Current Affairs

[Stephen]

I’m agreeing with everyone this morning… even Ken and Merv

Crawler

[Manoverboard]

Did anybody else spot the News item about pigeons flying to France ... well ...

... they will now be needing a passport

[towny44]

I would just point out to Ken that govt policy however good does need to be flexible enough to bend when the wind blows, and since the Tories have had 3 hurricanes to contend with since the last election, it's a good job they were pragmatic enough to change course,or is Ken just too dogmatic and rigid

[Onelife]

Did anybody else spot the News item about pigeons flying to France ... well ...

... they will now be needing a passport

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lkEKVNdXn4

[Kendhni]

Another non answer Ken. And they accused Boris of bluster.

So two simple ones. As our resident economics expert, tax cuts or no tax cuts? And if yes which ones?

And as our Ireland correspondent keep or scrap NI protocol? The EU have seemingly ruled out renegotiation.

At the minute I know you are just trolling and have no genuine interest in the topic, you are just looking to nit pick. However rather than your usual bluster why don't you start the discussion and let's see where it goes, or is it a case that yet again you are too scared to show your hand until you see if you fit in with the crowd.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Pot kettle black!

No I'm not trolling Ken. You have been highly critical of Tory policy. I simply ask what you want from their new leader.

[Bensham33]

Can you hear all that clatter? It's the sound of yet another Tory throwing their hat into the nonsense that is the Tory leader contest. Theres nor a single one of them fit to become Prime Minister of our country. Sunak was fined along with Johnson for breaking lock down rules so he's a no no.

As for the rest, every one of them, at some time, are guilty of sucking up to the PM and defending his misdemeanours and lies over the last few weeks. You can't trust any of them.

[Kendhni]

I would just point out to Ken that govt policy however good does need to be flexible enough to bend when the wind blows, and since the Tories have had 3 hurricanes to contend with since the last election, it's a good job they were pragmatic enough to change course,or is Ken just too dogmatic and rigid

Why didn't you start with that point instead of going straight to the ad hominems (which I am sure you realise I have a good laugh at treating such comments with the total and utter contempt they deserve).

The point you make is a good one, but there is a balancing act in flexibility and generating waste. When government announces something then dozens of desk jockeys behind the scene kick into action in looking on how to make that work; each time the government changes direction then those dozens of people basically throw away hundreds of man hours of work to refocus on the latest thinking. In an agile environment this is a very useful process and is known as 'fail fast'.

But that is not what the government has been doing. It has totally bypassed protocol because it has lost faith in its own ideas, they haven't even been given a chance to work ... we have seen that many times including during COVID and more recently in relation to the windfall tax on energy (something Labour had been pushing for from last October). The main problem is that with all the jumping around (causing embarrassment to senior and junior ministers alike) it was obvious that they were continually reacting, not necessarily to the situation, but to the headlines of the day without ever weighing up the pros and cons of each plan ... none of them may be perfect, but Johnson continually went for what he thought would make him popular ... rather than having a proper thought out proactive strategy.

That is the difference ... and that is one of the things I have been highlighting for several years now .. the current government does not have a strategy or a plan, they have totally been winging it. That will work for short periods but at some point it will come crumbling down around you ... as it has!

[Kendhni]

Pot kettle black!

No I'm not trolling Ken. You have been highly critical of Tory policy. I simply ask what you want from their new leader.

Anyone not willing to put their own thoughts down first is obviously trolling .. unless they do not have any ideas, haven't been told what to think yet, or that you are too scared to start the discussion.

I have laid out the basics in relation to the type of PM I would like ... I notice you haven't been able to do that yet.
As policies become known (i.e. what they believe are the most likely contenders that can actually be delivered) then that would be a better time to start the discussion. As I said, you fired your 'not Boris' gun far too early.

PS: What Tory policy? They just make it up each day.

[towny44]

Ken, as regards the windfall tax, this was discussed one Sunay morning I think but no idea who by. However he seemed to know what he was talking about and gave the following reasons for not employing a windfall tax. The oil companies increased profits are already contributing massive increases to our tax revenues and will continue to do so as long as oil prices remain high. A windfall tax would initially give even more revenue but would most likely result in the oil companies adjusting their revenue streams to minimise the impact, which would also reduce the normal tax revenue. On top of this investment in greener energy would probably be curtailed by the oil companies, which overall would probably nullify the benefit of any windfall tax.
It will be interesting to see if this hypothesis proves to have been correct.

[Gill W]

Ah, but will the new leader be ' sexually incontinent ' ?

What an idiotic point to make within a Political discussion.

I think it's you who've made an idiot of yourself there.

Johnson's trait of of sh*gging junior staff and then pushing for them to gain advantages is corrupt and lays him open to blackmail. Neither of which is desirable in a political leader

That is the difference ... and that is one of the things I have been highlighting for several years now .. the current government does not have a strategy or a plan, they have totally been winging it. That will work for short periods but at some point it will come crumbling down around you ... as it has!

.

In connection with that, most of the candidates keep on talking about 'delivery'. This is very woolly and unquantifiable, as they never give solid detail on this point. It also makes them sound like a load of midwives.

At this point, there are so many candidates, I'm not going to look too closely at any of them until the wheat has been sorted from the chaff and the field is narrowed down. However, I lean towards someone who is not too tainted by what has gone before. So Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat (who I mentioned a few months ago), Penny Mordaunt or Jeremy Hunt seem to be in that category. I see my own MP, Rehman Chishti has flung his hat into the ring, but he must surely fall at the first hurdle.

[Stephen]

At the end of the day they all promise the earth then become turn coats once their feet are firmly under Number 10's table.

[Kendhni]

Ken, as regards the windfall tax, this was discussed one Sunday morning I think but no idea who by. However he seemed to know what he was talking about and gave the following reasons for not employing a windfall tax. The oil companies increased profits are already contributing massive increases to our tax revenues and will continue to do so as long as oil prices remain high. A windfall tax would initially give even more revenue but would most likely result in the oil companies adjusting their revenue streams to minimise the impact, which would also reduce the normal tax revenue. On top of this investment in greener energy would probably be curtailed by the oil companies, which overall would probably nullify the benefit of any windfall tax.
It will be interesting to see if this hypothesis proves to have been correct.

I have heard all those points before (the final one may be a little bit of scaremongering). The public however saw a huge amount of cash being made by a small number of people and felt that they should be getting their cut ... short term gains for long term losses. I think Sunak's aim was more long term ... he wanted to force the energy companies to use the money for infrastructure and capital projects. Overall I don't think there isa right or wrong answer on this one ... maybe a hybrid of the ideas??

One of the reasons I quite like Sunak, he seems to think about the long term rather than just meeting the needs of the current parliament.

BTW, my suggestion was that the government controlled the price of the first X units, so they could provide as much, or as little control over how much an average house paid. After that, stepped tariffs could be used by the energy companies to manage needs for capital projects and profits. I am actually against giving people a cash handout on the grounds that when you give someone something for nothing then they put no value on it ... and once it is used up they will be straight back for another bite of the cherry.

[Kendhni]

In connection with that, most of the candidates keep on talking about 'delivery'. This is very woolly and unquantifiable, as they never give solid detail on this point. It also makes them sound like a load of midwives.

This has been the big problem with the government. Without raising the topic, I have been asking for many years 'how do we measure the success of brexit'? It is all very well delivering any old botched up scenario, but common sense says there has to be some mechanism whereby you can measure success or failure ... and then act upon that information.

At this point, there are so many candidates, I'm not going to look too closely at any of them until the wheat has been sorted from the chaff and the field is narrowed down. However, I lean towards someone who is not too tainted by what has gone before. So Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat (who I mentioned a few months ago), Penny Mordaunt or Jeremy Hunt seem to be in that category. I see my own MP, Rehman Chishti has flung his hat into the ring, but he must surely fall at the first hurdle.

Many people are only throwing their hat in so that they can blackmail the main contenders by offering their support when they lose ... all they are basically after is a job within the winners cabinet. I think it will be an interesting battle, but for sure we deserve something better in our PMs office.

PS I see Rees-Mogg is threatening to throw his hat in ... I think it is misdirection and what he is actually after is a peerage.

[barney]

So, who’s a Tory member and who will you be voting for?

[screwy]

Some questions just shouldn’t be asked.!

Politics,religion and football are no,no’s and shouldn’t be discussed in company.

At least that’s what me Mam said.

[screwy]

So, who’s a Tory member and who will you be voting for?

Admitting nothing, Can’t vote till the 2 candidates are announced anyway,bit irrelevant till then I would say.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Anyone not willing to put their own thoughts down first is obviously trolling .. unless they do not have any ideas, haven't been told what to think yet, or that you are too scared to start the discussion.

I couldn't agree more Ken.

So will you go first to prove it"s not you or shall I?

[Kendhni]

Anyone not willing to put their own thoughts down first is obviously trolling .. unless they do not have any ideas, haven't been told what to think yet, or that you are too scared to start the discussion.

I couldn't agree more Ken.

So will you go first to prove it"s not you or shall I?

Still trolling with additional careful pruning of posts now. Tut, tut.
Your question, you layout your stall first or are you still waiting to be told what to think? The newspapers will be out soon so I suspect you will have been programmed by the morning.

[towny44]

Anyone not willing to put their own thoughts down first is obviously trolling .. unless they do not have any ideas, haven't been told what to think yet, or that you are too scared to start the discussion.

I couldn't agree more Ken.

So will you go first to prove it"s not you or shall I?

Still trolling with additional careful pruning of posts now. Tut, tut.
Your question, you layout your stall first or are you still waiting to be told what to think? The newspapers will be out soon so I suspect you will have been programmed by the morning.

As the busiest troll on the forum Ken, I suppose we have to accept that you should know one.

[Kendhni]

I couldn't agree more Ken.

So will you go first to prove it"s not you or shall I?

Still trolling with additional careful pruning of posts now. Tut, tut.
Your question, you layout your stall first or are you still waiting to be told what to think? The newspapers will be out soon so I suspect you will have been programmed by the morning.

As the busiest troll on the forum Ken, I suppose we have to accept that you should know one.

Both tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber are trolling me tonight I see

[screwy]

Play nicely chaps.Leave out the insults.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Given the infantile level to which you've sunk Ken, forget it. I really don't care what you think.

With apologies to you Screwy.

[Onelife]

Considering the timetable set out by the 1922 committee I think they have made their decision as to who they want to fight out the finish. It’s been reported that both Sunak and Mordaunt have the backing to get through the first round with Sunak reportedly having enough to get through the second round as well… with Mordaunt, presently just falling short of the 30 required.

I note that Mordaunt has overtaken Sunak in the betting market, this bodes well for her chances of a final hurdle showdown on Monday/Tuesday…. Well, that’s how I’m reading the race...I do however accept that on the very rare occasion I have called it wrong .

[towny44]

Considering the timetable set out by the 1922 committee I think they have made their decision as to who they want to fight out the finish. It’s been reported that both Sunak and Mordaunt have the backing to get through the first round with Sunak reportedly having enough to get through the second round as well… with Mordaunt, presently just falling short of the 30 required.

I note that Mordaunt has overtaken Sunak in the betting market, this bodes well for her chances of a final hurdle showdown on Monday/Tuesday…. Well, that’s how I’m reading the race...I do however accept that on the very rare occasion I have called it wrong .

Even when you got it right the winner turned out to be a donkey.