Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party.

[jon0844]

This the same party insisting people working from home are lazy and everyone should go back to work?

 

[WelshBluebird]

we only have to look at any labour run Council as to how quickly they seem to manage this at the moment

Nothing at all to do with how council funding has been massively cut over the last 13 years? There's a reason councils of all colours are going bust.

 

[brad465]

Here in Beds we are coming up to the by election. So far only Labour has knocked on my door. Still unsure who to vote for out of Labour and Lib Dems to not split the vote.

According to Oddschecker Labour are favourites (6/5), with Tories 2nd (2/1) and Lib Dems 3rd (5/2). The odds are relatively close though, so I'd keep checking until the day itself in case they switch noticeably.

 

[birchesgreen]

Interesting to see what Andy Street does now, the problem with threatening to resign over something is that you usually look like an idiot if you don't go through with it.

 

[The Ham]

Nothing at all to do with how council funding has been massively cut over the last 13 years? There's a reason councils of all colours are going bust.

Indeed, Woking racked up the debt under the Conservatives, Hampshire has a £165 million shortfall in it's budget (a few years ago it was £80 million) - guess what, that's Tory run. Then and Kent (also Tory) have written a letter to central government warning that both could "go bust" is central government don't change things.

When a County Council looked to make cuts the local MP said that it's nothing to do with them, as spending is up to local representatives - whilst this is technically correct, they had voted at least twice to reduce the government grant to councils putting the council in that position.

I suspect that if things don't change soon (and fast) it's going to look bad for the government. Normally the number of councils "going bust" in a year is tiny and very much the exception, we are already well beyond that and with the potential of several more following suit over the next 18 months.

 

[najaB]

Sunak's just said what i said years ago - HS2 needed businessmen (on expenses) to make it pay...

If the model was to run it as a premium service. However, the capacity that it would (have) unlock(ed) make it more than feasible to for it turn a profit (or at least cover its cost) on a "pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap" model as well. When it's cheap enough to make sense to pop down from Manchester to London to do some shopping, or people from London can nip over to Liverpool to watch a show then they will do it.

 

[DarloRich]

Interesting to see what Andy Street does now, the problem with threatening to resign over something is that you usually look like an idiot if you don't go through with it.

they will try to buy him off. Tram extensions etc ( which may well be his game plan with this)

 

[Herefordian]

I don't like change unless it's meaningful, what you effectively get with the current manifestation of labor and it's senior management is Tory light, nothing much will alter other than the state of public finances which will dip into the red, we only have to look at any labour run Council as to how quickly they seem to manage this at the moment and it wouldn't surprise me if we got tax cuts as well to appease the many


They can't answer any question on how they tackle some of the big issues currently and I just don't feel that I can trust them at this exact moment in time, which is sad because I absolutely agree that the current administration are far from brilliant but I still say better the devil You know

The Conservatives have put this country into over £2 trillion of debt. It's never been that high under Labour.

They've borrowed more money in thirteen years than ALL previous Labour governments combined.

I note you've conveniently omitted the fact Conservative and Liberal Democrat councils have also declared bankruptcy.

In all cases, it was because government funding (reduced annually) and tax income (increased annually to offset the latter) was no longer enough to fulfil financial obligations and they were unable to reduce any more services.

Your criticism of the way unemployed and disabled people are appallingly treated by this administration is extremely justified. However, it seems hollow if you feel it's better to vote for it to continue.

I respect your opinion, but I can't say I understand the logic.

 

[skyhigh]

Sunak's just said what i said years ago - HS2 needed businessmen (on expenses) to make it pay, and now after covid travel has changed (work from home etc); so if that's correct, why nor scrap it altogether?

Because that is an utterly stupid idea. If you scrap the whole thing then every single pound spent so far is 100% wasted. You'll either have to leave the countryside and parts of London in a mess or spend more wasted money repairing the landscape.

Or... you could just finish the stages currently in build and at least get some benefit from what has been built, even if it will take longer than expected to pay back the investment.

 

[GS250]

Slowly but surely trying to ban smoking.....the stuff of authoritarian governments. Slippery slope and all that.......

 

[Thirteen]

The smoking age raise isn't surprising, we've seen in happen in other countries.

 

[Luke McDonnell]

So as explained above will a spate of Section 114 notices from Conservative controlled councils especially result it more political problems for this government especially if a well run Conservative council like Hampshire declares Section 114 again it could become another open goal for Labour on not providing local government to fund services probably and as these councils are in Conservative voting areas surely they will start to notice when you are driving in your Range Rover across potholes

 

[Citybreak1]

Sunak's just said what i said years ago - HS2 needed businessmen (on expenses) to make it pay, and now after covid travel has changed (work from home etc); so if that's correct, why nor scrap it altogether?

BUT - other than speed, what about capacity though?? No mention of that.

Many places are telling people to get back to the office. Im sorry but people are not productive working from home. Nothing more frustrating than a call centre with dogs barking in the background.

 

[DarloRich]

Slowly but surely trying to ban smoking.....the stuff of authoritarian governments. Slippery slope and all that.......

good - hope they add vapes to that list also.

 

[Citybreak1]

Anybody who is against HS2 has never used HS1. Only flaw is two decades to deliver.

 

[DarloRich]

Im sorry but people are not productive working from home.

is that a fact? As for the dogs barking, yes i do find that frustrating but no more so that hearing other calls in the background when i am in the office.

 

[birchesgreen]

Many places are telling people to get back to the office. Im sorry but people are not productive working from home. Nothing more frustrating than a call centre with dogs barking in the background.

There are other jobs than call centres you know? Most call centres i call are abroad anyway, i'd rather a dog barking than someone who can barely speak english.

Funnily enough we often have dogs in the office, you are probably more likely to hear dogs barking if you call in!

 

[nw1]

Slowly but surely trying to ban smoking.....the stuff of authoritarian governments. Slippery slope and all that.......

I've never smoked - however I do believe smoking in a private place, without others around, is a personal choice (for adults) and trying to completely ban it (the stated aim) does indeed seem rather authoritarian. Controls on advertising and smoking in public places are sufficient measures - you want to prevent passive smoking but telling adults what they can and cannot do with their own body in their own private space is a bit too much.

Noticeably different to many parts of the USA, too, who are going the other way regarding cannabis.

It's like the mobile phones in schools thing. Again that should be down to the individual school.

 

[SteveM70]

Many places are telling people to get back to the office. Im sorry but people are not productive working from home. Nothing more frustrating than a call centre with dogs barking in the background.

Wow. Any evidence to back this up?

 

[jfollows]

Interesting to see what Andy Street does now, the problem with threatening to resign over something is that you usually look like an idiot if you don't go through with it.

He’s now said that he’s not resigning after all, because Sunak “respected his concerns”

 

[nw1]

He’s now said that he’s not resigning after all, because Sunak “respected his concerns”

Right.

Comes across weak and unprincipled.

 

[SteveM70]

He’s now said that he’s not resigning after all, because Sunak “respected his concerns”

Well there's a shock!

 

[najaB]

Slowly but surely trying to ban smoking.....the stuff of authoritarian governments. Slippery slope and all that.......

I'm a bit torn on this one - is it government overreach or not? The thing that just manages to tip me to the 'support' side is that if they follow the model used in NZ then nobody has their rights taken away. It will continue to be legal for anyone who currently smokes to continue to do so, it just doesn't become legal for anyone for who it currently isn't.

 

[jfollows]

Many places are telling people to get back to the office. Im sorry but people are not productive working from home. Nothing more frustrating than a call centre with dogs barking in the background.

No evidence, because it's too generic a statement.
I resigned from IBM in part because they wanted me to work from home too much even in 2008.
I don't work any more, but my partner now works 1 day a week in the office following a complete absence during Covid.
There's a balance to be struck which is different for different people and different jobs.
I was sometimes more productive at home, sometimes more productive at work, it depended on my specific tasks.

 

[birchesgreen]

He’s now said that he’s not resigning after all, because Sunak “respected his concerns”

"Respected his concerns", but cancelled HS2 north anyway. What a doofus.

 

[Thirteen]

I'm a bit torn on this one - is it government overreach or not? The thing that just manages to tip me to the 'support' side is that if they follow the model used in NZ then nobody has their rights taken away. It will continue to be legal for anyone who currently smokes to continue to do so, it just doesn't become legal for anyone for who it currently isn't.

The NZ model is the right approach, they're not banning smoking for current smokers but anyone who is not old enough to buy them yet.

 

[DarloRich]

He’s now said that he’s not resigning after all, because Sunak “respected his concerns”

"Respected his concerns", but cancelled HS2 north anyway. What a doofus.

but got a "west mids rail hub" and tram extension on to the list. He also got further support for "Arden Cross" and metro funding "pressures". Mission accomplished.

he can also take the credit for helping HS2 phase 1 happen AND continue with the trains ( not line) beyond Birmingham. He also got name checked twice in the speech.

EDIT - the Tories can also compare and contract with Burnham in Manchester. HE couldn't deliver HS2.

 

[takno]

I'm a bit torn on this one - is it government overreach or not? The thing that just manages to tip me to the 'support' side is that if they follow the model used in NZ then nobody has their rights taken away. It will continue to be legal for anyone who currently smokes to continue to do so, it just doesn't become legal for anyone for who it currently isn't.

That's an absurd argument. Would you say that nobody is having their rights taken away if they are banned from ever having sex because they are currently under the legal age of consent?

Banning drugs as a policy has proved itself to be an abject failure. Why would you want to ban another drug which is commonplace and make the whole effort even more pointless?

 

[jon0844]

good - hope they add vapes to that list also.

Doubtful. Less people are smoking and vaping is taking over, so it's now quite easy to introduce a ban/tighter controls and seem like you're caring. More importantly, I doubt the tobacco industry is going to be lobbying for more freedom for people to smoke, and they're all invested in vaping too.

 

[Howardh]

Many places are telling people to get back to the office. Im sorry but people are not productive working from home. Nothing more frustrating than a call centre with dogs barking in the background.

Badly phrased by me - was thinking more of "there's a meeting in London which we want you to attend to sign documents" now being "there's a zoom conference, and you can sign on-line" sort of thing!!

The smoking age raise isn't surprising, we've seen in happen in other countries.

Disclamer, I don't smoke and never have. Bit worrying though when you start to ban things for adults buying, down the line it means a 22-ye-old can buy cigs but a 21 can't (have I got that right). To me they are either legal, or they aren't, and as thousands still smoke (and pay taxes on it) it can't be made an illegal/classified drug overnight (due to the addiction).

Then you have the issue of imports! maybe now we are sadly out of the EU, the government can prohibit the import of (duty free or not) although that adds to the pressure on customs.
To be honest, I'd rather they go after vaping (and increase the duty on cigs substantially) no idea if that damages the vaper healthwise, but it appears people vape far more than they would smoke?