A year from GE 2024 our MRP in @thetimes with @cazjwheeler finds Reform winners from Labour’s early stumbles. Tories/Lib Dems fight for third ➡️ REF UK 290 (+285) 🌹 LAB 126 (- 285) 🌳 CON 81 (-40) 🔶 LIB DEM 73 (+1) 🌍 GREEN 7 (+3) 🟡 SNP 42 (+33) 🟩 Plaid 4 (-) ⬜️ OTH 8 (+2)
To be honest, the More In Common MRP before the GE last year was Labour 430, Conservatives 126, LDs 52 so make of this (and that) what you will.
Like most other pollsters, MiC missed out local swings and changes so this MRP needs to have some salt (and popcorn) added for digestion.
I struggle with Labour on 126 simply because Labour haven't been below 200 in any election since 1945 and the concentrated nature of their vote makes me think they'll always have a solid number of seats in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and elsewhere.
The Conservatives might draw some comfort from being slightly ahead of the LDs but again I'd question that on what might be both an actual 2.5% swing from Con to LD but also Reform tearing further chunks out of the Conservative vote but we'll see.
Badenoch is going to be facing some awkward questions as the election approaches if the numbers are as they are - would she support a minority Reform administration and what would be the nature of that support? As the LDs discovered, once you nump, you're likely to lose more supporters than you gain.
Assuming the LDs retain all of the lent GTTO votes they picked up in 2024 then a universal swing of 2.5% picks up about 5 Tory seats. It will entirely depend where the votes are being picked up and lost. I suspect the Tories are losing more in the North and Midlands than the South. In any case at 28, 22, 21, 15, 8 a very small swing dramatically alters the outcome - 1 percent swing from reform to both Lab and Con and it all looks very different or another 1 percent Con to LD and its down to fourth for Con
But why would they retain the anti-tory vote in 2029 when it's much more likely that the nation will be split down the anti-reform and anti-labour lines. Those voters aren't anywhere close to being guaranteed to vote Lib Dem, especially in seats which look like either Labour or Reform aren't in contention so there's little to no tactical voting.
That's kind of my point. Ive said many times I expect some tactical unwind in the blue wall but I was pointing out here that even absent that unwind its a tough ask for the LDs to pick up many more Tory seats on these voting figures
With incumbency (i.e. proven they can win) and with an unpopular government, it will be easier for LD MPs to win over Labour supporters in their seats, than it was last time.
Labour share of vote in Lib Dem seats with the Tories second:
1997: 15.2% 2001: 13.3% 2005: 12.4%
2024: 9.6%
Not sure there is much scope for squeezing Labour further.
Although Labour support is plummeting... so *some* of that 9.4% is likely to end up with Ed Davey's merry pranksters.
Edit to add: it might be interesting to think of the Lab share in LD seats as a percentage of the nationwide Labour vote.
It's completely insane to interpret Trumpism as an attempt to "reverse the Union victory" and ignores a century of history that happened after the Civil War. The conception of the US that people who make this argument think they are defending wasn't born until much much later.
I was about to suggest that someone might gamble and stick full wets on as Barrichello did in similar conditions in 2008. But the nanny state means there is no point because they just call the race off if it gets too wet for inters.
A year from GE 2024 our MRP in @thetimes with @cazjwheeler finds Reform winners from Labour’s early stumbles. Tories/Lib Dems fight for third ➡️ REF UK 290 (+285) 🌹 LAB 126 (- 285) 🌳 CON 81 (-40) 🔶 LIB DEM 73 (+1) 🌍 GREEN 7 (+3) 🟡 SNP 42 (+33) 🟩 Plaid 4 (-) ⬜️ OTH 8 (+2)
To be honest, the More In Common MRP before the GE last year was Labour 430, Conservatives 126, LDs 52 so make of this (and that) what you will.
Like most other pollsters, MiC missed out local swings and changes so this MRP needs to have some salt (and popcorn) added for digestion.
I struggle with Labour on 126 simply because Labour haven't been below 200 in any election since 1945 and the concentrated nature of their vote makes me think they'll always have a solid number of seats in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and elsewhere.
The Conservatives might draw some comfort from being slightly ahead of the LDs but again I'd question that on what might be both an actual 2.5% swing from Con to LD but also Reform tearing further chunks out of the Conservative vote but we'll see.
Badenoch is going to be facing some awkward questions as the election approaches if the numbers are as they are - would she support a minority Reform administration and what would be the nature of that support? As the LDs discovered, once you nump, you're likely to lose more supporters than you gain.
Assuming the LDs retain all of the lent GTTO votes they picked up in 2024 then a universal swing of 2.5% picks up about 5 Tory seats. It will entirely depend where the votes are being picked up and lost. I suspect the Tories are losing more in the North and Midlands than the South. In any case at 28, 22, 21, 15, 8 a very small swing dramatically alters the outcome - 1 percent swing from reform to both Lab and Con and it all looks very different or another 1 percent Con to LD and its down to fourth for Con
But why would they retain the anti-tory vote in 2029 when it's much more likely that the nation will be split down the anti-reform and anti-labour lines. Those voters aren't anywhere close to being guaranteed to vote Lib Dem, especially in seats which look like either Labour or Reform aren't in contention so there's little to no tactical voting.
That's kind of my point. Ive said many times I expect some tactical unwind in the blue wall but I was pointing out here that even absent that unwind its a tough ask for the LDs to pick up many more Tory seats on these voting figures
With incumbency (i.e. proven they can win) and with an unpopular government, it will be easier for LD MPs to win over Labour supporters in their seats, than it was last time.
Labour share of vote in Lib Dem seats with the Tories second:
1997: 15.2% 2001: 13.3% 2005: 12.4%
2024: 9.6%
Not sure there is much scope for squeezing Labour further.
Although Labour support is plummeting... so *some* of that 9.4% is likely to end up with Ed Davey's merry pranksters.
Edit to add: it might be interesting to think of the Lab share in LD seats as a percentage of the nationwide Labour vote.
Not sure that last point is very helpful to the Lib Dems.
I was about to suggest that someone might gamble and stick full wets on as Barrichello did in similar conditions in 2008. But the nanny state means there is no point because they just call the race off if it gets too wet for inters.
I did a triathlon earlier, and whilst it was mostly for my race, it absolutely bucketed it down for those behind me on the bike. Torrential rain and large puddles, yet the racers did not stop to change tyres, and there were no safety cars. On bikes.
I understand the need for safety; but we also need racing. They had not used wets yet, and they should just have come in for wets.
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
A year from GE 2024 our MRP in @thetimes with @cazjwheeler finds Reform winners from Labour’s early stumbles. Tories/Lib Dems fight for third ➡️ REF UK 290 (+285) 🌹 LAB 126 (- 285) 🌳 CON 81 (-40) 🔶 LIB DEM 73 (+1) 🌍 GREEN 7 (+3) 🟡 SNP 42 (+33) 🟩 Plaid 4 (-) ⬜️ OTH 8 (+2)
To be honest, the More In Common MRP before the GE last year was Labour 430, Conservatives 126, LDs 52 so make of this (and that) what you will.
Like most other pollsters, MiC missed out local swings and changes so this MRP needs to have some salt (and popcorn) added for digestion.
I struggle with Labour on 126 simply because Labour haven't been below 200 in any election since 1945 and the concentrated nature of their vote makes me think they'll always have a solid number of seats in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and elsewhere.
The Conservatives might draw some comfort from being slightly ahead of the LDs but again I'd question that on what might be both an actual 2.5% swing from Con to LD but also Reform tearing further chunks out of the Conservative vote but we'll see.
Badenoch is going to be facing some awkward questions as the election approaches if the numbers are as they are - would she support a minority Reform administration and what would be the nature of that support? As the LDs discovered, once you nump, you're likely to lose more supporters than you gain.
Assuming the LDs retain all of the lent GTTO votes they picked up in 2024 then a universal swing of 2.5% picks up about 5 Tory seats. It will entirely depend where the votes are being picked up and lost. I suspect the Tories are losing more in the North and Midlands than the South. In any case at 28, 22, 21, 15, 8 a very small swing dramatically alters the outcome - 1 percent swing from reform to both Lab and Con and it all looks very different or another 1 percent Con to LD and its down to fourth for Con
But why would they retain the anti-tory vote in 2029 when it's much more likely that the nation will be split down the anti-reform and anti-labour lines. Those voters aren't anywhere close to being guaranteed to vote Lib Dem, especially in seats which look like either Labour or Reform aren't in contention so there's little to no tactical voting.
That's kind of my point. Ive said many times I expect some tactical unwind in the blue wall but I was pointing out here that even absent that unwind its a tough ask for the LDs to pick up many more Tory seats on these voting figures
With incumbency (i.e. proven they can win) and with an unpopular government, it will be easier for LD MPs to win over Labour supporters in their seats, than it was last time.
Labour share of vote in Lib Dem seats with the Tories second:
1997: 15.2% 2001: 13.3% 2005: 12.4%
2024: 9.6%
Not sure there is much scope for squeezing Labour further.
Although Labour support is plummeting... so *some* of that 9.4% is likely to end up with Ed Davey's merry pranksters.
Edit to add: it might be interesting to think of the Lab share in LD seats as a percentage of the nationwide Labour vote.
Not sure that last point is very helpful to the Lib Dems.
Lab and Conservatives are on core vote. This is actually an onion, but the layers get harder to peel away as you go down.
Tomorrow, Uranus enters Gemini for the first time since the mid-1940's. . If one was set any stock by the views of astrologers, which I suspect the majority on PB wouldn't, it would be a new era of change in technology and communications, and a general speeding-up.
Bollocks! The planet Uranus is in Taurus at the moment.
Tomorrow, Uranus enters Gemini for the first time since the mid-1940's. . If one was set any stock by the views of astrologers, which I suspect the majority on PB wouldn't, it would be a new era of change in technology and communications, and a general speeding-up.
Bollocks! The planet Uranus is in Taurus at the moment.
Tomorrow, Uranus enters Gemini for the first time since the mid-1940's. . If one was set any stock by the views of astrologers, which I suspect the majority on PB wouldn't, it would be a new era of change in technology and communications, and a general speeding-up.
Bollocks! The planet Uranus is in Taurus at the moment.
Tomorrow, Uranus enters Gemini for the first time since the mid-1940's. . If one was set any stock by the views of astrologers, which I suspect the majority on PB wouldn't, it would be a new era of change in technology and communications, and a general speeding-up.
Bollocks! The planet Uranus is in Taurus at the moment.
Astrology is based on the position of the March Equinox at some time in the past (I forget when). [The 'First Point of Aries']
Due to procession of the earth's spin axis the actual position of the March Equinox moves relative to the background, and astrology has not kept up with this displacement.
Thus the actual position of the planets and the astrological position of the planets are different.
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
The political capture of both law enforcement and the justice system is happening very rapidly, and far more blatantly than even I expected.
But at least it’s being captured by the right side. By American patriots
In the UK that capture is being done by people, agencies, cultures - that actively hate the UK
A true American patriot would be someone who respected the US Constitution, and was glad the US won the Civil War and World War II.
Not someone who hates the US Constitution (besides the 2nd Amendment), and flies the flag of America's enemy in either the Civil War or WWII.
I don't know if you can really call flying the Confederate flag flying the flag of America's enemy. It was part of America.
...but it was the flag of a sect that didn't want to be part of America and went so far as to appoint its own President, Congress and courts, and violently fought against US forces
Tomorrow, Uranus enters Gemini for the first time since the mid-1940's. . If one was set any stock by the views of astrologers, which I suspect the majority on PB wouldn't, it would be a new era of change in technology and communications, and a general speeding-up.
Bollocks! The planet Uranus is in Taurus at the moment.
Nope, Uranus is near the Pleiades/Aldebaran, way to the west of the Gemini borders.
Astrology divides the ecliptic into twelve neat, equal bits, that don’t necessarily relate to where the constellations that provide the names actually are in the sky
Tomorrow, Uranus enters Gemini for the first time since the mid-1940's. . If one was set any stock by the views of astrologers, which I suspect the majority on PB wouldn't, it would be a new era of change in technology and communications, and a general speeding-up.
Bollocks! The planet Uranus is in Taurus at the moment.
Astrology is based on the position of the March Equinox at some time in the past (I forget when).
Due to procession of the earth's spin axis the actual position of the March Equinox moves relative to the background, and astrology has not kept up with this displacement.
Thus the actual position of the planets and the astrological position of the planets are different.
LIke I said, astrology is a load of bollocks, not based on REAL observations of the planets.
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
The political capture of both law enforcement and the justice system is happening very rapidly, and far more blatantly than even I expected.
But at least it’s being captured by the right side. By American patriots
In the UK that capture is being done by people, agencies, cultures - that actively hate the UK
A true American patriot would be someone who respected the US Constitution, and was glad the US won the Civil War and World War II.
Not someone who hates the US Constitution (besides the 2nd Amendment), and flies the flag of America's enemy in either the Civil War or WWII.
I don't know if you can really call flying the Confederate flag flying the flag of America's enemy. It was part of America.
...but it was the flag of a sect that didn't want to be part of America and went so far as to appoint its own President, Congress and courts, and violently fought against US forces
Lincoln never recognised the Confederacy as a separate state. While he regarded the laws of war as being applicable to the fighting, he referred to them in public and private as "areas in rebellion".
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
Tomorrow, Uranus enters Gemini for the first time since the mid-1940's. . If one was set any stock by the views of astrologers, which I suspect the majority on PB wouldn't, it would be a new era of change in technology and communications, and a general speeding-up.
Bollocks! The planet Uranus is in Taurus at the moment.
Astrology is based on the position of the March Equinox at some time in the past (I forget when).
Due to procession of the earth's spin axis the actual position of the March Equinox moves relative to the background, and astrology has not kept up with this displacement.
Thus the actual position of the planets and the astrological position of the planets are different.
LIke I said, astrology is a load of bollocks, not based on REAL observations of the planets.
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
The political capture of both law enforcement and the justice system is happening very rapidly, and far more blatantly than even I expected.
But at least it’s being captured by the right side. By American patriots
In the UK that capture is being done by people, agencies, cultures - that actively hate the UK
A true American patriot would be someone who respected the US Constitution, and was glad the US won the Civil War and World War II.
Not someone who hates the US Constitution (besides the 2nd Amendment), and flies the flag of America's enemy in either the Civil War or WWII.
I don't know if you can really call flying the Confederate flag flying the flag of America's enemy. It was part of America.
...but it was the flag of a sect that didn't want to be part of America and went so far as to appoint its own President, Congress and courts, and violently fought against US forces
Lincoln never recognised the Confederacy as a separate state. While he regarded the laws of war as being applicable to the fighting, he referred to them in public and private as "areas in rebellion".
Wasn’t it a live legal issue during the early years of the war, since a number of things depended on it including how confederate prisoners would be treated, and whether merchant shipping could be attacked?
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
This is the great hope. There can be no true cultural revival of the West without rediscovering our magnificent religious tradition
Almost unbelievable.
Actually, there's no "almost" about it.
Hmm, it does appear to be based on a YouGov poll. Dunno if the age breakdown is a sub-sample (klaxon) though?
The other interesting thing from the report is it looks like Catholicism will overtake Anglicanism in the next few years. And it's mainly driven by immigration.
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
This is the great hope. There can be no true cultural revival of the West without rediscovering our magnificent religious tradition
Almost unbelievable.
Actually, there's no "almost" about it.
Hmm, it does appear to be based on a YouGov poll. Dunno if the age breakdown is a sub-sample (klaxon) though?
The other interesting thing from the report is it looks like Catholicism will overtake Anglicanism in the next few years. And it's mainly driven by immigration.
Drawn from a major poll by YouGov. This isn’t imaginary
Seems the weather service has been gutted by Trump/DOGE. So they can dismantle the people making Americans aware of the threat of global warming.
In a just world, Trump would never recover from these actions.
In a just world...
Accounts are not entirely clear, as it appears the NWS, while signify underestimating the forecast rainfall, did send out weather alerts.
But this sort of stuff is patent bullshit.
Reporter: Why was the national weather service not pinging their phones before 7.. Was it a fundamental failure of the federal government’s responsibility to keep us safe?
Noem: Trump is currently upgrading the technology in the national weather service.. we needed to renew this ancient system that has been left in place with the federal government https://x.com/Acyn/status/1941600458730315789
Accounts *are* entirely clear , Noem is trying "but look at the squirrel" dishonest self-serving arse-covering bollocks.
She is complicit in a desire to destroy federal emergency organisations, and Trump's other cuts such as gutting of the weather service.
The NWS was able to deliver warnings last year; it can't this year because they cut it to ribbons 3-4 months ago.
Here is an AP report from February 25:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees on probationary status were fired Thursday, lawmakers and weather experts said.
Federal workers who were not let go said the afternoon layoffs included meteorologists who do crucial local forecasts in National Weather Service offices across the country .... Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said on social media that the job cuts “are spectacularly short-sighted, and ultimately will deal a major self-inflicted wound to the public safety of Americans and the resiliency of the American economy to weather and climate-related disasters.”
I posted a couple of video links earlier, which set it in the context of Noem's previous enthusiastic statements about destroying FEMA et al.
Of course, these deaths will be the rounding error on the rounding error of the deaths caused by 17m losing their Medicaidentitlement .
Ah, but fuck 'em, they're poor.
The Medicaid deaths are themselves likely to be a rounding error on the numbers who will die because Trump has terminated multiple wordwide vaccination programmes via closing down USAID.
I hear a lot of outrage here about the shutdown of US aid programmes, but in the UK, we are now spending roughly a quarter of our ODA budget on asylum acommodation within the UK. That represents a vast number of overseas programmes shut down and people suffering. If on the other hand it hasn't affected people that much, then what was the aid budget for anyway?
I would expect taking money away from the world's most vulnerable and giving it to hotel owners to put up fighting age men would be a cause for concern to anyone with genuine compassion, but it would seem not.
Of course it's bad for the UK to have done that, as I said.
If I have my Gavi correct, the 3 big donors are the USA, the UK and Bill Gates. The USA have killed their contribution entirely and the UK cut theirs by 40%. In reality there are any number of tax loopholes that could have been plugged to make up the gap, ditto other important international things, which are also soft power tools such as the British Council and the BBC World Service.
The current UK Govt I think still recognises the value of this as a way of reducing the push side of illegal moves to the UK, unlike Trump's lumpen nihilist approach.
I think that the cause is perhaps the Labour Government's timidity trying to play on Reform / Tory turf rather then getting on with what they need to do and treating the others with the contempt they currently deserve.
I'll cut them some slack on the £5bn on asylum housing, because a wrecked and non-operated asylum system cannot be rebuilt in a few months, despite Kemi's yammerings, just as with largely wrecked defences, wrecked local authorities, a crippled justice system, or almost no prison capacity built for a decade despite about three rounds of promises, several long term scandals eg blood contamination left in the long grass, or any amount of other things that the previous Governments resolutely ignored.
I think what we may see is some restoration of the Int Dev budget from savings in the asylum costs as and if they come through.
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
This is the great hope. There can be no true cultural revival of the West without rediscovering our magnificent religious tradition
Did you miss that even if this survey - self declared and sponsored by a source with an obvious vested interest - has something in it, it’s not ‘traditional’ CofE churches that they’re going to? The official stats published by the CofE show attendances declining compared to even five or ten years ago, with 36% of attendees now being over age 70, compared to 29% back in 2014.
And a good chunk of the younger ones are probably some of the immigrants you like so much.
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
The political capture of both law enforcement and the justice system is happening very rapidly, and far more blatantly than even I expected.
But at least it’s being captured by the right side. By American patriots
In the UK that capture is being done by people, agencies, cultures - that actively hate the UK
A true American patriot would be someone who respected the US Constitution, and was glad the US won the Civil War and World War II.
Not someone who hates the US Constitution (besides the 2nd Amendment), and flies the flag of America's enemy in either the Civil War or WWII.
I don't know if you can really call flying the Confederate flag flying the flag of America's enemy. It was part of America.
...but it was the flag of a sect that didn't want to be part of America and went so far as to appoint its own President, Congress and courts, and violently fought against US forces
Lincoln never recognised the Confederacy as a separate state. While he regarded the laws of war as being applicable to the fighting, he referred to them in public and private as "areas in rebellion".
Wasn’t it a live legal issue during the early years of the war, since a number of things depended on it including how confederate prisoners would be treated, and whether merchant shipping could be attacked?
Yes it was - quite a bit of jumping through hoops to avoid recognising the Confederacy while waging a war on them.
As the buildup to the big match reaches a peak, neither Norway nor Finland will be playing for the draw. Whoever wins probably avoids meeting Spain first in the KOs.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
This is the great hope. There can be no true cultural revival of the West without rediscovering our magnificent religious tradition
Almost unbelievable.
Actually, there's no "almost" about it.
Hmm, it does appear to be based on a YouGov poll. Dunno if the age breakdown is a sub-sample (klaxon) though?
The other interesting thing from the report is it looks like Catholicism will overtake Anglicanism in the next few years. And it's mainly driven by immigration.
Drawn from a major poll by YouGov. This isn’t imaginary
I am not giving my details to the Bible Society just to scrutinise their numbers.
It suggests that attendance in the Catholic church has grown from about 800,000 to 1,800,000 in 6 years, while the Catholic church's own numbers are about 500,000. You will understand why PBers might be sceptical.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
A year from GE 2024 our MRP in @thetimes with @cazjwheeler finds Reform winners from Labour’s early stumbles. Tories/Lib Dems fight for third ➡️ REF UK 290 (+285) 🌹 LAB 126 (- 285) 🌳 CON 81 (-40) 🔶 LIB DEM 73 (+1) 🌍 GREEN 7 (+3) 🟡 SNP 42 (+33) 🟩 Plaid 4 (-) ⬜️ OTH 8 (+2)
It only gets worse here for Labour IMO because they either have to break their pledge not to put up the main taxes or make big cuts to welfare spending and up to a million public sector job cuts. I wouldn't be surprised if Labour end up with fewer than 100 seats after 2029.
Maybe, but maybe wishcasting with a wishcasting like from Wooliedyed.
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
This is the great hope. There can be no true cultural revival of the West without rediscovering our magnificent religious tradition
16%? Would love to see their methodology.
Does scrolling past one religious tiktok count as a service?
Nobody is entirely sure. Here's some commentary from a sympathetic Church Mouse;
According to their data, 41% of the English and Welsh Church attendance in 2018 was in Anglican settings. Based on a total regular attendance of 3.7m people, we can calculate the Anglican attendance at around 1.5m. By 2024, Anglicans had reduced as a proportion to 34% but of a much larger reported attendance of 5.8m people, so we should be seeing an increase in attendance of around 500,000 to around 2m. In other words, the report claims that the Church of England has grown by a third since 2018.
The Church of England has a range of measures of attendance, but even its most favourable measure of the ‘worshipping community’ is 8% smaller in 2024 than it was in 2018. By stricter measures, such as the average Sunday attendance, the CofE is more like 20% down, despite small increases in numbers since the pandemic lows.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
I'm not sure if that's right, but another thing that PB might not like, is that judging from many younger members of my family, astrology is also a lot more popular and less stigmatised than it used to be. The interest is dilletante-ish and semi-ironic, but it's also a lot more common than it used to be.
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
This is the great hope. There can be no true cultural revival of the West without rediscovering our magnificent religious tradition
16%? Would love to see their methodology.
Does scrolling past one religious tiktok count as a service?
Nobody is entirely sure. Here's some commentary from a sympathetic Church Mouse;
According to their data, 41% of the English and Welsh Church attendance in 2018 was in Anglican settings. Based on a total regular attendance of 3.7m people, we can calculate the Anglican attendance at around 1.5m. By 2024, Anglicans had reduced as a proportion to 34% but of a much larger reported attendance of 5.8m people, so we should be seeing an increase in attendance of around 500,000 to around 2m. In other words, the report claims that the Church of England has grown by a third since 2018.
The Church of England has a range of measures of attendance, but even its most favourable measure of the ‘worshipping community’ is 8% smaller in 2024 than it was in 2018. By stricter measures, such as the average Sunday attendance, the CofE is more like 20% down, despite small increases in numbers since the pandemic lows.
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
The political capture of both law enforcement and the justice system is happening very rapidly, and far more blatantly than even I expected.
But at least it’s being captured by the right side. By American patriots
In the UK that capture is being done by people, agencies, cultures - that actively hate the UK
A true American patriot would be someone who respected the US Constitution, and was glad the US won the Civil War and World War II.
Not someone who hates the US Constitution (besides the 2nd Amendment), and flies the flag of America's enemy in either the Civil War or WWII.
I don't know if you can really call flying the Confederate flag flying the flag of America's enemy. It was part of America.
Well: aren't you signalling support for the reasons why the Confederacy ceceeded from the Union?
Quite possibly, but I still don't think it was 'America's enemy'. It's like saying the Saltire flag is the flag of 'Britain's enemy' - there are senses in which it was true (wrt England), and there are people who probably still regard it to be true, but there's another sense in which it's a proud part of the identity and history of that location.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
I suspect the taking smack bit was your circle rather than your peers in general. I am about your age and my circles irrespective of location were not smackheads. I even had a group of friends at UCL, and none of them were mainlining the naughty stuff.
I suspect currently going to church is similarly niche.
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
The political capture of both law enforcement and the justice system is happening very rapidly, and far more blatantly than even I expected.
But at least it’s being captured by the right side. By American patriots
In the UK that capture is being done by people, agencies, cultures - that actively hate the UK
A true American patriot would be someone who respected the US Constitution, and was glad the US won the Civil War and World War II.
Not someone who hates the US Constitution (besides the 2nd Amendment), and flies the flag of America's enemy in either the Civil War or WWII.
I don't know if you can really call flying the Confederate flag flying the flag of America's enemy. It was part of America.
...but it was the flag of a sect that didn't want to be part of America and went so far as to appoint its own President, Congress and courts, and violently fought against US forces
No, they were still part of America - they wanted to secede from the United States of America.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
Don't see much panic or alarm here- that's mainly you being trollier than thou, again.
It would be lovely if church attendance were increasing. I wouldn't have to teach Sunday School quite so often. But it's not showing in the wear on paths to church. Polling errors (they do happen, I hear) are way more likely as an explanation.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
Don't see much panic or alarm here- that's mainly you being trollier than thou, again.
It would be lovely if church attendance were increasing. I wouldn't have to teach Sunday School quite so often. But it's not showing in the wear on paths to church. Polling errors (they do happen, I hear) are way more likely as an explanation.
Why don’t you actually read the YouGov report instead of airily dismissing it. Isn’t that tantamount to a felony on PB?
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
It's time to outline £100bn in spending cuts and tax rises, split 75% towards spending cuts with the majority coming from welfare and entitlements. If the government doesn't do this and continues to borrow like a drunken sailor we're heading for a bond vigilante strike and another bout of QE which will push inflation up and destroy people's disposable incomes.
The only way out is to cut welfare spending and get people back into work. We can't afford to pay the lazy to sit at home doing nothing on benefits.
'Benefits' according to the OBR are £150bn on Pensioners; £88bn on UC; and £74bn on other benefits. Where would you axe to get the £100bn?
Should we get pensioners back into work?
£20bn each out of UC and "other" benefits.
Cut the triple lock entirely.
£20bn out of the state pension by tapering above £40k, spend half of the saving on increasing the state pension for those who don't have any or significant private income in retirement.
NI payable on all income types/merge NI and income tax.
50% haircut on defined benefit public sector pensions for amounts over £40k (so a £60k DB pension becomes £50k).
Freeze thresholds for a further 3 years.
Cut at least 500k public sector jobs within two years, ban use of agency staff and severely limit the use of consultants and contractors. Use half of those savings to offer competitive salaries for technical roles.
I think that would probably make a £100bn worth of closing the deficit, the resulting fall in bond yields and inflation would probably add another £20bn saving per year on the interest bill.
And means test the NHS for the wealthy
Define wealthy.
Otherwise people like me will either die because they can't afford treatment (and I am already at high risk of early death because of the NHS's failures to spot stages 1, 2 or 3 of my cancer) - and I can't - or be bankrupted and made homeless.
As for the state pension, it gets taxed if the pensioner has other income.
One of the reasons for the deficit is the amount spent on furlough during Covid - money largely spent on those in jobs and to keep them in jobs. It was about £140 billion. They too should contribute.
- 1p on income tax. - Extend VAT to food, books/newspapers & children's clothes. - NI for everyone who works. - Limit or abolish tax relief for those giving to charity and place an upper limit on the tax saved by those contributing to charity whether alive or after death. - Limit tax relief for pension contributions to the basic rate. - Extend VAT on education to all education providers, including universities. - Freeze thresholds. - Place a limit on public sector pay increases (the amount shovelled at train drivers by Reeves never gets mentioned here but it was a stupid move). - Abolish the WFA and other pension-specific benefits. Aim for the state pension to be the same as the tax free income as and when we can afford it. - Abolish the triple lock. - Those with assets should contribute something towards social care. - Introduce council tax bands for higher value houses. - Increase or widen the charges for council services beyond the basic. - Ensure that overseas visitors pay for the NHS. Other countries manage this. So can we. - Limit tax relief for private equity companies loading companies up with debt, taking dividends and asset stripping. (Thames Water and other companies in a similar position should be allowed to go bust and then nationalised for a £. Too often asset stripping has been presented as overseas investment. It is a gigantic con.)
And so on.
There is a nasty streak among some of the commentary on here. Everyone seems to want others to pay taxes and those who work on here seem to think that they should be exempt from any measures to help pay down the deficit, thinking it must all be done by the poor and the old. It also gives the impression that some welcome AD because they will be able to pressure the old and sick into killing themselves to save money or withhold treatment so that they suffer. It is disgustingly frankly. I am surprised to see @Big_G_NorthWales among their number
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
The political capture of both law enforcement and the justice system is happening very rapidly, and far more blatantly than even I expected.
But at least it’s being captured by the right side. By American patriots
In the UK that capture is being done by people, agencies, cultures - that actively hate the UK
A true American patriot would be someone who respected the US Constitution, and was glad the US won the Civil War and World War II.
Not someone who hates the US Constitution (besides the 2nd Amendment), and flies the flag of America's enemy in either the Civil War or WWII.
I don't know if you can really call flying the Confederate flag flying the flag of America's enemy. It was part of America.
Well: aren't you signalling support for the reasons why the Confederacy ceceeded from the Union?
Quite possibly, but I still don't think it was 'America's enemy'. It's like saying the Saltire flag is the flag of 'Britain's enemy' - there are senses in which it was true (wrt England), and there are people who probably still regard it to be true, but there's another sense in which it's a proud part of the identity and history of that location.
I know you would like to have the Russian Tricolour flapping over London, but I wonder what you think the Confederate flag stands for that is *good* in your mind?
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
I suspect the taking smack bit was your circle rather than your peers in general. I am about your age and my circles irrespective of location were not smackheads. I even had a group of friends at UCL, and none of them were mainlining the naughty stuff.
I suspect currently going to church is similarly niche.
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
I suspect the taking smack bit was your circle rather than your peers in general. I am about your age and my circles irrespective of location were not smackheads. I even had a group of friends at UCL, and none of them were mainlining the naughty stuff.
I suspect currently going to church is similarly niche.
Nobody at UCL would have socialised with a boring sap like you. So this is just a painful suite of lies
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
The political capture of both law enforcement and the justice system is happening very rapidly, and far more blatantly than even I expected.
But at least it’s being captured by the right side. By American patriots
In the UK that capture is being done by people, agencies, cultures - that actively hate the UK
A true American patriot would be someone who respected the US Constitution, and was glad the US won the Civil War and World War II.
Not someone who hates the US Constitution (besides the 2nd Amendment), and flies the flag of America's enemy in either the Civil War or WWII.
I don't know if you can really call flying the Confederate flag flying the flag of America's enemy. It was part of America.
Well: aren't you signalling support for the reasons why the Confederacy ceceeded from the Union?
Quite possibly, but I still don't think it was 'America's enemy'. It's like saying the Saltire flag is the flag of 'Britain's enemy' - there are senses in which it was true (wrt England), and there are people who probably still regard it to be true, but there's another sense in which it's a proud part of the identity and history of that location.
I know you would like to have the Russian Tricolour flapping over London, but I wonder what you think the Confederate flag stands for that is *good* in your mind?
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
The political capture of both law enforcement and the justice system is happening very rapidly, and far more blatantly than even I expected.
But at least it’s being captured by the right side. By American patriots
In the UK that capture is being done by people, agencies, cultures - that actively hate the UK
A true American patriot would be someone who respected the US Constitution, and was glad the US won the Civil War and World War II.
Not someone who hates the US Constitution (besides the 2nd Amendment), and flies the flag of America's enemy in either the Civil War or WWII.
I don't know if you can really call flying the Confederate flag flying the flag of America's enemy. It was part of America.
Well: aren't you signalling support for the reasons why the Confederacy ceceeded from the Union?
Quite possibly, but I still don't think it was 'America's enemy'. It's like saying the Saltire flag is the flag of 'Britain's enemy' - there are senses in which it was true (wrt England), and there are people who probably still regard it to be true, but there's another sense in which it's a proud part of the identity and history of that location.
I know you would like to have the Russian Tricolour flapping over London, but I wonder what you think the Confederate flag stands for that is *good* in your mind?
Or that that the Saltire corresponds in any way to the Slavers Rag.
Unlike which, the Saltire was the flag of existing nation that joined the United Kingdom, and has chosen to remain part of it, by democratic referendum. The Saltire is an official flag of part of the UK and recognise by the government and institutions thereof - see rules on respect and saluting.
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
This is the great hope. There can be no true cultural revival of the West without rediscovering our magnificent religious tradition
Almost unbelievable.
Actually, there's no "almost" about it.
Hmm, it does appear to be based on a YouGov poll. Dunno if the age breakdown is a sub-sample (klaxon) though?
The other interesting thing from the report is it looks like Catholicism will overtake Anglicanism in the next few years. And it's mainly driven by immigration.
Drawn from a major poll by YouGov. This isn’t imaginary
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
I suspect the taking smack bit was your circle rather than your peers in general. I am about your age and my circles irrespective of location were not smackheads. I even had a group of friends at UCL, and none of them were mainlining the naughty stuff.
I suspect currently going to church is similarly niche.
Nobody at UCL would have socialised with a boring sap like you. So this is just a painful suite of lies
I was at UCL. There were a very small number of hard core druggies, who, like the religious and political extremists, needed to bathe more.
About 50% smoked The Demon Weed. Which was quite low strength then - before skunk etc. The hard drugs types were shunned.
It was quite noticeable when someone dropped out of fuckwittery - you could approach them downwind.
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
The political capture of both law enforcement and the justice system is happening very rapidly, and far more blatantly than even I expected.
But at least it’s being captured by the right side. By American patriots
In the UK that capture is being done by people, agencies, cultures - that actively hate the UK
A true American patriot would be someone who respected the US Constitution, and was glad the US won the Civil War and World War II.
Not someone who hates the US Constitution (besides the 2nd Amendment), and flies the flag of America's enemy in either the Civil War or WWII.
I don't know if you can really call flying the Confederate flag flying the flag of America's enemy. It was part of America.
Well: aren't you signalling support for the reasons why the Confederacy ceceeded from the Union?
Quite possibly, but I still don't think it was 'America's enemy'. It's like saying the Saltire flag is the flag of 'Britain's enemy' - there are senses in which it was true (wrt England), and there are people who probably still regard it to be true, but there's another sense in which it's a proud part of the identity and history of that location.
I know you would like to have the Russian Tricolour flapping over London, but I wonder what you think the Confederate flag stands for that is *good* in your mind?
I haven't said it is good.
So you think Americans should fly a bad flag, one with utterly negative connotations?
Anyway this week there will be the first part of Sir Wyn Williams Post Office Report - on the impact on SPMs and compensation.
It will (likely) say that the human impact was awful and made worse by the conduct of the PO and others over many years. Compensation is due, is too slow and the government needs to get a move on because the current situation is disgraceful. 350 of the ca. 900 SPMs affected have died without getting compensation and the return of the money fraudulently taken from them.
The government will welcome the report, say how terrible it all is and then continue doing the square root of fuck all.
This is how all governments since at least Aberfan have operated. Potemkin justice.
It's time to outline £100bn in spending cuts and tax rises, split 75% towards spending cuts with the majority coming from welfare and entitlements. If the government doesn't do this and continues to borrow like a drunken sailor we're heading for a bond vigilante strike and another bout of QE which will push inflation up and destroy people's disposable incomes.
The only way out is to cut welfare spending and get people back into work. We can't afford to pay the lazy to sit at home doing nothing on benefits.
'Benefits' according to the OBR are £150bn on Pensioners; £88bn on UC; and £74bn on other benefits. Where would you axe to get the £100bn?
Should we get pensioners back into work?
£20bn each out of UC and "other" benefits.
Cut the triple lock entirely.
£20bn out of the state pension by tapering above £40k, spend half of the saving on increasing the state pension for those who don't have any or significant private income in retirement.
NI payable on all income types/merge NI and income tax.
50% haircut on defined benefit public sector pensions for amounts over £40k (so a £60k DB pension becomes £50k).
Freeze thresholds for a further 3 years.
Cut at least 500k public sector jobs within two years, ban use of agency staff and severely limit the use of consultants and contractors. Use half of those savings to offer competitive salaries for technical roles.
I think that would probably make a £100bn worth of closing the deficit, the resulting fall in bond yields and inflation would probably add another £20bn saving per year on the interest bill.
And means test the NHS for the wealthy
Define wealthy.
Otherwise people like me will either die because they can't afford treatment (and I am already at high risk of early death because of the NHS's failures to spot stages 1, 2 or 3 of my cancer) - and I can't - or be bankrupted and made homeless.
As for the state pension, it gets taxed if the pensioner has other income.
One of the reasons for the deficit is the amount spent on furlough during Covid - money largely spent on those in jobs and to keep them in jobs. It was about £140 billion. They too should contribute.
- 1p on income tax. - Extend VAT to food, books/newspapers & children's clothes. - NI for everyone who works. - Limit or abolish tax relief for those giving to charity and place an upper limit on the tax saved by those contributing to charity whether alive or after death. - Limit tax relief for pension contributions to the basic rate. - Extend VAT on education to all education providers, including universities. - Freeze thresholds. - Place a limit on public sector pay increases (the amount shovelled at train drivers by Reeves never gets mentioned here but it was a stupid move). - Abolish the WFA and other pension-specific benefits. Aim for the state pension to be the same as the tax free income as and when we can afford it. - Abolish the triple lock. - Those with assets should contribute something towards social care. - Introduce council tax bands for higher value houses. - Increase or widen the charges for council services beyond the basic. - Ensure that overseas visitors pay for the NHS. Other countries manage this. So can we. - Limit tax relief for private equity companies loading companies up with debt, taking dividends and asset stripping. (Thames Water and other companies in a similar position should be allowed to go bust and then nationalised for a £. Too often asset stripping has been presented as overseas investment. It is a gigantic con.)
And so on.
There is a nasty streak among some of the commentary on here. Everyone seems to want others to pay taxes and those who work on here seem to think that they should be exempt from any measures to help pay down the deficit, thinking it must all be done by the poor and the old. It also gives the impression that some welcome AD because they will be able to pressure the old and sick into killing themselves to save money or withhold treatment so that they suffer. It is disgustingly frankly. I am surprised to see @Big_G_NorthWales among their number
Can I just say that wealthy to me include celebrities and multi millionaires who can contribute to the NHS
As far as your list is concerned I agree with each and every one and it needs a government to accept we cannot continue borrowing, spending and taxing and think the unthinkable
I want the NHS available to all but those with the broadest shoulders should contribute as indeed should the pension be reviewed as to just who should receive this very expensive benefit
I would add I wish you all the best in your treatment
And I am sure you do not mean me re AD as I am very uneasy about it and fear it may have unintended consequences
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
Don't see much panic or alarm here- that's mainly you being trollier than thou, again.
It would be lovely if church attendance were increasing. I wouldn't have to teach Sunday School quite so often. But it's not showing in the wear on paths to church. Polling errors (they do happen, I hear) are way more likely as an explanation.
Why don’t you actually read the YouGov report instead of airily dismissing it. Isn’t that tantamount to a felony on PB?
Since you ask...
I heard about it months ago, the report came out in April and caused a bit of a stir in church circles at the time. Very shortly afterwards, church people noticed that the outcomes of the survey didn't match other, better, measures of people in specific churches. In the CofE, that includes every churchwarden in every church counting people turning up Sunday services across a month.
I'm sure that YouGov and the Bible Society did the best, most faithful work they could, but it really looks like something has gone wrong with the sampling or modelling.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
I'm not sure if that's right, but another thing that PB might not like, is that judging from many younger members of my family, astrology is also a lot more popular and less stigmatised than it used to be. The interest is dilletante-ish and semi-ironic, but it's also a lot more common than it used to be.
Tbh the data on church going does seem incredible, however this is a huge and legit YouGov poll. Cannot be easily ignored
Also of note is the sharp increase in “belief in God”. This can’t be polling error, as it is simply an opinion
In the young it has shot up in six years such that 18-24s are now some of the most religious in the UK (in this extremely wide sense). The least religious? The bleakly atheist middle aged centrist dads of PB
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
Don't see much panic or alarm here- that's mainly you being trollier than thou, again.
It would be lovely if church attendance were increasing. I wouldn't have to teach Sunday School quite so often. But it's not showing in the wear on paths to church. Polling errors (they do happen, I hear) are way more likely as an explanation.
Why don’t you actually read the YouGov report instead of airily dismissing it. Isn’t that tantamount to a felony on PB?
Since you ask...
I heard about it months ago, the report came out in April and caused a bit of a stir in church circles at the time. Very shortly afterwards, church people noticed that the outcomes of the survey didn't match other, better, measures of people in specific churches. In the CofE, that includes every churchwarden in every church counting people turning up Sunday services across a month.
I'm sure that YouGov and the Bible Society did the best, most faithful work they could, but it really looks like something has gone wrong with the sampling or modelling.
Well, you did ask.
It’s about as reliable as asking people how many units of alcohol they consume (but in the opposite direction). Self declaration of anything involving a moral choice is fraught with unreliability.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
Don't see much panic or alarm here- that's mainly you being trollier than thou, again.
It would be lovely if church attendance were increasing. I wouldn't have to teach Sunday School quite so often. But it's not showing in the wear on paths to church. Polling errors (they do happen, I hear) are way more likely as an explanation.
Why don’t you actually read the YouGov report instead of airily dismissing it. Isn’t that tantamount to a felony on PB?
Since you ask...
I heard about it months ago, the report came out in April and caused a bit of a stir in church circles at the time. Very shortly afterwards, church people noticed that the outcomes of the survey didn't match other, better, measures of people in specific churches. In the CofE, that includes every churchwarden in every church counting people turning up Sunday services across a month.
I'm sure that YouGov and the Bible Society did the best, most faithful work they could, but it really looks like something has gone wrong with the sampling or modelling.
Well, you did ask.
Well they didn’t read it very well because the report expressly says much of this rise is in small random Pentecostal churches etc. NOT CofE
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
I'm not sure if that's right, but another thing that PB might not like, is that judging from many younger members of my family, astrology is also a lot more popular and less stigmatised than it used to be. The interest is dilletante-ish and semi-ironic, but it's also a lot more common than it used to be.
Tbh the data on church going does seem incredible, however this is a huge and legit YouGov poll. Cannot be easily ignored
Also of note is the sharp increase in “belief in God”. This can’t be polling error, as it is simply an opinion
In the young it has shot up in six years such that 18-24s are now some of the most religious in the UK (in this extremely wide sense). The least religious? The bleakly atheist middle aged centrist dads of PB
It's time to outline £100bn in spending cuts and tax rises, split 75% towards spending cuts with the majority coming from welfare and entitlements. If the government doesn't do this and continues to borrow like a drunken sailor we're heading for a bond vigilante strike and another bout of QE which will push inflation up and destroy people's disposable incomes.
The only way out is to cut welfare spending and get people back into work. We can't afford to pay the lazy to sit at home doing nothing on benefits.
'Benefits' according to the OBR are £150bn on Pensioners; £88bn on UC; and £74bn on other benefits. Where would you axe to get the £100bn?
Should we get pensioners back into work?
£20bn each out of UC and "other" benefits.
Cut the triple lock entirely.
£20bn out of the state pension by tapering above £40k, spend half of the saving on increasing the state pension for those who don't have any or significant private income in retirement.
NI payable on all income types/merge NI and income tax.
50% haircut on defined benefit public sector pensions for amounts over £40k (so a £60k DB pension becomes £50k).
Freeze thresholds for a further 3 years.
Cut at least 500k public sector jobs within two years, ban use of agency staff and severely limit the use of consultants and contractors. Use half of those savings to offer competitive salaries for technical roles.
I think that would probably make a £100bn worth of closing the deficit, the resulting fall in bond yields and inflation would probably add another £20bn saving per year on the interest bill.
And means test the NHS for the wealthy
Define wealthy.
Otherwise people like me will either die because they can't afford treatment (and I am already at high risk of early death because of the NHS's failures to spot stages 1, 2 or 3 of my cancer) - and I can't - or be bankrupted and made homeless.
As for the state pension, it gets taxed if the pensioner has other income.
One of the reasons for the deficit is the amount spent on furlough during Covid - money largely spent on those in jobs and to keep them in jobs. It was about £140 billion. They too should contribute.
- 1p on income tax. - Extend VAT to food, books/newspapers & children's clothes. - NI for everyone who works. - Limit or abolish tax relief for those giving to charity and place an upper limit on the tax saved by those contributing to charity whether alive or after death. - Limit tax relief for pension contributions to the basic rate. - Extend VAT on education to all education providers, including universities. - Freeze thresholds. - Place a limit on public sector pay increases (the amount shovelled at train drivers by Reeves never gets mentioned here but it was a stupid move). - Abolish the WFA and other pension-specific benefits. Aim for the state pension to be the same as the tax free income as and when we can afford it. - Abolish the triple lock. - Those with assets should contribute something towards social care. - Introduce council tax bands for higher value houses. - Increase or widen the charges for council services beyond the basic. - Ensure that overseas visitors pay for the NHS. Other countries manage this. So can we. - Limit tax relief for private equity companies loading companies up with debt, taking dividends and asset stripping. (Thames Water and other companies in a similar position should be allowed to go bust and then nationalised for a £. Too often asset stripping has been presented as overseas investment. It is a gigantic con.)
And so on.
There is a nasty streak among some of the commentary on here. Everyone seems to want others to pay taxes and those who work on here seem to think that they should be exempt from any measures to help pay down the deficit, thinking it must all be done by the poor and the old. It also gives the impression that some welcome AD because they will be able to pressure the old and sick into killing themselves to save money or withhold treatment so that they suffer. It is disgustingly frankly. I am surprised to see @Big_G_NorthWales among their number
One reason that I am opposed to the assisted dying stuff is that I have met several people in healthcare who were against the continued existence of others, who they deemed "a waste of resources".
I could see them telling a blind person who wanted a ramp to her door - "Have you considered killing yourself". Yes, very easily.
It's time to outline £100bn in spending cuts and tax rises, split 75% towards spending cuts with the majority coming from welfare and entitlements. If the government doesn't do this and continues to borrow like a drunken sailor we're heading for a bond vigilante strike and another bout of QE which will push inflation up and destroy people's disposable incomes.
The only way out is to cut welfare spending and get people back into work. We can't afford to pay the lazy to sit at home doing nothing on benefits.
'Benefits' according to the OBR are £150bn on Pensioners; £88bn on UC; and £74bn on other benefits. Where would you axe to get the £100bn?
Should we get pensioners back into work?
£20bn each out of UC and "other" benefits.
Cut the triple lock entirely.
£20bn out of the state pension by tapering above £40k, spend half of the saving on increasing the state pension for those who don't have any or significant private income in retirement.
NI payable on all income types/merge NI and income tax.
50% haircut on defined benefit public sector pensions for amounts over £40k (so a £60k DB pension becomes £50k).
Freeze thresholds for a further 3 years.
Cut at least 500k public sector jobs within two years, ban use of agency staff and severely limit the use of consultants and contractors. Use half of those savings to offer competitive salaries for technical roles.
I think that would probably make a £100bn worth of closing the deficit, the resulting fall in bond yields and inflation would probably add another £20bn saving per year on the interest bill.
And means test the NHS for the wealthy
Define wealthy.
Otherwise people like me will either die because they can't afford treatment (and I am already at high risk of early death because of the NHS's failures to spot stages 1, 2 or 3 of my cancer) - and I can't - or be bankrupted and made homeless.
As for the state pension, it gets taxed if the pensioner has other income.
One of the reasons for the deficit is the amount spent on furlough during Covid - money largely spent on those in jobs and to keep them in jobs. It was about £140 billion. They too should contribute.
- 1p on income tax. - Extend VAT to food, books/newspapers & children's clothes. - NI for everyone who works. - Limit or abolish tax relief for those giving to charity and place an upper limit on the tax saved by those contributing to charity whether alive or after death. - Limit tax relief for pension contributions to the basic rate. - Extend VAT on education to all education providers, including universities. - Freeze thresholds. - Place a limit on public sector pay increases (the amount shovelled at train drivers by Reeves never gets mentioned here but it was a stupid move). - Abolish the WFA and other pension-specific benefits. Aim for the state pension to be the same as the tax free income as and when we can afford it. - Abolish the triple lock. - Those with assets should contribute something towards social care. - Introduce council tax bands for higher value houses. - Increase or widen the charges for council services beyond the basic. - Ensure that overseas visitors pay for the NHS. Other countries manage this. So can we. - Limit tax relief for private equity companies loading companies up with debt, taking dividends and asset stripping. (Thames Water and other companies in a similar position should be allowed to go bust and then nationalised for a £. Too often asset stripping has been presented as overseas investment. It is a gigantic con.)
And so on.
There is a nasty streak among some of the commentary on here. Everyone seems to want others to pay taxes and those who work on here seem to think that they should be exempt from any measures to help pay down the deficit, thinking it must all be done by the poor and the old. It also gives the impression that some welcome AD because they will be able to pressure the old and sick into killing themselves to save money or withhold treatment so that they suffer. It is disgustingly frankly. I am surprised to see @Big_G_NorthWales among their number
Can I just say that wealthy to me include celebrities and multi millionaires who can contribute to the NHS
As far as your list is concerned I agree with each and every one and it needs a government to accept we cannot continue borrowing, spending and taxing and think the unthinkable
I want the NHS available to all but those with the broadest shoulders should contribute as indeed should the pension be reviewed as to just who should receive this very expensive benefit
They do contribute - as indeed have I - through taxes. In my case for decades. But there is no justification for denying the NHS to people who are seriously or terminally ill. You are advocating for a US style system which will harm the sick. I am one of their number and I think it disgusting that you should wish to deprive me of the NHS when I need it most. You do not define what wealthy means - name a figure and let's see what this actually means.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
I'm not sure if that's right, but another thing that PB might not like, is that judging from many younger members of my family, astrology is also a lot more popular and less stigmatised than it used to be. The interest is dilletante-ish and semi-ironic, but it's also a lot more common than it used to be.
Tbh the data on church going does seem incredible, however this is a huge and legit YouGov poll. Cannot be easily ignored
Also of note is the sharp increase in “belief in God”. This can’t be polling error, as it is simply an opinion
In the young it has shot up in six years such that 18-24s are now some of the most religious in the UK (in this extremely wide sense). The least religious? The bleakly atheist middle aged centrist dads of PB
Anyway this week there will be the first part of Sir Wyn Williams Post Office Report - on the impact on SPMs and compensation.
It will (likely) say that the human impact was awful and made worse by the conduct of the PO and others over many years. Compensation is due, is too slow and the government needs to get a move on because the current situation is disgraceful. 350 of the ca. 900 SPMs affected have died without getting compensation and the return of the money fraudulently taken from them.
The government will welcome the report, say how terrible it all is and then continue doing the square root of fuck all.
This is how all governments since at least Aberfan have operated. Potemkin justice.
What I find fascinating is the systemic resistance.
A government with a substantial majority and the support of the opposition parties had to pass a reverse bill of attainder, declaring the SPOs innocent. Because the judicial system wouldn't.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
I'm not sure if that's right, but another thing that PB might not like, is that judging from many younger members of my family, astrology is also a lot more popular and less stigmatised than it used to be. The interest is dilletante-ish and semi-ironic, but it's also a lot more common than it used to be.
Tbh the data on church going does seem incredible, however this is a huge and legit YouGov poll. Cannot be easily ignored
Also of note is the sharp increase in “belief in God”. This can’t be polling error, as it is simply an opinion
In the young it has shot up in six years such that 18-24s are now some of the most religious in the UK (in this extremely wide sense). The least religious? The bleakly atheist middle aged centrist dads of PB
Something really is happening out there
Interesting if true. A spiritual outlook in general may be on the up, if one also includes the non-christian spirutual in general, which I'm slightly more familiar with.
Times do sometimes change ahead of material conditions, as Hegel understood better than anyone else.
It's time to outline £100bn in spending cuts and tax rises, split 75% towards spending cuts with the majority coming from welfare and entitlements. If the government doesn't do this and continues to borrow like a drunken sailor we're heading for a bond vigilante strike and another bout of QE which will push inflation up and destroy people's disposable incomes.
The only way out is to cut welfare spending and get people back into work. We can't afford to pay the lazy to sit at home doing nothing on benefits.
'Benefits' according to the OBR are £150bn on Pensioners; £88bn on UC; and £74bn on other benefits. Where would you axe to get the £100bn?
Should we get pensioners back into work?
£20bn each out of UC and "other" benefits.
Cut the triple lock entirely.
£20bn out of the state pension by tapering above £40k, spend half of the saving on increasing the state pension for those who don't have any or significant private income in retirement.
NI payable on all income types/merge NI and income tax.
50% haircut on defined benefit public sector pensions for amounts over £40k (so a £60k DB pension becomes £50k).
Freeze thresholds for a further 3 years.
Cut at least 500k public sector jobs within two years, ban use of agency staff and severely limit the use of consultants and contractors. Use half of those savings to offer competitive salaries for technical roles.
I think that would probably make a £100bn worth of closing the deficit, the resulting fall in bond yields and inflation would probably add another £20bn saving per year on the interest bill.
And means test the NHS for the wealthy
Define wealthy.
Otherwise people like me will either die because they can't afford treatment (and I am already at high risk of early death because of the NHS's failures to spot stages 1, 2 or 3 of my cancer) - and I can't - or be bankrupted and made homeless.
As for the state pension, it gets taxed if the pensioner has other income.
One of the reasons for the deficit is the amount spent on furlough during Covid - money largely spent on those in jobs and to keep them in jobs. It was about £140 billion. They too should contribute.
- 1p on income tax. - Extend VAT to food, books/newspapers & children's clothes. - NI for everyone who works. - Limit or abolish tax relief for those giving to charity and place an upper limit on the tax saved by those contributing to charity whether alive or after death. - Limit tax relief for pension contributions to the basic rate. - Extend VAT on education to all education providers, including universities. - Freeze thresholds. - Place a limit on public sector pay increases (the amount shovelled at train drivers by Reeves never gets mentioned here but it was a stupid move). - Abolish the WFA and other pension-specific benefits. Aim for the state pension to be the same as the tax free income as and when we can afford it. - Abolish the triple lock. - Those with assets should contribute something towards social care. - Introduce council tax bands for higher value houses. - Increase or widen the charges for council services beyond the basic. - Ensure that overseas visitors pay for the NHS. Other countries manage this. So can we. - Limit tax relief for private equity companies loading companies up with debt, taking dividends and asset stripping. (Thames Water and other companies in a similar position should be allowed to go bust and then nationalised for a £. Too often asset stripping has been presented as overseas investment. It is a gigantic con.)
And so on.
There is a nasty streak among some of the commentary on here. Everyone seems to want others to pay taxes and those who work on here seem to think that they should be exempt from any measures to help pay down the deficit, thinking it must all be done by the poor and the old. It also gives the impression that some welcome AD because they will be able to pressure the old and sick into killing themselves to save money or withhold treatment so that they suffer. It is disgustingly frankly. I am surprised to see @Big_G_NorthWales among their number
Can I just say that wealthy to me include celebrities and multi millionaires who can contribute to the NHS
As far as your list is concerned I agree with each and every one and it needs a government to accept we cannot continue borrowing, spending and taxing and think the unthinkable
I want the NHS available to all but those with the broadest shoulders should contribute as indeed should the pension be reviewed as to just who should receive this very expensive benefit
They do contribute - as indeed have I - through taxes. In my case for decades. But there is no justification for denying the NHS to people who are seriously or terminally ill. You are advocating for a US style system which will harm the sick. I am one of their number and I think it disgusting that you should wish to deprive me of the NHS when I need it most. You do not define what wealthy means - name a figure and let's see what this actually means.
I think that many advocating this have no idea what the real costs of the NHS are, and how little most private insurance covers in the UK.
It is perfectly possible to spend £500,000 on a cancer patient. Or more. For even the quite wealthy, that is enough to lose their home. At a time when they may well have lost their job (being unable to work).
One thing I do wonder - if the NHS should send bills (marked paid) to people. To show them the cost of what they use. Spread the word, as it were.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
I'm not sure if that's right, but another thing that PB might not like, is that judging from many younger members of my family, astrology is also a lot more popular and less stigmatised than it used to be. The interest is dilletante-ish and semi-ironic, but it's also a lot more common than it used to be.
Tbh the data on church going does seem incredible, however this is a huge and legit YouGov poll. Cannot be easily ignored
Also of note is the sharp increase in “belief in God”. This can’t be polling error, as it is simply an opinion
In the young it has shot up in six years such that 18-24s are now some of the most religious in the UK (in this extremely wide sense). The least religious? The bleakly atheist middle aged centrist dads of PB
Something really is happening out there
Interesting if true. A spiritual outlook in general may be on the up, if one also includes the non-christian spirutual in general, which I'm slightly more familiar with.
Times do sometimes change ahead of material conditions, as Hegel understood better than anyone else.
Yes
I can totally believe there is a new hunger for spirituality out there. The stats show young people are especially given to depression, loneliness, anomie. It’s grim
A sovereign remedy for this is a solid faith, and a church to go to. And, at the very least “a belief in God” will give your life meaning and purpose
Wokeness and Greenery can only get you so far. They are also intrinsically sterile and depressing
Anyway this week there will be the first part of Sir Wyn Williams Post Office Report - on the impact on SPMs and compensation.
It will (likely) say that the human impact was awful and made worse by the conduct of the PO and others over many years. Compensation is due, is too slow and the government needs to get a move on because the current situation is disgraceful. 350 of the ca. 900 SPMs affected have died without getting compensation and the return of the money fraudulently taken from them.
The government will welcome the report, say how terrible it all is and then continue doing the square root of fuck all.
This is how all governments since at least Aberfan have operated. Potemkin justice.
What I find fascinating is the systemic resistance.
A government with a substantial majority and the support of the opposition parties had to pass a reverse bill of attainder, declaring the SPOs innocent. Because the judicial system wouldn't.
Arbitrary justice. But on the side of innocence.
Doesn't that disturb people?
That it happened can be seen as disturbing. Partly because it’s the sort of thing Trump does, partly because it’s not really evidence-based, and partly because it denies individuals a verdict based on proper examination of their own personal circumstances.
It was done as an expedient as things were progressing unacceptably slowly - but is a poor precedent nevertheless.
It's time to outline £100bn in spending cuts and tax rises, split 75% towards spending cuts with the majority coming from welfare and entitlements. If the government doesn't do this and continues to borrow like a drunken sailor we're heading for a bond vigilante strike and another bout of QE which will push inflation up and destroy people's disposable incomes.
The only way out is to cut welfare spending and get people back into work. We can't afford to pay the lazy to sit at home doing nothing on benefits.
'Benefits' according to the OBR are £150bn on Pensioners; £88bn on UC; and £74bn on other benefits. Where would you axe to get the £100bn?
Should we get pensioners back into work?
£20bn each out of UC and "other" benefits.
Cut the triple lock entirely.
£20bn out of the state pension by tapering above £40k, spend half of the saving on increasing the state pension for those who don't have any or significant private income in retirement.
NI payable on all income types/merge NI and income tax.
50% haircut on defined benefit public sector pensions for amounts over £40k (so a £60k DB pension becomes £50k).
Freeze thresholds for a further 3 years.
Cut at least 500k public sector jobs within two years, ban use of agency staff and severely limit the use of consultants and contractors. Use half of those savings to offer competitive salaries for technical roles.
I think that would probably make a £100bn worth of closing the deficit, the resulting fall in bond yields and inflation would probably add another £20bn saving per year on the interest bill.
And means test the NHS for the wealthy
Define wealthy.
Otherwise people like me will either die because they can't afford treatment (and I am already at high risk of early death because of the NHS's failures to spot stages 1, 2 or 3 of my cancer) - and I can't - or be bankrupted and made homeless.
As for the state pension, it gets taxed if the pensioner has other income.
One of the reasons for the deficit is the amount spent on furlough during Covid - money largely spent on those in jobs and to keep them in jobs. It was about £140 billion. They too should contribute.
- 1p on income tax. - Extend VAT to food, books/newspapers & children's clothes. - NI for everyone who works. - Limit or abolish tax relief for those giving to charity and place an upper limit on the tax saved by those contributing to charity whether alive or after death. - Limit tax relief for pension contributions to the basic rate. - Extend VAT on education to all education providers, including universities. - Freeze thresholds. - Place a limit on public sector pay increases (the amount shovelled at train drivers by Reeves never gets mentioned here but it was a stupid move). - Abolish the WFA and other pension-specific benefits. Aim for the state pension to be the same as the tax free income as and when we can afford it. - Abolish the triple lock. - Those with assets should contribute something towards social care. - Introduce council tax bands for higher value houses. - Increase or widen the charges for council services beyond the basic. - Ensure that overseas visitors pay for the NHS. Other countries manage this. So can we. - Limit tax relief for private equity companies loading companies up with debt, taking dividends and asset stripping. (Thames Water and other companies in a similar position should be allowed to go bust and then nationalised for a £. Too often asset stripping has been presented as overseas investment. It is a gigantic con.)
And so on.
There is a nasty streak among some of the commentary on here. Everyone seems to want others to pay taxes and those who work on here seem to think that they should be exempt from any measures to help pay down the deficit, thinking it must all be done by the poor and the old. It also gives the impression that some welcome AD because they will be able to pressure the old and sick into killing themselves to save money or withhold treatment so that they suffer. It is disgustingly frankly. I am surprised to see @Big_G_NorthWales among their number
Can I just say that wealthy to me include celebrities and multi millionaires who can contribute to the NHS
As far as your list is concerned I agree with each and every one and it needs a government to accept we cannot continue borrowing, spending and taxing and think the unthinkable
I want the NHS available to all but those with the broadest shoulders should contribute as indeed should the pension be reviewed as to just who should receive this very expensive benefit
They do contribute - as indeed have I - through taxes. In my case for decades. But there is no justification for denying the NHS to people who are seriously or terminally ill. You are advocating for a US style system which will harm the sick. I am one of their number and I think it disgusting that you should wish to deprive me of the NHS when I need it most. You do not define what wealthy means - name a figure and let's see what this actually means.
I am sorry if you have that impression and it is not my intention to change the system to deny anyone necessary health care
I am not some right wing MAGA supporter nor Farage but a debate should be had into just how we continue the universal nature of the NHS and pensions
Wealth is in the eye of the beholder, but Neil Kinnock this morning suggested 10 million and that seems to be the figure the left want a 2% wealth tax so maybe a starting point
Anyway this week there will be the first part of Sir Wyn Williams Post Office Report - on the impact on SPMs and compensation.
It will (likely) say that the human impact was awful and made worse by the conduct of the PO and others over many years. Compensation is due, is too slow and the government needs to get a move on because the current situation is disgraceful. 350 of the ca. 900 SPMs affected have died without getting compensation and the return of the money fraudulently taken from them.
The government will welcome the report, say how terrible it all is and then continue doing the square root of fuck all.
This is how all governments since at least Aberfan have operated. Potemkin justice.
What I find fascinating is the systemic resistance.
A government with a substantial majority and the support of the opposition parties had to pass a reverse bill of attainder, declaring the SPOs innocent. Because the judicial system wouldn't.
Arbitrary justice. But on the side of innocence.
Doesn't that disturb people?
That it happened can be seen as disturbing. Partly because it’s the sort of thing Trump does, partly because it’s not really evidence-based, and partly because it denies individuals a verdict based on proper examination of their own personal circumstances.
It was done as an expedient as things were progressing unacceptably slowly - but is a poor precedent nevertheless.
The fact that it was necessary is evidence of the abject failure of the justice system.
I would suggest that an appropriate symbolic penance would be for every barrister, in full fig, to walk on their knees through the City of London, while the bells toll.
Why are you all so pitifully desperate for nihilistic atheism to triumph?
It is really bizarre. Like you want everyone to share your own Godless unhappiness
You don't want to spread disappointment though. Those Gen-Zers will be so let down when they discover there's no heaven that they might not be able to cope.
It's time to outline £100bn in spending cuts and tax rises, split 75% towards spending cuts with the majority coming from welfare and entitlements. If the government doesn't do this and continues to borrow like a drunken sailor we're heading for a bond vigilante strike and another bout of QE which will push inflation up and destroy people's disposable incomes.
The only way out is to cut welfare spending and get people back into work. We can't afford to pay the lazy to sit at home doing nothing on benefits.
'Benefits' according to the OBR are £150bn on Pensioners; £88bn on UC; and £74bn on other benefits. Where would you axe to get the £100bn?
Should we get pensioners back into work?
£20bn each out of UC and "other" benefits.
Cut the triple lock entirely.
£20bn out of the state pension by tapering above £40k, spend half of the saving on increasing the state pension for those who don't have any or significant private income in retirement.
NI payable on all income types/merge NI and income tax.
50% haircut on defined benefit public sector pensions for amounts over £40k (so a £60k DB pension becomes £50k).
Freeze thresholds for a further 3 years.
Cut at least 500k public sector jobs within two years, ban use of agency staff and severely limit the use of consultants and contractors. Use half of those savings to offer competitive salaries for technical roles.
I think that would probably make a £100bn worth of closing the deficit, the resulting fall in bond yields and inflation would probably add another £20bn saving per year on the interest bill.
And means test the NHS for the wealthy
Define wealthy.
Otherwise people like me will either die because they can't afford treatment (and I am already at high risk of early death because of the NHS's failures to spot stages 1, 2 or 3 of my cancer) - and I can't - or be bankrupted and made homeless.
As for the state pension, it gets taxed if the pensioner has other income.
One of the reasons for the deficit is the amount spent on furlough during Covid - money largely spent on those in jobs and to keep them in jobs. It was about £140 billion. They too should contribute.
- 1p on income tax. - Extend VAT to food, books/newspapers & children's clothes. - NI for everyone who works. - Limit or abolish tax relief for those giving to charity and place an upper limit on the tax saved by those contributing to charity whether alive or after death. - Limit tax relief for pension contributions to the basic rate. - Extend VAT on education to all education providers, including universities. - Freeze thresholds. - Place a limit on public sector pay increases (the amount shovelled at train drivers by Reeves never gets mentioned here but it was a stupid move). - Abolish the WFA and other pension-specific benefits. Aim for the state pension to be the same as the tax free income as and when we can afford it. - Abolish the triple lock. - Those with assets should contribute something towards social care. - Introduce council tax bands for higher value houses. - Increase or widen the charges for council services beyond the basic. - Ensure that overseas visitors pay for the NHS. Other countries manage this. So can we. - Limit tax relief for private equity companies loading companies up with debt, taking dividends and asset stripping. (Thames Water and other companies in a similar position should be allowed to go bust and then nationalised for a £. Too often asset stripping has been presented as overseas investment. It is a gigantic con.)
And so on.
There is a nasty streak among some of the commentary on here. Everyone seems to want others to pay taxes and those who work on here seem to think that they should be exempt from any measures to help pay down the deficit, thinking it must all be done by the poor and the old. It also gives the impression that some welcome AD because they will be able to pressure the old and sick into killing themselves to save money or withhold treatment so that they suffer. It is disgustingly frankly. I am surprised to see @Big_G_NorthWales among their number
Can I just say that wealthy to me include celebrities and multi millionaires who can contribute to the NHS
As far as your list is concerned I agree with each and every one and it needs a government to accept we cannot continue borrowing, spending and taxing and think the unthinkable
I want the NHS available to all but those with the broadest shoulders should contribute as indeed should the pension be reviewed as to just who should receive this very expensive benefit
They do contribute - as indeed have I - through taxes. In my case for decades. But there is no justification for denying the NHS to people who are seriously or terminally ill. You are advocating for a US style system which will harm the sick. I am one of their number and I think it disgusting that you should wish to deprive me of the NHS when I need it most. You do not define what wealthy means - name a figure and let's see what this actually means.
Indeed, means testing the NHS and barring the wealthy just seems like an odd and very mean spirited thing to do. From a practical sense I doubt it would save very much money given that the "wealthy" that BigG mentions are likely to have private health insurance and it breaks the idea that all British citizens/residents get treated equally by the health service, rich and poor alike get the same (sometimes not very good, sometimes excellent) treatment.
The comment about those with the broadest shoulders contributing is also very off colour for BigG, I think he's been watching too much Jez on Tiktok or something. At my peak earnings a few years ago my net rate of tax was 43% and I paid well into six figures per year in tax, to suggest that the "wealthy" don't already make a huge contribution is factually incorrect. Indeed it is this anti-wealth attitude among those who call themselves conservative that resulted in the previous government just ceding the subject of wealth creation to the left.
Why are you all so pitifully desperate for nihilistic atheism to triumph?
It is really bizarre. Like you want everyone to share your own Godless unhappiness
Atheism has become associated with progress for 150 years, and particularly nowadays because of people like Hamas and the Israeli Right.
I don't personally think that's quite right, but it would take one of Hegel's epochal shifts to bring back the climate of the earlier 18th Century.
Atheism also has a certain amount of coolness to it. What could be more edgy than denying the most powerful being in the universe the thing He demands more than anything else: belief in His existence.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
Don't see much panic or alarm here- that's mainly you being trollier than thou, again.
It would be lovely if church attendance were increasing. I wouldn't have to teach Sunday School quite so often. But it's not showing in the wear on paths to church. Polling errors (they do happen, I hear) are way more likely as an explanation.
Why don’t you actually read the YouGov report instead of airily dismissing it. Isn’t that tantamount to a felony on PB?
Since you ask...
I heard about it months ago, the report came out in April and caused a bit of a stir in church circles at the time. Very shortly afterwards, church people noticed that the outcomes of the survey didn't match other, better, measures of people in specific churches. In the CofE, that includes every churchwarden in every church counting people turning up Sunday services across a month.
I'm sure that YouGov and the Bible Society did the best, most faithful work they could, but it really looks like something has gone wrong with the sampling or modelling.
Well, you did ask.
Well they didn’t read it very well because the report expressly says much of this rise is in small random Pentecostal churches etc. NOT CofE
From the blog I linked to earlier,
Between them, these two denominations [CofE and RCC] have reportedly grown their regular attendance by almost 1.5m people, out of the total reported growth of 2.1m, or over 70% of the total growth. But Church attendance data simply does not back that up.
It looks like a polling fail. They happen. In the same way that actual election results don't match polling. And for avoidance of doubt, I'm all for growth in belief. But that includes trying to bear as truthful witness as I can.
It's time to outline £100bn in spending cuts and tax rises, split 75% towards spending cuts with the majority coming from welfare and entitlements. If the government doesn't do this and continues to borrow like a drunken sailor we're heading for a bond vigilante strike and another bout of QE which will push inflation up and destroy people's disposable incomes.
The only way out is to cut welfare spending and get people back into work. We can't afford to pay the lazy to sit at home doing nothing on benefits.
'Benefits' according to the OBR are £150bn on Pensioners; £88bn on UC; and £74bn on other benefits. Where would you axe to get the £100bn?
Should we get pensioners back into work?
£20bn each out of UC and "other" benefits.
Cut the triple lock entirely.
£20bn out of the state pension by tapering above £40k, spend half of the saving on increasing the state pension for those who don't have any or significant private income in retirement.
NI payable on all income types/merge NI and income tax.
50% haircut on defined benefit public sector pensions for amounts over £40k (so a £60k DB pension becomes £50k).
Freeze thresholds for a further 3 years.
Cut at least 500k public sector jobs within two years, ban use of agency staff and severely limit the use of consultants and contractors. Use half of those savings to offer competitive salaries for technical roles.
I think that would probably make a £100bn worth of closing the deficit, the resulting fall in bond yields and inflation would probably add another £20bn saving per year on the interest bill.
And means test the NHS for the wealthy
Define wealthy.
Otherwise people like me will either die because they can't afford treatment (and I am already at high risk of early death because of the NHS's failures to spot stages 1, 2 or 3 of my cancer) - and I can't - or be bankrupted and made homeless.
As for the state pension, it gets taxed if the pensioner has other income.
One of the reasons for the deficit is the amount spent on furlough during Covid - money largely spent on those in jobs and to keep them in jobs. It was about £140 billion. They too should contribute.
- 1p on income tax. - Extend VAT to food, books/newspapers & children's clothes. - NI for everyone who works. - Limit or abolish tax relief for those giving to charity and place an upper limit on the tax saved by those contributing to charity whether alive or after death. - Limit tax relief for pension contributions to the basic rate. - Extend VAT on education to all education providers, including universities. - Freeze thresholds. - Place a limit on public sector pay increases (the amount shovelled at train drivers by Reeves never gets mentioned here but it was a stupid move). - Abolish the WFA and other pension-specific benefits. Aim for the state pension to be the same as the tax free income as and when we can afford it. - Abolish the triple lock. - Those with assets should contribute something towards social care. - Introduce council tax bands for higher value houses. - Increase or widen the charges for council services beyond the basic. - Ensure that overseas visitors pay for the NHS. Other countries manage this. So can we. - Limit tax relief for private equity companies loading companies up with debt, taking dividends and asset stripping. (Thames Water and other companies in a similar position should be allowed to go bust and then nationalised for a £. Too often asset stripping has been presented as overseas investment. It is a gigantic con.)
And so on.
There is a nasty streak among some of the commentary on here. Everyone seems to want others to pay taxes and those who work on here seem to think that they should be exempt from any measures to help pay down the deficit, thinking it must all be done by the poor and the old. It also gives the impression that some welcome AD because they will be able to pressure the old and sick into killing themselves to save money or withhold treatment so that they suffer. It is disgustingly frankly. I am surprised to see @Big_G_NorthWales among their number
Can I just say that wealthy to me include celebrities and multi millionaires who can contribute to the NHS
As far as your list is concerned I agree with each and every one and it needs a government to accept we cannot continue borrowing, spending and taxing and think the unthinkable
I want the NHS available to all but those with the broadest shoulders should contribute as indeed should the pension be reviewed as to just who should receive this very expensive benefit
They do contribute - as indeed have I - through taxes. In my case for decades. But there is no justification for denying the NHS to people who are seriously or terminally ill. You are advocating for a US style system which will harm the sick. I am one of their number and I think it disgusting that you should wish to deprive me of the NHS when I need it most. You do not define what wealthy means - name a figure and let's see what this actually means.
Indeed, means testing the NHS and barring the wealthy just seems like an odd and very mean spirited thing to do. From a practical sense I doubt it would save very much money given that the "wealthy" that BigG mentions are likely to have private health insurance and it breaks the idea that all British citizens/residents get treated equally by the health service, rich and poor alike get the same (sometimes not very good, sometimes excellent) treatment.
The comment about those with the broadest shoulders contributing is also very off colour for BigG, I think he's been watching too much Jez on Tiktok or something. At my peak earnings a few years ago my net rate of tax was 43% and I paid well into six figures per year in tax, to suggest that the "wealthy" don't already make a huge contribution is factually incorrect. Indeed it is this anti-wealth attitude among those who call themselves conservative that resulted in the previous government just ceding the subject of wealth creation to the left.
@Cyclefree listed many suggestions to address the very real economic hole we have entered into and I agree with them all
I have suggested the NHS and pensions should be part of the debate but of course nobody should be denied health care
Unfortunately Labour ruled out increases to the main tax raising levers which was a fundamental error and leaves lots of questions on how to address this crisis
Why are you all so pitifully desperate for nihilistic atheism to triumph?
It is really bizarre. Like you want everyone to share your own Godless unhappiness
On the contrary, many countries where people take their religion most seriously are mired in conflict and both social division and economic crisis, while there is a strong correlation between those that are the least religious and both national happiness and prosperity.
The US used to be a notable exception - relatively religious but prosperous and peaceful. But look where they're heading now, in part driven along by excess religiosity
Last thread was a hoot, cannot wait to hear more from "THE FALCON" when he awakens from his stupour.
And verily, See that His Sublime Grace LEONDAMUS, Lord Paramount of Camden, Warden of the Primrose Hill Borders, Commander of the Mighty Herd, He Who Rides The Unbridled Thunder, Surveyor of the PB Wastes and Whisperer to Kings, the Master known as Al-Saqr to the Desert Arabs, as Shahin to the Dusky Persians, and as THE FALCON to us all…
is awake. And maybe having a coffee
If you need a sidekick, I'm always happy to play The Tit
You do yourself down. Try calling yourself "The Merlin". Our smallest hawk. But damn it, good enough to power the Spitfire...
Also the Bolton Paul Defiant; armament pointing backwards, disastrous in the daytime once the enemy knew what was up and reduced to lurking in the night hoping to bag a prize. And a load of useless to mediocre Faireys.
Merlin engines also powered America's best fighter, the Mustang, which gave the allies aerial superiority then supremacy over Europe. The Mustang's original engines had been no good but the Merlin fixed that. One of the key features of the war was allied cooperation and cross-fertilisation in arms development and manufacture. The axis powers never had that.
The Allison V-1710 was actually more powerful than the Merlin. Up to 15,000 feet Mustangs equipped with it were actually a bit faster.
Above 15k, the issue was the supercharger. The design of the Mustang hadn’t included a turbocharger, mostly for cost/simplicity reasons. The USAF preferred turbochargers for high altitude work.
So the Alison was left with a single stage supercharger in the Mustang. Hence the change to the Merlin with a two stage supercharger.
IIRC the RAF used Alison engines Mustangs until the end of the war, for low level ground attack.
The engineering development of performance piston engines during WWII, with the available technology of the 40s, was actually pretty amazing.
Combined with the fuel. By the end of the war, fuel had become so specialised that it was very difficult for the Germans to run captured aircraft on their fuel. The Allies had less problems, but still couldn’t run German aircraft at full power for all but the briefest times.
The 150 octane (and higher) were witches brews that only vaguely resembled “petrol”.
I used to consider jet engines as incredibly complex. And they are. But in WW2, they were actually simpler in many ways than the contemporary piston engines. Take the Rolls Royce Crecy - and incredibly complex and promising two-strike engine that started development in 1941, and which was cancelled in 1946 without being flown.
Note the turbocharged version featured a half scale version of Whittle's jet engine.
Building 3-4000hp piston engines at useful weights is an incredibly expensive development process. With a high rate of failure.
The moment the piston engine died was when Rolls engineers realised that the prototype Whittle engine was already putting out more hp/lb than the latest Merlin.
The US racing specifies piston engines. And they're still using Merlins.
Strange how panicked & alarmed PB is, by the mere possibility Christianity might see a revival
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
Don't see much panic or alarm here- that's mainly you being trollier than thou, again.
It would be lovely if church attendance were increasing. I wouldn't have to teach Sunday School quite so often. But it's not showing in the wear on paths to church. Polling errors (they do happen, I hear) are way more likely as an explanation.
Why don’t you actually read the YouGov report instead of airily dismissing it. Isn’t that tantamount to a felony on PB?
Since you ask...
I heard about it months ago, the report came out in April and caused a bit of a stir in church circles at the time. Very shortly afterwards, church people noticed that the outcomes of the survey didn't match other, better, measures of people in specific churches. In the CofE, that includes every churchwarden in every church counting people turning up Sunday services across a month.
I'm sure that YouGov and the Bible Society did the best, most faithful work they could, but it really looks like something has gone wrong with the sampling or modelling.
Well, you did ask.
Well they didn’t read it very well because the report expressly says much of this rise is in small random Pentecostal churches etc. NOT CofE
From the blog I linked to earlier,
Between them, these two denominations [CofE and RCC] have reportedly grown their regular attendance by almost 1.5m people, out of the total reported growth of 2.1m, or over 70% of the total growth. But Church attendance data simply does not back that up.
It looks like a polling fail. They happen. In the same way that actual election results don't match polling. And for avoidance of doubt, I'm all for growth in belief. But that includes trying to bear as truthful witness as I can.
For the last time, why don’t you download the actual survey and read it
One FBI guy's experience of the 'new' FBI under Trump:
"I recount those events more in sorrow than in anger. I love my country and our Constitution with a fervor that mere language will not allow me to articulate, and it pains me that my profession will no longer entail being their servant. As you know, my wife and I are expecting our first child this summer, and this decision will entail no small degree of hardship for us. But as our organization began to decay, I made a vow that I would comport myself in a manner that would allow me to look my son in the eye as I raised him."
Comments
Edit to add: it might be interesting to think of the Lab share in LD seats as a percentage of the nationwide Labour vote.
I understand the need for safety; but we also need racing. They had not used wets yet, and they should just have come in for wets.
https://theskylive.com/uranus-info#:~:text=Uranus is in the constellation of Taurus, at,(apparent coordinates). The magnitude of Uranus is 5.83.
https://metro.co.uk/2025/07/05/uranus-enters-gemini-first-time-since-1949-this-epiphany-brings-star-sign-23515805/
Due to procession of the earth's spin axis the actual position of the March Equinox moves relative to the background, and astrology has not kept up with this displacement.
Thus the actual position of the planets and the astrological position of the planets are different.
“REPORT: Church attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled in the UK, reversing the trend of declining Christian affiliation.
Gen Zers, many of whom didn’t even grow up in the church, say Christianity is providing them with answers they can’t find anywhere else.
“In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said that they attended church at least monthly. Today, says The Quiet Revival, this has risen to 16% with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3 to 12%,” Bible Society reported.”
https://x.com/collinrugg/status/1941606020679344169?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw
This is the great hope. There can be no true cultural revival of the West without rediscovering our magnificent religious tradition
Does scrolling past one religious tiktok count as a service?
Actually, there's no "almost" about it.
Just BELIEVE.
The other interesting thing from the report is it looks like Catholicism will overtake Anglicanism in the next few years. And it's mainly driven by immigration.
https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revival
If I have my Gavi correct, the 3 big donors are the USA, the UK and Bill Gates. The USA have killed their contribution entirely and the UK cut theirs by 40%. In reality there are any number of tax loopholes that could have been plugged to make up the gap, ditto other important international things, which are also soft power tools such as the British Council and the BBC World Service.
The current UK Govt I think still recognises the value of this as a way of reducing the push side of illegal moves to the UK, unlike Trump's lumpen nihilist approach.
I think that the cause is perhaps the Labour Government's timidity trying to play on Reform / Tory turf rather then getting on with what they need to do and treating the others with the contempt they currently deserve.
I'll cut them some slack on the £5bn on asylum housing, because a wrecked and non-operated asylum system cannot be rebuilt in a few months, despite Kemi's yammerings, just as with largely wrecked defences, wrecked local authorities, a crippled justice system, or almost no prison capacity built for a decade despite about three rounds of promises, several long term scandals eg blood contamination left in the long grass, or any amount of other things that the previous Governments resolutely ignored.
I think what we may see is some restoration of the Int Dev budget from savings in the asylum costs as and if they come through.
No wonder your brain 'works' the way it does. His feed is absolute dross, yet it keeps on getting pushed. Perhaps because idiots promote it...
And a good chunk of the younger ones are probably some of the immigrants you like so much.
Also very telling
Anecdotally, I see some truth in this. At my daughter’s uni (St Andrew’s) “going to church” is oddly fashionable. The same way taking smack was cool in my time
It suggests that attendance in the Catholic church has grown from about 800,000 to 1,800,000 in 6 years, while the Catholic church's own numbers are about 500,000. You will understand why PBers might be sceptical.
According to their data, 41% of the English and Welsh Church attendance in 2018 was in Anglican settings. Based on a total regular attendance of 3.7m people, we can calculate the Anglican attendance at around 1.5m. By 2024, Anglicans had reduced as a proportion to 34% but of a much larger reported attendance of 5.8m people, so we should be seeing an increase in attendance of around 500,000 to around 2m. In other words, the report claims that the Church of England has grown by a third since 2018.
The Church of England has a range of measures of attendance, but even its most favourable measure of the ‘worshipping community’ is 8% smaller in 2024 than it was in 2018. By stricter measures, such as the average Sunday attendance, the CofE is more like 20% down, despite small increases in numbers since the pandemic lows.
https://www.churchmousepublishing.co.uk/2025/05/confessions-of-quiet-revival-sceptic.html
Same goes for the Roman Catholics. The modelling in the polling isn't matching counts of people in pews.
I suspect currently going to church is similarly niche.
It would be lovely if church attendance were increasing. I wouldn't have to teach Sunday School quite so often. But it's not showing in the wear on paths to church. Polling errors (they do happen, I hear) are way more likely as an explanation.
a felony on PB?
Otherwise people like me will either die because they can't afford treatment (and I am already at high risk of early death because of the NHS's failures to spot stages 1, 2 or 3 of my cancer) - and I can't - or be bankrupted and made homeless.
As for the state pension, it gets taxed if the pensioner has other income.
One of the reasons for the deficit is the amount spent on furlough during Covid - money largely spent on those in jobs and to keep them in jobs. It was about £140 billion. They too should contribute.
- 1p on income tax.
- Extend VAT to food, books/newspapers & children's clothes.
- NI for everyone who works.
- Limit or abolish tax relief for those giving to charity and place an upper limit on the tax saved by those contributing to charity whether alive or after death.
- Limit tax relief for pension contributions to the basic rate.
- Extend VAT on education to all education providers, including universities.
- Freeze thresholds.
- Place a limit on public sector pay increases (the amount shovelled at train drivers by Reeves never gets mentioned here but it was a stupid move).
- Abolish the WFA and other pension-specific benefits. Aim for the state pension to be the same as the tax free income as and when we can afford it.
- Abolish the triple lock.
- Those with assets should contribute something towards social care.
- Introduce council tax bands for higher value houses.
- Increase or widen the charges for council services beyond the basic.
- Ensure that overseas visitors pay for the NHS. Other countries manage this. So can we.
- Limit tax relief for private equity companies loading companies up with debt, taking dividends and asset stripping. (Thames Water and other companies in a similar position should be allowed to go bust and then nationalised for a £. Too often asset stripping has been presented as overseas investment. It is a gigantic con.)
And so on.
There is a nasty streak among some of the commentary on here. Everyone seems to want others to pay taxes and those who work on here seem to think that they should be exempt from any measures to help pay down the deficit, thinking it must all be done by the poor and the old. It also gives the impression that some welcome AD because they will be able to pressure the old and sick into killing themselves to save money or withhold treatment so that they suffer. It is disgustingly frankly. I am surprised to see @Big_G_NorthWales among their number
Unlike which, the Saltire was the flag of existing nation that joined the United Kingdom, and has chosen to remain part of it, by democratic referendum. The Saltire is an official flag of part of the UK and recognise by the government and institutions thereof - see rules on respect and saluting.
https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revival/download
Stats compiled from actual attendances seem more convincing.
About 50% smoked The Demon Weed. Which was quite low strength then - before skunk etc. The hard drugs types were shunned.
It was quite noticeable when someone dropped out of fuckwittery - you could approach them downwind.
It will (likely) say that the human impact was awful and made worse by the conduct of the PO and others over many years. Compensation is due, is too slow and the government needs to get a move on because the current situation is disgraceful. 350 of the ca. 900 SPMs affected have died without getting compensation and the return of the money fraudulently taken from them.
The government will welcome the report, say how terrible it all is and then continue doing the square root of fuck all.
This is how all governments since at least Aberfan have operated. Potemkin justice.
As far as your list is concerned I agree with each and every one and it needs a government to accept we cannot continue borrowing, spending and taxing and think the unthinkable
I want the NHS available to all but those with the broadest shoulders should contribute as indeed should the pension be reviewed as to just who should receive this very expensive benefit
I would add I wish you all the best in your treatment
And I am sure you do not mean me re AD as I am very uneasy about it and fear it may have unintended consequences
I heard about it months ago, the report came out in April and caused a bit of a stir in church circles at the time. Very shortly afterwards, church people noticed that the outcomes of the survey didn't match other, better, measures of people in specific churches. In the CofE, that includes every churchwarden in every church counting people turning up Sunday services across a month.
I'm sure that YouGov and the Bible Society did the best, most faithful work they could, but it really looks like something has gone wrong with the sampling or modelling.
Well, you did ask.
Also of note is the sharp increase in “belief in God”. This can’t be polling error, as it is simply an opinion
In the young it has shot up in six years such that 18-24s are now some of the most religious in the UK (in this extremely wide sense). The least religious? The bleakly atheist middle aged centrist dads of PB
Something really is happening out there
I could see them telling a blind person who wanted a ramp to her door - "Have you considered killing yourself". Yes, very easily.
A government with a substantial majority and the support of the opposition parties had to pass a reverse bill of attainder, declaring the SPOs innocent. Because the judicial system wouldn't.
Arbitrary justice. But on the side of innocence.
Doesn't that disturb people?
It is really bizarre. Like you want everyone to share your own Godless unhappiness
Times do sometimes change ahead of material conditions, as Hegel understood better than anyone else.
It is perfectly possible to spend £500,000 on a cancer patient. Or more. For even the quite wealthy, that is enough to lose their home. At a time when they may well have lost their job (being unable to work).
One thing I do wonder - if the NHS should send bills (marked paid) to people. To show them the cost of what they use. Spread the word, as it were.
I can totally believe there is a new hunger for spirituality out there. The stats show young people are especially given to depression, loneliness, anomie. It’s grim
A sovereign remedy for this is a solid faith, and a church to go to. And, at the very least “a belief in
God” will give your life meaning and purpose
Wokeness and Greenery can only get you so far. They are also intrinsically sterile and depressing
Proper Old Skool Religion is much more fun
It was done as an expedient as things were progressing unacceptably slowly - but is a poor precedent nevertheless.
2) What form does this worship take?
3) How many crusades* have you participated in?
*Anyone who hasn't launched at least one attempted sack of Constantinople, is a slacker.
I am not some right wing MAGA supporter nor Farage but a debate should be had into just how we continue the universal nature of the NHS and pensions
Wealth is in the eye of the beholder, but Neil Kinnock this morning suggested 10 million and that seems to be the figure the left want a 2% wealth tax so maybe a starting point
I would suggest that an appropriate symbolic penance would be for every barrister, in full fig, to walk on their knees through the City of London, while the bells toll.
I don't personally think that's quite right, but it would take one of Hegel's epochal shifts to bring back the climate of the earlier 18th Century.
The comment about those with the broadest shoulders contributing is also very off colour for BigG, I think he's been watching too much Jez on Tiktok or something. At my peak earnings a few years ago my net rate of tax was 43% and I paid well into six figures per year in tax, to suggest that the "wealthy" don't already make a huge contribution is factually incorrect. Indeed it is this anti-wealth attitude among those who call themselves conservative that resulted in the previous government just ceding the subject of wealth creation to the left.
Between them, these two denominations [CofE and RCC] have reportedly grown their regular attendance by almost 1.5m people, out of the total reported growth of 2.1m, or over 70% of the total growth. But Church attendance data simply does not back that up.
It looks like a polling fail. They happen. In the same way that actual election results don't match polling. And for avoidance of doubt, I'm all for growth in belief. But that includes trying to bear as truthful witness as I can.
I have suggested the NHS and pensions should be part of the debate but of course nobody should be denied health care
Unfortunately Labour ruled out increases to the main tax raising levers which was a fundamental error and leaves lots of questions on how to address this crisis
The US used to be a notable exception - relatively religious but prosperous and peaceful. But look where they're heading now, in part driven along by excess religiosity
And they're still using Merlins.
F1: great to see Hulkenberg get his podium. Wish I'd backed that, but I'll take the 7.5 on him scoring.