Who Will You Vote For?

[mangocrazy]

Mango talking about stuff he doesn't understand? Surely not. Oh.

Pots and kettles, methinks...

[Saga Lout]

That's a real tenner. I'd even throw in the bar of soap if you won...

Well, if you're betting REAL money, I'm out. The original offer was a Soapy tenner, I'd bet Soapy tenners all day.

[Horse]

Had a whisper from a friend who 'knows stuff' that "Sunak is about to resign".

Wouldn't be surprised - with ministers turning against him he's finished.

Is there a timetable for this?

NB: "Truth does not change because it is, or is not, spread as a rumour." - Giordano Bruno (almost)

Blimey, still not resigned.

Liz Truss lasted longer as PM than this rumour

[MyLittleStudPony]

Oops.

https://news.sky.com/story/election-lat ... l-12593360

Election latest: Reform UK overtakes Tories for first time in new poll

Reform UK has overtaken the Tories for the first time in a new YouGov poll carried out for The Times newspaper. Sky polling analyst Will Jennings describes it as a "moment of huge danger" for the Conservative Party.

Looking at their website, key messages appear to be that this is "the immigration election" and that they "want our country back".

Want it back from who? It all sounds a bit racisty.

I guess it doesn't really matter because all it'll do is split the vote and help Labour get a bigger majority.


https://www.reformparty.uk/

[Horse]

Despite Starmer claiming to be a socialist I think he is middle of the road

Is that actually a problem?

Perhaps compromise, consensus, MotR, could be beneficial?

[Noggin]

Oops.

https://news.sky.com/story/election-lat ... l-12593360

Looking at their website, key messages appear to be that this is "the immigration election" and that they "want our country back".

Want it back from who? It all sounds a bit racisty.

I guess it doesn't really matter because all it'll do is split the vote and help Labour get a bigger majority.


https://www.reformparty.uk/

Nothing new then, just what they used to get Brexit. I thought that was about immigration and getting their country back; they saying that didn't work?

[MyLittleStudPony]

Nice and Brexity!

[cheb]

Despite Starmer claiming to be a socialist I think he is middle of the road

Is that actually a problem?

Perhaps compromise, consensus, MotR, could be beneficial?

It's a lovely idea, but could it ever happen? If any of the parties, the media and the populace were reasonable enough it would have happened.

There's a lot that amuses me about this election. For most of the comments like 'Anyone but the Torries' you could substitute 'SNP' in Scotland.

Don't like FPTP? The national parish council uses a form of PR, look how well that's worked.

[Taipan]

Oops.

https://news.sky.com/story/election-lat ... l-12593360

Looking at their website, key messages appear to be that this is "the immigration election" and that they "want our country back".

Want it back from who? It all sounds a bit racisty.

I guess it doesn't really matter because all it'll do is split the vote and help Labour get a bigger majority.


https://www.reformparty.uk/

I dont see anything I disagree with.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Interesting how they don't put figures on how much these grand plans cost, but they quote savings.

I'm sure they've thought about it though

[Count Steer]

Interesting how they don't put figures on how much these grand plans cost, but they quote savings.

I'm sure they've thought about it though

You can promise the moon on a stick when you know you'll never have to deliver it. As the radio just uttered 'It's Liz Truss on steroids'.

It'll steal votes from the Conservatives though. It's his revenge for not getting a knighthood.

[cheb]

Was 'inheritance' too long a word for prospective Reform UK voters? What if you aren't grieving for the person who died?

[MyLittleStudPony]

I'm pleased to see they're still on the case with the fish.

[Horse]

Interesting how they don't put figures on how much these grand plans cost, but they quote savings.

I'm sure they've thought about it though

Manifesto launch today. Farage promising tax cuts too!

Flap Oink Flap Oink Flap Oink

[Saga Lout]

Interesting how they don't put figures on how much these grand plans cost, but they quote savings.

I'm sure they've thought about it though

You can promise the moon on a stick when you know you'll never have to deliver it. As the radio just uttered 'It's Liz Truss on steroids'.

It'll steal votes from the Conservatives though. It's his revenge for not getting a knighthood.

It might steal some votes from the Conservatives, but I reckon most will be people who would otherwise not vote. I.e. those small c conservatives who want government to do small c conservative things. You know, low taxes, small government etc. We've given up waiting for the Conservative party to act like conservatives.

[KungFooBob]

My FiL is gutted that there isn't a reform candidate in his constituency to vote for.

I'm half contemplating a protest vote for them, does that make me a fascist?

[cheb]

One of the candidates up here is using the phrase 'Be wise, not woke' in their blandishments.

That'll be the Christian right then. I might ask them if they'll ban women from wearing trousers.

[Taipan]

An assessment of the tax and spending changes proposed in the 2024 Reform UK general election manifesto.

Carl Emmerson, deputy director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said: “Reform UK proposes tax cuts that it estimates would cost nearly £90 billion per year, and spending increases of £50 billion per year. It claims that it would pay for these through £150 billion per year of reductions in other spending, covering public services, debt interest and working-age benefits.

This would represent a big cut to the size of the state. Regardless of the pros and cons of shrinking the state, or of any of their specific measures, the package as a whole is problematic. Spending reductions would save less than stated, and the tax cuts would cost more than stated, by a margin of tens of billions of pounds per year. Meanwhile the spending increases would cost more than stated if they are to achieve their objectives.

A reduction in tax of £90 billion a year, while sizeable, would still see tax revenues higher as a share of the economy than in 2019–20. But in reality the package of tax cuts proposed would, if and when fully implemented, cost tens of billions of pounds a year more than that. For example, Reform UK plans to cut the rate of corporation tax from 25% to 20% immediately, and then to 15% at the end of the parliament. The manifesto’s costings assess these measures only over the course of the next parliament, meaning that about half of the long-run annual cost is excluded.

Of the proposed spending increases, the largest is for the NHS (£17 billion per year). However, this would not be nearly enough to meet Reform’s incredibly ambitious commitment to eliminate waiting lists within two years. Eliminating the waiting list entirely is a feat that has not been achieved in the history of the NHS and seems near impossible within two years.

The cost-saving measures would save less than set out. There is a respectable argument for changing the extent to which the Bank of England pays interest to commercial banks, and indeed some other central banks don’t pay interest on all the reserves they hold. But whether a good idea or not, it would raise a lot less than £35 billion per year. Reform also propose to reduce “wasteful” spending by £50 billion per year across all government departments, quangos and commissions. But saving this sum would require much more than a crackdown on waste; it would almost certainly require substantial cuts to the quantity or quality of public services.

Even with the extremely optimistic assumptions about how much economic growth would increase, the sums in this manifesto do not add up. Whilst Reform’s manifesto gives a clear sense of priority, a government could only implement parts of this package, or would need to find other ways to help pay for it, which would mean losers not specified.”

[Horse]

eliminate waiting lists within two years. Eliminating the waiting list entirely is a feat that has not been achieved in the history of the NHS and seems near impossible within two years.

Also, there will be a promise that if you can't get a GP appointment in 3 days, you get a voucher to go private.

I'm intrigued as to where all the extra staff and resources will come from.

Reform also propose to reduce “wasteful” spending by £50 billion per year across all government departments, quangos and commissions. But saving this sum would require much more than a crackdown on waste; it would almost certainly require substantial cuts to the quantity or quality of public services.

Haven't we just had a decade of austerity and cutbacks?

[Taipan]

eliminate waiting lists within two years. Eliminating the waiting list entirely is a feat that has not been achieved in the history of the NHS and seems near impossible within two years.

Also, there will be a promise that if you can't get a GP appointment in 3 days, you get a voucher to go private.

I'm intrigued as to where all the extra staff and resources will come from.

By stopping health tourism?