They better starting building a hell of a lot of new jails at this rate, as racist grannies and sexist teenagers are all going to doing serious bird on the terrorist wings.
The most likely outcome of this idea, if it goes beyond revisions to home office handbooks and the definitions used by the prevent programme; is more laws that stand little to no chance of being enforced. If they can't enforce the current laws, then creating a raft of new, tougher ones, is unlikely to move anything forward, it just creates a brief sense of achievement that turns rapidly to failure and disappointment.
The interesting thing is the divergence. Tories are obsessed with immigration (despite having brought us the 2 highest years of immigration in our history) but the rest of us are little bothered.
An even higher 84% of Reform voters see immigration as amongst the most important issues facing the nation though, as do 49% in the Midlands and 48% in the North and South
Walz: "Do you think JD Vance knows one damn thing about Nebraska? You think he's ever had a runza? That guy would call it a Hot Pocket. You know it. Every one of you in here know it. A damn Hot Pocket." https://x.com/atrupar/status/1824906519982280850
Oh, he's that too. But he did the same in 2016-2020. He imposed tariffs and seemed to genuinely believe other countries were paying for them, as opposed to the American consumer.
Nigel Farage gets £95000 a month from GB News I have never watched or listened to GB News, and am not quite sure if it is a wireless programme or a podcast or a TV station. Perhaps I lead a sheltered life but I can't find anyone else who watches or listens to it. So it can't be making money, and certainly not the money which would justify £95K a month on commercial grounds.
So someone is bankrolling GBNews, and if the internet is to be believed, and I fully accept that there is lots of fiction online, that is money from the Middle East. How is a parliamentarian allowed to be paid from abroad for something that has no apparent commercial basis? Aren't their any rules?
It is Ofcom rather than the Commons authorities who might raise an eyebrow, as it has done previously about GBNews programmes fronted by serving MPs. In mitigation, Farage is not a Conservative MP.
Aiui, GBNews is owned by Paul Marshall of LibDem Orange Book fame, and some Dubai firm.
I did give GBNews a chance at the start but eventually gave up on it, owing as much to its shockingly low production standards as its bias. I could not say what it is like now.
Given that nobody who doesn't view GBNews has any role in paying for it, I am not sure why Nigel Farage's fee is any of Franklyn's business or ours.
If Farage defends GBNews in Parliament or seeks to defund the BBC then it's quite the public's business to know that Marshall's paying him a million quid a year.
Oh, he's that too. But he did the same in 2016-2020. He imposed tariffs and seemed to genuinely believe other countries were paying for them, as opposed to the American consumer.
If they exported a lot to the US they would have been in part if US consumers switched to American made products instead
Talking of GB News, seems like Boris might have found a better suitor,
At the end of last week, Johnson was reported to have been informally approached by his former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi about taking on a senior international editing role at the Daily Telegraph. Zahawi is thought to be assembling a potential bid for the Telegraph newspapers and their sister magazine, the Spectator.
Nigel Farage gets £95000 a month from GB News I have never watched or listened to GB News, and am not quite sure if it is a wireless programme or a podcast or a TV station. Perhaps I lead a sheltered life but I can't find anyone else who watches or listens to it. So it can't be making money, and certainly not the money which would justify £95K a month on commercial grounds.
So someone is bankrolling GBNews, and if the internet is to be believed, and I fully accept that there is lots of fiction online, that is money from the Middle East. How is a parliamentarian allowed to be paid from abroad for something that has no apparent commercial basis? Aren't their any rules?
It is Ofcom rather than the Commons authorities who might raise an eyebrow, as it has done previously about GBNews programmes fronted by serving MPs. In mitigation, Farage is not a Conservative MP.
Aiui, GBNews is owned by Paul Marshall of LibDem Orange Book fame, and some Dubai firm.
I did give GBNews a chance at the start but eventually gave up on it, owing as much to its shockingly low production standards as its bias. I could not say what it is like now.
Given that nobody who doesn't view GBNews has any role in paying for it, I am not sure why Nigel Farage's fee is any of Franklyn's business or ours.
For the same reason every other MP declares their interests. Or is Farage special ?
Walz: "Do you think JD Vance knows one damn thing about Nebraska? You think he's ever had a runza? That guy would call it a Hot Pocket. You know it. Every one of you in here know it. A damn Hot Pocket." https://x.com/atrupar/status/1824906519982280850
Walz: "Do you think JD Vance knows one damn thing about Nebraska? You think he's ever had a runza? That guy would call it a Hot Pocket. You know it. Every one of you in here know it. A damn Hot Pocket." https://x.com/atrupar/status/1824906519982280850
Oh, he's that too. But he did the same in 2016-2020. He imposed tariffs and seemed to genuinely believe other countries were paying for them, as opposed to the American consumer.
If they exported a lot to the US they would have been in part if US consumers switched to American made products instead
Nope. If they are exporting a lot to the US it is because they are cheaper or have a competitive advantage. If they are made more expensive by tariffs the cost of the tariff is either paid by the American consumer if they buy it anyway or they have to buy a more expensive American product instead. So either way the consumer pays. And when counter tariffs are imposed on American products exports are damaged too.
Farage is claiming that the GB News money isn't per month, it was several months worth and includes VAT. Still a lot but i can see it being say £300k for him after the VAT, which is more what i expected.
The Register of Members' Financial Interests says £97,928.40 a month which can only have come from Nigel Farage himself. Is Farage claiming that he's given the House false information already?
I believe what he is saying is that the £95k was a single payment but the invoice covered several months? Plausible & I can believe the Commons register requires registration when paid not on an accruals basis
Walz: "Do you think JD Vance knows one damn thing about Nebraska? You think he's ever had a runza? That guy would call it a Hot Pocket. You know it. Every one of you in here know it. A damn Hot Pocket." https://x.com/atrupar/status/1824906519982280850
It seems to be some kind of pasty.
PB helping my education as ever. Not heard of either.
Reading about Hot Pocket I can't believe they haven't tried the UK market.
The interesting thing is the divergence. Tories are obsessed with immigration (despite having brought us the 2 highest years of immigration in our history) but the rest of us are little bothered.
An even higher 84% of Reform voters see immigration as amongst the most important issues facing the nation though, as do 49% in the Midlands and 48% in the North and South
Walz: "Do you think JD Vance knows one damn thing about Nebraska? You think he's ever had a runza? That guy would call it a Hot Pocket. You know it. Every one of you in here know it. A damn Hot Pocket." https://x.com/atrupar/status/1824906519982280850
It seems to be some kind of pasty.
PB helping my education as ever. Not heard of either.
Reading about Hot Pocket I can't believe they haven't tried the UK market.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
The interesting thing is the divergence. Tories are obsessed with immigration (despite having brought us the 2 highest years of immigration in our history) but the rest of us are little bothered.
An even higher 84% of Reform voters see immigration as amongst the most important issues facing the nation though, as do 49% in the Midlands and 48% in the North and South
Farage is claiming that the GB News money isn't per month, it was several months worth and includes VAT. Still a lot but i can see it being say £300k for him after the VAT, which is more what i expected.
The Register of Members' Financial Interests says £97,928.40 a month which can only have come from Nigel Farage himself. Is Farage claiming that he's given the House false information already?
I believe what he is saying is that the £95k was a single payment but the invoice covered several months? Plausible & I can believe the Commons register requires registration when paid not on an accruals basis
That bit will presumably become clearer as time goes on. Either the £95k will reappear or it won't.
The 24 hours a month on Cameo seems an odd thing to be doing, too. For anyone interested, full deets here:
Oh, he's that too. But he did the same in 2016-2020. He imposed tariffs and seemed to genuinely believe other countries were paying for them, as opposed to the American consumer.
If they exported a lot to the US they would have been in part if US consumers switched to American made products instead
Nope. If they are exporting a lot to the US it is because they are cheaper or have a competitive advantage. If they are made more expensive by tariffs the cost of the tariff is either paid by the American consumer if they buy it anyway or they have to buy a more expensive American product instead. So either way the consumer pays. And when counter tariffs are imposed on American products exports are damaged too.
Though if they work for the manufacturer of that previously more expensive US product, now comparatively cheaper post tariff, they in turn see more demand for their labour and likely higher wages
Farage is claiming that the GB News money isn't per month, it was several months worth and includes VAT. Still a lot but i can see it being say £300k for him after the VAT, which is more what i expected.
The Register of Members' Financial Interests says £97,928.40 a month which can only have come from Nigel Farage himself. Is Farage claiming that he's given the House false information already?
I believe what he is saying is that the £95k was a single payment but the invoice covered several months? Plausible & I can believe the Commons register requires registration when paid not on an accruals basis
That bit will presumably become clearer as time goes on. Either the £95k will reappear or it won't.
The 24 hours a month on Cameo seems an odd thing to be doing, too. For anyone interested, full deets here:
£17k a month for make some stupid Happy Birthday videos. Why not. Loads of vaguely famous people do it, I think Bercow was / is making a pretty penny out of shouting Order Order down people's phones. Why people pay for them, god only knows.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
Also cancelling a bunch of railway re-openings/upgrades! #RachelBeeching
They better starting building a hell of a lot of new jails at this rate, as racist grannies and sexist teenagers are all going to doing serious bird on the terrorist wings.
The most likely outcome of this idea, if it goes beyond revisions to home office handbooks and the definitions used by the prevent programme; is more laws that stand little to no chance of being enforced. If they can't enforce the current laws, then creating a raft of new, tougher ones, is unlikely to move anything forward, it just creates a brief sense of achievement that turns rapidly to failure and disappointment.
I wouldn’t say that such laws will be failures.
I am quite sure they will prove useful and popular (with the police) in arresting young black men for walking on the cracks in pavements.
Oh, he's that too. But he did the same in 2016-2020. He imposed tariffs and seemed to genuinely believe other countries were paying for them, as opposed to the American consumer.
If they exported a lot to the US they would have been in part if US consumers switched to American made products instead
Nope. If they are exporting a lot to the US it is because they are cheaper or have a competitive advantage. If they are made more expensive by tariffs the cost of the tariff is either paid by the American consumer if they buy it anyway or they have to buy a more expensive American product instead. So either way the consumer pays. And when counter tariffs are imposed on American products exports are damaged too.
To be clear, there’s a pragmatic argument for tariffs in particular cases. Trump’s across the board tariffs, though, are pretty well equivalent to a consumer tax.
They better starting building a hell of a lot of new jails at this rate, as racist grannies and sexist teenagers are all going to doing serious bird on the terrorist wings.
The most likely outcome of this idea, if it goes beyond revisions to home office handbooks and the definitions used by the prevent programme; is more laws that stand little to no chance of being enforced. If they can't enforce the current laws, then creating a raft of new, tougher ones, is unlikely to move anything forward, it just creates a brief sense of achievement that turns rapidly to failure and disappointment.
I wouldn’t say that such laws will be failures.
I am quite sure they will prove useful and popular (with the police) in arresting young black men for walking on the cracks in pavements.
I think those Drill videos might well fall foul of both our new overlords attention on sharing on social media calling for violence and this new law.....they are not exactly laden with progressive views.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
Well, for us, Europe is receding over the eastern horizon, and very soon we will be your man (and dog) on the spot…
Get a crowd photo, with dog for scale. It's the only way to be sure.
Dog’s health remains a concern, but if all goes to plan, we will be taking in PA, WV, IN, IA, NE, CO, KS, MO, KY, NC, VA and DE - so a good spread of red, blue and purple.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
Is there anybody rich or famous who wasn't a somehow closely connected to Epstein.....there used to be the six degrees of Kevin Bacon game, due to how many tv shows and movies he had been in, I think you could do an updated version of the game, the 3 degrees of Jeffrey Epstein.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
Better to make a quick u -turn but I suspect Reeves will refuse to.
This just doesn't happen. I have never seen the VFW directly address a Presidential candidate via press release. It's a lot of words, but when you boil it down it basically says 'Fuck you', as it should. https://x.com/RogerZenAF/status/1824627321690570853
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
Also cancelling a bunch of railway re-openings/upgrades! #RachelBeeching
The interesting thing is the divergence. Tories are obsessed with immigration (despite having brought us the 2 highest years of immigration in our history) but the rest of us are little bothered.
There's a big spike at the end of that graph there.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
I remember those headlines throughout the 90s. It is why Brown brought it in.
Still piss poor policy though to be throwing yet more money at pensioners.
I think you can have these universal benefits if you ensure that you uprate the wealthier end of the spectrum other taxes. Isn't that basically what Sweden does, loads of "freebies" for all, very generous child care etc etc etc, but in reality the universality is offset by middle and high earners paying loads of taxes.
Well, for us, Europe is receding over the eastern horizon, and very soon we will be your man (and dog) on the spot…
Get a crowd photo, with dog for scale. It's the only way to be sure.
Dog’s health remains a concern, but if all goes to plan, we will be taking in PA, WV, IN, IA, NE, CO, KS, MO, KY, NC, VA and DE - so a good spread of red, blue and purple.
Dog for scale is the only way we’ll ever know the truth of these competing crowd size claims. Go get ‘em.
Disappointing itinerary as far as swing states is concerned, though.
Well, for us, Europe is receding over the eastern horizon, and very soon we will be your man (and dog) on the spot…
Get a crowd photo, with dog for scale. It's the only way to be sure.
Dog’s health remains a concern, but if all goes to plan, we will be taking in PA, WV, IN, IA, NE, CO, KS, MO, KY, NC, VA and DE - so a good spread of red, blue and purple.
Sounds like an amazing adventure . Hope your gorgeous dog is okay and I really look forward to hearing all about your trip.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
I remember those headlines throughout the 90s. It is why Brown brought it in.
Still piss poor policy though to be throwing yet more money at pensioners.
I think you can have these universal benefits if you ensure that you uprate the wealthier end of the spectrum other taxes. Isn't that basically what Sweden does, loads of "freebies" for all, very generous child care etc etc etc, but in reality the universality is offset by middle and high earners paying loads of taxes.
Yes, if you want to make the benefits universal then that eliminates the poverty trap, which is a good thing.
But this benefit was the worst of both worlds, neither universal nor well targeted.
Is there anybody rich or famous who wasn't a somehow closely connected to Epstein.....there used to be the six degrees of Kevin Bacon game, due to how many tv shows and movies he had been in, I think you could do an updated version of the game, the 3 degrees of Jeffrey Epstein.
Can’t have had that many next door neighbours. In any event, from his phone logs, there’s no such degree of separation from Trump.
Cutting unearned benefits from those who don't need them is absolutely a good start.
Why should millionaire OAPs get a winter fuel allowance paid for by the taxes of those working for a living?
The problem is upwards of 10 million are not millionaires but barely managing much loved grannies and papas
We don't need it but since the announcement it has become apparent just how bad a decision it was not least as the opposition to the decision is across the HOC and indeed from many Labour mps
The interesting thing is the divergence. Tories are obsessed with immigration (despite having brought us the 2 highest years of immigration in our history) but the rest of us are little bothered.
An even higher 84% of Reform voters see immigration as amongst the most important issues facing the nation though, as do 49% in the Midlands and 48% in the North and South
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
Also cancelling a bunch of railway re-openings/upgrades! #RachelBeeching
Next up for Rachel Beeching ?
I've hated myself for thinking of this, but when I see the various treasury announcements I keep thinking of this Big Train sketch :
Trump has a problem now. His "peace within 24 hours" in Ukr promise was obviously based on telling Zelensky there is no more ammo or rockets coming matey so you better agree a ceasefire and freeze the conflict.
Freezing it now means Ukr keeping part of Russia! Vlad aint agreeing to that.
It was also based on telling Russia to agree to his terms or he will authorise Ukraine to hit them much harder. That's now more credible.
Given his general complete incoherence in recent weeks, and the selection of a VP who doesn’t give a damn about Ukraine, it really isn’t.
Is there anything in Trump's record that makes you think that he will defer to his VP on anything?
He’ll defer when he’s dead, and if he’s elected, there’s a fair chance he’ll not survive his term. He’s old and unhealthy.
Cutting unearned benefits from those who don't need them is absolutely a good start.
Why should millionaire OAPs get a winter fuel allowance paid for by the taxes of those working for a living?
The problem is upwards of 10 million are not millionaires but barely managing much loved grannies and papas
We don't need it but since the announcement it has become apparent just how bad a decision it was not least as the opposition to the decision is across the HOC and indeed from many Labour mps
I didn't vote for this lot but I am not unhappy about them making decisions that are unpopular so long as they are sensible and practical and serve some purpose. It would make a nice change from the last lot who only did stuff either because they thought it was popular or because it was self serving.
Now I do think it would be sensible to refine the policy and move away from the simplistic idea of using receipt of benefits to define need. But the basic idea of only giving handouts to those who actually need them seems a very good one to me.
My fear is that I am seeing indications that this lot may not be any brighter than the last lot when it comes to formulating policy. But I still have hope they won't be as incompetent. lazy and self serving.
Cutting unearned benefits from those who don't need them is absolutely a good start.
Why should millionaire OAPs get a winter fuel allowance paid for by the taxes of those working for a living?
The problem is upwards of 10 million are not millionaires but barely managing much loved grannies and papas
We don't need it but since the announcement it has become apparent just how bad a decision it was not least as the opposition to the decision is across the HOC and indeed from many Labour mps
Many people who are working for a living are barely managing and don't get this benefit but were paying for it to go to people who in your own words "don't need it".
Either this should be made universal, in which case it should go to everyone not just pensioners, or it should be targeted at those who do need it. Simply giving it to everyone who is a pensioner but not to those who are working and struggling, while taxing them to fund it, is not remotely reasonable or acceptable.
Cutting unearned benefits from those who don't need them is absolutely a good start.
Why should millionaire OAPs get a winter fuel allowance paid for by the taxes of those working for a living?
The problem is upwards of 10 million are not millionaires but barely managing much loved grannies and papas
We don't need it but since the announcement it has become apparent just how bad a decision it was not least as the opposition to the decision is across the HOC and indeed from many Labour mps
It's estimated that 850,000 households are entitled to claim pension credit and don't, so if one good thing comes out of Keir and Rachel's vindictive war against the nations granny's, it will be a HUGE increase in OAP's claiming the pension credits their entitled to.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the state pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
Cutting unearned benefits from those who don't need them is absolutely a good start.
Why should millionaire OAPs get a winter fuel allowance paid for by the taxes of those working for a living?
The problem is upwards of 10 million are not millionaires but barely managing much loved grannies and papas
We don't need it but since the announcement it has become apparent just how bad a decision it was not least as the opposition to the decision is across the HOC and indeed from many Labour mps
Possibly too straight a jump from the Bank of England to Treasury? It certainly feels like some rather clumsy decisions are being made - politically if not strictly 100% down-the-line economically.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
Talking of GB News, seems like Boris might have found a better suitor,
At the end of last week, Johnson was reported to have been informally approached by his former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi about taking on a senior international editing role at the Daily Telegraph. Zahawi is thought to be assembling a potential bid for the Telegraph newspapers and their sister magazine, the Spectator.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
Well ideally no one should live in fuel poverty in 2024 however...
A 30 year old living in fuel poverty will be miserable (but they will probably be OK) while an 80 year old living in fuel poverty could well end up dead or in hospital for weeks on end with pneumonia - which will cost the NHS and and HMG a lot more money than if they'd just given them WFA to start off with...
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the state pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
They aren't huge inflation busting pay awards. They are about the same as the private sector, and considerably less than the inflation busting percentage that pensioners got.
If we want to progress as a country we need to move away from screwing the young to featherbed pensioners, and I write that as someone nearly of pension age.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
"Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire."
Granny the millionaire doesn't.
But my original point and the newspaper headline was about the OAPs who do need it who may be v cold this winter.
The PR and optics and politics of this are utterly shit. Train drivers given 1000s while granny freezes. For what purpose? She wanted to look tough and wanted to do what the treasury said to 'fit in' imho.
It is a disaster politically and will play out very very badly if we have a cold winter.
This one will run and run.
Again - why?
It is shows a real lack of political skills and a tin ear.
And we know how that ends.
Appalling start for Reeves and frankly I think the autumn budget will be another fuck up based on what has happened so far.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
Millions? Quit your scaremongering, they are all just moaning because they'll need to have one fewer holiday.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
"Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire."
Granny the millionaire doesn't.
But my original point and the newspaper headline was about the OAPs who do need it who may be v cold this winter.
The PR and optics and politics of this are utterly shit. Train drivers given 1000s while granny freezes. For what purpose? She wanted to look tough and wanted to do what the treasury said to 'fit in' imho.
It is a disaster politically and will play out very very badly if we have a cold winter.
This one will run and run.
Again - why?
It is shows a real lack of political skills and a tin ear.
And we know how that ends.
Appalling start for Reeves and frankly I think the autumn budget will be another fuck up based on what has happened so far.
How long before she is replaced?
It's very hard for a PM to replace a CofE without severe political damage so my guess is you're stuck with her for the duration but Rachel's a complete dud as you've correctly identified.
Watch out for a very entertaining Rachel/Angela feud in the next year or two as well...
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
"Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire."
Granny the millionaire doesn't.
But my original point and the newspaper headline was about the OAPs who do need it who may be v cold this winter.
The PR and optics and politics of this are utterly shit. Train drivers given 1000s while granny freezes. For what purpose? She wanted to look tough and wanted to do what the treasury said to 'fit in' imho.
It is a disaster politically and will play out very very badly if we have a cold winter.
This one will run and run.
Again - why?
It is shows a real lack of political skills and a tin ear.
And we know how that ends.
Appalling start for Reeves and frankly I think the autumn budget will be another fuck up based on what has happened so far.
How long before she is replaced?
Why? How about because it was the right thing to do?
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the state pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
They aren't huge inflation busting pay awards. They are about the same as the private sector, and considerably less than the inflation busting percentage that pensioners got.
If we want to progress as a country we need to move away from screwing the young to featherbed pensioners, and I write that as someone nearly of pension age.
Anyone know how much the quirky operation of the triple lock has benefited those on the state pension in recent years?
(To be clear, I'm fine with the TL operating for a good while yet. But the specific fuel bung might now have been overtaken by events.)
Then we're left with two things. One is shroud waving by the Express, which is what they do and always to be tutted about.
The other is that it's not popular, which is fair enough. But if a government with a big majority can't do unpopular but right things in its early months, when can it?
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
Not only pensioners worry about paying the bills.
Why do only pensioners matter in your world?
They don't, but we know old people are especially susceptible to the cold and hypothermia, which is why WFA was brought in in the first place?
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
Not only pensioners worry about paying the bills.
Why do only pensioners matter in your world?
They don't, but we know old people are especially susceptible to the cold and hypothermia, which is why WFA was brought in in the first place?
Indeed and those who have been taking the money and buying flights to Spain with it may be annoyed they're no longer getting as much of other people's money anymore, but that's not a reason to spaff money against the wall on people who don't need it.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
Millions? Quit your scaremongering, they are all just moaning because they'll need to have one fewer holiday.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
"Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire."
Granny the millionaire doesn't.
But my original point and the newspaper headline was about the OAPs who do need it who may be v cold this winter.
The PR and optics and politics of this are utterly shit. Train drivers given 1000s while granny freezes. For what purpose? She wanted to look tough and wanted to do what the treasury said to 'fit in' imho.
It is a disaster politically and will play out very very badly if we have a cold winter.
This one will run and run.
Again - why?
It is shows a real lack of political skills and a tin ear.
And we know how that ends.
Appalling start for Reeves and frankly I think the autumn budget will be another fuck up based on what has happened so far.
How long before she is replaced?
It's very hard for a PM to replace a CofE without severe political damage so my guess is you're stuck with her for the duration but Rachel's a complete dud as you've correctly identified.
Watch out for a very entertaining Rachel/Angela feud in the next year or two as well...
I am absolutely stunned how tone deaf she is politically. Just incredible.
I guess she will be utterly taken aback wit the shitstorm coming if we have a cold winter.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
Not only pensioners worry about paying the bills.
Why do only pensioners matter in your world?
What a silly comment
Its not at all silly.
Should a parent of a new born baby be in your words "frightened" to put the heating on this winter?
This benefit should either be universal, going to absolutely everyone, or targeted on those who need it. Spaffing it on a group of voters who don't need it while denying it to people who do but aren't eligible is absurd and the worst thing to be doing.
Pneumonia is one of the biggest killers of young children. So should all parents get the WFA too if that's the reason why? Or is it just wealthy pensioners and not poor children that matter?
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
Not only pensioners worry about paying the bills.
Why do only pensioners matter in your world?
They don't, but we know old people are especially susceptible to the cold and hypothermia, which is why WFA was brought in in the first place?
Indeed and those who have been taking the money and buying flights to Spain with it may be annoyed they're no longer getting as much of other people's money anymore, but that's not a reason to spaff money against the wall on people who don't need it.
I mean in theory I would agree with you that the best way to do WFA would be to target if through pension credit (and lower the threshold for being able to claim PC) but with an estimated 850,000 households not claiming PC when they should, it seems the only way of doing this is make it a universal payment.
Vulnerable pensioners not claiming the benefits they're entitled to was the reason this was made universal in the first place and the arguments from the 90s are still valid.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
Not only pensioners worry about paying the bills.
Why do only pensioners matter in your world?
They don't, but we know old people are especially susceptible to the cold and hypothermia, which is why WFA was brought in in the first place?
Not just old people, children are too. Its one of the leading killers of young children.
So if you want to make that argument, again, it should be universal and not just giving it to those who vote.
If its not to be universal, target it on those who need it not wealthy voters.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
Not only pensioners worry about paying the bills.
Why do only pensioners matter in your world?
What a silly comment
Its not at all silly.
Should a parent of a new born baby be in your words "frightened" to put the heating on this winter?
This benefit should either be universal, going to absolutely everyone, or targeted on those who need it. Spaffing it on a group of voters who don't need it while denying it to people who do but aren't eligible is absurd and the worst thing to be doing.
Pneumonia is one of the biggest killers of young children. So should all parents get the WFA too if that's the reason why? Or is it just wealthy pensioners and not poor children that matter?
You can make your argument and few would disagree that there are pensioners who do not need it, (we are in that category) but equally there is a large number of pensioners in the middle who will suffer from this policy and the politics of it this winter will be terrible as demonstrated by how worried mps from all parties are about it
The guardian article I posted makes the arguments very well with public approval at 49/29 against the policy
Talking of GB News, seems like Boris might have found a better suitor,
At the end of last week, Johnson was reported to have been informally approached by his former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi about taking on a senior international editing role at the Daily Telegraph. Zahawi is thought to be assembling a potential bid for the Telegraph newspapers and their sister magazine, the Spectator.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
Millions? Quit your scaremongering, they are all just moaning because they'll need to have one fewer holiday.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
"Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire."
Granny the millionaire doesn't.
But my original point and the newspaper headline was about the OAPs who do need it who may be v cold this winter.
The PR and optics and politics of this are utterly shit. Train drivers given 1000s while granny freezes. For what purpose? She wanted to look tough and wanted to do what the treasury said to 'fit in' imho.
It is a disaster politically and will play out very very badly if we have a cold winter.
This one will run and run.
Again - why?
It is shows a real lack of political skills and a tin ear.
And we know how that ends.
Appalling start for Reeves and frankly I think the autumn budget will be another fuck up based on what has happened so far.
How long before she is replaced?
It's very hard for a PM to replace a CofE without severe political damage so my guess is you're stuck with her for the duration but Rachel's a complete dud as you've correctly identified.
Watch out for a very entertaining Rachel/Angela feud in the next year or two as well...
I am absolutely stunned how tone deaf she is politically. Just incredible.
I guess she will be utterly taken aback wit the shitstorm coming if we have a cold winter.
It doesn't even need a cold winter. A lot of old people are susceptible to cold/hypothermia on what we could consider a relatively mild winter day, especially if they are living in houses without much insulation.
A cold winter would just be the cherry on the cake.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
There are millions of pensioners in the middle of this policy who are going to be frightened this winter to put on the heating
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
Not only pensioners worry about paying the bills.
Why do only pensioners matter in your world?
What a silly comment
Its not at all silly.
Should a parent of a new born baby be in your words "frightened" to put the heating on this winter?
This benefit should either be universal, going to absolutely everyone, or targeted on those who need it. Spaffing it on a group of voters who don't need it while denying it to people who do but aren't eligible is absurd and the worst thing to be doing.
Pneumonia is one of the biggest killers of young children. So should all parents get the WFA too if that's the reason why? Or is it just wealthy pensioners and not poor children that matter?
You can make your argument and few would disagree that there are pensioners who do not need it, (we are in that category) but equally there is a large number of pensioners in the middle who will suffer from this policy and the politics of it this winter will be terrible as demonstrated by how worried mps from all parties are about it
The guardian article I posted makes the arguments very well with public approval at 49/29 against the policy
They won't "suffer" they'll just have to pay their own fuel bills, just as just about managing families up and down the country do.
The politics seem terrible to you because politicians for too long have pandered to pensioners because they vote. That doesn't make ending the pandering wrong.
It must surely go down as one of the most insane decisions by any chancellor . It raises very little and although the next election is a long way into the distance it’s a disastrous move .
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
There are going to be numerous examples of barely managing pensioners frightened to heat their homes this winter while Labour roll over and hand train drivers everything they demand
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
I see it ending in a situation where the eligibility criteria is expanded, but then it becomes more complicated to mean test and before you know with all the extra admin it would have been cheaper just to keep giving it to everybody.
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
There is little doubt it is a PR disaster for Reeves especially with all the awards to the public sector, doctors and train drivers whilst many greatly loved grannies shiver in their homes
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
Oh give over!
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
You have no idea of how many pensioners are in fuel poverty with the stare pension and even a small annuity and have no means of earning
You seen to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You have no idea of how many people working for a living are in fuel poverty.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
"Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire."
Granny the millionaire doesn't.
But my original point and the newspaper headline was about the OAPs who do need it who may be v cold this winter.
The PR and optics and politics of this are utterly shit. Train drivers given 1000s while granny freezes. For what purpose? She wanted to look tough and wanted to do what the treasury said to 'fit in' imho.
It is a disaster politically and will play out very very badly if we have a cold winter.
This one will run and run.
Again - why?
It is shows a real lack of political skills and a tin ear.
And we know how that ends.
Appalling start for Reeves and frankly I think the autumn budget will be another fuck up based on what has happened so far.
How long before she is replaced?
Why? How about because it was the right thing to do?
Is that not a good enough reason?
The right thing to do is tax richer pensioners the equivalent of the £300 or whatever a year benefit and leave it as universal.
She better get on triple dose of that baking soda, because that was set by a woman with more testosterone pumping through their veins than Ben Johnson....the scales doesn't go that high on modern testing machines.
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@CarsonJSwick
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4m
Trump: Tariffs are not taxes as suggested by Harris. A tariff is a "tax on a foreign country that's ripping us off."
https://x.com/CarsonJSwick
He could be thunderingly dishonest.
https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https://www.opinium.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/VI-2024-08-14-Observer-Tables.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
https://x.com/atrupar/status/1824906519982280850
At the end of last week, Johnson was reported to have been informally approached by his former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi about taking on a senior international editing role at the Daily Telegraph. Zahawi is thought to be assembling a potential bid for the Telegraph newspapers and their sister magazine, the Spectator.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/aug/17/boris-johnson-yet-to-appear-on-gb-news-10-months-after-being-signed-up-as-a-presenter
Or is Farage special ?
I presume the treasury talked her into this. Not a good start.
Neil Henderson
@hendopolis
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39m
SUNDAY EXPRESS: How many OAPs will freeze this winter? #TomorrowsPapersToday
https://x.com/hendopolis/status/1824905468520661502
A pirog.
Reading about Hot Pocket I can't believe they haven't tried the UK market.
I've not heard much about what other cabinet ministers are doing, but Reeves does seem to be making a lot of bad early choices.
Reeves I agree has had a terrible start and needs to u-turn on this before the papers are full of gran freezes to death stories over the winter .
The 24 hours a month on Cameo seems an odd thing to be doing, too. For anyone interested, full deets here:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/240804/farage_nigel.htm
I am quite sure they will prove useful and popular (with the police) in arresting young black men for walking on the cracks in pavements.
Trump’s across the board tariffs, though, are pretty well equivalent to a consumer tax.
I notice that it is reported that the conservatives, reform, lib dems, and plaid have all condemned the confiscation of winter fuel payments to barely managing pensioners and demanding the policy is reversed
It probably would have been much better just to increase taxes on wealthier pensioners.
Howard Lutnick was a close business associate and next door neighbor of Jeffrey Epstein
https://x.com/sarahkendzior/status/1824450602199363948
It's a lot of words, but when you boil it down it basically says 'Fuck you', as it should.
https://x.com/RogerZenAF/status/1824627321690570853
I should add it is all over social media, facebook, and what's app groups and now the SNP have said it is to be withdrawn in Scotland the same anger is on display there
https://youtu.be/hi4pzKvuEQM?si=LltBjrVXHg545vW7
Go get ‘em.
Disappointing itinerary as far as swing states is concerned, though.
Why should millionaire OAPs get a winter fuel allowance paid for by the taxes of those working for a living?
Why can't granny pay for her own heating from her own income or savings? Why does she need a benefit to pay for it? Especially if granny is a millionaire.
And why shouldn't those who are working for a living get a pay rise - they're going to work, should they not be paid to go to work in your eyes?
But this benefit was the worst of both worlds, neither universal nor well targeted.
In any event, from his phone logs, there’s no such degree of separation from Trump.
We don't need it but since the announcement it has become apparent just how bad a decision it was not least as the opposition to the decision is across the HOC and indeed from many Labour mps
Unskew those crowds!
Very little in the way of roller skating, but it fair made me wish my back wasn't so sore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyj5cv5FPWA
Now I do think it would be sensible to refine the policy and move away from the simplistic idea of using receipt of benefits to define need. But the basic idea of only giving handouts to those who actually need them seems a very good one to me.
My fear is that I am seeing indications that this lot may not be any brighter than the last lot when it comes to formulating policy. But I still have hope they won't be as incompetent. lazy and self serving.
Either this should be made universal, in which case it should go to everyone not just pensioners, or it should be targeted at those who do need it. Simply giving it to everyone who is a pensioner but not to those who are working and struggling, while taxing them to fund it, is not remotely reasonable or acceptable.
Good riddance. Good decision.
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are millionaires
And of course workers should receive pay rises but we know what happens to inflation and interest rates with huge inflation busting awards
You seem to live in a world where you think pensioners are the only people who struggle.
The poorest pensioners will still get this benefit, but the richest won't, that's a reasonable compromise.
There is no reason to ever tax those who are working to give non-universal benefits to people who don't need them.
He's putting a team together
A 30 year old living in fuel poverty will be miserable (but they will probably be OK) while an 80 year old living in fuel poverty could well end up dead or in hospital for weeks on end with pneumonia - which will cost the NHS and and HMG a lot more money than if they'd just given them WFA to start off with...
Opposition mps oppose the decision as do some labour mps and certainly groups like age concern
Anyway you have your well known views on this but others disagree
If we want to progress as a country we need to move away from screwing the young to featherbed pensioners, and I write that as someone nearly of pension age.
Granny the millionaire doesn't.
But my original point and the newspaper headline was about the OAPs who do need it who may be v cold this winter.
The PR and optics and politics of this are utterly shit. Train drivers given 1000s while granny freezes. For what purpose? She wanted to look tough and wanted to do what the treasury said to 'fit in' imho.
It is a disaster politically and will play out very very badly if we have a cold winter.
This one will run and run.
Again - why?
It is shows a real lack of political skills and a tin ear.
And we know how that ends.
Appalling start for Reeves and frankly I think the autumn budget will be another fuck up based on what has happened so far.
How long before she is replaced?
He looks old. His voice is lispy again. The same old tunes to a not full hall.
Jeez. It's the hope that gets you...
Why do only pensioners matter in your world?
Watch out for a very entertaining Rachel/Angela feud in the next year or two as well...
Is that not a good enough reason?
(To be clear, I'm fine with the TL operating for a good while yet. But the specific fuel bung might now have been overtaken by events.)
Then we're left with two things. One is shroud waving by the Express, which is what they do and always to be tutted about.
The other is that it's not popular, which is fair enough. But if a government with a big majority can't do unpopular but right things in its early months, when can it?
We need more of the same.
If the newspapers don't like it, screw the newspapers. Its the right thing to do and that's enough.
The whole Gordon Browny point of the energy money for the pensioners was that it was universal and they all got it and no need to claim.
I guess she will be utterly taken aback wit the shitstorm coming if we have a cold winter.
Should a parent of a new born baby be in your words "frightened" to put the heating on this winter?
This benefit should either be universal, going to absolutely everyone, or targeted on those who need it. Spaffing it on a group of voters who don't need it while denying it to people who do but aren't eligible is absurd and the worst thing to be doing.
Pneumonia is one of the biggest killers of young children. So should all parents get the WFA too if that's the reason why? Or is it just wealthy pensioners and not poor children that matter?
Vulnerable pensioners not claiming the benefits they're entitled to was the reason this was made universal in the first place and the arguments from the 90s are still valid.
Giving it to all pensioners is not universal.
It was a bribe to old people because they vote, it was never justified.
So if you want to make that argument, again, it should be universal and not just giving it to those who vote.
If its not to be universal, target it on those who need it not wealthy voters.
The guardian article I posted makes the arguments very well with public approval at 49/29 against the policy
A cold winter would just be the cherry on the cake.
The politics seem terrible to you because politicians for too long have pandered to pensioners because they vote. That doesn't make ending the pandering wrong.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/cq5d446g5e5o
She better get on triple dose of that baking soda, because that was set by a woman with more testosterone pumping through their veins than Ben Johnson....the scales doesn't go that high on modern testing machines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycdvKhk_K-M