General Election

[normal rules]

Reform have a 6 year plan. Many People are rightly sick of a Tory govt . But by god they will be destitute after this coming labour shit show.con socialists the lot of em.
No one considered Brexit would actually happen. No one considers a govt run by anyone other than labour or Tory. We are in an era where anything can happen.

Let me get this straight.

You're putting up the fact that Brexit happened as a good reason to support the Farragists?

No.
What I am saying is the huge predicted swing to the left will have consequences come 5/6 years time. I think even you yourself predicted similar. You only have to look at the geo politics in certain eu countries to see what’s happening . Populist movements are on the rise . Brexit was an outcome of such . It’s happened once . It’s possible it will happen again. But it won’t be around a referendum . It will be at a forthcoming GE.

[wilts rover]

Reform have a 6 year plan. Many People are rightly sick of a Tory govt . But by god they will be destitute after this coming labour shit show.con socialists the lot of em.
No one considered Brexit would actually happen. No one considers a govt run by anyone other than labour or Tory. We are in an era where anything can happen.

Let me get this straight.

You're putting up the fact that Brexit happened as a good reason to support the Farragists?

No.
What I am saying is the huge predicted swing to the left will have consequences come 5/6 years time. I think even you yourself predicted similar. You only have to look at the geo politics in certain eu countries to see what’s happening . Populist movements are on the rise . Brexit was an outcome of such . It’s happened once . It’s possible it will happen again. But it won’t be around a referendum . It will be at a forthcoming GE.

Populist movements are on the rise - hence why there is a big swing to the left in the UK. Are you just writing words down from some random thought cloud?

Populist movements are on the rise - but unless they are totalitarian governments like Putin's Russia or Orban's Hungary who clamp down on opposition and dissent - in the countries where they have held power, like the UK there is a backlash against their failed 'promises'. Right-wing economics policies of greed and austerity have done exactly what they were intended to do, give immense wealth to a very small few and a worse standard of living for the majority.

That's why all opinion polls show that it's only the over 65's where populist ideas are even remotely 'popular'. And in 5/6 years time there will be less of that age group to vote for them.

[drfchound]

In five or six years time wilts, people who are 60 now will be overs 65s then.
Why will there be less of them?

[wilts rover]

In five or six years time wilts, people who are 60 now will be overs 65s then.
Why will there be less of them?

My post is a response to a previous post which says there will be a rise in voting for a populist party/parties in 5/6 years time.

People over 60 now are in the demographic who support left-wing policies/parties as are all the age groups under 65.

Why will they have suddenly changed a lifetimes voting habits?

[normal rules]

Reform have a 6 year plan. Many People are rightly sick of a Tory govt . But by god they will be destitute after this coming labour shit show.con socialists the lot of em.
No one considered Brexit would actually happen. No one considers a govt run by anyone other than labour or Tory. We are in an era where anything can happen.

Let me get this straight.

You're putting up the fact that Brexit happened as a good reason to support the Farragists?

No.
What I am saying is the huge predicted swing to the left will have consequences come 5/6 years time. I think even you yourself predicted similar. You only have to look at the geo politics in certain eu countries to see what’s happening . Populist movements are on the rise . Brexit was an outcome of such . It’s happened once . It’s possible it will happen again. But it won’t be around a referendum . It will be at a forthcoming GE.

Populist movements are on the rise - hence why there is a big swing to the left in the UK. Are you just writing words down from some random thought cloud?

Populist movements are on the rise - but unless they are totalitarian governments like Putin's Russia or Orban's Hungary who clamp down on opposition and dissent - in the countries where they have held power, like the UK there is a backlash against their failed 'promises'. Right-wing economics policies of greed and austerity have done exactly what they were intended to do, give immense wealth to a very small few and a worse standard of living for the majority.

That's why all opinion polls show that it's only the over 65's where populist ideas are even remotely 'popular'. And in 5/6 years time there will be less of that age group to vote for them.

It’s not that simple though is it.?
Traditional Tory voters who are suitably disenfranchised with conservatives will vote reform, or not vote at all. Red wall voters that jumped ship to the tories will resume to type and vote labour.
Brexit attracted votes from across the political spectrum, none less than red wall areas.
You may even get red wall voters opt for reform. If they voted for brexit, then some of reforms policies will appeal.
But overall there will be a swing to the left for sure in this GE.
But a platform for Reform will be built. Just like the platform was built for brexit by UKIP many years before the referendum vote.
UKIP engineered brexit without holding any power at all.
My eyes are wide open to what’s happening politically in this country. There is a consensus that the Tory Party have betrayed the Brexit vote. It’s only a matter of time before this is reflected at the ballot box. We may see some of this in a few weeks.
And don’t get me wrong, I don’t think a Reform govt is necessarily what this country needs. But there is a very real prospect that their support will gain significant traction, especially during a term of Labour Govt.

[drfchound]

I read recently (might be on here) that lots of people change their voting habits as they get older.
Who is to say that won’t continue to happen.

[Bentley Bullet]

I'm not wealthy, but I'm better off than I've ever been. It's not just an age thing either. My two lads have got more in terms of wealth and possessions than I ever had at their age, in fact, I dare say they have got more wealth and possesions than me now!

My next-door neighbours have a new car and a mortgage that I could never have afforded at their age. My brothers kids, both my sisters kids, all have bigger and better houses and cars than me, and my brother and sister for that matter.

I can't think of any of my mates who are not better off than they have ever been. Come to think of it, their kids are better off than they've ever been also, if what they tell me is true.

 "immense wealth to a very small few and a worse standard of living for the majority."

b*llocks

[danumdon]

Just a thought when people say that Labour are just Red Tories.

https://x.com/labour_history/status/906441586183094279

Devolution, their version of it really served us well!

I wonder if he ever gave a thought to going into selling double glazing.

Go on. What disservice did it do to you.

Oh, and by the way. Every one of those achievements of the last Labour Government were things they committed to do in manifestos.

What exactly DO you want from politicians?

It didn't do anything directly to me as i don't live in a devolved territory bar requiring me to pay more tax to offset their largess. For those that do live there its caused no end of issues, just ask any Scotts, Welsh or Irishman.

The the country overall it has caused resentment, duplication and a great deal of wasted money.

To do devolution properly it should of been a case of mostly home rule for the devolved areas, that means all collected tax and revenue from the devolved states should of been handed over in full with all areas of state devolved except for defence and security. No formulas and additional funds allocated, if you have a devolved government you stand on your own two feet with no handouts from central government to soften the blow.

Instead we have a miss mash of devolved areas that don't suit anyone with all sides complaining about how the finances have been divided and distributed, resulting in taxpayers money being unfairly allocated. Failed health and education outcomes are constantly thrown back as being the fault of the UK government when its down to devolved SNP and Labour who have royally messed up.

Was it in there manifesto to undersell taxpayer owned gold and to totally mess up a great swathe of peoples workplace pensions?

What exactly i'd like from politicians is to think of my taxes as if they belonged to themselves, and spend them wisely and appropriately. We haven't had this for a long time and we now have the prospect of this continuing furthermore.

[albie]

Veteran journo Michael Crick on the complete shitshow of selection processes in both main parties:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUHowypN4nw&pp=ygUMbm92YXJhIG1lZGlh

Are they both the same....no, but they are both very poor.
No real commitment to party democracy, just a sham scam.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Just a thought when people say that Labour are just Red Tories.

https://x.com/labour_history/status/906441586183094279

Devolution, their version of it really served us well!

I wonder if he ever gave a thought to going into selling double glazing.

Go on. What disservice did it do to you.

Oh, and by the way. Every one of those achievements of the last Labour Government were things they committed to do in manifestos.

What exactly DO you want from politicians?

It didn't do anything directly to me as i don't live in a devolved territory bar requiring me to pay more tax to offset their largess. For those that do live there its caused no end of issues, just ask any Scotts, Welsh or Irishman.

The the country overall it has caused resentment, duplication and a great deal of wasted money.

To do devolution properly it should of been a case of mostly home rule for the devolved areas, that means all collected tax and revenue from the devolved states should of been handed over in full with all areas of state devolved except for defence and security. No formulas and additional funds allocated, if you have a devolved government you stand on your own two feet with no handouts from central government to soften the blow.

Instead we have a miss mash of devolved areas that don't suit anyone with all sides complaining about how the finances have been divided and distributed, resulting in taxpayers money being unfairly allocated. Failed health and education outcomes are constantly thrown back as being the fault of the UK government when its down to devolved SNP and Labour who have royally messed up.

Was it in there manifesto to undersell taxpayer owned gold and to totally mess up a great swathe of peoples workplace pensions?

What exactly i'd like from politicians is to think of my taxes as if they belonged to themselves, and spend them wisely and appropriately. We haven't had this for a long time and we now have the prospect of this continuing furthermore.

Od on.

Are you seriously telling me that the Scots don't want a devolved Parliament?

And that the Northern Irish don't want a devolved Parliament? You reckon we'd be a better country if NI was ruled from Westminster?

[Herbert Anchovy]

I read recently (might be on here) that lots of people change their voting habits as they get older.
Who is to say that won’t continue to happen.

That might have been me Hound. I was listening to a programme on the radio about how voting habits change, in general terms. There was one bloke on there who said that he'd voted Labour for all of his working life but now that he'd retired he 'didn't need them anymore' so had voted Conservative in 2017 as Labour's spending on public services didn't benefit him now (or words to that affect).

[roverstillidie91]

I'm not wealthy, but I'm better off than I've ever been. It's not just an age thing either. My two lads have got more in terms of wealth and possessions than I ever had at their age, in fact, I dare say they have got more wealth and possesions than me now!

My next-door neighbours have a new car and a mortgage that I could never have afforded at their age. My brothers kids, both my sisters kids, all have bigger and better houses and cars than me, and my brother and sister for that matter.

I can't think of any of my mates who are not better off than they have ever been. Come to think of it, their kids are better off than they've ever been also, if what they tell me is true.

 "immense wealth to a very small few and a worse standard of living for the majority."

b*llocks

In my opinion I would say that is true that if you have aspirations to do really good things you can have assets but the issue is more and more people the younger you go down the ages house ownership is a pipe dream.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I read recently (might be on here) that lots of people change their voting habits as they get older.
Who is to say that won’t continue to happen.

That might have been me Hound. I was listening to a programme on the radio about how voting habits change, in general terms. There was one bloke on there who said that he'd voted Labour for all of his working life but now that he'd retired he 'didn't need them anymore' so had voted Conservative in 2017 as Labour's spending on public services didn't benefit him now (or words to that affect).

There's a well established trend in many countries that voters have tended to move rightwards as they get older. But the point is that the Tory party has never in the history of polling been this unpopular with under-50s. If the "normal" rightward shift happens, that will not come remotely close to filling the gap left as 65+ Tory voters age and die.

[SydneyRover]

I'm not wealthy, but I'm better off than I've ever been. It's not just an age thing either. My two lads have got more in terms of wealth and possessions than I ever had at their age, in fact, I dare say they have got more wealth and possesions than me now!

My next-door neighbours have a new car and a mortgage that I could never have afforded at their age. My brothers kids, both my sisters kids, all have bigger and better houses and cars than me, and my brother and sister for that matter.

I can't think of any of my mates who are not better off than they have ever been. Come to think of it, their kids are better off than they've ever been also, if what they tell me is true.

 "immense wealth to a very small few and a worse standard of living for the majority."

b*llocks

'Everyone's better off than you' hmmm answers a few questions ............

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I read recently (might be on here) that lots of people change their voting habits as they get older.
Who is to say that won’t continue to happen.

That might have been me Hound. I was listening to a programme on the radio about how voting habits change, in general terms. There was one bloke on there who said that he'd voted Labour for all of his working life but now that he'd retired he 'didn't need them anymore' so had voted Conservative in 2017 as Labour's spending on public services didn't benefit him now (or words to that affect).

There's a well established trend in many countries that voters have tended to move rightwards as they get older. But the point is that the Tory party has never in the history of polling been this unpopular with under-50s. If the "normal" rightward shift happens, that will not come remotely close to filling the gap left as 65+ Tory voters age and die.

I think though as someone in that 35-50 demographic (just) that the opposition have actually moved right with the Tories. We don't really have any true left wing parties right now I would say.

The biggest risk for me is what happens if labour as is likely get in to government and fail to achieve much.  The door is then wide open for a populist movement and that's a bit scary to me.

The point on devolution is interesting. I think local things should be for local politicians.  But devolution certainly in Scotland has widened the gap across the UK. Scotland now feels much more different to England than it ever did and I say that as someone who grew up across the two countries.

[drfchound]

I'm not wealthy, but I'm better off than I've ever been. It's not just an age thing either. My two lads have got more in terms of wealth and possessions than I ever had at their age, in fact, I dare say they have got more wealth and possesions than me now!

My next-door neighbours have a new car and a mortgage that I could never have afforded at their age. My brothers kids, both my sisters kids, all have bigger and better houses and cars than me, and my brother and sister for that matter.

I can't think of any of my mates who are not better off than they have ever been. Come to think of it, their kids are better off than they've ever been also, if what they tell me is true.

 "immense wealth to a very small few and a worse standard of living for the majority."

b*llocks

'Everyone's better off than you' hmmm answers a few questions ............

What questions are they Syd?

[danumdon]

Just a thought when people say that Labour are just Red Tories.

https://x.com/labour_history/status/906441586183094279

Devolution, their version of it really served us well!

I wonder if he ever gave a thought to going into selling double glazing.

Go on. What disservice did it do to you.

Oh, and by the way. Every one of those achievements of the last Labour Government were things they committed to do in manifestos.

What exactly DO you want from politicians?

It didn't do anything directly to me as i don't live in a devolved territory bar requiring me to pay more tax to offset their largess. For those that do live there its caused no end of issues, just ask any Scotts, Welsh or Irishman.

The the country overall it has caused resentment, duplication and a great deal of wasted money.

To do devolution properly it should of been a case of mostly home rule for the devolved areas, that means all collected tax and revenue from the devolved states should of been handed over in full with all areas of state devolved except for defence and security. No formulas and additional funds allocated, if you have a devolved government you stand on your own two feet with no handouts from central government to soften the blow.

Instead we have a miss mash of devolved areas that don't suit anyone with all sides complaining about how the finances have been divided and distributed, resulting in taxpayers money being unfairly allocated. Failed health and education outcomes are constantly thrown back as being the fault of the UK government when its down to devolved SNP and Labour who have royally messed up.

Was it in there manifesto to undersell taxpayer owned gold and to totally mess up a great swathe of peoples workplace pensions?

What exactly i'd like from politicians is to think of my taxes as if they belonged to themselves, and spend them wisely and appropriately. We haven't had this for a long time and we now have the prospect of this continuing furthermore.

Od on.

Are you seriously telling me that the Scots don't want a devolved Parliament?

And that the Northern Irish don't want a devolved Parliament? You reckon we'd be a better country if NI was ruled from Westminster?

For you to read the post and come back with that?

Unbelievable.

[BillyStubbsTears]

https://x.com/TheIFS/status/1797891798293152156

Yeah but there's no difference between Labour and the Tories.

[SydneyRover]

Latest polls

''NEW: Our first MRP of the 2024 General Election

Labour Set for Record Breaking Majority

LAB 487
CON 71
LD 43
SNP 26
RFM 3
PC 2

30,044 interviews conducted online and on the phone
Fwk 22 May - 2 June

Conducted on behalf of @BestForBritain''

[NickDRFC]

I'm not wealthy, but I'm better off than I've ever been. It's not just an age thing either. My two lads have got more in terms of wealth and possessions than I ever had at their age, in fact, I dare say they have got more wealth and possesions than me now!

My next-door neighbours have a new car and a mortgage that I could never have afforded at their age. My brothers kids, both my sisters kids, all have bigger and better houses and cars than me, and my brother and sister for that matter.

I can't think of any of my mates who are not better off than they have ever been. Come to think of it, their kids are better off than they've ever been also, if what they tell me is true.

 "immense wealth to a very small few and a worse standard of living for the majority."

b*llocks

I’m mid-30s and have a senior and pretty well paid job as a CFO, whilst my wife is also a chartered accountant and works as a Financial Controller. We live in a 4 bed house in a nice area of Edinburgh, but it’s a house we’re only able to afford at this stage of our life because of help from our parents towards the first properties that we bought. And it’s pretty unlikely we’ll ever live in a house like my wife grew up in, a 7 bed property closer to town. Her parents were teachers, so our combined earnings are far higher than theirs ever were, but they were able to buy at the right time when property was far less expensive relative to salaries.

There are a lot of people my age who aren’t homeowners because, even with decent jobs, it’s just not affordable, whilst most folk in their 20s have no chance. I don’t know how old your children and neighbours’ children are but the reality for most people in their 20s & 30s is pretty different to how you describe it. The younger generations are in a much worse position than their parents to get on the property ladder.

[River Don]

I'm actively downsizing.

I don't care to keep up with the Joneses.

I make do with less. I don't fly.

We have experienced months of record high temperatures. This spring has seen hugely record breaking night time temperatures..

You might feel you are successful in life

You aren't.

[Bentley Bullet]

I'm not wealthy, but I'm better off than I've ever been. It's not just an age thing either. My two lads have got more in terms of wealth and possessions than I ever had at their age, in fact, I dare say they have got more wealth and possesions than me now!

My next-door neighbours have a new car and a mortgage that I could never have afforded at their age. My brothers kids, both my sisters kids, all have bigger and better houses and cars than me, and my brother and sister for that matter.

I can't think of any of my mates who are not better off than they have ever been. Come to think of it, their kids are better off than they've ever been also, if what they tell me is true.

 "immense wealth to a very small few and a worse standard of living for the majority."

b*llocks

I’m mid-30s and have a senior and pretty well paid job as a CFO, whilst my wife is also a chartered accountant and works as a Financial Controller. We live in a 4 bed house in a nice area of Edinburgh, but it’s a house we’re only able to afford at this stage of our life because of help from our parents towards the first properties that we bought. And it’s pretty unlikely we’ll ever live in a house like my wife grew up in, a 7 bed property closer to town. Her parents were teachers, so our combined earnings are far higher than theirs ever were, but they were able to buy at the right time when property was far less expensive relative to salaries.

There are a lot of people my age who aren’t homeowners because, even with decent jobs, it’s just not affordable, whilst most folk in their 20s have no chance. I don’t know how old your children and neighbours’ children are but the reality for most people in their 20s & 30s is pretty different to how you describe it. The younger generations are in a much worse position than their parents to get on the property ladder.

When I was in my 20's I knew people of the same age who had new mortgages and were living in their new houses with no furniture because they'd spent all their spare cash on paying the mortgage, so it was a struggle for some back in the seventies.

I agree that today's youngsters have a real struggle getting on the housing ladder, and I hope something will be done to resolve that, but to say the majority of us have a worse standard of living is, in my experience, b*llocks.

[River Don]

In the last couple of years almost everyone is experiencing lower standards of living because of inflation. it's just a fact.

Over the last fourteen years people living standards haven't risen. The very wealthy have become richer.

Nobody we else has seen much improvement.

[Bentley Bullet]

So what caused that inflation, and what will Starmer do about it?

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I'm not wealthy, but I'm better off than I've ever been. It's not just an age thing either. My two lads have got more in terms of wealth and possessions than I ever had at their age, in fact, I dare say they have got more wealth and possesions than me now!

My next-door neighbours have a new car and a mortgage that I could never have afforded at their age. My brothers kids, both my sisters kids, all have bigger and better houses and cars than me, and my brother and sister for that matter.

I can't think of any of my mates who are not better off than they have ever been. Come to think of it, their kids are better off than they've ever been also, if what they tell me is true.

 "immense wealth to a very small few and a worse standard of living for the majority."

b*llocks

I’m mid-30s and have a senior and pretty well paid job as a CFO, whilst my wife is also a chartered accountant and works as a Financial Controller. We live in a 4 bed house in a nice area of Edinburgh, but it’s a house we’re only able to afford at this stage of our life because of help from our parents towards the first properties that we bought. And it’s pretty unlikely we’ll ever live in a house like my wife grew up in, a 7 bed property closer to town. Her parents were teachers, so our combined earnings are far higher than theirs ever were, but they were able to buy at the right time when property was far less expensive relative to salaries.

There are a lot of people my age who aren’t homeowners because, even with decent jobs, it’s just not affordable, whilst most folk in their 20s have no chance. I don’t know how old your children and neighbours’ children are but the reality for most people in their 20s & 30s is pretty different to how you describe it. The younger generations are in a much worse position than their parents to get on the property ladder.

The help to buy scheme was everything to me, it gave me just enough to get on the property ladder and get that deposit together, my mortgage on that house was less than the rent on my previous flat.

A scheme like that definitely works but expanding that out and not causing price inflation is very difficult.

[River Don]

So what caused that inflation, and what will Starmer do about it?

By far the largest cause of inflation was Putin and his war in Ukraine.

Six months before the invasion he stated restricting the supply of gas in to Europe. gas prices exploded. Kwarteng had to bailout the UK CO2 and fertilizer industry.

Since then gas prices have peaked but are still much higher than we were used to.

Is it Sunaks fault? No. But he has still tried to take the credit for lowering inflation despite the fact it had nothing at all to do with him or the government

[Bentley Bullet]

So why was it his fault when inflation went higher?

[River Don]

So why was it his fault when inflation went higher?

It wasn't

[danumdon]

I'm quite sure some people feel worse off than previously.

The funny thing though is that like everything else in life its about choices and priorities.. Some plead they are struggling to get on the housing ladder because the deposit required is something that they could never afford to save for.

That's fair enough, but if you have a car on PCP, a new iPhone ever couple of years, big nights out every weekend coupled with Full SKy/Netfix/any other subscriptions then you will always be struggling to get that depot saved.

Everyone has a choice and priorities to make, you can't have your cake and eat the bugger as well.

[River Don]

I'm quite sure some people feel worse off than previously.

The funny thing though is that like everything else in life its about choices and priorities.. Some plead they are struggling to get on the housing ladder because the depot required is something that they could never afford to save for.

That's fair enough, but if you have a car on PCP, a new iPhone ever couple of years, big nights out every weekend coupled with Full SKy/Netfix/any other subscriptions then you will always be struggling to get that depot saved.

Everyone has a choice and priorities to make, you can't have your cake and eat the bugger as well.

Almost everyone is worse off because of the recent inflation which is not really the fault of the government but also the prior decade of stagnation which might well be the fault of the government.