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Coming to a Lib Dem bar chart near you – politicalbetting.com

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  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570
    Scott_xP said:

    @DPJHodges

    Rishi Sunak’s plan for compulsory national service is the most insane policy proposal ever launched in an election campaign by a major political party.

    Worse than DEMENTIA Tax???

  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,688

    Anyone know when the manifestos will be published?

    Run out of toilet paper, have we? :lol:
  • megasaurmegasaur Posts: 586
    This is a Winchester thing. You had the choice there on Wednesday afternoon of cadet corps (playing soldiers) or alternative service activities (mowing old ladies' lawns). Again it's the head boy thing, affirming the value of this stuff got him praise and promotion from the grown ups. I can't remember a sillier policy more ineptly introduced.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164
    Ratters said:

    Can we also discuss the discrepancy between:

    - 12 month placement in armed forces
    - 12 weekends of community service

    Why would anyone choose the former unless they want to be in the army? And what stops people from sacking off the latter if they don't feel like it or have an actual weekend job alongside university education, or a full time job that includes weekends, like many people do in the real world?

    Possibly the most stupid policy I've heard in this electoral cycle so far.

    Great point. Young people in jobs like retail must work weekends, even if they work full-time rather than just with college or uni. The volunteering option won't be open to them.

    It's only the rich who will be able to afford to avoid the army and enjoy an education at the same time.
  • RandallFlaggRandallFlagg Posts: 1,381
    One big consequence of Rishi's national service declaration might be it helps Labour squeeze voters who were considering voting for the Greens. If I was Thangam Debbonaire I'd be pretty pleased by this announcement.
  • glwglw Posts: 10,367
    biggles said:

    People mocking the idea of national service have no concept of the strategic position we find ourselves in, so they? There’s a reason most of Europe is considering versions of this.

    We’ve got fat and lazy, and lost the courage of our convictions, and the understanding that they sometimes must be fought for.

    Exactly, in a lot of countries in the EU they are looking at conscription.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,951

    Ukraine's minimum age for conscription is 25. Rishi's plan is for 18 year olds. Having our armed forces looking after 18 year olds doing 1 year of service is not going to make them better.
    If he was clever he’d suggest extending it to 16 year olds. If they’re old enough to vote…
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,609

    Terrible news RIP the pilot

    A pilot has died after a Spitfire crashed in a field close to an RAF station in Lincolnshire, officials said.

    Emergency services were called to the field off Langrick Road, Coningsby shortly before 13:20 BST on Saturday.

    The World War Two-era plane belonged to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby, the RAF said

    Just heard that in the News. Anyone flying an 80 year old plane is brave. Not as brave as rge original pilots, though.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,550
    edited May 2024
    Tory grid for today....talk about how people on £100k a year pay too much tax in the morning, in the evening introduction compulsory national service.

    I am thinking back to The Thick of It, with the Tory boy trying to impress the Steve Hilton on the whiteboard with this great policy ideas.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,151
    @jamesjohnson252

    Hold the phone on the snarky tweets: the Conservatives’ new policy is designed to be a landgrab for Reform voters and the polling suggests it strongly appeals to them

    @alexmassie

    But the problem with trying to grab votes from a party most voters think is bananas is that you associate yourself with the bananas party and the voters who don’t like the bananas party notice this.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 24,317

    Get by I think is it not?
    Damn yes you are right! It appears to be a genuine mondegreen
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,372
    Farooq said:

    "conscript volunteers" :lol:
    If you're very unlucky, you might get conscripted to volunteer as a Conservative election candidate.

    But, leaving aside the F. F. S. ness of the proposal, it implies that someone looked at the 2017 campaign and thought "chucking a new policy out with zero consulation is a brilliant plan".

    Has he sold Conservative MPs on the spreads?
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,228
    Scott_xP said:

    @PickardJE

    Yes Minister on bringing back national service

    https://x.com/PickardJE/status/1794479406766784548

    The first reply to that is great

    "Levido: Well, we do have a small chance that quite a lot of young people might forsake Labour for the Greens. We just need to be careful not to give them a reason to go back to Starmer.
    Sunak: ….
    "
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    I'm assuming there'd be exemptions for well to do folks. Can't be having little Lord Fontleroy mucking about with spods from the local housing estate in the army or ferrying meals about to elderly people in the community.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,302
    Scott_xP said:

    @drjennings

    Compulsory national service is not popular with any age group apart from the over-65s. Is it possible for the Conservative vote with under 25s to go any lower?

    The last people to experience compulsory National Service in the UK are now 85, so most of those over-65s with whome this is allegedly popular avoided it themselves.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,151

    Has he sold Conservative MPs on the spreads?

    I have
  • glwglw Posts: 10,367
    Fishing said:

    In fact, it'll probably have the opposite effect, making the idea toxic for a decade at least.

    We haven't got a decade. If people haven't already grasped that we are going to need a much larger armed forces and to spend a lot more on defence they must be asleep.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,336
    Foxy said:

    Whose that last bet with? 8/1 looks good for that, particularly in light of all the voter suppression.
    ...and the 3,000,000 ex-pat Tory voters.

    Although if they can't organise an election announcement, I am not entirely convinced they can shoehorn 3,000,000 into 100 marginal seats.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    Scott_xP said:

    @DPJHodges

    Rishi Sunak’s plan for compulsory national service is the most insane policy proposal ever launched in an election campaign by a major political party.

    No it isn't. It could well be quite popular with about 40% of voters.
  • londonpubmanlondonpubman Posts: 3,641
    This National Service policy is a complete lunatic proposal and I say this as CON

    It's not 1 April is it?

    I think CON could be on for 0 seats now total meltdown

    👿👿👿👿👿
  • I would say that is a VERY clever response from Labour.

    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1794480796125774328

    Keir Starmer has been wrapping himself in the Union Jack flag.

    But Labour come out against Rishi Sunak’s plan for compulsory National Service in the military or for charity 🇬🇧

    They offered Keir a trap, he refused to walk into it.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,609
    algarkirk said:

    BBC News has it. Confirmation that the Tories are looking to the voters missing in action currently supporting Reform and DK.
    So they have given up all chance of winning the young vote, and are concentrating on the over 80s.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570
    kle4 said:

    I'm assuming there'd be exemptions for well to do folks. Can't be having little Lord Fontleroy mucking about with spods from the local housing estate in the army or ferrying meals about to elderly people in the community.

    Volunteering to help with the local shoot.
  • Why is it only 18 year olds?
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164
    Ratters said:

    If you want to get paid to work for the armed forces there is an existing job opportunity called joining the armed forces. They even show adverts on TV for it.

    If not, why the fuck would you waste a year of your youth and alternative career progression being an underpaid intern within the army, when the alternative is giving up some part of one weekend a month?

    I'd support the policy so long as retirees also need to volunteer alongside 18 year olds every day of the week they are not working. For the country, you understand.
    Most retirees can afford to volunteer. For many young people, this means forgoing a weekend job. The kind of job that means that they can get through uni/college.

    I worked two days a week all the way through my degree. Only way I could afford it.

    (The beer that is).
  • AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 1,522
    Ratters said:

    Can we also discuss the discrepancy between:

    - 12 month placement in armed forces
    - 12 weekends of community service

    Why would anyone choose the former unless they want to be in the army? And what stops people from sacking off the latter if they don't feel like it or have an actual weekend job alongside university education, or a full time job that includes weekends, like many people do in the real world?

    Possibly the most stupid policy I've heard in this electoral cycle so far.

    Almost everyone in that age group will have a weekend job at the very least. Even Rishi did - we keep being told about him working as a waiter!

    Is the plan to pay people for this community service?

    There are about 720,000 18 year olds in the UK, and we're told that 30,000 of them will be in full time military roles. That leaves 690,000 who'll be expected to do 12 weekends. So, about £4bn in wages alone?

    And who's going to replace the lost labour? That's about 200,000 extra immigrants needed to compensate, isn't it?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    glw said:

    We haven't got a decade. If people haven't already grasped that we are going to need a much larger armed forces and to spend a lot more on defence they must be asleep.
    People might have grasped that idea.

    What they won't have contemplated is actually doing anything even mildly unpalatable to address it.
  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,729
    People about to start FE or uni don't necessarily have free time. Most 68 year olds do.
  • BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 4,793
    edited May 2024
    Of course those that wouldn't have to do national service, nor have ever done it, will support this inane idea.

    "Value for money"?
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,609
    Foxy said:

    I don't think that entirely true. Even average Rhone wines benefit from a year or two in the bottle to soften the tannins.

    That said, a free bonus bottle is unlikely to benefit greatly, so drink up. Or save it for cooking.
    Or drink it while you’re cooking.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,151
    @LOS_Fisher
    Rishi Sunak's pledge to introduce national service is eye-catching, but I suspect the option of a 12-month armed forces placement won't be embraced by large quarters of the UK military/MoD.

    Last summer I asked Andrew Murrison, minister for defence people, his views on obligatory military service or widening voluntary schemes like the gap year commission.

    He made the important point: 'There's a cost – and that is training people up, looking after them, managing them, and then they disappear as they're becoming vaguely useful.'
  • EPG said:

    People about to start FE or uni don't necessarily have free time. Most 68 year olds do.

    Yeah, let's introduce it for the elderly.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570

    James Johnson
    @jamesjohnson252
    Hold the phone on the snarky tweets: the Conservatives’ new policy is designed to be a landgrab for Reform voters and the polling suggests it strongly appeals to them

    https://x.com/jamesjohnson252/status/1794478714895688057
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    Andy_JS said:

    No it isn't. It could well be quite popular with about 40% of voters.
    Why 40%?

    I'd call it a very niche idea, and springing it on people like this a poor way to sell even a well thought out proposal, meaning even some people who might like idea in principle won't be on board.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 38,520
    Labour will play everything safe, I think.

    But, who knows? There was noth

    Ukraine's minimum age for conscription is 25. Rishi's plan is for 18 year olds. Having our armed forces looking after 18 year olds doing 1 year of service is not going to make them better.
    That’s has much to do with Ukraine’s acute demographic problems.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,302

    Under the mandatory scheme, school leavers will have to either enrol on a 12-month military placement or spend one weekend each month volunteering in their community.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/05/25/rishi-sunak-bring-back-national-service-policy/
    That's a new definition of the word 'volunteering'.
  • megasaurmegasaur Posts: 586

    Sunak has a bit of an authoritarian streak, see smoking ban and now compulsory national service.

    Again, head boy syndrome. Schools are authoritarian, pupils are victims, prefects are trusties/kapos and will get to continue to be head boy if they push the grown ups agenda obsequiously enough.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570
    kle4 said:

    Why 40%?

    I'd call it a very niche idea, and springing it on people like this a poor way to sell even a well thought out proposal, meaning even some people who might like idea in principle won't be on board.
    Popular with maybe 10% of voters. It is Core Vote time.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    Scott_xP said:

    @LOS_Fisher
    Rishi Sunak's pledge to introduce national service is eye-catching, but I suspect the option of a 12-month armed forces placement won't be embraced by large quarters of the UK military/MoD.

    Last summer I asked Andrew Murrison, minister for defence people, his views on obligatory military service or widening voluntary schemes like the gap year commission.

    He made the important point: 'There's a cost – and that is training people up, looking after them, managing them, and then they disappear as they're becoming vaguely useful.'

    He's my MP, and he's a loyalist, so I expect him to go silent on the matter.
  • MightyAlexMightyAlex Posts: 1,761
    EPG said:

    People about to start FE or uni don't necessarily have free time. Most 68 year olds do.

    'You can drive a Q7, you can drive a tank'
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,113
    edited May 2024
    HYUFD said:

    There is also the option of community service, rather like my public school had the option of CCF in the army, navy or RAF or conservation or visiting the elderly

    Yougov found 34% of voters back a year's compulsory military or community service which is actually more than the current Tory poll rating. Indeed 50% of 2019 Conservative voters back such compulsory national service to 44% opposed, 54% of Leave voters back it too

    https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/YouGov_-_National_service.pdf
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570

    Yeah, let's introduce it for the elderly.
    Dad's Army.
  • BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 4,793
    edited May 2024


    James Johnson
    @jamesjohnson252
    Hold the phone on the snarky tweets: the Conservatives’ new policy is designed to be a landgrab for Reform voters and the polling suggests it strongly appeals to them

    https://x.com/jamesjohnson252/status/1794478714895688057

    Of course they will support it, they won't have to do it.

    Get 16 and 17 year olds to vote, as they will actually have to do it.
  • GhedebravGhedebrav Posts: 3,860
    He’s already forcing them to do maths till they’re 18, and now proposing they got to spend 12 weekends a year wiping the shitty arses of boomers at the end of it.

    Death penalty is coming, I’m telling you.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    How about this as a policy proposal: free university education for those who do national service first.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164
    Lockdown was my national service.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,372


    James Johnson
    @jamesjohnson252
    Hold the phone on the snarky tweets: the Conservatives’ new policy is designed to be a landgrab for Reform voters and the polling suggests it strongly appeals to them

    https://x.com/jamesjohnson252/status/1794478714895688057

    That's obviously the theory, but it ignores any losses on the other side.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,630
    Ratters said:

    Can we also discuss the discrepancy between:

    - 12 month placement in armed forces
    - 12 weekends of community service

    Why would anyone choose the former unless they want to be in the army? And what stops people from sacking off the latter if they don't feel like it or have an actual weekend job alongside university education, or a full time job that includes weekends, like many people do in the real world?

    Possibly the most stupid policy I've heard in this electoral cycle so far.

    How on earth do you enforce it? Someone volunteering at a charity shop fails to turn up - do they call the police? I think a push for a citizenship scheme where you get rewarded would be far better than this.
    .
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164
    edited May 2024

    'You can drive a Q7, you can drive a tank'
    hahahaha. excellent
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570

    Why is it only 18 year olds?

    He's raising the voting age to 19?
  • kyf_100kyf_100 Posts: 4,955
    Scott_xP said:

    @PickardJE

    Yes Minister on bringing back national service

    https://x.com/PickardJE/status/1794479406766784548

    I think this policy is less Yes Minister and more Peter Cook in Whoops Apocalypse.

    Sunak has gone off the deep end. Certifiable. He will be ranting about pixies soon enough.

    https://youtu.be/M4L-fKOZ9Zs?feature=shared&t=49
  • I can guarantee, death penalty and leaving the ECHR will be next.

    What a depressing state of affairs.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,113
    TimS said:

    Shit.

    No? You don’t think this is…this is their solution to social care?
    Maybe that IHT cut is coming after all?
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,630
    Eabhal said:

    Lockdown was my national service.

    Your grateful country thanks you. You were a star.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,151
    @mattholehouse
    The imv very signif bit: its funded by closing the Shared Prosperity Fund, which was the UK replacement for EU structural funds, in 2028 after only six years. UKSPF is a "central pillar" of "levelling up" (source: HMG).

    UKSPF was also an element of the 2019 manifesto.. and retaining like-for-like EU funding was a key Vote Leave commitment.

    Observation: option to shutter the UKSPF in favour of national service is an interesting glimpse into the party's thinking as to whether its core vote (and with it the 2019 coalition) is motivated by cultural or economic concerns.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    HYUFD said:


    Yougov found 34% of voters back a year's compulsory military or community service which is actually more than the current Tory poll rating. Indeed 50% of 2019 Conservative voters back such compulsory national service to 44% opposed, 54% of Leave voters back it too

    https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/YouGov_-_National_service.pdf
    People support or don't support policies based in part on who proposed them. So it is pretty safe to assume it will be less than 34% who say they support this when polled about it. And even if they do, it doesn't follow they will support this precise form of compulsory service.

    Despite wanting the Tories out I don't want them annilhilated, this is a depressing move in that respect.

    I get wanting to claw back from Reform, but this was the solution?!
  • It's very nice of Rishi to support votes for 16 and 17 year olds, after all, they will be the people doing the National Service.

    Right Rishi? Rishi?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,113
    edited May 2024

    That's a new definition of the word 'volunteering'.
    Of course you could also steal some bottles of wine from your local supermarket and also be 'volunteered' for that service in your community by your local Magistrates Court if you are over school leaving age
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,951
    Fair point:

    Young people have already done their share of national service — it was called ‘lockdown’.

    https://x.com/si_rubinstein/status/1794477700943331531?s=46
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,151
    @robertshrimsley

    Tory manifesto session - bring back national service, yes and ho

    https://x.com/robertshrimsley/status/1794482982624841785
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,949
    ydoethur said:

    Yes. She wasn't that old either - mid fifties?

    Though on a point of pedantry I think 'the other one' died quite some time ago too.
    Summat like that.
    She was born the same month as me.
    I'm 57 now.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 38,520
    HYUFD said:


    Yougov found 34% of voters back a year's compulsory military or community service which is actually more than the current Tory poll rating. Indeed 50% of 2019 Conservative voters back such compulsory national service to 44% opposed, 54% of Leave voters back it too

    https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/YouGov_-_National_service.pdf
    It’s a strategy based upon knowing they’ll lose, but aiming to get to 30% or so.
  • Doesn't seem very "conservative", forcing people to do something.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601

    How on earth do you enforce it? Someone volunteering at a charity shop fails to turn up - do they call the police? I think a push for a citizenship scheme where you get rewarded would be far better than this.
    .
    That's why the idea is for a review, it'd be something coming down the road years hence presumably to work out any kinks.

    In reality people will respond to it as if 18 year olds will be conscripted on 5 July - turnout among the cohort could be higher than usual.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    edited May 2024


    James Johnson
    @jamesjohnson252
    Hold the phone on the snarky tweets: the Conservatives’ new policy is designed to be a landgrab for Reform voters and the polling suggests it strongly appeals to them

    https://x.com/jamesjohnson252/status/1794478714895688057

    Makes sense, because the latest polls are putting Con+Reform on 36%, which is slightly higher than it's been previously. And 36% is roughly what Cameron got in 2010 and 2015.
  • Big_IanBig_Ian Posts: 67
    Would love to hear what his honourable friends think of Rishi's latest bright idea.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601

    Doesn't seem very "conservative", forcing people to do something.

    Seems quite conservative to me. It doesn't seem very liberal however.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,302
    edited May 2024
    HYUFD said:


    Yougov found 34% of voters back a year's compulsory military or community service which is actually more than the current Tory poll rating. Indeed 50% of 2019 Conservative voters back such compulsory national service to 44% opposed, 54% of Leave voters back it too

    https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/YouGov_-_National_service.pdf
    And 58% oppose it, which is a lot more than the current Labour poll rating.
  • The young have done it, we shut our lives down for two years to protect the elderly.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    Andy_JS said:

    How about this as a policy proposal: free university education for those who do national service first.

    A more attractive prospect.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,550
    edited May 2024
    Andy_JS said:

    How about this as a policy proposal: free university education for those who do national service first.

    There is opportunity to do some radical things with university education e.g. work for x years in NHS, every year we pay of y of your student loan...do STEM and stay in the UK, same. Basically work it so that if you stay they are paying off the fees over 5-10 years. You still have to pay off loan for living costs, but basically free fees.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570
    Thousands of 18 year olds are now on the Register to Vote website.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    Calling it - Tories sub 20 again in a poll soon.

    Sub 150 MPs nailed on.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570
    Oh FFS.


    Jim Pickard 🐋
    @PickardJE
    turns out that the National Citizen Service (David Cameron’s pet project) had its funding slashed by two-thirds in a 2022 review of government youth funding - when Rishi Sunak was chancellor

    https://x.com/PickardJE/status/1794477755788153191
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,609
    Andy_JS said:

    Compulsory national service? Interesting if so.
    Kill the youngsters off in Ukraine and the Middle East! They don’t vote for us so their lives are worthless!
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,151
    @JenWilliams_FT
    Love the way this manages to junk the two main messages of the last election - Brexit dividend and levelling up - in one go
  • There is opportunity to do some radical things with university education e.g. work for x years in NHS, every year we pay of y of your student loan...do STEM and stay in the UK, same. Basically work it so that if you stay they are paying off the fees over 5-10 years. You still have to pay off loan for living costs, but basically free fees.
    Bridget Phillipson basically implied that was what Labour would do on Question Time a few days ago.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570

    Colin Murray
    @CRGMurray
    ·
    11m
    Theresa May was a genius campaigner next to this. Someone ask Sunak how this will apply in NI...
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,730
    glw said:

    We haven't got a decade. If people haven't already grasped that we are going to need a much larger armed forces and to spend a lot more on defence they must be asleep.
    Yes, but you need to spend that money on a well-resourced, professional army, not a hail Mary pass to get Reform UK voters back.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,630

    The young have done it, we shut our lives down for two years to protect the elderly.

    That's not really true. It wasn't two years, and it wasn't just to protect the elderly. Many younger people died from COVID and many more could have done without the first lockdown. A collapse to healthcare was definitely on the cards in march 2020. There is an awful lot of revisionism around now. A poster with a similar name to you spent ages posting 'lockdown now!'
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,228

    Doesn't seem very "conservative", forcing people to do something.

    No, but it wouldn't be the first time

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workfare_in_the_United_Kingdom
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,550
    edited May 2024

    Bridget Phillipson basically implied that was what Labour would do on Question Time a few days ago.
    I never understood when they first changed the student fees why they didn't have such a scheme for doctors, dentists, etc. Its a no brainer, you then give a massive nudge for a dentist not to bugger off into private sector after a couple of years in practice.

    I bet it wouldn't even cost that much when you look at the fact these loans never get fully repaid anyway and the fact you paid £100k+ to train a dentist.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,949
    Are the Tories aware of just how many 18 year olds are currently working as carers and teaching assistants to prop up our decaying public sector?
  • BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 4,793
    edited May 2024

    That's not really true. It wasn't two years, and it wasn't just to protect the elderly. Many younger people died from COVID and many more could have done without the first lockdown. A collapse to healthcare was definitely on the cards in march 2020. There is an awful lot of revisionism around now. A poster with a similar name to you spent ages posting 'lockdown now!'
    I am shocked to see you supporting this stupid idea. A policy which you'll never have to do and the people who have to do it in years to come, won't be able to vote for it.

    We absolutely did lock down to protect the elderly and society - we did our bit. In return we've been shafted. So Rishi can sod off with his stupid ideas, I am genuinely really angry about this idea.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,151
    @PickardJE
    - Rishi Sunak is bound to be asked if tonight’s announcement means he is giving up on levelling-up Britain’s left-behind areas

    - given the national service policy would be funded mostly (though not entirely) from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which was previously earmarked for levelling-up
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,609

    I see the Front page of the Times has an item about a private school in Hampshire closing because of "Labour's VAT raid" (although it mentions that The school has suffered from dwindling pupil numbers in recent years).

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GOc-Wd5WoAA7D7-?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

    Casino’s childrens’ school?
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,630
    edited May 2024

    I am shocked to see you supporting this stupid idea. A policy which you'll never have to do and the people who have to do it in years to come, won't be able to vote for it.

    We absolutely did lock down to protect the elderly and society - we did our bit. In return we've been shafted. So Rishi can sod off with his stupid ideas, I am genuinely really angry about this idea.
    Huh? I'm not supporting the idea? I'm posting about your comments on lockdown. I see you've added in society to your comment.
  • I never understood when they first changed the student fees why they didn't have such a scheme for doctors, dentists, etc. Its a no brainer, you then give a massive nudge for a dentist not to bugger off into private sector after a couple of years in practice.

    I bet it wouldn't even cost that much when you look at the fact these loans never get fully repaid anyway and the fact you paid £100k+ to train a dentist.
    It was genuinely one of the only good UKIP policies there ever was.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,336
    Andy_JS said:

    No it isn't. It could well be quite popular with about 40% of voters.
    Where do you get that figure from?

    I don't mind the scraggy arsed barsteward from around the corner trying to sire my daughter getting his head shaved and his arse kicked by the BSM, but not my children and grandchildren.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570
    Scott_xP said:

    @PickardJE
    - Rishi Sunak is bound to be asked if tonight’s announcement means he is giving up on levelling-up Britain’s left-behind areas

    - given the national service policy would be funded mostly (though not entirely) from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which was previously earmarked for levelling-up

    I think we know that ship has well and truly sailed.

    He finally killed off the tory bollocks about levelling up when he destroyed the HS2 to the North project on a whim.

  • Huh? I'm not supporting the idea? I'm posting about your comments on lockdown.
    Then if you're not supporting it, say it's a stupid idea.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,730
    We were talking the other day about university funding and making degrees cheaper. One proposal there is an accelerated 2-year degree. And Sunak wants to squeeze in 25 days' "volunteering" on top of that?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570
    dixiedean said:

    Are the Tories aware of just how many 18 year olds are currently working as carers and teaching assistants to prop up our decaying public sector?

    I'm guessing, erm, 'no'.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,151
    @RobDotHutton

    "And would you be more likely to vote for us if you thought we might kill your grandchildren?"
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,570

    I never understood when they first changed the student fees why they didn't have such a scheme for doctors, dentists, etc. Its a no brainer, you then give a massive nudge for a dentist not to bugger off into private sector after a couple of years in practice.

    I bet it wouldn't even cost that much when you look at the fact these loans never get fully repaid anyway and the fact you paid £100k+ to train a dentist.
    BMA wouldn't let them would be my guess.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,163
    Farooq said:

    It's obviously a stupid idea. The state has no business telling adults what to do with their time.
    What are they going to do when people don't turn up?
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,730
    Ghedebrav said:

    He’s already forcing them to do maths till they’re 18, and now proposing they got to spend 12 weekends a year wiping the shitty arses of boomers at the end of it.

    Death penalty is coming, I’m telling you.

    25 weekends
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,302

    Then if you're not supporting it, say it's a stupid idea.
    Are you compelling turbo to volunteer his view?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,550
    There are lots of discussion of money wasted COVID, huge wastage in use of levelling up funds. I found out the other week where a not insignificant amount went and I was shocked. I can't tell you what exactly it was used for, but lets put it this way it wasn't bringing life back to Stoke town centre.
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