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One year on from the election – politicalbetting.com
One year on from the election – politicalbetting.com
? It’s the anniversary of Labour’s election win. The Government had some early stumbles, but what do the public think is their biggest mistake? Asked to say in their own words, it’s one of the most stark word clouds we’ve seen. Winter Fuel Allowance drowns everything else out.
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From the way that angry men in corduroy trousers with bicycle clips hold up housing, roads, hospitals etc. Several of the attempts to do something about Hammersmith bridge have been blocked by single digit numbers of people.
Weaponised NIMBYism…
Yes, I know there's been issues with stats etc. before, but I get the sense everyone involved with the case was acutely aware of that.
That's not to say that there definitely hasn't been a miscarriage of justice here. But, I think those who are so certain that there has been are being irresponsible.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/live/clyw9g1j74gt#Scorecard
However I only note this. I have one friend who has read the entire case and all the attendant materials. His politics (if it matters, does it?) are decidedly Centrist Dad
His perspective is that the case against her is notably flawed and he is seriously worried she’s innocent
Why does his random opinion matter?
Because he’s one of the leading forensic psychologists in the UK, much called upon as an expert witness in the courts. This stuff is what he DOES
But it would be very funny if it did.
303 partnership
Cameron Norrie has taken the first set on a tie-breaker.
No, I voted for Other People's Illegal Wives to be deported, not mine
https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1940989438936731666
Or that thing where they kill a load of innocent animals in the Australian bush might be her bag. Watching the other people on it sleeping with one eye open would be a new twist.
Trump on Democrats who voted against GOP megabill: ‘I hate them’
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5385217-trump-on-democrats-who-voted-against-gop-megabill-i-hate-them/
The WFA. Everybody knows it was a top top political gimmick from Gordon Brown. Rather than simply increase the pension, do this instead, create the impression of the government popping into the home of an elderly person freezing in winter and turning on the heater. "There you go, dear. All is well."
Such a brilliant gimmick that every government since has defied logic and all impartial advice in order to not mess with it. Too scared to do so. Gordon's conceit would be reversed and bite you in the bum. The government stops by that elderly person in winter and turns the heater off. Brrrr. Terrible optics. So let's carry on giving these annual lump sums to millions of people who don't need it. Bad policy, good politics.
Finally someone bites the bullet and changes it. Hang the politics let's do the right thing. £££ only to those who really need it. And what happens? Of course support from the public is an unrealistic ask since it is a takeaway. But it's well-known money is tight so do the public surprise on the upside by at least being a little bit sanguine about it? Do they hellers like! They are so pissed off it forms their entire view of the government. No other issue gets even a mention.
Sorry, 'customer always right' bla bla, but I find it kind of pathetic.
They should have bitten the bullet and picked the triple lock.
I predict the Aussies will win the Ashes this winter.
Starmer is weak when the country needs a PM with conviction to actually stand by their decisions, and not capitulate when under criticism
Whilst sympathy for Reeves unfortunately for her that picture of her in distress will be her defining legacy
I wanted Starmer to live up to his pre election integrity and have strength to dig in when under pressure but he is simply another poor PM and the word clouds reflect public opinion very well
The welfare cuts, otoh, I do not agree with.
Big Benefit reform - all the old age benefits (including WFA) go in the blender. New benefit system comes out - “Simpler, fairer, more money for poor pensioners. Pensioner poverty will reduced by x. Pensioners on £50,000 a year don’t need government help.”
If even 1 other person had played their part England might have ended up only 100 down, which was achievable, but oh well.
S Africa v Bangladesh 2008.
(edit)
We could abolish the state pension and replace it with a Spring Equinox Payment, a Summer Holiday payment, a Harvest Festival Payment, a Christmas Payment, a New Year Bonus, etc.
Do the same with other benefits and reform the whole system.
Bangladesh came close.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sri-lanka-in-bangladesh-2022-1308485/bangladesh-vs-sri-lanka-2nd-test-1308489/full-scorecard
England can now bowl India out for 200 and score 380 to win.
Political bazball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BqWmkQziD8&t=4s
Biggest impact on the deficit for the least hit to growth.
Reeves might as well; it's not as though she has much to lose, and it might rescue her Chancellorship.
https://bsky.app/profile/yougov.co.uk/post/3lt5ldggzy22h
Not much love for the alternative either.
Other measures will almost certainly be necessary, and a harsh budget in November is almost certain. It would be one way of reducing the resulting damage to growth.
If not his gravestone itself.
Discussions about cricket and opinion polls, and ZERO comments on today's biggest news:
180 degree U-turn on Cologne's plan to rename "playgrounds" as "Spiel- und Aktionsflächen"
https://www.ksta.de/koeln/koeln-stadtrat-will-spielplaetze-nun-wohl-doch-nicht-umbenennen-1057672
https://www.ksta.de/koeln/spielplatz-diskussion-in-koeln-ob-kandidaten-aeussern-sich-1058071
„Herzlichen Glückwunsch, jetzt ist Köln auch offiziell die Hauptstadt der Bekloppten“
I also think there's a lot of Tory voters who have realised how big of a mistake it was to stay home and sit on their hands. They could have got 50-80 extra seats and pushed Labour into a much smaller majority if they'd not been so selfish. It is going to be up to Kemi to try and harness that regret and turn it into votes for them. This poll should give them a target now. Find out who that 33% is made up of and ruthlessly target them with policies and ads.
It is absolutely pathetic for a Chancellor to bang on about a 'black hole' in the finances of a fraction of the deficit, then ignore the deficit from then on.
It is absolutely pathetic for a Chancellor to cut unnecessary welfare expenditure then after a year of bad headlines reverse that cut.
It is absolutely pathetic for a Chancellor to insist upon major disability welfare reform, then back down at vote at the last minute because a defeat was pending.
Showing human emotions? Not pathetic.
Get a sense of perspective. Reeves is awful at her job, but showing emotions is not the reason why she is awful.
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1940938908487102593
TRUMP: "I got the Olympics and I got the Great Soccer. We call it soccer. They call it football."
Her tears are neither here nor there. Getting emotional is a non-story, her damage to the UK economy and our finances is why she should be gone.