It isn't just me I'm sure but I am totally gleeful at this anticipated annihilation of the Tory party. I did vote Tory last time. But absolutely can't wait to see them routed. They've been awful. How could they have Liz Truss happen. She should have been chucked out the party.

I don't think that anyone should expect overnight improvements. It would take an incoming Labour government more than one term to overturn the last 14 years. With that being said, they are going to have to show enough if they want an opportunity to get that second term. People won't want excuses, even if they are legitimate. We don't live in the most patient of times.

No overnight improvements, you can’t rectify 14 years of Tory damage quickly BUT Starmer is a decent, smart person who appears to be in public service for the right reasons. I don’t give a damn that he can come across as a bit ‘wooden’ - he is someone who has worked to his position, not been handed it through immense privilege and I for one can’t wait til this current lot are gone for a LONG time

Starved? We've had record spending on public services, no?

We cannot afford 15min cities, its an impossibility ... we don't have the transport, all the schools, the hospitals, the GP surgeries or even the supermarkets

You're right of course, but silly schemes like this make for good headlines which ignore the fact that the infrastructure isn't actually there, and won't be while policymakers focus on activity rather than achievement

As a non driver living in a busy suburban village which has lost all its bus services, I wonder how the "Active Travel" initiative which encourages walking and cycling is supposed to work for the many who can't
Unfortunately, asking about this reveals that the real intention is to sanitise the lack of facilities and use an appealing-sounding banner to make them someone else's problem

Ah, but the rate of increase has been less than it was, Moonmelodies, so apparently that counts as "starved" - and all while (at least locally) a jaw dropping level of overmanning and waste continues

Frustrating, too, to read the endless assertions that the last Labour goverment presided over some sort of golden age of plenty. Pity some of us have been around long enough and have good enough memories to recall that the complaints of "underfunding" were just the same then, but there you go

Exactly this 👏 💯👏

Listening to headlines and IFS talking about conspiracy of silence over reality of tax and spending cuts

I feel that’s the case. Trying to get clarity on major issues is frustrating.

I am not gleeful at all. I don't like the tories but don't think it will be much different to be honest.

I am absolutely opposed to labour imposing vat on education and will not vote for them, but actually I just don't think it is a good thing for any party to have a massive majority. I wish we had PR.

Yeah even labour aren't counting their chickens. Their latest messaging is 'don't be complacent' 'every vote for a party other than labour may as well be a vote for the tories'. They're not confident. Read a report (wish I could remember where) that 16% of voters 'don't know' and of the ones that do know a further percentage (blooming brain not providing that helpfully either!!) aren't 100% resolved in their choice. There's a lot of uncertainty.

I personally don't have a clue. Been inhaling these threads, manifestos, news articles etc to help me decided.

... even labour aren't counting their chickens. Their latest messaging is 'don't be complacent' 'every vote for a party other than labour may as well be a vote for the tories'

Very sensible of them

I still think it'll almost take a miracle for the Tories not to lose, but complacency/apathy won't help Labour - especially when, as data posted earlier shows, their supporters can be less likely to vote at all

Anyway we'll find out very soon ...

Last straw was Liz Truss. Why is she even still in the Tory party. Their downfall is mainly due to her IMHO. Boris started it. Rishi hasn't done much to stop it. Never heard him saying much against Truss.

I‘m glad some realism is being offered by IFS on funding and tax

For a fair bit of time I’ve thought the numbers don’t stack up

Although tax rises over next five years are a depressing thought

Of course Labour are being sensible and not taking for granted they shall win

Labour have a sensible grounded leader and he will certainly be aware of the mistake Labour made in 1992

A 15 minute city is simply one where the essentials are within 15 minutes public transport away.
I really can't see how that's a bad thing

@randomchap the crux is the provision of public transport.

I live in an area where the local bus service operates Dial A Ride (door to door service) and On Demand (point A to point B, reservations needed) bus services in small vehicles, on top of scheduled routes in larger vehicles that have bike racks on the front, facilitating fairly short hop travel for people without cars or other means of getting around. The elderly can get to hospital and doctor appointments, to and from Walmart, supermarkets, etc. People can get to train stations. Services like these cost a lot of money. For the most part, customers pay a fare, but the cost of operating the service is mainly borne by the taxpayer.

Compared to the state of public services today, yes Labour were a "Golden Age" as you put it.

I occasionally ride a bicycle, the pot holes on all roads is terrible, its got to the stage where its actually become too dangerous to cycle in places...a man i used to work with, recently got multiple fractures cycling to work, fell off after hitting a pot hole & when roads are repaired, the councils have no money to do it properly, so just do a temp repair, washes out a few months later.

i spoke to an Occupational Therapist yesterday, she saw a severely brain damaged stroke patient yesterday, early 60s, he has been waiting for therapy for 22 months..... why? a huge area to cover and not enough staff.

Public services spending has not kept up with demand and this in itself causes waste & inefficiency.

Certainly not in schools.

Unless you believe the Tory sleight of hand when they talk about spending in total (higher) rather than per pupil funding (lower) because of the population increase.

I thought 15 minute cities were about services/work being 15 minutes walk away. I think that sounds like a dream come true. I could get rid of my car and walk everywhere.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/20/nigel-farage-andrew-tate-important-voice-men-podcast-interview

For the poster who wanted to vote reform to protect herself against the foreign men coming in on boats.

Can't come soon enough.

£1.4bn just dumped or burned! What an absolute effing joke this government has been.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cll476qzm85o

They bought more PPE than was ultimately needed? Better than not enough, I guess.

I occasionally ride a bicycle, the pot holes on all roads is terrible, its got to the stage where its actually become too dangerous to cycle in places

Tell me about it, @Alexandra2001; I rode myself until injured 5 years ago and the roads have only got worse since then If only our council would develop cycle paths where they make sense, but no - the latest one's just 200 yards where for good reason it'll almost never be used, so yet another complete waste of money

And this is why so many of us maintain that the money's there if only some thought was applied, core services prioritised and expectations managed

I saw a meme on FB that said "In the UK, we used to drive on the left of the road - now we drive on WHAT'S left of the road!"

We've a cycle path running along the A386, its about 4 miles long, wide & well surfaced, in fact so good, i been told to get on the road where i belong by people walking on it.

The painted line ones are pointless, cars park in them.

But my point is that the money should be provided to fix roads properly, yes more money for a year or two but after that, the costs would plummet.

Devon County Council replied to a pot hole report with this gem "The road is below acceptable standards but the damage is too bad for our emergency repair team, we will reassess when budgets allow for a full repair"....... by which time the repair will cost far more, its been in this sort of condition, getting worse, for about 4 years.

Actually, I wouldn't be so sure of your assessment.

One leader's grandparent lived in a castle. The other leader's grandparent belonged to one of the least well-known but most successful immigrant groups the UK has ever seen.

Both have genuine and excellent reasons for being in public service and running for PM (why wouldn't you strive for the pinnacle of jobs?)

Neither deserves it more or less than the other. The media is playing with us all.

One leader's grandparent lived in a castle.

As a game-keeper. Hardly wealthy or particularly privileged! Not that I think background is important compared to competence and morals. But your summary is misleading to those who might think it is important.