"National Security can't come at the cost of Social Security" - WTAF?

[Binnyforthewin]

Surely our PM releases that without National Security there is no Social Security? One is entirely dependent on the other.

Oh dear, that’s not at all what I said.

Have you been in a chain restaurant lately, or a supermarket or heard of online shopping? Purchasing and payment done on apps and automated kiosks means massive job reductions.

Haha correct "self harm" by curring our arms off! I fail to see how someone who claims to have been a business consultant can be supportive of the most anti-business government we have had since the 70s.

You know what’ll make that faster? Increasing the cost of staff.

Well lets see when the figures come out as to how much they've raised to spend on all these hundreds of new teachers. Pathetic counter productive spiteful policy. Ideological of course. Typical Labour

We weren't "brave". The measures will achieve nothing other than angering an ally. AB was just pandering to the PLP and heading off a challenge to the Muslim labour vote.

Haha yes - if the opinion poll doesn't go the way you want, start undermining the survey!

The public could never actually mean what they say, the question must be wrong. Or the sample flawed. Or just fake news.

I was a consultant with a portfolio of dozens of businesses (profit and not for profit) with total annual revenues over £30 billion.

Forgive me - you were a consultant with a portfolio….you were a consultant or you managed a portfolio of companies? Which is it?

Yes it’s the lack of understanding of SMEs, which make up a large chunk of the economy.

No. Slashing taxes increases profits.

Growth requires investment. There is no direct pipeline from profits to investment in the UK especially since the number of foreign owned businesses has soared by 35% since Brexit and account for around 30% of the aGVA.

Things are a lot more complex than you realise.

Which specific poll is it?

It can probably be which ever you choose given the likelihood of it being true for someone so anti-business.

All these people on benefits didn't just happen when Labour came into power. The tories had 14 years to sort it so it's a bit galling when Kemi starts bitching now.

Depends on business area. Large multinational - no issues.

Retail or hospitality with 10,000 employees on NMW - huge impact. They operate on tiny margins, usually 3-4%, and their labour costs are usually the largest cost item. 1.2% increase means huge numbers for them. I consulted for one of such businesses - the next month after ER NI hike they stopped all recruitment and started reorg.

It's scale which matters - when largest employers, who often offer first jobs to youngster, stop recruiting, the impact is severe. So you can continue minimising the issue, but this hike does have a big impact

Why should anyone who doesn't contribute to society vote?

Both.
I worked in multi-national businesses and then most recently was a consultant with a portfolio.

Largest business had 689,000 employees.

Slashing corporation tax didnt do Ireland any harm.

Which taxes would you hike next?

So you acknowledge that AI and automation does have an impact on hospitality and retail, good.

Big businesses are doing perfectly well, posting record profits every year by cutting staff. They are not affected by the 1.2% because they’d stripped the workforce already so consumers can buy cheap sweatshirts and out of season tomatoes. They’ve also created a very challenging environment for small businesses who can’t compete with the scale. If you care about retaining jobs, vote with your feet. Buy local and independent.

You're being incredibly patronising for someone talking so much nonsense.

Maybe you've just got out of date with the real world in your retirement.

Ok, it doesn’t reveal much, to be frank.

You want to disenfranchise pensioners??

Who doesn’t contribute to society, in your view?

We arent really referring to "big business" as the majority of the private sector is made up of SMEs for whom Labours policies are far more destructive.

IF you cut out the AI whataboutery, do you believe that Reeves NI changes were positive for growth?

You are definitely right over the entry jobs and AI. One of the country's biggest employers had centres, in various parts of the country, where 100s of people worked in 3 shifts for 24hrs. All of those jobs have become obsolete because of AI.