Forum Topic

Labour tax and spend

they have learnt nothing for being in the wilderness, Tax & spend so they claimed the Tories left a 20 Billion so they raised 40 billion killing off many small businesses and hospitality with the employer NI increase. So having spent out 40 billion they need to raise even more money, blame everyone else. When if ever are they going to take responsibility for their own actions? What about controlling spending? Welfare bill is outrageous there are no checks so I dread to think about the fraud going on using our taxes. I heard a statistics on Politics live that 1 in 4 new cars on the road is funded by the government including BMW and Mercedes is this right? Shocking. They have killed the housing market with all the rumours. People taking out their 25% tax free element on pensions again due to rumours and Labour pulling pensions into IHT. They have no clue how to handle the economy, it should be illegal for any government to meddle with tax respectively on items like pensions. Of course Labour are support working people and the only definition I can work out who are working people is those on benefits so much for going for economic growth they do it by spending our money! That does not work. Now they are blaming Brexit they seem to forget we had a referendum and it was the people’s choice. When will they ever take any responsibility? We have the highest energy bills in the world how’s on earth do they think business can compete? Rant over 😂

Jayne Thorburn ● 13d140 Comments

So none of you were over Boris, short memories.

Janice Evans ● 1h

Yes,getting  hysterical now.

David Burke ● 2h

Like a cracked record. Demented!

Robert Fish ● 13h

Well apparently she did know she needed a licence the incompetence is that neither she or her husband chased or followed up to ensure the letting agency had got it. Given they hadn’t paid for one it does beg the question why they didn't follow up. The utter incompetence of Labour is surreal they have zero clue how to manage the economy other than to keep putting up tax to enlarge the state as someone said you cant tax your way to growth…so the Tories left a 20B hole she raised 40B now she needs to raise anther 40B and the same will be true at every budget, they will destroy our economy.

Jayne Thorburn ● 15h

And Labour has a Chancellor who didn’t even know, after more than a year, that she hadn’t paid the £945 Licence Fee to rent out her property. If she is so useless at her private finances, how can she be trusted with public finances.

Steve Taylor ● 21h

So Labour have confirmed the term ‘working people’ refers to everyone earning less than £46K 😂 gosh what a sad bunch they all are so everyone else is wealthy and a target for more tax so Labour can keep funding increased benefits to those that don’t work and new cars on the road via mobility scheme, not to forget £3K to everyone who volunteers to be deported so they can come back in again one has to laugh at their claim the economy is safe in their hands! don’t forget the landlords who are sitting ducks for tenants who stop paying rent the list goes on at their total and utter incompetence. nearly forgot the employment rights bill that will create unemployment…….

Jayne Thorburn ● 23h

To take back prisoners ?

Janice Evans ● 1d

There already is a deal with Albania.

Peter Evans ● 1d

Apparently the largest immigrant group in our prisons are Albanians, arrange a deal with Albania to deport them and lock them up there……plus deport all their dependants.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1d

Yes, Sajid David's decision was a source of pride and strength for us all. A strong politician who stood up for the British people and did the right thing both as Chancellor and as Home Secretary. He stood up against terrorism and he stood up against Boris. He put the security of the country before his personal ambitions. Unlike the clown we currently have in Clowning Street.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Appears the majority are on the same page, revoke citizenship and deport. The message would get out really quickly we absolutely need to get tough, plus all their dependants should be deported with them.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2d

Let her rot for years in a remote desert jail

Paul Fisher ● 2d

She was a child! She was also groomed and trafficked. She is in perpetual purgatory because of Sajid David's decision.  He effectively rendered her stateless. Her treatment is a source of shame to us all.

Robert Fish ● 2d

I wonder what mummy and daddy and the rest of her family were doing while she was being radicalised.

Keith Iddon ● 2d

Precisely, Janice.  That was the point. She knew EXACTLY what she was doing and she went there of her  own volition.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

The fact Begum wasn't allowed to return, hopefully would have stop other young girls doing the same.

Janice Evans ● 3d

They are separated but it seems that even if they weren’t it wouldn’t be possible for her. “ A spokesperson for the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) said it cannot comment on individual cases, but added that to live in the Netherlands with a Dutch national a spouse or partner would need a resident permit – which would require a valid passport or other travel document.The spokesperson added: “To be clear, the Netherlands don’t offer any help to Dutchmen in Syria willing to return. If someone reports at a Dutch embassy or consulate, that person will be transported to the Netherlands, arrested and prosecuted. Foreign fighters with two (or more) nationalities, who are deemed a threat to our national security, can have their Dutch citizenship/passport revoked.”

Steve Taylor ● 3d

I don't know whether you saw the interview with Begum where they analyse the body language and more. Very enlighting. Also something I don't understand is as she was married to a Dutch national she could claim residency in the EU I would have thought.

Nicholas Beard ● 3d

Begum must never be allowed back in the UK and must certainly never get UK citizenship again. She knew EXACTLY what she was doing when she left the UK. Sajid Javid did the right thing. Good man.

Steve Taylor ● 3d

"It’s easy enough to strip citizens with a foreign born parent of their UK citizenship if they commit a crime". It's too easy - witness the sad case of Shamima Begum, stateless and languishing for almost seven years in a detention camp in Syria. She was 15 years old and a victim of grooming when she went to join Isis. It's time to bring her back and either forgive her for her stupidity or let her face prosecution.

Robert Fish ● 3d

It’s easy enough to strip citizens with a foreign born parent of their UK citizenship if they commit a crime.

Steve Taylor ● 3d

Citizenship can be quite easily revoked,which in the cases of foreign offenders it should automatically be,imo.Pakistan and whichever other countries refuse to take their countrymen/women back,can be sanctioned regarding denial of visas to others.

Keith Iddon ● 3d

I rather suspect the grooming gangs will mostly have achieved UK citizenship, making it difficult to deport them. You could hardly expect the likes of Pakistan to welcome them if they do not hold their passports.

Richard Greenhough ● 3d

Simple solution if you commit a serious crime which clearly grooming gangs is then it’s an automatic deportation along with all their family that will focus minds. The poor bank worker was murdered by an Afghan refugee deport we don’t want these people in our country. Labour needs to get their act together and ensure they deport such people. Why should the tax payer fund prison. There is not one single policy labour has that works.

Jayne Thorburn ● 3d

Some of the grooming gangs are being dealt with, it has gone on for many decades and ignored which was the worst of it.

Janice Evans ● 3d

Don’t think most people have an issue with controlled immigration, so long as they work and do not claim benefits, speak English and integrate into our culture and society. The issue is a combo of legal that don’t comply with above and illegal. The cost to our society is just too high whether it’s the Pakistan grooming gangs, commit crimes or illegal aliens the strain on all our services, education, NHS, housing, policing, prison, courts, benefits etc. no other country allows this so what are we doing..….thats why they come even France said the UK has too many incentives, needs a firm hand and sorting.

Jayne Thorburn ● 3d

Have always said I don't blame immigrants wanting to come here, howeverit is becoming so unsafe here for people going about daily routine if only there was some kind of control, why are men wandering the streets carrying knives.

Janice Evans ● 3d

Labour have just proved we can’t trust any politicians  I am inclined to agree the managing agent should have told her and even sorted it out after all they earn plenty in fees. Labour has some serious questions to answer on immigration the violence some our creating is totally unacceptable they should be housed in a holding camp ex military works and processed at the centre, deported immediately where appropriate with zero cash. We have to stop people coming illegally so have to stop it being attractive. Economy is out of control, spending is out of control enlarging the state is mad, killing private sector plain wrong, debt even higher under this lot thats expensive, tax is way too high for everyone. The NHS waiting lists are back up so throwing money at it is NOT working. Energy costs highest ever that needs a much more balanced approach solar is not the way to go in the countryside. Labour are driving us straight at a brick wall on every policy.

Jayne Thorburn ● 4d

However had it been Boris all hell would have broken loose.

Janice Evans ● 4d

Tend to agree Richard, there are many advisers who don't know the rules themselves.

Janice Evans ● 4d

While I am not a fan of either, I do feel that they have both been caught up in a level of bureaucracy and red tape that is largely unnecessary and over-complicated. It would never have dawned on me that I would need to get a licence to rent out my house. Such a transaction should be between the home-owner and the renter, without some meddling council officials needing to get involved.

Richard Greenhough ● 4d

Week 44  Day 5 Prime Minister performs more  u turns on whatever his back benchers command him to do.

Steve Taylor ● 4d

Week 44 day 4 Chancellor in charge of the economy does not know sheneeds a license to let her property. Any guesses for week 44 Day 5 😀

Julian Pavey ● 4d

Any fool owning a property in Southwark, especially one which commands a rental value of £38,400 per annum, would be aware of the requirement for a licence to rent and the cost of such a licence. This is particularly true of someone whose life centres around finances and whose job is to set budgets and reduce costs wherever possible.

Steve Taylor ● 4d

The independent adviser on ministerial standards has determined that this simple error does not require further investigation. Reeves was quite upfront about renting her house - she noted the rental income on her register of parliamentary interests. Anyone could have made that mistake, and either not known of the selective licensing scheme in Southwark, or not been aware of the streets to which it applied. The letting agent might reasonably have been expected to advise on that. Much as you and Kemi Badenoch might wish to make a mountain out of this molehill, it is far from being the sort of suspicious error that Angela Rayner made.

Robert Fish ● 4d

As for millionaires leaving the UK, in 2024 we had 3.06 million millionaires, so the 10,000 reported to be leaving represent less than 0.3% of the total. We're doomed!

Peter Evans ● 4d

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has admitted breaking housing rules by unlawfully renting out her family home without a licence. There’s just no stopping this Labour Cabinet.

Steve Taylor ● 4d

Totally agree we are the laughing stock around the world on immigration, so Labour are piling on the debt on us tax payers yet they don't have the bottle to return anyone Labour are making mugs of us all.

Jayne Thorburn ● 4d

Were the mugs in all of this.

Janice Evans ● 4d

He was released by Ethiopian Police shortly after arrival so obviously Ethiopia is deemed to be a safe place for him yet he was accepted here as an asylum seeker fearing for his life. One wonders just how many bogus asylum seekers this government is welcoming with open arms and housed in expensive hotels etc.

Steve Taylor ● 4d

The chap they released by mistake Kebatu who committed a sexual assault has been deported we gave him £500 what planet are we on. No wonder people come here they get put up in a hotel and we pay them money to deport them, what a crazy system. That’s our hard earned money paid in tax in Ethiopia that equivalent to approx 4 months pay, crazy. Labour clearly are out to destroy our economy they haven't got a clue.

Jayne Thorburn ● 4d

The majority if no all companies look after themselves, employ people, pay a variety of taxes and create the wealth to fund public services. Labour have killed the private market, lates news from OBR productivity down by .3% which creates another 21B black hole to fund public services. Labour can not continue to go on like this the market has stagnated. Over 10,000 millionaires have left so far, plus non doms so tax collected reduced and needs replacing. When will labour learn that you can’t just keep spending, interest on our debt currently is 100 Billion. If people have money in their picket they spend which means tax is collected. Kill the housing market means less tax collected everything Labour are doing is making matters worse and they have to take responsibility for their mistakes. They blame Liz Truss that ship sailed years ago, blame Brexit that ship sailed 2016. Stop blaming and own up to their own mistakes or mis guided method of running an economy. They have never managed an economy well with perhaps the exception of Blair. They need to go sooner rather than later.

Jayne Thorburn ● 6d

“Business should be able to look after itself and not need the government to look after them.”Totally agree, yet Stammer and his clowns seem very proud of the fact that they have spent £millions of taxpayers money bailing out failing companies - some of them foreign owned. These foreign ‘investors’ must be laughing their heads off at soft touch Stammer.

Steve Taylor ● 6d

6.5B down to fraud I suspect it is much greater given this is a probably a guess albeit using some sort of formula. Go after fraud rather than decent hard working people who don’t take benefits and complete fraud of any description. Labour are going after sitting ducks who can’t fight back that is NOT fair, decent or reasonable way to govern. Labour needs to start behaving like decent grown up people who look after all of society and not just people on benefits.

Jayne Thorburn ● 6d

So why didn’t McDonell teach Rachel Thieves how to dig it up and bring it back from the Caymans??

Steve Taylor ● 6d

Apologies, forgot to post the link.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-2024-to-2025-estimates/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-ending-fye-2025 Bottom line - benefits fraud £6.5 billion FYE 2025 - massive, absolutely.But it's less than 15% of the tax gap.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/measuring-tax-gaps/1-tax-gaps-summaryOf course, not all of the tax gap is down to fraud, but a substatntial amount is.

Andrew Jones ● 6d

How did that workout John?

Keith Iddon ● 6d

Someone on the minimum wage "cheating the system" God help us. Why do the lowest earners need the stick and the highest the carrot .I remember when John McDonnell was the Shadow Chancellor . " There is a money tree  it's in the Cayman Islands , I'm going to dig it up and bring it back to the UK "

David Burke ● 6d

And for comparison some stats on benefits fraud.If both were cut by 50% then the greater contribution to improving public finances would come from reducing tax evasion.Maybe you should focus on that a bit more Jayne, rather than constantly railing against those receiving benefits.

Andrew Jones ● 6d

Here are some insights on tax evasionhttps://www.patrickcannon.net/insights/tax-evasion-statistics-uk/

Andrew Jones ● 6d

Interesting to get the breakdown how many are part time workers? how many in hospitality? most full time jobs do get qualify for benefits unless of course people re cheating the system and there will be some of those……

Jayne Thorburn ● 6d

Good point about in work benefits David.On the face of it,it seems absurd that workers are expected to subsidise via their tax the low wages of other workers and taxpayers.

Keith Iddon ● 6d

We know the Tories raised taxes to their highest level because of Covid and all the handouts during that time which any government would have had to do. Equally they were getting back on top of the economy and inflation then Labour comes in and uses a sledge hammer to the economy, increasing even higher, killing growth, increasing unemployment, throwing hard earned tax payers money after bad money welfare bill increasing no checks in place so billions claimed that should not be including PIP/mobility payments. The majority of companies in the UK are SMEs that are being targeted, that won’t increase our country’s wealth and the Angela Rayners  employment will kill off loads of jobs. Everything the Labour is doing is counter productive, their policies don’t work to improve anything yet expect to raise taxes again, outrageous!

Jayne Thorburn ● 6d

Hardships vary a lot.  There are people who won't be able to go on so many overseas holidays in the sun and many others using foodbanks.  With the next COP coming up and Melissa threatening the Caribbean maybe that's not such a bad thing?

Philippa Bond ● 6d

Apologies for the double submission.

David Burke ● 6d

Yes it was steel, the Government stepped in to prevent the closure of Scunthorpe steel works which would have left this country which was at the dawn of the industrial revolution dependent on foreign imports from China and Trumps USA. Any sensible Government in a mixed economy has to have strategies to benefit the country.As for tax people on PAYE paid the highest tax for 70 years under the last Government and don't depend upon dividends and share options to supplement their income. Just a word on benefits , approximately 40% of people on benefits are in full work which would indicate low pay levels.

David Burke ● 6d

Yes it was steel, the Government stepped in to prevent the closure of Scunthorpe steel works which would left this country which was at the dawn of the industrial revolution dependent on foreign imports from China and Trumps USA. Any sensible Government in a mixed economy has to have strategies to benefit the country.As for tax people on PAYE paid the highest tax for 70 years under the last Government and don't depend upon dividends and share options to supplement their income. Just a word on benefits , approximately 40% of people on benefits are in full work which would indicate low pay levels.

David Burke ● 6d

The difference in Wales is that they have an alternative left-of-centre party to vote for in Plaid Cymru, as the Scots do with the SNP. The nearest equivalent in England would be the Liberal Democrats.

Richard Greenhough ● 6d

I was going to say to Steve, we will end up in the same situation as Wales.

Janice Evans ● 6d

Think it was Steel, Nissan??? Looks like Labour are showing their true colours and talking about hitting middle England in the budget. In other words so they can tax even more the very people who are the backbone of our country. They work, own their home and many have built businesses so that Labour can tax and squander even more of our money on enlarging the state, welfare and the like. Labour are taking us into the gutter i had hoped those days were long gone from Wilson etc. Blair managed to achieve the balance between state and private enterprise this lot are seriously bad and i fear it will only get worse ….no wonder they lost the by election in Wales wait until May

Jayne Thorburn ● 6d

You made a claim Taylor , back it up !

David Burke ● 6d

Duh!  You really need to keep up Burke. The Financial Times is an excellent source.

Steve Taylor ● 6d

What failing foreign companies have been bailed out by this Government ?

David Burke ● 6d

“ Business should be able to look after itself and not need the government to look after them.”Totally agree, yet Stammer and his clowns seem very proud of the fact that they have spent £millions of taxpayers money bailing out failing companies - some of them foreign owned. These foreign ‘investors’ must be laughing their heads off at soft touch Stammer.

Steve Taylor ● 6d

Also quite often their 'Assets' are not owned by them, they belong to the business, an awful lot is lost when a business fails.

Janice Evans ● 6d

Most bosses live on a wage from the business the same as their employees do.

Janice Evans ● 6d

Peter, how can businesses cope with all these extra costs, they cannot support everything else can they.

Janice Evans ● 6d

'Labour needs to support business'Business should be able to look after itself and not need the government to look after them. A decent government should be protecting the people from being exploited by Business, but we're already seeing the Employment Protection Bill diluted under pressure from the Business lobby, and them moaning about the minimum wage, guaranteed hours, regulations, business rates and the rest.

Peter Evans ● 7d

Well yes they will help themselves of course, human nature.

Janice Evans ● 7d

I seem to remember that Robert Maxwell (Ghislaine's Dad), who was a Labour MP in the 1960s, worked towards building his business, before it all crashed around him.

Richard Greenhough ● 7d

They never work towards building business, never have.

Janice Evans ● 7d

The real challenge is that not one labour MP has ever built a business, so they have no clue just how hard it is to get off the starting blocks. Angela Rayner unemployment bill is for unionised environment not the private sector she is creating a real gap for those who are creative and entrepreneurial and those who live on benefits. I wonder how many Labour MPs have claimed benefits vs built a business I know where my money is……………..

Jayne Thorburn ● 7d

The fact that Labour members voted the despicable and incompetent Powell as Deputy Leader just shows how out of touch their 87,000 members are with the 47 million people who are eligible to vote.

Steve Taylor ● 7d

If I hear another Labour minister going on about the least 14 years I switch off labour take responsibility for your own actions…..spending and tax since they have been in office is outrageous own it!

Jayne Thorburn ● 7d

Janice, David if you followed the Angela Rayner story the 2 companies both clearly stated to her to get tax advise neither company was qualified to do that. One would think she would care about making sure she followed the rules that the rest of society has too, so was she so arrogant to do that??????? Equally when dealing with any professional one has to be honest clearly she wasn’t. I agree with Steve bring her back and kill off Labour. They are a complete waste of space.

Jayne Thorburn ● 7d

I'm not saying Angela should return, I suppose it's worse than eating a slice of birthday cake or hanging some wallpaper, however I prefer her to some of the others.

Janice Evans ● 7d

Starmer goes after May 2026. Not that betting odds are a guide, but 2026 is now a firm fav for him to step down or be pushed. Those behind are having to be very patient

Julian Pavey ● 7d

"Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?".One of Tony Hancock's funniest lines.

Brian Coyle ● 7d

Warburton is VERY obviously not a tax expert then. He’s retired and very obviously hasn’t kept up with the rules if he doesn’t know about second home tax etc. Anyway, bring back Rayner - it will put the final nail in deadbeat Stammer’s coffin.

Steve Taylor ● 8d

What I never understood was, all taxes are usually taken before the keysare handed over, or they were when I purchased a property, stamp dutyeverything.

Janice Evans ● 8d

Also searching online you get different opinions it all becomes confusing.

Janice Evans ● 8d

Agree David you don't always get the right advice or answers to yourquestions, it's not straight forward if you are not used to dealing with things like that regularly.

Janice Evans ● 8d

Mike Warburton a tax specialist  who writes a column in the Daily Telegraph  hardly a friend of the Labour Party states that he doesn't completely understandthat the tax laws around buying a property and he sympathises with Angela Rayner who had sought advice from three different professional advisers.Maybe you know better than him.

David Burke ● 8d

😂😂 if Labour want to be gone forever bring back a housing minister that doesn’t understand stamp duty 😂 she calls it a mistake seriously as housing minister who expects society to do the right thing and pay tax on a home she is either too thick or arrogant. Both companies she tried to blame which is appalling behaviour came straight to tell the truth. so bring her back at their peril she needs to stay well away from politics. labour is dead they have screwed up big time. i actually feel sorry for Keir to have such bad support. the only MP that appears to have some balance is Wes the women are shocking. I say this as a successful women it really upsets me that women behave so badly as it lets the side down.

Jayne Thorburn ● 8d

The EU is a non-enumerated member of the G7 ( whatever that means) however wouldn't it be far more relevant to compare the UK to our neighbours in Europe, rather than the G7?The G7 used to be the G8 before Russia was kicked out.Comparisons with the US and Japan ( and previously with Russia) seem to be less informative ( to me anyway) than comparisons with the EU countries.  https://ifs.org.uk/taxlab/taxlab-key-questions/how-do-uk-tax-revenues-compare-internationally

Andrew Jones ● 8d

Definitely, Rayner needs to be brought back and more and more people will flock to Reform.

Steve Taylor ● 8d

You're right Peter , Angela Rayner needs to come back at the earliest opportunity, Steven Reed is a poor replacement as the Housing Minister.

David Burke ● 8d

Peter, totally disagree, we have the highest tax of any G7 country, the highest debt of which then tax payer is funding 100 billion a year in interest so presumably you agree this level of debt can not continue. Businesses are being highly taxed so many are closing that is not good on any level which is obvious.the costs of the welfare state is out of control which 51% and counting tkaing out more than they have ever put in not sustainable. Wealth is not a dirty word without is we have no public services. A free for all NHS no other country with 65M people has a free health service there is reason for that. Labour are destroying the UK you only have to look at Wales which held a seat from inception gone. Lucy Powell is totally destruction the country do not need or want extreme anything. This government is spending and wasting too much and taxing too much they will disappear just like the tories after this term.

Jayne Thorburn ● 8d

As for the Labour deputy leadership election, the Party made sure that no genuinely ‘challenging’ candidates got onto the ballot paper after the way Corbyn got elected leader back whenever.  Thus we had a choice of two ‘safe’ candidates which generated little interest among members. It’s also unclear what Powell will do as Deputy leader of the Party without a cabinet post that usually goes with it, other than snipe from the sidelines pretending to represent ‘the membership’. Bring back Angela Rayner!

Peter Evans ● 8d

It’s pretty clear we need to spend more on public services, which presumably means we have to raise more tax to do so.  Not a difficult concept!  It’s also a process that redistributes wealth in our otherwise unequal society.  I guess the opposite is don’t tax and don’t spend, otherwise known as a form of austerity, and we all know what that was like and how divisive it is. Labour’s problem is to not publicly embrace ‘tax and spend’ as a positive way forward, instead feeling obliged to follow the same old economic philosophies.

Peter Evans ● 8d

I saw Powell on QT some time ago and was astounded at how patronsing and seemingly unable to give an opinion on any subject that went beyond stating the obvious.She didn't seem to have much of a grasp of how badly she came across as she was as poor and unconvincing at the end of the programme as she was at the start.If she is as good as they have for this role,they are in trouble imo.

Keith Iddon ● 8d

The despicable Powell wants Stammer to relax rules on immigration! Err what rules?  However, just that ridiculous statement from the ridiculous woman is sure to send more people to support Farage.

Steve Taylor ● 8d

Things are about to get even worse with Lucy Powell around she wants more wealth tax and keep spending what planet are these people on? Sadly out to destroy the country and drive those that work into despair funding more welfare that is already out of control. They are all just egomaniacs with no grip on reality.

Jayne Thorburn ● 8d

It’s 100% certainly that we have to withdraw from ECHR.  It’s crippling us, stifling us, destroying us. It wastes our resources. It’s outdated and Woke. It’s ridiculous and pays people huge sums of money to listen to ridiculous claims of malfeasance.

Steve Taylor ● 9d

Philippa, also a lot of good Companies closed down during Covid, and the older more skilled builders retired.

Janice Evans ● 9d

Going back to James Roy's post I can't believe a visionary way back in 1945 foretold the mess we are in now.Despite us sitting on trillions of tons of clean shale gas, more than enough North sea oil to tide us by to beyond 1950, these assets have been totally ignored in favour of importing inferior products from abroad. All in the name of the frenzied pursuit of Renewable energy.All this and allowing to be bullied by giving millions of pounds plus our fishing territory to our "friendly" neighbours across the channel.The biggest mistake of all was allowing mass immigration.Starting with Blair, Brown, Cameron, the Boris wave, Rishi,  Keir; all guilty of allowing this enormous problem.We need change, but we have three and a bit years to wait before change comes, because Sir Keir will never come out of the anachronic ECOHR.

Denis I. Fox ● 9d

Not sure i agree with the cheap labour bit……our younger folk just don't seem to want to work hard. For sure eastern block guys were much more skilled re building etc than our younger guys. We are an expensive country the more we pay people the less competitive we become it’s all about balance. Don’t forget with the junior doctors we the tax payer subsidies their training, the goal being once fully qualified either as a GP or specialisation they earnings increase significantly, they are just getting greedy now.

Jayne Thorburn ● 9d

We should have been preparing our homes for climate change for years only when we have started to do it at last we find that we no longer have people with the skills to carry out the work and a lot of the work that has been done has been done incorrectly and it is another scandal.  This idea of fragmenting jobs with no proper liaison/continuity between those working on specific jobs in order to reduce costs all the time is so often a complete waste of time, energy and resources as they just don't get done properly or safely.We have been relying on cheap labour from abroad and then suddenly we don't have anyone with skills because we haven't been teaching anyone any.

Philippa Bond ● 9d

Last time doctors went on strike they said less people died, how true it was I don't know.

Janice Evans ● 9d

Labour are a disaster, just paying more money where does it come from? Taxes they are already super high on everyone, it’s like spending on credit cards with zero limit they have to start reducing spending and waste. Junior doctors have done well with a 30% pay rise, they are junior not fully qualified then their earning soar. Big pay rises = higher inflation that’s hits everyone there has to be more creative ways of achieving the goals. Labour takes a sledge hammer to everything. Scandals are one thing running the economy is on a whole different level

Jayne Thorburn ● 9d

If only we didn't have so many scandals to put right following too many people trying to make a fast buck without others noticing.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFdNeTQ5bro

Philippa Bond ● 9d

Indeed so,and the rest of the country have been sucking it up and paying much more for much worse transport links for many years.It's funny too don't you think that it's always the regions that suffer when money from projects like HS2 has to be saved?

Keith Iddon ● 9d

He'll just have to suck it up! London has been getting far more money spent on it (per head) than the rest of the country for years and years.

Andrew Jones ● 9d

It's funny how Khan was always bleating about lack of government funds so that he can work his magic on London(LOL) when the Tories were in power,but is silent on the matter now his mates are at the helm.

Keith Iddon ● 9d

Wes is trying to get waiting lists down so they are having to work harder,

Janice Evans ● 9d

If this government can give Kahn’s Tube and train drivers such a massive pay rise, our doctors certainty deserve more. Compare their low salaries to those in Australia, South Africa, USA and elsewhere in Europe and Scandinavia.

Steve Taylor ● 9d

Everything is a complete mess, immigration, economy, rising costs, highest energy bill, out of control welfare, rising crime it just feels like everything is out of control with no vision and zero confidence this lot have a clue what they are doing. The employment bill is a disaster and I read the unions can go into any company with more than 22 employees? We are turning into a communist country. We were ready for a change how could a bunch of people get it so wrong? Apparently junior doctors striking again after a 30% payrise appalling behaviour

Jayne Thorburn ● 9d

Steve, the French have no intention to stop the boats, they don't want theimmigrants there do they.

Janice Evans ● 9d

Some moronic Labour minister said on Politics Live on Wednesday that the deal (extra £50 million paid to France) to stop small  boats leaving French waters by puncturing them, had collapsed because the French Minister responsible had resigned!!  So it seems Stammer is incapable of making any deals with the French Government, he is restricted to dealing with individuals lower down the ladder. So Stammer is still happy to pay our money to the French to do nothing to stop the small boats. At the same time allowing them to steal our fish.

Steve Taylor ● 9d

Such difficult times for hospitality, are they trying to keep us all at home.

Janice Evans ● 9d

I read somewhere we could be importing gas by 2030 it makes absolutely no sense we have gas and oil, this lot would rather pay another country for it!! Go figure that one. So we have the highest energy costs investing in Green there is zero balance in anything Labour do. Not a single company would switch off existing suppliers and only invest is something new where is the balance……we had all hoped they had changed at least on the economy but clearly this was wishful thinking they are ruining our country. A country is made up of all the parts just look at the result in Wales, Labour spending is out of control, zero creative options for growth in the private sector all their policies are destroying industry. So question if labour destroy private industry and invest in welfare benefits and services where does that leave the country at the end of their term? Broken?

Jayne Thorburn ● 9d

"Wouldn't be surprised if a record number of businesses have gone under this year, they struggled on through Covid and then high energy costs, nowmore expense for employees, how can they survive."Plus in the last budget,Reeves doubled business rates for small retail/hospitality/leisure businesses!

Nicholas Jenkins ● 9d

Wouldn't be surprised if a record number of businesses have gone under this year, they struggled on through Covid and then high energy costs, nowmore expense for employees, how can they survive.

Janice Evans ● 10d

"This island is made mainly of coal and surrounded by fish. Only an organizing genius could produce a shortage of coal and fish at the same time.speech at Blackpool, 24 May 1945"Close the mines, give fish to the French, close down oil production, ....the organizing geniuses are still with us.

James Roy ● 10d

Dont understand how voters expected them to change, their policies willalways be the same, although we might hope for better.

Janice Evans ● 10d

If only Labour were just struggling with legal & illegal immigration…..if only. So we have the largest energy costs in the G7, lets chase 2030 goal regardless of the damage it is doing……cost of living is affecting the very people they claim they represent, truly misguided. Let’s grow the state? How do we do that great idea just tax people who contribute the most to the public purse gosh and keep pouring money into the state great idea! How many ways can we tax the same pound? I Know Let’s go after people with no voice again & again. People on benefits have to be protected so lets tax people who work, build a company, employ people, anyone with aspiration, anyone who works hard, anyone who takes responsibility for their family and future so pensions. Gosh don't forget people who contribute to the NHS but pay to go private so take the burden off the state. It’s truly sad how misguided this lot are……power corrupts minds we only have to look at Angela Rayner as an example of who we don't want to become. So as deputy PM, Housing Secretary, was advised to seek professional tax guidance states she made a mistake. Is this the standard of person we all have to accept to have a voice in government………….talk about lowering our country’s standard if this is the best we can do!

Jayne Thorburn ● 10d

I am aware of all Labour's deficiencies Jayne.There recent guise to camouflage failing growth is to blame Farage and Brexit.Rarely Here Keir boasts about one particular success story of late; the stupendous trade deal struck with India.Without Brexit the UK wouldn't have been able to negotiate trade deals independently.

Denis I. Fox ● 10d

"Albania is just laughing at his stupidity and enjoying the opportunity to refuse him and belittle him while they snuggle up with Italy."Can you blame them ? If it was a choice between snuggling up with Giorgia Meloni or Keir Starmer, I know which one I would choose.

Richard Greenhough ● 10d

The Rwanda scheme was a perfect deterrent and it was all set up for Stammer to use when he walked  into No 10 but the fool bowed to pressure from his lefty back benchers and cancelled it. Now he is begging other countries to take our illegals for processing and they are refusing. Albania is just laughing at his stupidity and enjoying the opportunity to refuse him and belittle him while they snuggle up with Italy.

Steve Taylor ● 10d

30p Lee ?

David Burke ● 10d

"ALTA"A Spanish restaurant in Carnaby Street, Soho ?

Richard Greenhough ● 10d

ALTA

Denis I. Fox ● 11d

Richard, dear old Magna Carta died on the alter of the Court of Human Rights I fear.Rupert Lowe and Lee Anderson both agree with your suggestion to send the blighters off to the Hebrides, where the midges roam, only they were being serious.

Denis I. Fox ● 11d

"Our small island, where Magna Carta was born...""Does Magna Carta mean nothing to you? Did she die in vain?"I reckon that setting up a refugee camp on a remote island in the Outer Hebrides and sending all the small boat arrivals there to be processed would have soon put them off - if the weather didn't discourage them the midges would have done.

Richard Greenhough ● 11d

I said that would happen Keith, it was obvious to us.

Janice Evans ● 11d

Denis it is not just immigration Labour have no clue how to tackle it is everything they are living in the past old labour at its worst….terrifying at how ignorant they are on the basics no wonder society has no faith or trust in politicians

Jayne Thorburn ● 11d

Yvette Cooper's One in One out scheme to stop the boats had not a cat in hell's chance of success.This rotten government, who constantly thwarted Rishi's attempts to push Rwanda through, mocked him for failing to get a plane off the ground, then when in charge, scrapping it altogether now find themselves in deep trouble with the electorate for their failed "Smash the Gangs" and "Hokey Cokey" efforts.Our small island, where Magna Carta was born, who has ruled the waves since the Elizabethan period is now being made to look stupid on a daily basis by boatloads of illegal immigrants.The conservative party had to go, Labour must go also.Now.

Denis I. Fox ● 11d

Just watching the news on BBC.Enforced returnees are heading straight back to the beaches where they originally set off from to start the whole merry go round again.

Keith Iddon ● 11d

Is anyone surprised that this half baked scheme is as porous as a sieve? It is a token attempt at dealing with an increasingly serious problem.

Keith Iddon ● 11d

It’s laughable except it is pathetic that we can’t manage our own borders

Jayne Thorburn ● 11d

“A migrant has returned to the UK on a small boat after being removed to France under the "one in, one out" scheme less than a month ago, BBC News understands.The Guardian newspaper reported that the man claimed to have been been a victim of modern slavery at the hands of smuggling gangs in France.”

Steve Taylor ● 11d

No one minds supporting those who are disabled my question is just how much fraud is taking place the increase in claims has soared and apparently includes things like ADHD and anxiety not sure how that squares with the tax payer funding a car???? There are no checks and balances since Covid.clearly the latest figures suggest spending is out of control, the size of the state increasing, tax revenues from private sector shrinking despite the highest taxes so this not sustainable. The welfare budget has soared time to balance the books fairly and stop tax and spend which labour is famous for.

Jayne Thorburn ● 12d

The Motability car scheme certainly seems to be a good deal, with a wide range of vehicles to choose from through hugely discounted lease deals, which include insurance and servicing. As I understand it, you need to have been assessed for the enhanced mobility payment of £77 a week, for which you get something like a small Toyota Yaris 1.5. According to the Motability website, a top of the range Audi or BMW needs an extra down payment of about £8000.  Friends of ours have got such a vehicle, but we don’t begrudge helping to pay for it through our taxes, so the husband can manoeuvre his wife in and out of the comfortable passenger seat and manhandle her wheelchair and other equipment in and out of the capacious luggage space.

Peter Evans ● 12d

I'm struggling to understand this ... are you saying that people in receipt of PIP receive a maximum of £77.05 per week to assist them with mobiity issues?That's an average of £11 a day which doesn't seem a great amount, you'll just about get a minicab for s couple of miles for that.

Andrew Jones ● 12d

PIP (Personal Independence Payment) in the UK pays a maximum of £187.45 per week in the 2025/26 tax year, with the total amount depending on the daily living and mobility components you qualify for. The daily living component pays £73.90 per week (standard rate) or £110.40 (enhanced rate), and the mobility component pays £29.20 per week (standard rate) or £77.05 (enhanced rate). So not so straight forward x 400,000 new cars a year x millions over 3 years thats a lot of money the tax payer is funding, mad

Jayne Thorburn ● 12d

The Motability allowance is £75.75 a week, which is hardly a huge amount, and this only covers the cheapest cars.  Users have to pay extra if they want anything bigger or better, such as a BMW or Mercedes. Bring back those little green, plastic, three-wheeler, motorised invalid carriages to keep the disabled in their place!

Peter Evans ● 12d

So approx 400,000 new cars each year are funded via PIP to 815,000 people this is surreal no wonder we are in such economic mess. Other than fuel everything is covered by the tax payer, plain mad!

Jayne Thorburn ● 13d

Interesting programme on Radio4 this morning about tax in the UK. The fact that there’s a perception that NI paid by the employee and income tax are somehow ‘different’ was quite interesting.

Andrew Jones ● 13d

Whatever happened to Centrist policies we seem to be lunging far left or right which is NOT great. This Labour government promised change and being fiscal responsible tax and spend as a constant isn't going to help anyone unless you are one of the 51% taking out more than you put in thats not sustainable. Labour needs to start being responsible with our money and stop wasting it.

Jayne Thorburn ● 13d

If only your rants were over. I suppose we'll have to suffer your economically (and grammatically) illiterate, self-serving offerings from now until Farage wins the next election (thanks to Starmer's timidity) - a consummation doubtless to be wished by you.

Robert Fish ● 13d