Let's Get Political!

[Nemo]

Shall we do Farage’s tax affairs next?

I can't see the same papers leading with it quite as often, to be honest.

[Audrey]

The problem is both the Tories and Labour are busted flushes now - handed to Farage and Reform on a plate. Obviously lots can happen between now and the next election but can anyone honestly see Labour turning this shambles around.

[Nemo]

The problem is both the Tories and Labour are busted flushes now - handed to Farage and Reform on a plate. Obviously lots can happen between now and the next election but can anyone honestly see Labour turning this shambles around.

I'm sort of fascinated by the regular flow of Tory faces into Reform (Dorries yesterday, Jenkyns, Rees-Mogg, Braverman rumoured). Like, at what point do Reform supporters (rather than the left wingers who already think this) turn round and realise the new boss might in fact be the old boss in a different coloured tie?

In terms of actual electoral predictions, I think there'll be a "Stop Reform" movement as the election gets closer. I can see them getting the ~30% of the vote that they're polling, maybe up to ~35%, but they have a clear ceiling so it's over to the 'older' parties to see how many different ways they want to split the vote. If Labour, Lib Dem, Green, SNP, Plaid and Jezzurection Parties all stand candidates in every constituency then yeah Reform win.

[Mexicano Rojo]

I think Corbyn is a decent, honest politician.

Pity his politics are from the loony bin.

Please name me a policy from the loony bin

[Ardiles]

The problem is both the Tories and Labour are busted flushes now - handed to Farage and Reform on a plate. Obviously lots can happen between now and the next election but can anyone honestly see Labour turning this shambles around.

I agree with the first part of this.  Labour, in particular, have screwed up so badly.  There was an opportunity, 12 months ago, to show that things could be done differently.  Competently, without all the 'psycho drama' that went before.  I still believe that they had better intentions than a Tory party that was shifting ever further to the right, but the bottom line is that they have been found to be spectacularly bad at governing.  Starmer had all the time in the world to prepare for government, and he's been a mess.

Where I'm less sure is that this hands the next election to Reform.  There is, probably, still 3 to 4 years to run until the next election.  Reform have not been held to the same standard as other parties; but the closer you get to an election, the more scrutiny they will get.  I genuinely see them struggling as time goes on - particularly if Trump's star starts to wane and the small government, authoritarian ideals that both he & Reform agree on start to be seen as old hat.

[horlock07]

I agree with the first part of this.  Labour, in particular, have screwed up so badly.  There was an opportunity, 12 months ago, to show that things could be done differently.  Competently, without all the 'psycho drama' that went before.  I still believe that they had better intentions than a Tory party that was shifting ever further to the right, but the bottom line is that they have been found to be spectacularly bad at governing.  Starmer had all the time in the world to prepare for government, and he's been a mess.

Setting aside the fact that Labour seem to have made a complete horlicks of things its worth bearing in mind that they have actually done a fair bit of positive stuff but a) they seem to be dreadful at actually communicating the positive things they are doing to the general public (possibly mainly due to b) and b) everything they do is in the face of a probably 95%+ hostile media. Rayner royally fucked up and had to go and its nice to see an MP bugger off when found out, but I don't recall the papers being so keen to investigate such matters relating to ministers prior to July 2024. They hypocrisy in the media reeks, for instance on one day this week the Telegraph were running a story saying that Rayner should go 'cos she hadn't paid the correct stamp duty, whilst elsewhere in the same paper was a piece entitled 'How to Avoid Tax on Your Second Home'.

Loads of people were saying prior to the election that whoever got in was inheriting a poison chalice as the country was/is economically and socially broken and until people start getting realistic (and politicians stop bullshitting themselves and the public stop believing what certain parts of the media tell them) this is just going to continue, you cannot have the public services people expect whilst cutting taxes and you cannot have the economic growth we need without at least some immigration.

Where I'm less sure is that this hands the next election to Reform.  There is, probably, still 3 to 4 years to run until the next election.  Reform have not been held to the same standard as other parties; but the closer you get to an election, the more scrutiny they will get.  I genuinely see them struggling as time goes on - particularly if Trump's star starts to wane and the small government, authoritarian ideals that both he & Reform agree on start to be seen as old hat.

I agree there is a long way to go, but unless the media in this country actually start to question rather than promote Farage etc I fear a Reform Government is a shoe in. Seeing the kicking Farage got in the US yesterday (strange why our brave and fearless journalists seem unable to do similar) shows that like many grifters if challenged he is pretty useless but despite the video of it being one of the most watched on the BBC website yesterday they actually barely reported it on the home page.

I would suspect that as much as anything their biggest danger will be themselves, I see Musk has fucked off to support that start up with two names Tommy, Rupert Lowe is promoting policies which are further far right than the BNP were promoting in the 90's, they are already getting in a bit of a pickle re ID cards which would be a big help on immigration but upset the more (admittedly only claiming to be) libertarian wing of the party, similarly they are banging on about how crap the online safety bill is whilst simultaneously welcoming into the party the former Tory Minster who saw it through parliament.

[Audrey]

It’s a strange thing, proposed digital ID cards. If the premise is to help curb illegal immigration, why does the entire population have to have one?

I’ve got enough ID already - driving licence, passport etc.

‘Papers, please’

[Wobbly Bob]

It’s a strange thing, proposed digital ID cards. If the premise is to help curb illegal immigration, why does the entire population have to have one?

I’ve got enough ID already - driving licence, passport etc.

‘Papers, please’

A single card, in theory, could hold all of that info.

We'll probably be long gone, but microchipping of people will loom on the horizon eventually.

[fuzzy]

I don't understand the resistance to an I.D. card system.

Why do people not want one?

[Audrey]

It opens up all sorts of add-ons.

Do you really want the possibility of every single aspect of your life monitored by the government?

The nightmare scenario is everything will be linked - bank, supermarket shopping etc.

Once the crazy net zero gathers pace they could impose limits on what, and how much, you can spend.

Sorry, you’ve used up your petrol allowance for month.

Sorry, you’ve used up your meat allowance .

Not enough carbon credits.

[Nemo]

You have a mix of people who think the government is out to get them (above) and the people who think the government will spend an enormous amount of money achieving not very much.

[WEBBERhyde]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/05/nigel-farage-uses-private-company-to-pay-less-tax-on-gb-news-earnings

[Audrey]

The UK is the 4th most heavily surveilled country in the world.

From the 18th of September there will be a limit on how much money you can get from your bank.

You already have to explain and prove what you’re spending your money on if you ask to withdraw £2000 of your own money.

It’s nobody’s fucking business.

[Nemo]

Audrey is definitely a few more hours on the internet away from declaring himself a sovereign citizen.

[horlock07]

From the 18th of September there will be a limit on how much money you can get from your bank.

Unless its another thing that's fake news I'm afraid.... https://fullfact.org/economy/withdrawing-200-cash-week-financial-intelligence-unit/