UK abolishes its "de minimis" rules which exclude cheap imports below £135 from paying tariffs. A massive deal for the fast fashion/cheap Chinese imports sector: this is the so-called loophole used to great effect by SHEIN and Temu. Should also bring in some tariff revenue https://x.com/EdConwaySky/status/1991969702629826917
EU is doing the same. So, it will affect it both ways.
(Trump was called crazy for getting rid of de minimis, rather than just reducing it. Now we're all at it!)
We've all had enough of both experts and exports!
Not sure why we should subsidise* tat from China - aside from the minor issue of slave labour, bribes and espionage, it's destructive of the environment.
*Some people say that every tax break is a subsidy....
It's not the tariff; it's the processing fee, which on a low cost item will be multiples of the tax.
It will push up inflation a lot for the not very well off.
(If this also applies to the EU, it's another excellent argument for rejoining.)
In some ways it is almost disappointing that these ridiculous prosecutions have been dismissed on this basis. The fact that the Grand Jury had never approved the indictment would have caused far more problems for someone who should never have been appointed as should the motion based on the fact that Trump was driving these prosecutions out of personal vitriol.
The difference between Trump and a first order despot seems to be that Trump is totally f*cking inept. There's no doubting his evil intent and total lack of conscience, but fortunately he is piss-poor at achieving anything.
Farage still can't own his racist and antisemitic behviour as a teen (should i say "alleged"? It's pretty obvious it's true, unless we think 20 people are making it up). Incredibly weak and weasely response to the allegations. This is a man of very poor character.
Hands up who thinks it worse than running through a field of wheat?
Sounds like Nigel put his hand up... just at a 45 degree angle.
Theresa May is one of Today's Xmas guest editors. I though it was a spoof when her voice appeared on the trailer.
This is the graphic from the recent LabourList poll of members. There is no easy path for Burnham, so that puts Rayner in pole position. Ed Miliband not far behind. I dont think that the members or PLP want Streeting or Mahmood.
Sure, the Daily Heil would be apopleptic, but that isn't the electorate in question.
Labour MPs would likely only nominate Streeting, Ed Miliband and Cooper of the current PLP. Most new Labour MPs were selected as Starmer loyalists and moderates
You can select people for certain reasons, but it does not prevent them changing a lot once they actually get in.
As one who has been around for a while, I’d support Ed Milliband.
FFS. In a government of blithering incompetence he stands out as a real and present danger to our future well being.
I just think he's someone who likes his own voice and people who agree with him. Not alone, politician-wise in that. But the energy thing - he is the Modern Major General of the cabinet.
(I listened to his podcast for a while - but eventually the "Here's me talking about a thing. And now - our special guests! Two people who entirely agree with me! Let's really dive into why I'm right!" got a little tiresome and didn't endear me to him as a potential PM).
In some ways it is almost disappointing that these ridiculous prosecutions have been dismissed on this basis. The fact that the Grand Jury had never approved the indictment would have caused far more problems for someone who should never have been appointed as should the motion based on the fact that Trump was driving these prosecutions out of personal vitriol.
Still going to be people who get disbarred.
The Department of Justice is way beyond an omnishambles.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
That's what the lane was for, i repeat MPs were asked if they knew any companies that could provide the equipment needed, and if they could to direct them to the link they were given. They were doing what they were asked to do.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
UK abolishes its "de minimis" rules which exclude cheap imports below £135 from paying tariffs. A massive deal for the fast fashion/cheap Chinese imports sector: this is the so-called loophole used to great effect by SHEIN and Temu. Should also bring in some tariff revenue https://x.com/EdConwaySky/status/1991969702629826917
Wait. Is she about to abolish a policy she brought in just a few months ago?
Big name British brands made clear in the Government's review of the ‘Low Value Imports’ regime launched by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in April, that the current system and rapid growth in international imports is hurting high streets and impacting prospects for growth and jobs.
UK abolishes its "de minimis" rules which exclude cheap imports below £135 from paying tariffs. A massive deal for the fast fashion/cheap Chinese imports sector: this is the so-called loophole used to great effect by SHEIN and Temu. Should also bring in some tariff revenue https://x.com/EdConwaySky/status/1991969702629826917
Wait. Is she about to abolish a policy she brought in just a few months ago?
Big name British brands made clear in the Government's review of the ‘Low Value Imports’ regime launched by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in April, that the current system and rapid growth in international imports is hurting high streets and impacting prospects for growth and jobs.
It's the review of the regime she launched not the regime itself, surely?
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
That's what the lane was for, i repeat MPs were asked if they knew any companies that could provide the equipment needed, and if they could to direct them to the link they were given. They were doing what they were asked to do.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
There are examples of companies who specialised in medical equipment who had procurement contracts with the NHS who could provide CE marked equipment, and they were overlooked in favour of friends and family buying tat via AliExpress which turned out to be not fit for purpose.
There were Ministers of state who in my opinion saw an opportunity to grift in the face of a deadly pandemic. There was a moral depravity on display that I cannot comprehend.
I was expecting it to be £5,000 so £12,000 is more than ample.
Possibly this is a step towards that. I don’t disagree with your sentiment either.
It's a classic "shaft the youth of today" solution. My parents have a small fortune in ISAs, accrued over man years, and will continue to keep all their annual gains - huzzah.
But now we've pulled up the drawbridge on the next generation getting into the same position.
It's also problematic because someone like me who has a reasonable pile in an ISA really won't want to take it out for short-term use (eg business investment) because I can never put it back.
We should have no limits on ISA deposit or withdrawl, just a cap on the total held - say £100 seems reasonable.
Aiui the suggestion is a limit only on cash holdings rather than ISAs generally so the young will have the same chance (and that rather begs the question whether ISAs are really aimed at young people anyway. Other than HENRY types, most won't have a spare £20,000 a year until middle age, what with mortgages and children.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a different world to some PB'ers. £20,000 'spare' is ... unimaginable. £20 'spare' is at least feasible.
I was expecting it to be £5,000 so £12,000 is more than ample.
Possibly this is a step towards that. I don’t disagree with your sentiment either.
It's a classic "shaft the youth of today" solution. My parents have a small fortune in ISAs, accrued over man years, and will continue to keep all their annual gains - huzzah.
But now we've pulled up the drawbridge on the next generation getting into the same position.
It's also problematic because someone like me who has a reasonable pile in an ISA really won't want to take it out for short-term use (eg business investment) because I can never put it back.
We should have no limits on ISA deposit or withdrawl, just a cap on the total held - say £100 seems reasonable.
Aiui the suggestion is a limit only on cash holdings rather than ISAs generally so the young will have the same chance (and that rather begs the question whether ISAs are really aimed at young people anyway. Other than HENRY types, most won't have a spare £20,000 a year until middle age, what with mortgages and children.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a different world to some PB'ers. £20,000 'spare' is ... unimaginable. £20 'spare' is at least feasible.
I'm definitely in the "spare £20" category atm, lol.
UK abolishes its "de minimis" rules which exclude cheap imports below £135 from paying tariffs. A massive deal for the fast fashion/cheap Chinese imports sector: this is the so-called loophole used to great effect by SHEIN and Temu. Should also bring in some tariff revenue https://x.com/EdConwaySky/status/1991969702629826917
EU is doing the same. So, it will affect it both ways.
(Trump was called crazy for getting rid of de minimis, rather than just reducing it. Now we're all at it!)
We've all had enough of both experts and exports!
Not sure why we should subsidise* tat from China - aside from the minor issue of slave labour, bribes and espionage, it's destructive of the environment.
*Some people say that every tax break is a subsidy....
It's not the tariff; it's the processing fee, which on a low cost item will be multiples of the tax.
It will push up inflation a lot for the not very well off.
(If this also applies to the EU, it's another excellent argument for rejoining.)
Still a subsidy under the “all tax uncollected” position.
Note that the aggregating outfits are already putting mechanisms in place to pay the tax for the EU version of this - they will send the tax for each item they ship. So they will pay the admin costs, mostly.
Why should we incentivise offshore merchants who don’t even pay tax in the U.K.?
UK abolishes its "de minimis" rules which exclude cheap imports below £135 from paying tariffs. A massive deal for the fast fashion/cheap Chinese imports sector: this is the so-called loophole used to great effect by SHEIN and Temu. Should also bring in some tariff revenue https://x.com/EdConwaySky/status/1991969702629826917
Wait. Is she about to abolish a policy she brought in just a few months ago?
Big name British brands made clear in the Government's review of the ‘Low Value Imports’ regime launched by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in April, that the current system and rapid growth in international imports is hurting high streets and impacting prospects for growth and jobs.
UK abolishes its "de minimis" rules which exclude cheap imports below £135 from paying tariffs. A massive deal for the fast fashion/cheap Chinese imports sector: this is the so-called loophole used to great effect by SHEIN and Temu. Should also bring in some tariff revenue https://x.com/EdConwaySky/status/1991969702629826917
Wait. Is she about to abolish a policy she brought in just a few months ago?
Big name British brands made clear in the Government's review of the ‘Low Value Imports’ regime launched by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in April, that the current system and rapid growth in international imports is hurting high streets and impacting prospects for growth and jobs.
It's the review of the regime she launched not the regime itself, surely?
I guess I'm so jaded now that I read 'review' as 'death knell'.
Farage still can't own his racist and antisemitic behviour as a teen (should i say "alleged"? It's pretty obvious it's true, unless we think 20 people are making it up). Incredibly weak and weasely response to the allegations. This is a man of very poor character.
Though as Isam says that seems to be the character his followers identify with.
I was expecting it to be £5,000 so £12,000 is more than ample.
Possibly this is a step towards that. I don’t disagree with your sentiment either.
It's a classic "shaft the youth of today" solution. My parents have a small fortune in ISAs, accrued over man years, and will continue to keep all their annual gains - huzzah.
But now we've pulled up the drawbridge on the next generation getting into the same position.
It's also problematic because someone like me who has a reasonable pile in an ISA really won't want to take it out for short-term use (eg business investment) because I can never put it back.
We should have no limits on ISA deposit or withdrawl, just a cap on the total held - say £100 seems reasonable.
Aiui the suggestion is a limit only on cash holdings rather than ISAs generally so the young will have the same chance (and that rather begs the question whether ISAs are really aimed at young people anyway. Other than HENRY types, most won't have a spare £20,000 a year until middle age, what with mortgages and children.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a different world to some PB'ers. £20,000 'spare' is ... unimaginable. £20 'spare' is at least feasible.
7% of all ISA holders in 2021 put in £20k in 2021. Of course, many of those will not be putting in £20k each year.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
In some ways it is almost disappointing that these ridiculous prosecutions have been dismissed on this basis. The fact that the Grand Jury had never approved the indictment would have caused far more problems for someone who should never have been appointed as should the motion based on the fact that Trump was driving these prosecutions out of personal vitriol.
The difference between Trump and a first order despot seems to be that Trump is totally f*cking inept. There's no doubting his evil intent and total lack of conscience, but fortunately he is piss-poor at achieving anything.
Farage still can't own his racist and antisemitic behviour as a teen (should i say "alleged"? It's pretty obvious it's true, unless we think 20 people are making it up). Incredibly weak and weasely response to the allegations. This is a man of very poor character.
Hands up who thinks it worse than running through a field of wheat?
Sounds like Nigel put his hand up... just at a 45 degree angle.
Theresa May is one of Today's Xmas guest editors. I though it was a spoof when her voice appeared on the trailer.
OK, so those didn't go to plan. Onwards and upwards, Adam Schiff up next.
Although maybe not, hanging Mark Kelly for treason seems to be Trump and Whiskey Pete's most pressing future endeavour, that and regime change in Venezuela.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
Of course that's the reason. Rolls eyes. They suspended procurement procedures because it would have taken six to nine months, and the PPE was rapidly drying up around the world.
If you have evidence of corruption please let the authorities know.
Farage still can't own his racist and antisemitic behviour as a teen (should i say "alleged"? It's pretty obvious it's true, unless we think 20 people are making it up). Incredibly weak and weasely response to the allegations. This is a man of very poor character.
Hands up who thinks it worse than running through a field of wheat?
Sounds like Nigel put his hand up... just at a 45 degree angle.
Theresa May is one of Today's Xmas guest editors. I though it was a spoof when her voice appeared on the trailer.
National treasurification is one of the remaining functions of the BBC. More of an effort needed with Dyson I suspect.
Wait. Is she about to abolish a policy she brought in just a few months ago?
Big name British brands made clear in the Government's review of the ‘Low Value Imports’ regime launched by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in April, that the current system and rapid growth in international imports is hurting high streets and impacting prospects for growth and jobs.
Does it matter? If it doesn't work out, change it
If I really thought they were that focussed on delivering effective policy any more - then yeah. But I'm not entirely convinced this isn't just a policy roundabout of "the wheeze we dreamed up turned out to be bad. we can't just cancel it - so we'll review it, then cancel it. then - wait until you see our even better wheeze!'.
I used to try and persuade a politician friend that standing on a platform of "We'll do nothing for five years. Just take it as read - you're on firm ground for a while".
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
That's what the lane was for, i repeat MPs were asked if they knew any companies that could provide the equipment needed, and if they could to direct them to the link they were given. They were doing what they were asked to do.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
There are examples of companies who specialised in medical equipment who had procurement contracts with the NHS who could provide CE marked equipment, and they were overlooked in favour of friends and family buying tat via AliExpress which turned out to be not fit for purpose.
There were Ministers of state who in my opinion saw an opportunity to grift in the face of a deadly pandemic. There was a moral depravity on display that I cannot comprehend.
If you have evidence of corruption, then please let the police know, and MPs/Ministers are not involved in the awarding of contracts.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
It is possible for two things to be true at once:
1) For at least the that first six months we needed a permissive procurement regime and to buy what was offered, even if some it turned out to be useless tat, in order to ensure we had some stuff and we had it quickly; and
2) some people took advantage.
Category one will include thousands of hardworking public servants, well meaning politicians, and suppliers who thought they could do a job and failed in good faith. Let’s not tar them all with the brush of category two. If we do, more people will die next time.
Instead, let’s find those who took advantage wilfully and throw the book at them.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
It is possible for two things to be true at once:
1) For at least the that six months we needed a permission procurement regime and to buy what was offered, even if some it turned out to be useless tat, in order to ensure we had some stuff and we had it quickly; and
2) some people took advantage.
Category one will include thousands of hardworking public servants, well meaning politicians, and suppliers who through they could do a job and failed in good faith. Let’s not tar them all with the brush of category two. If we do, more people will die next time.
Instead, let’s find those who took advantage wilfully and throw the book at them.
No doubt many took advantage and saw the opportunity to make quick money.
Funny how Prescott just obsessed over alleged left-wing bias . Clearly not impartial and Gibb can also do one !
Hmm. People from a right wing perspective are likely to see bias in the BBC. And on PB we have our own lefties who think the BBC is biased in favour of the right. No organisation will get everything right, but the BBC does a tremendous job of it, most of the time. I think there are some questions around trans issues blurring into advocacy and differential reporting of the ME according to the audience. But on the whole it’s pretty damn good.
I absolutely agree with you there.
But there is a mountain of research which shows significant numbers on both sides of the spectrum see bias in the BBC - and regularly make complaints about it, on the issues which Prescott covered in his memo. That the memo seriously considered only complaints from the right (and introduced its own dodgy evidence), and alleged persistent bias in one direction only strongly suggests that he wasn't fit for the post he occupied
Sharply declining viewing figures don't lie though...and watching Bowen/Guerlins take on the Middle East has been going on for a long time..🧐
I was expecting it to be £5,000 so £12,000 is more than ample.
Possibly this is a step towards that. I don’t disagree with your sentiment either.
It's a classic "shaft the youth of today" solution. My parents have a small fortune in ISAs, accrued over man years, and will continue to keep all their annual gains - huzzah.
But now we've pulled up the drawbridge on the next generation getting into the same position.
It's also problematic because someone like me who has a reasonable pile in an ISA really won't want to take it out for short-term use (eg business investment) because I can never put it back.
We should have no limits on ISA deposit or withdrawl, just a cap on the total held - say £100 seems reasonable.
Aiui the suggestion is a limit only on cash holdings rather than ISAs generally so the young will have the same chance (and that rather begs the question whether ISAs are really aimed at young people anyway. Other than HENRY types, most won't have a spare £20,000 a year until middle age, what with mortgages and children.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a different world to some PB'ers. £20,000 'spare' is ... unimaginable. £20 'spare' is at least feasible.
7% of all ISA holders in 2021 put in £20k in 2021. Of course, many of those will not be putting in £20k each year.
Latest stats go thusly:
12.4 million ISAs were subscribed to in 2022/3; about 8 million of those were cash and 4 million were stocks, shares and so on.
I'm pretty sure that having a 20k ISA limit is providing a nice tax bung to people who really don't need it. And if you are saving that much, it's probably in everyone's interest that it isn't just going into cash accounts.
I wonder if a better structure would be to save as much as you like per year, up to a cap of £100k or so? But the bigger issue is the huge number of people not saving anything, because their money runs out before the month does.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
Of course that's the reason. Rolls eyes. They suspended procurement procedures because it would have taken six to nine months, and the PPE was rapidly drying up around the world.
If you have evidence of corruption please let the authorities know.
OK I will. But it's already all out there in the public domain.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
I was expecting it to be £5,000 so £12,000 is more than ample.
Possibly this is a step towards that. I don’t disagree with your sentiment either.
It's a classic "shaft the youth of today" solution. My parents have a small fortune in ISAs, accrued over man years, and will continue to keep all their annual gains - huzzah.
But now we've pulled up the drawbridge on the next generation getting into the same position.
It's also problematic because someone like me who has a reasonable pile in an ISA really won't want to take it out for short-term use (eg business investment) because I can never put it back.
We should have no limits on ISA deposit or withdrawl, just a cap on the total held - say £100 seems reasonable.
Aiui the suggestion is a limit only on cash holdings rather than ISAs generally so the young will have the same chance (and that rather begs the question whether ISAs are really aimed at young people anyway. Other than HENRY types, most won't have a spare £20,000 a year until middle age, what with mortgages and children.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a different world to some PB'ers. £20,000 'spare' is ... unimaginable. £20 'spare' is at least feasible.
7% of all ISA holders in 2021 put in £20k in 2021. Of course, many of those will not be putting in £20k each year.
Latest stats go thusly:
12.4 million ISAs were subscribed to in 2022/3; about 8 million of those were cash and 4 million were stocks, shares and so on.
I'm pretty sure that having a 20k ISA limit is providing a nice tax bung to people who really don't need it. And if you are saving that much, it's probably in everyone's interest that it isn't just going into cash accounts.
I wonder if a better structure would be to save as much as you like per year, up to a cap of £100k or so? But the bigger issue is the huge number of people not saving anything, because their money runs out before the month does.
If there is a market to invest £20k in cash ISAs based on risk appetite and liquidity, and that market is forced into investing in stocks and shares ISAs instead, won’t the market just offer lots of “cash like” stocks and shares ISAs? Bundle some really liquid, highly fungible instruments with a return roughly equivalent to investing in cash?
I was expecting it to be £5,000 so £12,000 is more than ample.
Possibly this is a step towards that. I don’t disagree with your sentiment either.
It's a classic "shaft the youth of today" solution. My parents have a small fortune in ISAs, accrued over man years, and will continue to keep all their annual gains - huzzah.
But now we've pulled up the drawbridge on the next generation getting into the same position.
It's also problematic because someone like me who has a reasonable pile in an ISA really won't want to take it out for short-term use (eg business investment) because I can never put it back.
We should have no limits on ISA deposit or withdrawl, just a cap on the total held - say £100 seems reasonable.
Aiui the suggestion is a limit only on cash holdings rather than ISAs generally so the young will have the same chance (and that rather begs the question whether ISAs are really aimed at young people anyway. Other than HENRY types, most won't have a spare £20,000 a year until middle age, what with mortgages and children.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a different world to some PB'ers. £20,000 'spare' is ... unimaginable. £20 'spare' is at least feasible.
Imagine having paid off your mortgage. How much money does that free up? And how much more when any children leave school and home? I'm guessing an ISA's worth.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Farage still can't own his racist and antisemitic behviour as a teen (should i say "alleged"? It's pretty obvious it's true, unless we think 20 people are making it up). Incredibly weak and weasely response to the allegations. This is a man of very poor character.
Though as Isam says that seems to be the character his followers identify with.
Yes, for many Farage fans being a racist and friend of both Putin and Trump is a feature not a bug. That hard core will always be loyal, but is probably only a third to half of the reform vote, with the majority finding it distastful.
Has anyone posted the latest Trump AI monstrosity? Set aside the crown and the golden armour and the golden throne and the European leaders subdued at his feet. That reet big fascist eagle behind him.
I was expecting it to be £5,000 so £12,000 is more than ample.
Possibly this is a step towards that. I don’t disagree with your sentiment either.
It's a classic "shaft the youth of today" solution. My parents have a small fortune in ISAs, accrued over man years, and will continue to keep all their annual gains - huzzah.
But now we've pulled up the drawbridge on the next generation getting into the same position.
It's also problematic because someone like me who has a reasonable pile in an ISA really won't want to take it out for short-term use (eg business investment) because I can never put it back.
We should have no limits on ISA deposit or withdrawl, just a cap on the total held - say £100 seems reasonable.
Aiui the suggestion is a limit only on cash holdings rather than ISAs generally so the young will have the same chance (and that rather begs the question whether ISAs are really aimed at young people anyway. Other than HENRY types, most won't have a spare £20,000 a year until middle age, what with mortgages and children.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a different world to some PB'ers. £20,000 'spare' is ... unimaginable. £20 'spare' is at least feasible.
7% of all ISA holders in 2021 put in £20k in 2021. Of course, many of those will not be putting in £20k each year.
Latest stats go thusly:
12.4 million ISAs were subscribed to in 2022/3; about 8 million of those were cash and 4 million were stocks, shares and so on.
I'm pretty sure that having a 20k ISA limit is providing a nice tax bung to people who really don't need it. And if you are saving that much, it's probably in everyone's interest that it isn't just going into cash accounts.
I wonder if a better structure would be to save as much as you like per year, up to a cap of £100k or so? But the bigger issue is the huge number of people not saving anything, because their money runs out before the month does.
It depends what the purpose of an ISA is. My view is that it mops up spare money liberated when middle class professionals pay off the mortgage. The alternative is they spend the money.
Robert will be along shortly to complain something something household savings ratio. Others would say it depends whether the spending is principally at home or abroad on foreign cars and holidays.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
Fantasy. The issue was the entire world was scrambling for PPE. Our closest friends and allies, who we’ve fought two world wars alongside, and even had to liberate from the Germans, nicked PPE on its was to us. Starmer waved a list a PMQs and it was no different to anything the government did. If you think Tory MPs made vast sums by grift in Covid bring forth your evidence.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
It is possible for two things to be true at once:
1) For at least the that six months we needed a permission procurement regime and to buy what was offered, even if some it turned out to be useless tat, in order to ensure we had some stuff and we had it quickly; and
2) some people took advantage.
Category one will include thousands of hardworking public servants, well meaning politicians, and suppliers who through they could do a job and failed in good faith. Let’s not tar them all with the brush of category two. If we do, more people will die next time.
Instead, let’s find those who took advantage wilfully and throw the book at them.
They ignored trusted suppliers who had stock they could supply, the MD of ARCO was interviewed in the ITV doc, he said on the record that they were ignored by Ministers and resorted to supplying direct to NHS trusts on credit because they knew they were in desperate need of PPE.
The accusation is aimed at Johnson's cabinet, who decided to suspend procurement procedures, those who ran the "fast-track" lane and those who got themselves referred to it.
Let's not pretend that people, with absolutely FA experience of supplying compliant PPE and the requirements, who lobbied political contacts to get on the fast-track lane for £100ms of contracts and then supplied non-compliant equipment did so out of a sense of public duty. They were profiteering and they put NHS workers lives at risk.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
It is possible for two things to be true at once:
1) For at least the that six months we needed a permission procurement regime and to buy what was offered, even if some it turned out to be useless tat, in order to ensure we had some stuff and we had it quickly; and
2) some people took advantage.
Category one will include thousands of hardworking public servants, well meaning politicians, and suppliers who through they could do a job and failed in good faith. Let’s not tar them all with the brush of category two. If we do, more people will die next time.
Instead, let’s find those who took advantage wilfully and throw the book at them.
No doubt many took advantage and saw the opportunity to make quick money.
Apparently people made money producing weapons in the first and second world wars. Absolute bastards.
I was expecting it to be £5,000 so £12,000 is more than ample.
Possibly this is a step towards that. I don’t disagree with your sentiment either.
It's a classic "shaft the youth of today" solution. My parents have a small fortune in ISAs, accrued over man years, and will continue to keep all their annual gains - huzzah.
But now we've pulled up the drawbridge on the next generation getting into the same position.
It's also problematic because someone like me who has a reasonable pile in an ISA really won't want to take it out for short-term use (eg business investment) because I can never put it back.
We should have no limits on ISA deposit or withdrawl, just a cap on the total held - say £100 seems reasonable.
Aiui the suggestion is a limit only on cash holdings rather than ISAs generally so the young will have the same chance (and that rather begs the question whether ISAs are really aimed at young people anyway. Other than HENRY types, most won't have a spare £20,000 a year until middle age, what with mortgages and children.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a different world to some PB'ers. £20,000 'spare' is ... unimaginable. £20 'spare' is at least feasible.
Imagine having paid off your mortgage. How much money does that free up? And how much more when any children leave school and home? I'm guessing an ISA's worth.
My mortgage is only 4.5k/year - and I'm lucky to have one. Most folk I know younger than me have basically given up on the idea.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
It is possible for two things to be true at once:
1) For at least the that six months we needed a permission procurement regime and to buy what was offered, even if some it turned out to be useless tat, in order to ensure we had some stuff and we had it quickly; and
2) some people took advantage.
Category one will include thousands of hardworking public servants, well meaning politicians, and suppliers who through they could do a job and failed in good faith. Let’s not tar them all with the brush of category two. If we do, more people will die next time.
Instead, let’s find those who took advantage wilfully and throw the book at them.
They ignored trusted suppliers who had stock they could supply, the MD of ARCO was interviewed in the ITV doc, he said on the record that they were ignored by Ministers and resorted to supplying direct to NHS trusts on credit because they knew they were in desperate need of PPE.
The accusation is aimed at Johnson's cabinet, who decided to suspend procurement procedures, those who ran the "fast-track" lane and those who got themselves referred to it.
Let's not pretend that people, with absolutely FA experience of supplying compliant PPE and the requirements, who lobbied political contacts to get on the fast-track lane for £100ms of contracts and then supplied non-compliant equipment did so out of a sense of public duty. They were profiteering and they put NHS workers lives at risk.
There’s clearly no reasoning with you. I’d have to watch the documentary and see the testimony you refer to, but you seem to be saying that Trusts bought directly from known suppliers and central government sought out new markets. They feels sensible to me….
As I say, some will have profiteered, and hopefully the evidence trail is there to get them.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
That's what the lane was for, i repeat MPs were asked if they knew any companies that could provide the equipment needed, and if they could to direct them to the link they were given. They were doing what they were asked to do.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
There are examples of companies who specialised in medical equipment who had procurement contracts with the NHS who could provide CE marked equipment, and they were overlooked in favour of friends and family buying tat via AliExpress which turned out to be not fit for purpose.
There were Ministers of state who in my opinion saw an opportunity to grift in the face of a deadly pandemic. There was a moral depravity on display that I cannot comprehend.
If you have evidence of corruption, then please let the police know, and MPs/Ministers are not involved in the awarding of contracts.
I don't believe there is any doubt that friends and family fast lane fraud took place. Whether pursuing prosecutions for corruption or for providing non conforming equipment is deemed relevant is not down to people like me. If it was up to me I would pursue with a particularly enthusiastic vigour.
Disability benefit claimants will be cut off from leasing BMWs and Mercedes cars through a taxpayer-subsidised scheme after ministers raised concerns it was “unfair” to working families.
Motability on Tuesday confirmed it would stop offering the luxury models “immediately” as part of an overhaul focused on vehicles that “meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose”.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
It is possible for two things to be true at once:
1) For at least the that six months we needed a permission procurement regime and to buy what was offered, even if some it turned out to be useless tat, in order to ensure we had some stuff and we had it quickly; and
2) some people took advantage.
Category one will include thousands of hardworking public servants, well meaning politicians, and suppliers who through they could do a job and failed in good faith. Let’s not tar them all with the brush of category two. If we do, more people will die next time.
Instead, let’s find those who took advantage wilfully and throw the book at them.
They ignored trusted suppliers who had stock they could supply, the MD of ARCO was interviewed in the ITV doc, he said on the record that they were ignored by Ministers and resorted to supplying direct to NHS trusts on credit because they knew they were in desperate need of PPE.
The accusation is aimed at Johnson's cabinet, who decided to suspend procurement procedures, those who ran the "fast-track" lane and those who got themselves referred to it.
Let's not pretend that people, with absolutely FA experience of supplying compliant PPE and the requirements, who lobbied political contacts to get on the fast-track lane for £100ms of contracts and then supplied non-compliant equipment did so out of a sense of public duty. They were profiteering and they put NHS workers lives at risk.
There’s clearly no reasoning with you. I’d have to watch the documentary and see the testimony you refer to, but you seem to be saying that Trusts bought directly from known suppliers and central government sought out new markets. They feels sensible to me….
As I say, some will have profiteered, and hopefully the evidence trail is there to get them.
James Comey and Tish James prosecutions thrown out on grounds the prosecutor wasn't correctly appointed (not Senate approved). Govt can appeal. Govt can re-file James case, but can't do that for Comey case as timed out. If Govt appeal successful, both cases still have plenty of problems with them.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
Fantasy. The issue was the entire world was scrambling for PPE. Our closest friends and allies, who we’ve fought two world wars alongside, and even had to liberate from the Germans, nicked PPE on its was to us. Starmer waved a list a PMQs and it was no different to anything the government did. If you think Tory MPs made vast sums by grift in Covid bring forth your evidence.
Christ on a bike I have already given you two citations demonstrating some outrageous grifts. I genuinely cannot understand why there has been no investigation other than Mone and Dougie (who remain luxuriating on their PPE funded yacht) and the Labour MP who is currently in court.
A blue chip PPE consumables company on the NHS preferred supplier list (the name escapes me for the moment) claimed they had substantial stocks of CE marked PPE that they were not allowed to supply because dodgy AliExpress sourced fast lane programme stock took priority.
Starmer's utter disinterest is a key reason he is unfit for high office.
James Comey and Tish James prosecutions thrown out on grounds the prosecutor wasn't correctly appointed (not Senate approved). Govt can appeal. Govt can re-file James case, but can't do that for Comey case as timed out. If Govt appeal successful, both cases still have plenty of problems with them.
Good win for the rules against Trump.
In other words, the indictments are dismissed. They legally never happened. Trump's pet prosecutor has to be approved by the Senate, which Trump has previously tried to avoid doing. Judges get to appoint the top prosecutor in the region until that happens.
On topic, I still cannot see Starmer fighting a 2029 election, absent a Falklands-style miraculous comeback.
But there’s a deeper problem for Labour than who the face at the top of the party is. They have lost all sense of mission and purpose, they have no attractive guiding principles, and Reeves is going to bequeath a new leader a real fiscal pickle. Big decisions will need to be made on direction, tax, and spend. But the government doesn’t have a mandate for pretty much anything (Ming Vase strikes again) and a big change of direction is risky without a mandate.
It’s a bit similar to the Tories in 2022. If they throw the manifesto out with the bathwater and go for some feel-good leftie vibes with, say, Rayner, they run the same challenge as Truss of failing to have the time (and therefore; inclination) to institute well-thought out economic changes if they’re still aiming for an election on the normal cycle, hence running the risk of being in a hurry and doing damage as a result.
It’s a mess but they’ve gotten themselves into it.
Disability benefit claimants will be cut off from leasing BMWs and Mercedes cars through a taxpayer-subsidised scheme after ministers raised concerns it was “unfair” to working families.
Motability on Tuesday confirmed it would stop offering the luxury models “immediately” as part of an overhaul focused on vehicles that “meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose”.
Disability benefit claimants will be cut off from leasing BMWs and Mercedes cars through a taxpayer-subsidised scheme after ministers raised concerns it was “unfair” to working families.
Motability on Tuesday confirmed it would stop offering the luxury models “immediately” as part of an overhaul focused on vehicles that “meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose”.
Disability benefit claimants will be cut off from leasing BMWs and Mercedes cars through a taxpayer-subsidised scheme after ministers raised concerns it was “unfair” to working families.
Motability on Tuesday confirmed it would stop offering the luxury models “immediately” as part of an overhaul focused on vehicles that “meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose”.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
Fantasy. The issue was the entire world was scrambling for PPE. Our closest friends and allies, who we’ve fought two world wars alongside, and even had to liberate from the Germans, nicked PPE on its was to us. Starmer waved a list a PMQs and it was no different to anything the government did. If you think Tory MPs made vast sums by grift in Covid bring forth your evidence.
Christ on a bike I have already given you two citations demonstrating some outrageous grifts. I genuinely cannot understand why there has been no investigation other than Mone and Dougie (who remain luxuriating on their PPE funded yacht) and the Labour MP who is currently in court.
A blue chip PPE consumables company on the NHS preferred supplier list (the name escapes me for the moment) claimed they had substantial stocks of CE marked PPE that they were not allowed to supply because dodgy AliExpress sourced fast lane programme stock took priority.
Starmer's utter disinterest is a key reason he is unfit for high office.
Pedantically speaking, you'd want him to remain disinterested, while very interested in pushing for serious criminal investigations.
Disability benefit claimants will be cut off from leasing BMWs and Mercedes cars through a taxpayer-subsidised scheme after ministers raised concerns it was “unfair” to working families.
Motability on Tuesday confirmed it would stop offering the luxury models “immediately” as part of an overhaul focused on vehicles that “meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose”.
Disability benefit claimants will be cut off from leasing BMWs and Mercedes cars through a taxpayer-subsidised scheme after ministers raised concerns it was “unfair” to working families.
Motability on Tuesday confirmed it would stop offering the luxury models “immediately” as part of an overhaul focused on vehicles that “meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose”.
Disability benefit claimants will be cut off from leasing BMWs and Mercedes cars through a taxpayer-subsidised scheme after ministers raised concerns it was “unfair” to working families.
Motability on Tuesday confirmed it would stop offering the luxury models “immediately” as part of an overhaul focused on vehicles that “meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose”.
Disability benefit claimants will be cut off from leasing BMWs and Mercedes cars through a taxpayer-subsidised scheme after ministers raised concerns it was “unfair” to working families.
Motability on Tuesday confirmed it would stop offering the luxury models “immediately” as part of an overhaul focused on vehicles that “meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose”.
Beamers and Mercs were readily available for wealthy Motability users under the Tories. I forecast job losses in Munich, Bremen and Stuttgart.
Starmer fans please explain.
It's all very performative. A triumph for DM rabble rousing. Still, it won't really impact 99% of Motability customers so it's largely irrelevant.
That's what's awful about now.
Any government tax breaks for Motability were allowing people whose lives broadly suck to have access to cars. Probably the main beneficiaries were the car manufacturers, and their employees, using the scheme to clear end-of-line cars. But because it leads to someone having something nicer than me, and that's so unfair, we're not allowed to do that. The mid-market tabloids will get cross. So we get performative nonsense like this that probably won't save much, purely so that the scheme as a whole can get public permission to continue.
There's that bit in 1984 (the Book inside the book?) that talks about Oceania as as siege society, where tiny differences in living standards are incredibly important. What I hate about now is the petty bickering about such things- look at him with his nice car, or desk, or not being forced to live in a tent in Linconshire.
What I hate more is that we are doing it to ourselves at a time when most of us really have never had it so good. And still will be if we ever get round to closing the fiscal gap.
Disability benefit claimants will be cut off from leasing BMWs and Mercedes cars through a taxpayer-subsidised scheme after ministers raised concerns it was “unfair” to working families.
Motability on Tuesday confirmed it would stop offering the luxury models “immediately” as part of an overhaul focused on vehicles that “meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose”.
And if, for some unimaginable reason, it's not fine, there is no way that anyone will discover the not-fine-ness.
And if the world turns impossible and it turns out that someone apart from the government publishes a GDP estimate, that won't cause any trouble at all.
And if, for some unimaginable reason, it's not fine, there is no way that anyone will discover the not-fine-ness.
And if the world turns impossible and it turns out that someone apart from the government publishes a GDP estimate, that won't cause any trouble at all.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
That's what the lane was for, i repeat MPs were asked if they knew any companies that could provide the equipment needed, and if they could to direct them to the link they were given. They were doing what they were asked to do.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
There are examples of companies who specialised in medical equipment who had procurement contracts with the NHS who could provide CE marked equipment, and they were overlooked in favour of friends and family buying tat via AliExpress which turned out to be not fit for purpose.
There were Ministers of state who in my opinion saw an opportunity to grift in the face of a deadly pandemic. There was a moral depravity on display that I cannot comprehend.
If you have evidence of corruption, then please let the police know, and MPs/Ministers are not involved in the awarding of contracts.
I don't believe there is any doubt that friends and family fast lane fraud took place. Whether pursuing prosecutions for corruption or for providing non conforming equipment is deemed relevant is not down to people like me. If it was up to me I would pursue with a particularly enthusiastic vigour.
Or there’s nothing to pursue. As I mentioned before. A constabulary that hounded a minster for getting his wife to take his speeding points, is not going to shy away from taking someone down for corruption. A career making case.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
Their first act of the COVID crisis was to tie suspension of procurement procedures to the emergency measures bill. They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
It is possible for two things to be true at once:
1) For at least the that six months we needed a permission procurement regime and to buy what was offered, even if some it turned out to be useless tat, in order to ensure we had some stuff and we had it quickly; and
2) some people took advantage.
Category one will include thousands of hardworking public servants, well meaning politicians, and suppliers who through they could do a job and failed in good faith. Let’s not tar them all with the brush of category two. If we do, more people will die next time.
Instead, let’s find those who took advantage wilfully and throw the book at them.
No doubt many took advantage and saw the opportunity to make quick money.
Apparently people made money producing weapons in the first and second world wars. Absolute bastards.
Actually, there were severe restrictions in the UK. I am not au fait with the details, but there were some attempts to stop or claw back excess profits in the Great War and in WW2. Armaments Proftis Duty in WW1 at 80%, Excess Profits Tax in WW2.
In the Second War, there was some de facto nationalisation - the Government would take over inefficient factories for instance, such as the Castle Bromwich factory for Spitfires that was being badly run by Nuffields (and was in any case largely paid for by the state as a shadow factory).
The formulae used penalised the railway companies particularly heavily, and left them with a very badly run down system at the end of both wars.
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
That's what the lane was for, i repeat MPs were asked if they knew any companies that could provide the equipment needed, and if they could to direct them to the link they were given. They were doing what they were asked to do.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
There are examples of companies who specialised in medical equipment who had procurement contracts with the NHS who could provide CE marked equipment, and they were overlooked in favour of friends and family buying tat via AliExpress which turned out to be not fit for purpose.
There were Ministers of state who in my opinion saw an opportunity to grift in the face of a deadly pandemic. There was a moral depravity on display that I cannot comprehend.
If you have evidence of corruption, then please let the police know, and MPs/Ministers are not involved in the awarding of contracts.
I don't believe there is any doubt that friends and family fast lane fraud took place. Whether pursuing prosecutions for corruption or for providing non conforming equipment is deemed relevant is not down to people like me. If it was up to me I would pursue with a particularly enthusiastic vigour.
Or there’s nothing to pursue. As I mentioned before. A constabulary that hounded a minster for getting his wife to take his speeding points, is not going to shy away from taking someone down for corruption. A career making case.
The really important bit is that we have prepared for next time
1) PPE time expires because it is made of biodegradable plastic* 2) So a couple of years worth at massively increased rates of use would be a vast pile, huge amounts of which would have to thrown away, unused every year, as we bought more 3) So that didn’t happen 4) PPE factories in the UK as a standby capability - also too expensive. And need feedstock. Which needs chemicals… 5) Non-disposable PPE for crises is unthinkable. Apparently.
So next time we are prepared to… do exactly the same again!
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
That's what the lane was for, i repeat MPs were asked if they knew any companies that could provide the equipment needed, and if they could to direct them to the link they were given. They were doing what they were asked to do.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
There are examples of companies who specialised in medical equipment who had procurement contracts with the NHS who could provide CE marked equipment, and they were overlooked in favour of friends and family buying tat via AliExpress which turned out to be not fit for purpose.
There were Ministers of state who in my opinion saw an opportunity to grift in the face of a deadly pandemic. There was a moral depravity on display that I cannot comprehend.
If you have evidence of corruption, then please let the police know, and MPs/Ministers are not involved in the awarding of contracts.
I don't believe there is any doubt that friends and family fast lane fraud took place. Whether pursuing prosecutions for corruption or for providing non conforming equipment is deemed relevant is not down to people like me. If it was up to me I would pursue with a particularly enthusiastic vigour.
Or there’s nothing to pursue. As I mentioned before. A constabulary that hounded a minster for getting his wife to take his speeding points, is not going to shy away from taking someone down for corruption. A career making case.
Dougie and Michie don't seem to be under any pressure or in any jeopardy despite Medpro having trousered millions and having been declared as dodgy as f***!
Looks like the Mansion Tax is being scaled back to affect only 100,000 properties and raise £0.5bn. Given the effort and time involved in revaluing 2.4m properties in Council Tax bands F G and H, is it worth it?
Farage basically admits to racially abusing people at school but tries some waffle to try and worm his way out of it .
He added: "I've never directly racially abused anybody. No."
Pressed on whether he would say categorically that he did not racially abuse fellow pupils, Farage said: " I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way."
So apparently you can racially abuse someone in a non hurtful or insulting way !
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
That's what the lane was for, i repeat MPs were asked if they knew any companies that could provide the equipment needed, and if they could to direct them to the link they were given. They were doing what they were asked to do.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
There are examples of companies who specialised in medical equipment who had procurement contracts with the NHS who could provide CE marked equipment, and they were overlooked in favour of friends and family buying tat via AliExpress which turned out to be not fit for purpose.
There were Ministers of state who in my opinion saw an opportunity to grift in the face of a deadly pandemic. There was a moral depravity on display that I cannot comprehend.
If you have evidence of corruption, then please let the police know, and MPs/Ministers are not involved in the awarding of contracts.
I don't believe there is any doubt that friends and family fast lane fraud took place. Whether pursuing prosecutions for corruption or for providing non conforming equipment is deemed relevant is not down to people like me. If it was up to me I would pursue with a particularly enthusiastic vigour.
Or there’s nothing to pursue. As I mentioned before. A constabulary that hounded a minster for getting his wife to take his speeding points, is not going to shy away from taking someone down for corruption. A career making case.
That was easy, fraud is difficult especially when the main culprit is spending millions protecting herself and her tax avoidance scheme husband
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
That's what the lane was for, i repeat MPs were asked if they knew any companies that could provide the equipment needed, and if they could to direct them to the link they were given. They were doing what they were asked to do.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
There are examples of companies who specialised in medical equipment who had procurement contracts with the NHS who could provide CE marked equipment, and they were overlooked in favour of friends and family buying tat via AliExpress which turned out to be not fit for purpose.
There were Ministers of state who in my opinion saw an opportunity to grift in the face of a deadly pandemic. There was a moral depravity on display that I cannot comprehend.
If you have evidence of corruption, then please let the police know, and MPs/Ministers are not involved in the awarding of contracts.
I don't believe there is any doubt that friends and family fast lane fraud took place. Whether pursuing prosecutions for corruption or for providing non conforming equipment is deemed relevant is not down to people like me. If it was up to me I would pursue with a particularly enthusiastic vigour.
Or there’s nothing to pursue. As I mentioned before. A constabulary that hounded a minster for getting his wife to take his speeding points, is not going to shy away from taking someone down for corruption. A career making case.
The really important bit is that we have prepared for next time
1) PPE time expires because it is made of biodegradable plastic* 2) So a couple of years worth at massively increased rates of use would be a vast pile, huge amounts of which would have to thrown away, unused every year, as we bought more 3) So that didn’t happen 4) PPE factories in the UK as a standby capability - also too expensive. And need feedstock. Which needs chemicals… 5) Non-disposable PPE for crises is unthinkable. Apparently.
So next time we are prepared to… do exactly the same again!
As I understand it, there’s quite a lot to unpack in the decision around “use by” dates based on it perishing. Clearly there isn’t a single day it magically “goes off” and instead much more of a curve. There must be a a risk based analysis to be done on said curve, especially during a pandemic, and I understand it the situation pre-pandemic was that we really didn’t know how long the stuff was good for.
FFS, instead of meekly retiring, why don't they show some backbone.
A few other GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term.
Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
“This entire White House team has treated ALL members like garbage. ALL. And Mike Johnson has let it happen because he wanted it to happen. That is the sentiment of nearly all — appropriators, authorizers, hawks, doves, rank and file. The arrogance of this White House team is off putting to members who are run roughshod and threatened. They don’t even allow little wins like announcing small grants or even responding from agencies. Not even the high profile, the regular rank and file random members are more upset than ever. Members know they are going into the minority after the midterms.
“More explosive early resignations are coming. It’s a tinder box. Morale has never been lower. Mike Johnson will be stripped of his gavel and they will lose the majority before this term is out.” https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1992972604521562595
Congress has POWERS. Mike Johnson is there only by the consent of his party. If they are so exercised by his behaviour, then kick him out
Just utterly craven.
Acting as if we have no choice is a common way of absolving ourselves of responsibility.
FFS, instead of meekly retiring, why don't they show some backbone.
A few other GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term.
Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
“This entire White House team has treated ALL members like garbage. ALL. And Mike Johnson has let it happen because he wanted it to happen. That is the sentiment of nearly all — appropriators, authorizers, hawks, doves, rank and file. The arrogance of this White House team is off putting to members who are run roughshod and threatened. They don’t even allow little wins like announcing small grants or even responding from agencies. Not even the high profile, the regular rank and file random members are more upset than ever. Members know they are going into the minority after the midterms.
“More explosive early resignations are coming. It’s a tinder box. Morale has never been lower. Mike Johnson will be stripped of his gavel and they will lose the majority before this term is out.” https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1992972604521562595
Congress has POWERS. Mike Johnson is there only by the consent of his party. If they are so exercised by his behaviour, then kick him out
Just utterly craven.
Acting as if we have no choice is a common way of absolving ourselves of responsibility.
Sometimes it is a lot more obvious than others.
It won’t happen, but it would be hilarious if a Republican majority Congress had enough and impeached the both of them sequentially.
Looks like the Mansion Tax is being scaled back to affect only 100,000 properties and raise £0.5bn. Given the effort and time involved in revaluing 2.4m properties in Council Tax bands F G and H, is it worth it?
Both Zoopla and Rightmove give instant valuations for any property. I'd have thought the process should be quicker than the 1991 valuations were. Also in many places you just need to look at band H country piles.
Looks like the Mansion Tax is being scaled back to affect only 100,000 properties and raise £0.5bn. Given the effort and time involved in revaluing 2.4m properties in Council Tax bands F G and H, is it worth it?
Both Zoopla and Rightmove give instant valuations for any property. I'd have thought the process should be quicker than the 1991 valuations were. Also in many places you just need to look at band H piles.
Speaking as someone who lives in the commuter belt, on a train line that didn’t exist in 1990: shhhhhhhhhh.
I was expecting it to be £5,000 so £12,000 is more than ample.
Possibly this is a step towards that. I don’t disagree with your sentiment either.
It's a classic "shaft the youth of today" solution. My parents have a small fortune in ISAs, accrued over man years, and will continue to keep all their annual gains - huzzah.
But now we've pulled up the drawbridge on the next generation getting into the same position.
It's also problematic because someone like me who has a reasonable pile in an ISA really won't want to take it out for short-term use (eg business investment) because I can never put it back.
We should have no limits on ISA deposit or withdrawl, just a cap on the total held - say £100 seems reasonable.
Aiui the suggestion is a limit only on cash holdings rather than ISAs generally so the young will have the same chance (and that rather begs the question whether ISAs are really aimed at young people anyway. Other than HENRY types, most won't have a spare £20,000 a year until middle age, what with mortgages and children.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a different world to some PB'ers. £20,000 'spare' is ... unimaginable. £20 'spare' is at least feasible.
Imagine having paid off your mortgage. How much money does that free up? And how much more when any children leave school and home? I'm guessing an ISA's worth.
My mortgage is only 4.5k/year - and I'm lucky to have one. Most folk I know younger than me have basically given up on the idea.
I know a few people who have managed it, they are regarded as nearly legendary.
Farage basically admits to racially abusing people at school but tries some waffle to try and worm his way out of it .
He added: "I've never directly racially abused anybody. No."
Pressed on whether he would say categorically that he did not racially abuse fellow pupils, Farage said: " I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way."
So apparently you can racially abuse someone in a non hurtful or insulting way !
The phrase the young people used to use until fairly recently was "it was bants".
Looks like the Mansion Tax is being scaled back to affect only 100,000 properties and raise £0.5bn. Given the effort and time involved in revaluing 2.4m properties in Council Tax bands F G and H, is it worth it?
Need to start the revaluation process for all properties really. Starting at the top and raising a few quid not a bad place to start.
Hopefully a Trojan horse for wider property tax reform down the line.
Farage basically admits to racially abusing people at school but tries some waffle to try and worm his way out of it .
He added: "I've never directly racially abused anybody. No."
Pressed on whether he would say categorically that he did not racially abuse fellow pupils, Farage said: " I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way."
So apparently you can racially abuse someone in a non hurtful or insulting way !
Give him a break. He also said it was just 'banter', so that's fine then.
Farage basically admits to racially abusing people at school but tries some waffle to try and worm his way out of it .
He added: "I've never directly racially abused anybody. No."
Pressed on whether he would say categorically that he did not racially abuse fellow pupils, Farage said: " I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way."
So apparently you can racially abuse someone in a non hurtful or insulting way !
Give him a break. He also said it was just 'banter', so that's fine then.
Oh lordy... did he actually say 'banter'?
a) That's code for "I watched The Inbetweeners and didn't get the joke that underpins the whole show."
b) That's also code for "I've been caught bang-to-rights saying something horribly wrong, so need a cover story. You weren't offended, were you? Of course not, only an utter [REDACTED] would be offended."
Very unlikely but it would be welcome. Most fair minded people can see that she's been held to far higher standards than those expected of Farage.
Rayner's problem is she got caught. Farage is so smart he won't get caught and besides the media or social media have no desire to catch him out. Farage is the working man's working man. Now doff your cap in awe!
Rayner's problem is the amount of hay she made with her opponents. Most fair minded people can see she's been holding others to standards she is failing to reach herself.
But your lot were corrupt as can be, PPE scandal, Freebies from their Lordships and loads more and they got caught out, but no one followed it up.
Suggesting Starmer Labour have unfairly punished your bunch, they have been guilty of dereliction of duty and done nothing.
What PPE corruption is this? Do the police know? Do you have any evidence of anyone in the government involved in PPE corruption?
I have absolutely no idea why there have not been police investigations and subsequent charges and prosecutions.
* I could have cited loads more studies.
"These figures show Whitehall departments award almost £4.1bn to suppliers with political connections"
I will save you reading the report. All MPs and Lords were asked if they knew any firms that could help in the supply of PPE or in the distribution of drugs. They were given an exclusive weblink to send queries to. This is what happened to the infamous "hancock pub landlord" who also ran a packaging firm, messages his MP, who is health minister, MP sends him the link, and then on his request sends a follow up. And that was it.
There has been no charges of prosecutions because outside of the fantasies, there wasn't corruption. You could argue the Marone woman (who is not a member of the government), her company acted fraudulently, but that's not the same as corruption.
We have a police forced that broke a government minister for his wife accepting points on her driving license, a police force that fined both the Prime Minister and Chancellor for something that, if they appealed would have been thrown out quite sharpish. If there was corruption there, those involved (and MPs and ministers are never involved in the awarding of contracts) would be getting chased without mercy.
Was there corruption? I dont know, but I do know if there was evidence the police would not be taking cover for those politicians involved.
Don't forget a Labour MP has been prosecuted. I suspect at some stage when all the inquiries are complete there will be prosecutions.
Starmer is also twinned with Sleepy Joe as far as prosecuting his opponents for genuine industrial scale wrongdoing is concerned.
That's what the lane was for, i repeat MPs were asked if they knew any companies that could provide the equipment needed, and if they could to direct them to the link they were given. They were doing what they were asked to do.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
There are examples of companies who specialised in medical equipment who had procurement contracts with the NHS who could provide CE marked equipment, and they were overlooked in favour of friends and family buying tat via AliExpress which turned out to be not fit for purpose.
There were Ministers of state who in my opinion saw an opportunity to grift in the face of a deadly pandemic. There was a moral depravity on display that I cannot comprehend.
If you have evidence of corruption, then please let the police know, and MPs/Ministers are not involved in the awarding of contracts.
I don't believe there is any doubt that friends and family fast lane fraud took place. Whether pursuing prosecutions for corruption or for providing non conforming equipment is deemed relevant is not down to people like me. If it was up to me I would pursue with a particularly enthusiastic vigour.
Or there’s nothing to pursue. As I mentioned before. A constabulary that hounded a minster for getting his wife to take his speeding points, is not going to shy away from taking someone down for corruption. A career making case.
That was easy, fraud is difficult especially when the main culprit is spending millions protecting herself and her tax avoidance scheme husband
You get the convictions and I would be quite happy to see public floggings. That woman in the House of Lords was not corruption, more a case of fraud. But even so, get the evidence, get her convicted and get her flogged.
I have no time for fraudsters or anyone corrupt, but I also have no time for people who think ministers forwarding on a website link, as asked to do is even dodgy in the remotest. The old “Hancock’s pub landlord” is a classic in that genre.
Given what the bubble is doing to computer component prices I can't wait for it to pop.
The way the global economy is structured at the moment, the popping of the AIbubble is going to be at best a 2007 event, and at a worst a 1929 one. A lot of people out on a lot of limbs with AI. Getting a cheaper 5090 graphics card will be the last of your worries.
Farage basically admits to racially abusing people at school but tries some waffle to try and worm his way out of it .
He added: "I've never directly racially abused anybody. No."
Pressed on whether he would say categorically that he did not racially abuse fellow pupils, Farage said: " I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way."
So apparently you can racially abuse someone in a non hurtful or insulting way !
Give him a break. He also said it was just 'banter', so that's fine then.
Oh lordy... did he actually say 'banter'?
a) That's code for "I watched The Inbetweeners and didn't get the joke that underpins the whole show."
b) That's also code for "I've been caught bang-to-rights saying something horribly wrong, so need a cover story. You weren't offended, were you? Of course not, only an utter [REDACTED] would be offended."
I don’t think he did say ‘banter’; the Richard Keys defence.
The most worrying thing about this for me is the thought of him breaking down in a Piers Morgan soft soap interview about it
Comments
Is this the first time that both a world cup qualifying team and its manager have been named after a liqueur?
It will push up inflation a lot for the not very well off.
(If this also applies to the EU, it's another excellent argument for rejoining.)
I though it was a spoof when her voice appeared on the trailer.
(I listened to his podcast for a while - but eventually the "Here's me talking about a thing. And now - our special guests! Two people who entirely agree with me! Let's really dive into why I'm right!" got a little tiresome and didn't endear me to him as a potential PM).
The Department of Justice is way beyond an omnishambles.
This is not evidence of corruption.
PS. Anyone found guilty of corruption, taking bribes should be doing hard time. This isnt it, its inuendo hoping no one will notice that that is all it is.
R
A
Y
N
E
R
be Labours
T
R
U
S
S
???
provide CE marked equipment, and they were overlooked in favour of friends and family buying tat via AliExpress which turned out to be not fit for purpose.
There were Ministers of state who in my opinion saw an opportunity to grift in the face of a deadly pandemic. There was a moral depravity on display that I cannot comprehend.
O
Note that the aggregating outfits are already putting mechanisms in place to pay the tax for the EU version of this - they will send the tax for each item they ship. So they will pay the admin costs, mostly.
Why should we incentivise offshore merchants who don’t even pay tax in the U.K.?
I guess I'm so jaded now that I read 'review' as 'death knell'.
They then proceeded to ignore experienced suppliers in favour of their spiv mates, the reason there aren't prosecutions is that the NCA weren't given the funding needed to investigate.
Although maybe not, hanging Mark Kelly for treason seems to be Trump and Whiskey Pete's most pressing future endeavour, that and regime change in Venezuela.
If you have evidence of corruption please let the authorities know.
More of an effort needed with Dyson I suspect.
If I really thought they were that focussed on delivering effective policy any more - then yeah. But I'm not entirely convinced this isn't just a policy roundabout of "the wheeze we dreamed up turned out to be bad. we can't just cancel it - so we'll review it, then cancel it. then - wait until you see our even better wheeze!'.
I used to try and persuade a politician friend that standing on a platform of "We'll do nothing for five years. Just take it as read - you're on firm ground for a while".
Wasn't having it.
1) For at least the that first six months we needed a permissive procurement regime and to buy what was offered, even if some it turned out to be useless tat, in order to ensure we had some stuff and we had it quickly; and
2) some people took advantage.
Category one will include thousands of hardworking public servants, well meaning politicians, and suppliers who thought they could do a job and failed in good faith. Let’s not tar them all with the brush of category two. If we do, more people will die next time.
Instead, let’s find those who took advantage wilfully and throw the book at them.
@TheTNHoller
·
13m
🤣🤣 Funniest thing you’ll see all day
“Trump is planning to unveil a new health care proposal…”
*SECONDS LATER*
“Breaking news while I’m talking to you — the White House has postponed unveiling its health care proposal…”
https://x.com/TheTNHoller/status/1993062603221090672
12.4 million ISAs were subscribed to in 2022/3; about 8 million of those were cash and 4 million were stocks, shares and so on.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-savings-statistics-2024/commentary-for-annual-savings-statistics-september-2024
I'm pretty sure that having a 20k ISA limit is providing a nice tax bung to people who really don't need it. And if you are saving that much, it's probably in everyone's interest that it isn't just going into cash accounts.
I wonder if a better structure would be to save as much as you like per year, up to a cap of £100k or so? But the bigger issue is the huge number of people not saving anything, because their money runs out before the month does.
Are you Michael Gove?
Phew, I think we got away with it.
But he’s *not* a fascist apparently
https://x.com/aukehoekstra/status/1993012244154925353?s=61
Robert will be along shortly to complain something something household savings ratio. Others would say it depends whether the spending is principally at home or abroad on foreign cars and holidays.
If you think Tory MPs made vast sums by grift in Covid bring forth your evidence.
The accusation is aimed at Johnson's cabinet, who decided to suspend procurement procedures, those who ran the "fast-track" lane and those who got themselves referred to it.
Let's not pretend that people, with absolutely FA experience of supplying compliant PPE and the requirements, who lobbied political contacts to get on the fast-track lane for £100ms of contracts and then supplied non-compliant equipment did so out of a sense of public duty. They were profiteering and they put NHS workers lives at risk.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cp8e8d252n2t
As I say, some will have profiteered, and hopefully the evidence trail is there to get them.
Disability benefit claimants will be cut off from leasing BMWs and Mercedes cars through a taxpayer-subsidised scheme after ministers raised concerns it was “unfair” to working families.
Motability on Tuesday confirmed it would stop offering the luxury models “immediately” as part of an overhaul focused on vehicles that “meet disabled peoples’ needs and represent value and purpose”.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/11/24/benefits-claimants-cut-off-from-bmws-in-motability-scheme/
Good win for the rules against Trump.
A blue chip PPE consumables company on the NHS preferred supplier list (the name escapes me for the moment) claimed they had substantial stocks of CE marked PPE that they were not allowed to supply because dodgy AliExpress sourced fast lane programme stock took priority.
Starmer's utter disinterest is a key reason he is unfit for high office.
But there’s a deeper problem for Labour than who the face at the top of the party is. They have lost all sense of mission and purpose, they have no attractive guiding principles, and Reeves is going to bequeath a new leader a real fiscal pickle. Big decisions will need to be made on direction, tax, and spend. But the government doesn’t have a mandate for pretty much anything (Ming Vase strikes again) and a big change of direction is risky without a mandate.
It’s a bit similar to the Tories in 2022. If they throw the manifesto out with the bathwater and go for some feel-good leftie vibes with, say, Rayner, they run the same challenge as Truss of failing to have the time (and therefore; inclination) to institute well-thought out economic changes if they’re still aiming for an election on the normal cycle, hence running the risk of being in a hurry and doing damage as a result.
It’s a mess but they’ve gotten themselves into it.
Beamers and Mercs were readily available for wealthy Motability users under the Tories. I forecast job losses in Munich, Bremen and Stuttgart.
Starmer fans please explain.
Football genius.
Twelve games in and we're ahead of the bindippers.
Pun intended.
Any government tax breaks for Motability were allowing people whose lives broadly suck to have access to cars. Probably the main beneficiaries were the car manufacturers, and their employees, using the scheme to clear end-of-line cars. But because it leads to someone having something nicer than me, and that's so unfair, we're not allowed to do that. The mid-market tabloids will get cross. So we get performative nonsense like this that probably won't save much, purely so that the scheme as a whole can get public permission to continue.
There's that bit in 1984 (the Book inside the book?) that talks about Oceania as as siege society, where tiny differences in living standards are incredibly important. What I hate about now is the petty bickering about such things- look at him with his nice car, or desk, or not being forced to live in a tent in Linconshire.
What I hate more is that we are doing it to ourselves at a time when most of us really have never had it so good. And still will be if we ever get round to closing the fiscal gap.
Nothing to worry about .. ?
Someone here suggested that it was related to models that manufacturers were willing to take a discount on due to excess stock.
And if, for some unimaginable reason, it's not fine, there is no way that anyone will discover the not-fine-ness.
And if the world turns impossible and it turns out that someone apart from the government publishes a GDP estimate, that won't cause any trouble at all.
Basically this, only American;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWkTQvlnDTI
- Strong on defense
- Invests in new technology
- Charasmatic
- Good housing policy
https://youtu.be/XEECxN5P1nw?si=5HHZLMvsROMS7Ma-
In the Second War, there was some de facto nationalisation - the Government would take over inefficient factories for instance, such as the Castle Bromwich factory for Spitfires that was being badly run by Nuffields (and was in any case largely paid for by the state as a shadow factory).
The formulae used penalised the railway companies particularly heavily, and left them with a very badly run down system at the end of both wars.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c87lx0981nro
Interesting phrase.
1) PPE time expires because it is made of biodegradable plastic*
2) So a couple of years worth at massively increased rates of use would be a vast pile, huge amounts of which would have to thrown away, unused every year, as we bought more
3) So that didn’t happen
4) PPE factories in the UK as a standby capability - also too expensive. And need feedstock. Which needs chemicals…
5) Non-disposable PPE for crises is unthinkable. Apparently.
So next time we are prepared to… do exactly the same again!
He added: "I've never directly racially abused anybody. No."
Pressed on whether he would say categorically that he did not racially abuse fellow pupils, Farage said: " I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way."
So apparently you can racially abuse someone in a non hurtful or insulting way !
Sometimes it is a lot more obvious than others.
Literally every gov announcement ever is just this
Rachel Reeves MP: Pensions will get more money...
https://nitter.poast.org/george_w18/status/1993047276907081851#m
Also in many places you just need to look at band H country piles.
God knows what they say now, I've stopped caring.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/24/udo-kier-german-actor-dies-aged-81
Hopefully a Trojan horse for wider property tax reform down the line.
a) That's code for "I watched The Inbetweeners and didn't get the joke that underpins the whole show."
b) That's also code for "I've been caught bang-to-rights saying something horribly wrong, so need a cover story. You weren't offended, were you? Of course not, only an utter [REDACTED] would be offended."
I have no time for fraudsters or anyone corrupt, but I also have no time for people who think ministers forwarding on a website link, as asked to do is even dodgy in the remotest. The old “Hancock’s pub landlord” is a classic in that genre.
The most worrying thing about this for me is the thought of him breaking down in a Piers Morgan soft soap interview about it