The UK is in a mess. So is lots of Europe to be fair but where the UK used to be 'somewhere in the middle' of bond rates paid by G7 countries we are now the highest. In other words the bond market views us as the most risky to lend to out of all the G7.
If our govt managed to stop borrowing today and didn't borrow one more penny, our interest bill is still going to increase. Older bonds falling due for payment will have to be refinanced at current rates which are much higher. So you can see that our outgoings are going up even in the unlikely event we can stop borrowing.
The only way out is to reduce our debt which reduces interest but also signals to the market we are digging ourselves out. That in turn hopefully leads to them lending to us at lower rates.
Ideal world we build growth and increase economic activity so more money comes in. I haven't seen anything that suggests this is happening. I've only seen taxes on more things being suggested.
So we need to take our pot of money and split it differently and it needs to be drastic.
By drastic I mean things like care homes for sen children rather than paying out lots of money individually. They can be cared for and given some education there. Everyone is going to shout loudly but that sticks to our money plan and they are still 'ok'. Perhaps not great but not starving on the street either.
Now we need to apply a similar outlook to each and every area of spending. So state pension age increased with immediate effect to say 70. Triple lock gone and it increases in line with inflation or something. Yip that is going to be painful and lots of outrage but people will still get a pension just not as good as currently.
NHS - how about something really simple like we all buy an NHS 'card' for a fixed cost say £500 per year. A bit like paying for the yearly perscription. It's not ideal because there will still be wastage and missed appointments but it's a start to making people realise that we just can't afford free healthcare anymore. Ideally people would pay per service but that is more costly to implement. We should kept vaccinations free as we don't want the return of old diseases.
Welfare - All mental health conditions should have money stopped and therapy/medication instead. People who really do need help will take it gladly. People who are milking the system will lose their money and not bother going to the therapy because it's hard work.
Anyway I think you all get the drift. The changes have to be severe and tough shit to all the moaning.
There are lots of easy ones to do as well - yes WFA should go. Fuck the moaning. Immigrants should be given tents, water and bread. Those in real danger will still come. Those milking the system will stop coming.
Yes we should fund defence properly because it's just an essential service and without it quite frankly we are sitting ducks. We no longer have our old allies and world order is changing. It could also help boost our economy/manufacturing.
Other obvious savings are things like housing benefit. If you need your rent paid because you can't afford your own place paid for by you then you get something very basic like halls of residences. So a room each, a canteen. Very basic so you are not on the street. Cost hugely down. Yes there will be screaming and shouting. So let them. They have to realise it's now or never to turn things around.
Anyway I think you all get the drift. Do I think AB is going to do a good job. Probably not. It is going to take someone really tough to stand up to the public and turn the ship around. The only person I can see that might be able to do it is restore party. I don't agree with all their policies but the majority are sensible and truthful.
I mean wouldn't the UK be a great country to attack if you were going to attack anyone. Weakly defended, poor finances, poor leadership but still with the old reputation of 'Great Britain' I mean that would be quite a coup to take down a country that used to rule the world.
There is going to be lots and lots of changes required or we don't survive. Simple.