What is that "mate" of mine Sadiq Khan trying to achieve ?

 

You lost you demented little cretin, get over it and concentrate on your job you terrorist sympathiser.

1 hour ago, kent_white said:

Yep - in one. 

I don't know why we're not just all more honest about it? 

Because, as a politician, it's easier to spout bulkshit, and use it as a tool to condemn the other lot.

8 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Because, as a politician, it's easier to spout bulkshit, and use it as a tool to condemn the other lot.

That's the problem - when you blame the other colour for EVERYTHING. When it comes around to your turn - you get blamed for everything too. 

It takes years for Government policies to really affect a great deal of change. Even like Spider's interest rates graph from earlier. Some of that will be the policies of the last lot coming to fruition. But most of it will be driven by what's happening globally. 

Just now, kent_white said:

That's the problem - when you blame the other colour for EVERYTHING. When it comes around to your turn - you get blamed for everything too. 

It takes years for Government policies to really affect a great deal of change. Even like Spider's interest rates graph from earlier. Some of that will be the policies of the last lot coming to fruition. But most of it will be driven by what's happening globally. 

To be honest I only posted a graph to prove that Boby would be the first to respond and thereby win a little bet I’d had with myself.

Its like catnip to him

1 hour ago, Spider said:

To be honest I only posted a graph to prove that Boby would be the first to respond and thereby win a little bet I’d had with myself.

Its like catnip to him

😁

3 hours ago, kent_white said:

That's the problem - when you blame the other colour for EVERYTHING. When it comes around to your turn - you get blamed for everything too. 

It takes years for Government policies to really affect a great deal of change. Even like Spider's interest rates graph from earlier. Some of that will be the policies of the last lot coming to fruition. But most of it will be driven by what's happening globally. 

Do you remember telling me how each time there us a change of government (or indeed health Secretary) new policies mean wasted paperwork, costs etc etc?

It's the same throughout the public sector hence commentators saying the state should be as small as possible. 

Too wasteful, too easy for non jobs and poor performance to take hold, and soul destroying for those capable and willing, but frustrated by politics and bullshit. 

It simply exemplifies what modern politics seems to have become; image and spin rather than what's best for the long term.

We get such poor value for money from so much- the country is skint, but no one will truly get to grips with it because it may be radical and difficult initially. 

I did hear Zia Yousuff say that he would sack a load of civil servants- do that thoughtfully and don't rush it (unlike Trump) and he may be onto something. 

 

5 hours ago, BobyBrno said:

Yep. Apart from Labour. They thought they had all the answers. Their reply? £50 billion black hole in a little over twelve months. That really does take some beating. There are another 4 years so watch this space. Happy Friday indeed. 😉

You love it. Admit it. Gives you a purpose to find some epic graphs 

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Do you remember telling me how each time there us a change of government (or indeed health Secretary) new policies mean wasted paperwork, costs etc etc?

It's the same throughout the public sector hence commentators saying the state should be as small as possible. 

Too wasteful, too easy for non jobs and poor performance to take hold, and soul destroying for those capable and willing, but frustrated by politics and bullshit. 

It simply exemplifies what modern politics seems to have become; image and spin rather than what's best for the long term.

We get such poor value for money from so much- the country is skint, but no one will truly get to grips with it because it may be radical and difficult initially. 

I did hear Zia Yousuff say that he would sack a load of civil servants- do that thoughtfully and don't rush it (unlike Trump) and he may be onto something. 

 

If the Labour government did anything radical (like a wealth tax), you'd screech your head off.

Edited August 8, 2025Aug 8 by Cheese

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Do you remember telling me how each time there us a change of government (or indeed health Secretary) new policies mean wasted paperwork, costs etc etc?

It's the same throughout the public sector hence commentators saying the state should be as small as possible. 

Too wasteful, too easy for non jobs and poor performance to take hold, and soul destroying for those capable and willing, but frustrated by politics and bullshit. 

It simply exemplifies what modern politics seems to have become; image and spin rather than what's best for the long term.

We get such poor value for money from so much- the country is skint, but no one will truly get to grips with it because it may be radical and difficult initially. 

I did hear Zia Yousuff say that he would sack a load of civil servants- do that thoughtfully and don't rush it (unlike Trump) and he may be onto something. 

 

Whatever the solution to the country's problems, I'm sure Zia Yousuff doesn't have them

5 minutes ago, Cheese said:

If the Labour government did anything radical (like a wealth tax), you'd screech your head off.

Well they decided to impose inheritance tax on farmers, quite rightly, to stop people like Jeremy Clarkson taking the piss 

Express and Mail went into meltdown and it's as though they want better services etc but don't want to pay for it 

29 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Whatever the solution to the country's problems, I'm sure Zia Yousuff doesn't have them

Im not sure he really understands what civil servants are or do with that post.

1 hour ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Whatever the solution to the country's problems, I'm sure Zia Yousuff doesn't have them

Bit like this bloke 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj61l526xlxo

Given hes 19 and not even been through university, I doubt very much he's a teacher 

17 hours ago, kent_white said:

Decent public services you mean? 

Economic mayhem, job creators seeking greener pastures, rank hypocrisy.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-08/uk-homelessness-minister-rushanara-ali-resigns/105627408

15 hours ago, Casino said:

what an absolute cock

 Harsh on jmjhb for simply highlighting it.

Lowe did say 'if'.

Still, screechers will latch on to anything as they see their Labour liner slowly sinking.

15 hours ago, kent_white said:

Well it took 15 years to dismantle them. It'll probably take a similar sort of time to get them back to some semblance of order. With a realistic funding package.

It would have to be paid for by taxes or further cuts to public services if there's not some sort of financial miracle in the next few years. 

The UK is nowhere near defaulting on its repayments, although it does face some serious fiscal challenges. Our default risk is low. That's why we have a AA credit rating, the same as the US. There's only a few that still have AAA status. Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, and Switzerland. 

I don't understand your mortgage analogy. Are you talking about overseas aid? To keep on the homeowner analogy, I'd argue that if you have a mortgage and don't keep up with repairing wear and tear, then don't be surprised when your roof eventually caves in.

Post COVID, post BREXIT, in an extremely volatile world and with an economy the UK ACTUALLY has (rather than the economy people pretend it has) - I can't see a route back to better public services without all of us actually paying more for them. Or cutting public services back even further. 

This isn't based on a left vs right argument. It's just based on my admittedly rudimentary understanding economics. 

Happy to hear other people's opinions on the best way out of this situation of course. 

Easy. Fuck the money pit called the NHS off.

7 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

 

I did hear Zia Yousuff say that he would sack a load of civil servants- do that thoughtfully and don't rush it (unlike Trump) and he may be onto something. 

 

Hallelujah brother! I am with you.

4 hours ago, DirtySanchez said:

Bit like this bloke 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj61l526xlxo

Given hes 19 and not even been through university, I doubt very much he's a teacher 

Doesn't matter how old he is - he has hit the nail right on the head.

They want clearing out and a restart.

8 hours ago, bolty58 said:

Easy. Fuck the money pit called the NHS off.

Fantastic idea - dismantle a universal healthcare system which is the 5th largest employer in the world. Easy! 😁

8 hours ago, bolty58 said:

Economic mayhem, job creators seeking greener pastures, rank hypocrisy.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-08/uk-homelessness-minister-rushanara-ali-resigns/105627408

There's no more mayhem than there has been for the last 15 years or so. Just a continuation really. 

Not really arsed about this woman. I would have been if this had been uncovered and she hadn't resigned, but surely the fact that she felt compelled to shows the opposite of hypocrisy? From the Govt at least (if not her)?

40 minutes ago, kent_white said:

Fantastic idea - dismantle a universal healthcare system which is the 5th largest employer in the world. Easy! 😁

I think you may have hit the nail on the head there. How does it compare quality wise with other countries with no ‘ National Health’ care? ie. insurance based. AI answer will do but not white on black. 😉

(Not America)

 

1 minute ago, BobyBrno said:

I think you may have hit the nail on the head there. How does it compare quality wise with other countries with no ‘ National Health’ care? ie. insurance based. AI answer will do but not white on black. 😉

(Not America)

 

I’ve just spent 5 days in hospital and can only assume the cost will have run into the many thousands.

The treatment I received was world class and the only expenditure was a bottle of water from a vending machine.

The staff were excellent.

I’d hate to be without the NHS

1 minute ago, Spider said:

I’ve just spent 5 days in hospital and can only assume the cost will have run into the many thousands.

The treatment I received was world class and the only expenditure was a bottle of water from a vending machine.

The staff were excellent.

I’d hate to be without the NHS

Did you demand that you were only to be treated by White British NHS staff?

Just now, Cheese said:

Did you demand that you were only to be treated by White British NHS staff?

6% of the staff were Muslim.

i made sure of it.

 

Just now, Spider said:

I’ve just spent 5 days in hospital and can only assume the cost will have run into the many thousands.

The treatment I received was world class and the only expenditure was a bottle of water from a vending machine.

The staff were excellent.

I’d hate to be without the NHS

Yep but we were talking about the cost to the country and many discussions on here about the state of the NHS. As Australia is topical, my son and others have had brilliant treatment over there to. It’ll be interesting to see the difference in government spending compared to here. 

10 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

I think you may have hit the nail on the head there. How does it compare quality wise with other countries with no ‘ National Health’ care? ie. insurance based. AI answer will do but not white on black. 😉

(Not America)

 

There you go. Can't do anything about the white on black sadly! 😁

2 minutes ago, Spider said:

6% of the staff were Muslim.

i made sure of it.

And a delightful statistic is that 19% of NHS staff are non-British. Send them back though eh?