I made a couple of donations to the Brexit Party. As a result I get emails from Reform UK. I agree with many of the sentiments but with our electoral system these people are just banging their heads against a brick wall. Will we be forever in the grasp of two big parties neither of which appear to be able to tackle any of the issues we face?
. Taxes at their highest levels for 70 years
. Average household energy bills set to rise to £2800 from October
. Inflation predicted to exceed 10% in the next few months
. NHS services increasingly "out of reach" to people across the UK
. Shortages of basic foodstuffs on the way
. Illegal Channel crossings likely to triple to over 70.000 this year
After 12 years of Conservative governments, - this is "where we are" in 2022.
The Conservative party's plans for our future?
- "Build Back Beaver", by replacing 30% of our productive farmland with trees (making us even more reliant on imported food)
- and force us to replace efficient gas boilers, with inefficient heat pumps (typically costing around £20,000 to install).
Labour's answer to all these enormous problems?
A "one off" Windfall Tax on energy companies.
That's about it.
Anybody who votes for the main political parties is raving mad, they have let us down big time. its time for a new party, the old ones have had their day.
Two main parties will always rule in our system, unless the people were at revolution pitch.
Not likely to happen as we Brits are a docile lot.
It took Labour, from its formation in 1900 over 20 years to come into power in a couple of minority governments led by Ramsay MacDonald. There is no way, given our present electoral system, for a new party to achieve anything with the possible exception of holding the balance of power in a hung Parliament - in the same way that the wretched Scottish Greens give the SNP a working majority. There is history to that, of course - Cameron in 2010 and the Lab-Lib pact - can't remember the date off hand - but in each case the junior party didn't really get to wield much power, and the 2010 coalition ended up being very bad news for the Lib-Dems.
Mike
There was a referendum on a form of PR as part of the price exacted by the LibDems for that coalition. It was roundly defeated. I voted against it myself as the way it was constructed would have ensured the LibDems were in government in perpetuity as a minor partner in government.
I don't have a clue which way the country will go politically. I don't feel any connection to politics at present, Boris, who I've supported, has shown little regard for his own rules. The new CEO of Sheffield Council, Kate Josephs, is still suspended due to her role in Partygate when she was leaving Downing St to take up her new job! Looking at her credentials when she was appointed, I had hopes that the city might move forward, but its not looking likely.
I think a lot of people feel politically disconnected, concern about rising costs and inflation will be the main worries. Especially for those that are on lowish incomes, but not quite low enough to be included in the extra help given to others on means tested benefits.
I strongly suspect that only those receiving universal credit or pension credit will get any help at all. There will be a pretty large group above the threshold for those who will be trying in vain to afford something that might help here..'
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The war in Ukraine pretty much changed every thing. Tree planting likely to be stopped so we are able to grow more food. Depending on other countries for grain the war as been a wake up call.
Every thing you mentioned very likely to be a problem for any party which happened to be in power klondike. Cost of living we will shortly know what been planned which they have waited till after the Sue Grey report.
Rishi to the rescue. £300 for pensioners, part of £15bn spend to help the economy.
Quote from: GrannyMac on May 26, 2022, 09:41:36 AM
I don't have a clue which way the country will go politically. I don't feel any connection to politics at present,
:check: :check: :check:
Boris about to make the biggest mistake as PM, buying off the railway unions. opening up a big can of worms. Never thought he would be so stupid.
Quote from: hugh on May 26, 2022, 05:37:24 PM
Boris about to make the biggest mistake as PM, buying off the railway unions. opening up a big can of worms. Never thought he would be so stupid.
Well he's no Maggie Thatcher is he !!!
He's more of a bloody LibDem than...
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Might up crying too.
Never thought I would say this, but I really feel his days are numbered. To me he his not a conservative. He seems to be spending all his time, trying to make himself popular with everyone
That will be a long time coming.... If ever. :shh:
Quote from: hugh on May 27, 2022, 08:04:05 PMNever thought I would say this, but I really feel his days are numbered. To me he his not a conservative. He seems to be spending all his time, trying to make himself popular with everyone
My feelings too now Hugh. He was once the brilliant, inspirational voice of tomorrow for the Conservatives. Even yesterday when I watched PMQ over here, to me he yet again trounced Keir Starmer and had the front row of the Labour Party 'corpsing' when he refereed to "Vladimir Corbyn!" Unfortunately though he's damaged goods now.
Cassandra I have had a change of heart, I feel Boris is quite safe for the time being. With the cost of living and war on the arisen, party gates on the back burner.
Quote from: hugh on June 28, 2022, 07:48:34 AMCassandra I have had a change of heart, I feel Boris is quite safe for the time being. With the cost of living and war on the arisen, party gates on the back burner.
Hallelujah to that !
I don't think there is anyone brave enough to take over at this time..
They will use Boris to try and sort all the crap out and when the time is right he will be gone..
Such a shame.. I like Boris and he has been dealt some rough cards .. Not a wining hand..
His downfall, in my opinion, is his arrogance..
Quote from: Scrumpy on June 29, 2022, 04:45:37 PMI don't think there is anyone brave enough to take over at this time..
They will use Boris to try and sort all the crap out and when the time is right he will be gone..
Such a shame.. I like Boris and he has been dealt some rough cards .. Not a wining hand..
His downfall, in my opinion, is his arrogance..
I think he had a very good 'wining hand' :grin:
(sorry scrumps couldn't resist it) ...lil ol wine drinker me!.jpg