Why abolishing the triple lock would be political suicide – politicalbetting.com

System · May 19

Why abolishing the triple lock would be political suicide – politicalbetting.com

There is strong public support for keeping the pensions triple lock – but is there any willingness to adjust it?A YouGov experiment finds the public split on a 'double lock', against a 'single lock', and the most supported proposal is to make it more generousyougov.com/en-gb/articl…

Read the full story here

dixiedean · May 19

First.
Like those over retirement age apparently.

FrancisUrquhart · May 19

Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz will miss this year's Wimbledon because of an ongoing wrist injury.

Taz · May 19

Change it from the Mini Metro to the Rover Metro

Rebadge it. And reduce it.

kinabalu · May 19

FrancisUrquhart said:
Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz will miss this year's Wimbledon because of an ongoing wrist injury.

Oh no. Terrible for tennis. Wrist injuries can end or really stymie a career.

Fishing · May 19

As usual YouGov ask the wrong, or at least an incomplete, question.

People usually want more money spent on them, until the costs are spelt out, which in a full public debate on the subject, presumably they would be. Public spending choices aren't about one thing in isolation, they're about making an acceptable use of limited (these days, very limited) resources.

The real question should be something like "Do you support keeping the triple lock even though welfare spending is taking up more and more of our national income, taxes are at a record high and throttling growth and the young are stuggling under more and more debt?"

Then we'd have an idea of where public opinion would be if and when the debate is ever fully joined.

Mexicanpete · May 19

kinabalu said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz will miss this year's Wimbledon because of an ongoing wrist injury.
Oh no. Terrible for tennis. Wrist injuries can end or really stymie a career.

Never mind Alcaraz. There are a fair old number on here who overdo the wrist action, or so I am told.

I could name names...

OnlyLivingBoy · May 19

I have looked at polling on the UK fiscal outlook especially on spending on the elderly. There is no recognition among the public of fiscal realities, unfortunately. We slag off our political class but it's our own fault for punishing anyone who tries to do anything sensible and rewarding people who tells us we can have more free stuff paid for by other people.

bondegezou · May 19

Fishing said:
As usual YouGov ask the wrong, or at least an incomplete, question.

People usually want more money spent on them, until the costs are spelt out, which in a full public debate on the subject, presumably they would be. Public spending choices aren't about one thing in isolation, they're about making an acceptable use of limited (these days, very limited) resources.

The real question should be something like "Do you support keeping the triple lock even though welfare spending is taking up more and more of our national income, taxes are at a record high and throttling growth and the young are stuggling under more and more debt?"

Then we'd have an idea of where public opinion would be if and when the debate is ever fully joined.

You must know that’s a ridiculously loaded question.

Opinion polling is not a good way to get people’s considered views after a full public debate. Opinion polling gets you 5 seconds of thought, maybe less. You can’t fix that with longer questions.

kinabalu · May 19

No, ending the Triple Lock was no part whatsoever of The Change That People Voted For.

It will only happen if cross-party. Like 'fixing social care' and several other things.

eek · May 19

Fishing said:
As usual YouGov ask the wrong, or at least an incomplete, question.

People usually want more money spent on them, until the costs are spelt out, which in a full public debate on the subject, presumably they would be. Public spending choices aren't about one thing in isolation, they're about making an acceptable use of limited (these days, very limited) resources.

The real question should be something like "Do you support keeping the triple lock even though welfare spending is taking up more and more of our national income, taxes are at a record high and throttling growth and the young are stuggling under more and more debt?"

Then we'd have an idea of where public opinion would be if and when the debate is ever fully joined.

That's way too complex.

The questions should be - at some point the triple lock is going to requires taxes to rise. Are you willing to pay?

Dopermean · May 19

"Do you support pensions increasing at or above the rates of inflation and earnings, at an increasing cost, while the pension age is raised at regular intervals in an attempt to keep the govt pension cost down"?

"Er hold on, you mean I'll be paying more and more in taxes to fund it but never receive it?"

nico67 · May 19

FrancisUrquhart said:
Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz will miss this year's Wimbledon because of an ongoing wrist injury.

That’s really bad news . Of all the injuries a tennis player can have this is really the worst . It’s a huge loss to tennis and it’s hard to see anyone being competitive against Sinner .

I thought at one time Jack Draper could but he’s played so little tennis and he has his own injury problems .

scampi25 · May 19

Surely the triple lock has fulfilled its initial purpose. Wages & prices is enough - but the same for all benefits whatever method. It would be wrong to let basic pensions fall back again.

FrancisUrquhart · May 19

Early season super star transfer....

Personal update: I've joined Anthropic.
https://x.com/karpathy/status/2056753169888334312?s=20

I bet his pay package will make plenty of Premier League players jealous.

Phil · May 19

kinabalu said:
No, ending the Triple Lock was no part whatsoever of The Change That People Voted For.

It will only happen if cross-party. Like 'fixing social care' and several other things.

Which will not be happening in the short term because every party has a huge incentive to defect & promise to maintain the triple lock to the electorate in the run up to an election. The temptation is just too great & the electorate too willing to believe the promise that the triple lock can be maintained.

At some point it will no longer be fiscally sustainable & a government will be forced to pull the rip cord, probably by some externally imposed crisis. Until that time, the old age pension will continue to eat an ever larger proportion of government expenditure.

Every politician knows, or ought to know, that the triple lock in unsustainable. None of them are willing to admit it in public because the voting public simply doesn’t want to hear it.

FrancisUrquhart · May 19

Steven Rosenbaum, the author of “The Future of Truth,” acknowledged that the nonfiction book about the effects of A.I. on truth included misattributed or fake quotes concocted by A.I.

https://x.com/nytimes/status/2056756299363127705?s=20

IanB2 · May 19

I would guess that relatively few people could explain the details of how it works.

Unlike the WFA, which was taking away something that people currently receive, changing the triple lock simply alters the extra that people might get in the future. Despite this polling, I doubt the furore over changing the lock so that pensions simply track earnings, or inflation, would cause anything like as much grief as did taking away the WFA.

Stuartinromford · May 19

eek said:

Fishing said:
As usual YouGov ask the wrong, or at least an incomplete, question.

People usually want more money spent on them, until the costs are spelt out, which in a full public debate on the subject, presumably they would be. Public spending choices aren't about one thing in isolation, they're about making an acceptable use of limited (these days, very limited) resources.

The real question should be something like "Do you support keeping the triple lock even though welfare spending is taking up more and more of our national income, taxes are at a record high and throttling growth and the young are stuggling under more and more debt?"

Then we'd have an idea of where public opinion would be if and when the debate is ever fully joined.
That's way too complex.

The questions should be - at some point the triple lock is going to requires taxes to rise. Are you willing to pay?

I personally shouldn't have to, well duh but [boo group of choice, whether that's the rich, benefits scroungers, foreigners or people paid to do woke non-jobs] should.

The vibes of being less generous to the retired than they were to their parents just don't bear thinking about. I blame St Winifred's School Choir, Clive Dunn and those Werther's Originals adverts.

IanB2 · May 19

eek said:

Fishing said:
As usual YouGov ask the wrong, or at least an incomplete, question.

People usually want more money spent on them, until the costs are spelt out, which in a full public debate on the subject, presumably they would be. Public spending choices aren't about one thing in isolation, they're about making an acceptable use of limited (these days, very limited) resources.

The real question should be something like "Do you support keeping the triple lock even though welfare spending is taking up more and more of our national income, taxes are at a record high and throttling growth and the young are stuggling under more and more debt?"

Then we'd have an idea of where public opinion would be if and when the debate is ever fully joined.
That's way too complex.

The questions should be - at some point the triple lock is going to requires taxes to rise. Are you willing to pay?

Logically it already done that, since it’s already added significantly to the cost of the state pension, taxes have certainly been rising under both Tory and Labour, and there’s still a deficit.

FrancisUrquhart · May 19

private sector: −377,000 jobs, 3.0% wage growth
state-funded sectors: +114,000. 4.8% wage growth.

https://x.com/ColeFusionHQ/status/2056628397221048660?s=20

Gallowgate · May 19

How much does the state pension contribute towards inflation? It’s the old who seem to have the most money to throw around on new cars, new phones, eating out and other luxuries.

turbotubbs · May 19

nico67 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz will miss this year's Wimbledon because of an ongoing wrist injury.
That’s really bad news . Of all the injuries a tennis player can have this is really the worst . It’s a huge loss to tennis and it’s hard to see anyone being competitive against Sinner .

I thought at one time Jack Draper could but he’s played so little tennis and he has his own injury problems .

Draper has the work ethic and talent, but does need to get healthy. I wouldn't rule him out of a few slams over his career in the way I would Raducanu.

DoctorG · May 19

FrancisUrquhart said:
Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz will miss this year's Wimbledon because of an ongoing wrist injury.

Congratulations to Jannik Sinner for winning this years Wimbledon Mens Singles title

Fishing · May 19

eek said:

Fishing said:
As usual YouGov ask the wrong, or at least an incomplete, question.

People usually want more money spent on them, until the costs are spelt out, which in a full public debate on the subject, presumably they would be. Public spending choices aren't about one thing in isolation, they're about making an acceptable use of limited (these days, very limited) resources.

The real question should be something like "Do you support keeping the triple lock even though welfare spending is taking up more and more of our national income, taxes are at a record high and throttling growth and the young are stuggling under more and more debt?"

Then we'd have an idea of where public opinion would be if and when the debate is ever fully joined.
That's way too complex.

The questions should be - at some point the triple lock is going to requires taxes to rise. Are you willing to pay?

Too vague.

That leaves unanswered: by how much will taxes have to rise? On whom? When?

But anyway, I think the main point is that YouGov's question and the associated answers don't tell us much about what public opinion would be if the costs and benefits of the Triple Lock were spelled out to them. Opinion pollsters aren't trained to think these things through, so you probably won't ever get a rigorous question.

Of course, our current crop of politicians, who, in their cowardice, incompetence and short-termism make Jim Hacker look like Margaret Thatcher, will only see the slick YouGov presentation, think "Oh shit, I mustn't touch this" and avoid it like the plague.

So nothing will be done until it's absolutely necessary, or indeed some time after that...

BatteryCorrectHorse · May 19

Well Burnham has got further than I ever thought he would. He is Labour’s candidate in a by-election.

FrancisUrquhart · May 19

UK Treasury pushes supermarkets to cap food prices

Retailers are said to be "furious" at the Government's effort, which is aimed at limiting the impact of inflation

https://www.ft.com/content/85736371-40bc-4ec1-a502-4f557d3a68b0

The government do realise that UK supermarkets are super competitive when it comes to food where margins are very slim and they already squeezed the hell out of suppliers.

williamglenn · May 19

The Robert Kenyon scandal seems to be that he's friends on Facebook with someone who was in the BNP.

https://x.com/theReformwatch/status/2056733362828587243

BatteryCorrectHorse · May 19

Burnham I hope will continue to argue, because Labour needs more of that.

Taz · May 19

FrancisUrquhart said:
UK Treasury pushes supermarkets to cap food prices

Retailers are said to be "furious" at the Government's effort, which is aimed at limiting the impact of inflation

https://www.ft.com/content/85736371-40bc-4ec1-a502-4f557d3a68b0

The government do realise that UK supermarkets are super competitive and margins are very slim and they already squeezed the hell out of suppliers.

The same idiot policy being applied by the SNP in Scotland.

Subsidising demand does nothing to help inflation when you have price pressures upstream.

The SNP one is especially bonkers

mwadams · May 19

Stuartinromford said:

eek said:

Fishing said:
As usual YouGov ask the wrong, or at least an incomplete, question.

People usually want more money spent on them, until the costs are spelt out, which in a full public debate on the subject, presumably they would be. Public spending choices aren't about one thing in isolation, they're about making an acceptable use of limited (these days, very limited) resources.

The real question should be something like "Do you support keeping the triple lock even though welfare spending is taking up more and more of our national income, taxes are at a record high and throttling growth and the young are stuggling under more and more debt?"

Then we'd have an idea of where public opinion would be if and when the debate is ever fully joined.
That's way too complex.

The questions should be - at some point the triple lock is going to requires taxes to rise. Are you willing to pay?
I personally shouldn't have to, well duh but [boo group of choice, whether that's the rich, benefits scroungers, foreigners or people paid to do woke non-jobs] should.

The vibes of being less generous to the retired than they were to their parents just don't bear thinking about. I blame St Winifred's School Choir, Clive Dunn and those Werther's Originals adverts.

We are of course being *more* generous to the retired, as we are providing these benefits for about 3-4 times longer than they were for their parents/grandparents.

DoctorG · May 19

FrancisUrquhart said:
UK Treasury pushes supermarkets to cap food prices

Retailers are said to be "furious" at the Government's effort, which is aimed at limiting the impact of inflation

https://www.ft.com/content/85736371-40bc-4ec1-a502-4f557d3a68b0

The government do realise that UK supermarkets are super competitive when it comes to food where margins are very slim and they already squeezed the hell out of suppliers.

I don't think they do, which is the problem. How on earth do the government intend to cap food prices without having any direct say in whether a supermarket stocks a particular product, and are not intending to cap producers inputs? Do producers make the product for free?

BatteryCorrectHorse · May 19

https://x.com/DPJHodges/status/2056737844836663416

Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.

Lol

carnforth · May 19

FrancisUrquhart said:
UK Treasury pushes supermarkets to cap food prices

Retailers are said to be "furious" at the Government's effort, which is aimed at limiting the impact of inflation

https://www.ft.com/content/85736371-40bc-4ec1-a502-4f557d3a68b0

The government do realise that UK supermarkets are super competitive when it comes to food where margins are very slim and they already squeezed the hell out of suppliers.

Remember guys, nothing to worry about! They're just red Tories...

AnneJGP · May 19

DoctorG said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
UK Treasury pushes supermarkets to cap food prices

Retailers are said to be "furious" at the Government's effort, which is aimed at limiting the impact of inflation

https://www.ft.com/content/85736371-40bc-4ec1-a502-4f557d3a68b0

The government do realise that UK supermarkets are super competitive when it comes to food where margins are very slim and they already squeezed the hell out of suppliers.
I don't think they do, which is the problem. How on earth do the government intend to cap food prices without having any direct say in whether a supermarket stocks a particular product, and are not intending to cap producers inputs? Do producers make the product for free?

It's the other side of the coin from allowing all & sundry to shoplift all their requirements and still expecting the store to keep going.

PoodleInASlipstream · May 19

Taz said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
UK Treasury pushes supermarkets to cap food prices

Retailers are said to be "furious" at the Government's effort, which is aimed at limiting the impact of inflation

https://www.ft.com/content/85736371-40bc-4ec1-a502-4f557d3a68b0

The government do realise that UK supermarkets are super competitive and margins are very slim and they already squeezed the hell out of suppliers.
The same idiot policy being applied by the SNP in Scotland.

Subsidising demand does nothing to help inflation when you have price pressures upstream.

The SNP one is especially bonkers

This is what you get when politicians go from uni to politics without ever having a real job(*) or gaining any experience of how businesses function.

* No, being a lawyer doesn't count.

Roger · May 19

Plumber wanted for seat in Makerfield. Preferably female though other sexes will be considered

ydoethur · May 19

williamglenn said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
Serious grown up government....

Gemma Collins is in the building and she's got questions. Coming soon📷
https://x.com/educationgovuk/status/2056731789524164642?s=20

This obsession with using social media influencers (and in lots of cases paying them) is super cringy. Its as bad as the BBC trying to do their attract da yuff.
Embarrassing. I hope @ydoethur doesn't see that.

Ydoethur is in the thread and has a question:

Who the fuck is Gemma Collins? Looks like Diana Dors in the Worm that Turned with extra booziness.

Battlebus · May 19

Must do a thread about this.

Basically we haven’t paid enough to cover the cost of the current pension so Triple Lock rewards people who haven’t contributed enough.

At the same time Pension Credit is based on needs. So it is set at subsistence level. The fact that PC and SRP are at almost the same level indicates the amount of underpayment to pensions that has happened.

And as MalcolmG rightly points out PC gets you more than the SRP in certain circumstances. Past fiscal policies have never recognised developments in longevity so here we are.

Alanbrooke · May 19

Roger said:
Plumber wanted for seat in Makerfield. Preferably female though other sexes will be considered

Leader wanted for Labour Party only middle class white men need apply

BatteryCorrectHorse · May 19

https://x.com/danbloom1/status/2056760536084185405

Andy Burnham’s team is working on a plan for his first 100 days in government in the event that he wins a crunch by-election and replaces Keir Starmer, three people tell me

The plan is in its early stages but is likely to include reforms to the creaking social care system

Already doing more planning than Sue Gray

ydoethur · May 19

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
https://x.com/DPJHodges/status/2056737844836663416

Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.

Lol

Ridiculous. As if there are questions about it. That implies some level of doubt.

IanB2 · May 19

A police investigation has been launched into alleged false statements on a recently elected councillor’s election nomination papers.

Ryan Coogan, the newly elected Reform UK councillor for Ramsey, and group leader on Huntingdonshire District Council, is under investigation following the recent local elections on May 7.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said: "We are investigating an allegation of false statements on a candidate nomination paper and the investigation is ongoing."

FrancisUrquhart · May 19

ydoethur said:

williamglenn said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
Serious grown up government....

Gemma Collins is in the building and she's got questions. Coming soon📷
https://x.com/educationgovuk/status/2056731789524164642?s=20

This obsession with using social media influencers (and in lots of cases paying them) is super cringy. Its as bad as the BBC trying to do their attract da yuff.
Embarrassing. I hope @ydoethur doesn't see that.
Ydoethur is in the thread and has a question:

Who the fuck is Gemma Collins? Looks like Diana Dors in the Worm that Turned with extra booziness.

Z-list celeb, reality tv "star", social media infleuncer.

eek · May 19

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
https://x.com/danbloom1/status/2056760536084185405

Andy Burnham’s team is working on a plan for his first 100 days in government in the event that he wins a crunch by-election and replaces Keir Starmer, three people tell me

The plan is in its early stages but is likely to include reforms to the creaking social care system

Already doing more planning than Sue Gray

The thing is he is probably the one person who can do something about Social Care - he’s managed it for 10 years so has an idea of where the issues are and will be able to carry things along

BatteryCorrectHorse · May 19

Lisa Nandy is openly now campaigning for Burnham's agenda, from within the cabinet.

ydoethur · May 19

FrancisUrquhart said:

ydoethur said:

williamglenn said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
Serious grown up government....

Gemma Collins is in the building and she's got questions. Coming soon📷
https://x.com/educationgovuk/status/2056731789524164642?s=20

This obsession with using social media influencers (and in lots of cases paying them) is super cringy. Its as bad as the BBC trying to do their attract da yuff.
Embarrassing. I hope @ydoethur doesn't see that.
Ydoethur is in the thread and has a question:

Who the fuck is Gemma Collins? Looks like Diana Dors in the Worm that Turned with extra booziness.
Z-list celeb, reality tv "star", social media infleuncer.

So SFA to do with education?

Leon_VotedForStarmer · May 19

williamglenn said:
The Robert Kenyon scandal seems to be that he's friends on Facebook with someone who was in the BNP.

https://x.com/theReformwatch/status/2056733362828587243

Is that it????

Keir Starmer was in the SHADOW CABINET under Jeremy fucking Corbyn

Roger · May 19

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
Well Burnham has got further than I ever thought he would. He is Labour’s candidate in a by-election.

A certainty I would say. Why choose an anonymous racist MP when you can select the Prime Minister and put Wigan Pier on the map?

FrancisUrquhart · May 19

ydoethur said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

ydoethur said:

williamglenn said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
Serious grown up government....

Gemma Collins is in the building and she's got questions. Coming soon📷
https://x.com/educationgovuk/status/2056731789524164642?s=20

This obsession with using social media influencers (and in lots of cases paying them) is super cringy. Its as bad as the BBC trying to do their attract da yuff.
Embarrassing. I hope @ydoethur doesn't see that.
Ydoethur is in the thread and has a question:

Who the fuck is Gemma Collins? Looks like Diana Dors in the Worm that Turned with extra booziness.
Z-list celeb, reality tv "star", social media infleuncer.
So SFA to do with education?

Its govenment comms strategy, use influencers to promote the government (many are paid to do so). Get that yuff vote on the tikkky toks.

BatteryCorrectHorse · May 19

YouGov / Sky / Times voting intention

RefUK 25(-3),
CON 18(+1),
LAB 17(+1),
GRN 15(-1)
LDEM 14(+1),

https://x.com/SamCoatesSky/status/2056600843181236522

Anywhere to bet on a Labour lead under Burnham? Surely due one at the start at least

DoctorG · May 19

AnneJGP said:

DoctorG said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
UK Treasury pushes supermarkets to cap food prices

Retailers are said to be "furious" at the Government's effort, which is aimed at limiting the impact of inflation

https://www.ft.com/content/85736371-40bc-4ec1-a502-4f557d3a68b0

The government do realise that UK supermarkets are super competitive when it comes to food where margins are very slim and they already squeezed the hell out of suppliers.
I don't think they do, which is the problem. How on earth do the government intend to cap food prices without having any direct say in whether a supermarket stocks a particular product, and are not intending to cap producers inputs? Do producers make the product for free?

It's the other side of the coin from allowing all & sundry to shoplift all their requirements and still expecting the store to keep going.

Shoplifting will be up significantly since the emergence of self serving tills in most supermarkets. The stores will have a percentage margin to account for shoplifting built into their costings. Then they work out if its cheaper to employ a human being and go back to having every item scanned for you, or continue with this model.

Logistically I can't see minimum pricing working. Supermarkets telling suppliers to lower their costs will only result in a massive headache in the supply chain. Our bigger problems lie with an orange faced Head of State on the other side of the Atlantic

Taz · May 19

Leon_VotedForStarmer said:

williamglenn said:
The Robert Kenyon scandal seems to be that he's friends on Facebook with someone who was in the BNP.

https://x.com/theReformwatch/status/2056733362828587243
Is that it????

Keir Starmer was in the SHADOW CABINET under Jeremy fucking Corbyn

Seriously, why would anyone give a fuck. It’s Facebook. I’ve got friends on Facebook who support Reform, I’ve got some that support the Greens, even the Lib Dem’s for crying out loud.

BatteryCorrectHorse · May 19

https://x.com/reformexposed/status/2056722637296923021

Reform UK’s Candidate for #Makerfield Robert Kenyon (
@Makerfield_RFK
) deleted his old account - we assume because he reposted a lot of far-right stuff.

Like Carl Benjamin, Peter Sweden and Wayne O’Rouke who was imprisoned after inciting violence during the Southport Riots.

Kenyon himself posted an 11 post thread trying to defend Reform UK when a member of his campaign team was found to have caused criminal damage in the riots.

carnforth · May 19

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
https://x.com/reformexposed/status/2056722637296923021

Reform UK’s Candidate for #Makerfield Robert Kenyon (
@Makerfield_RFK
) deleted his old account - we assume because he reposted a lot of far-right stuff.

Like Carl Benjamin, Peter Sweden and Wayne O’Rouke who was imprisoned after inciting violence during the Southport Riots.

Kenyon himself posted an 11 post thread trying to defend Reform UK when a member of his campaign team was found to have caused criminal damage in the riots.

He's retweeting far-right accounts, no doubt. But the comments he adds in that screenshot are pretty tame.

PJH · May 19

FrancisUrquhart said:

ydoethur said:

williamglenn said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
Serious grown up government....

Gemma Collins is in the building and she's got questions. Coming soon📷
https://x.com/educationgovuk/status/2056731789524164642?s=20

This obsession with using social media influencers (and in lots of cases paying them) is super cringy. Its as bad as the BBC trying to do their attract da yuff.
Embarrassing. I hope @ydoethur doesn't see that.
Ydoethur is in the thread and has a question:

Who the fuck is Gemma Collins? Looks like Diana Dors in the Worm that Turned with extra booziness.
Z-list celeb, reality tv "star", social media infleuncer.

And most importantly for a couple of us on here - she is from Romford!

(And was briefly taught by my ex when she was a teenager).

Foss · May 19

PoodleInASlipstream said:

Taz said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
UK Treasury pushes supermarkets to cap food prices

Retailers are said to be "furious" at the Government's effort, which is aimed at limiting the impact of inflation

https://www.ft.com/content/85736371-40bc-4ec1-a502-4f557d3a68b0

The government do realise that UK supermarkets are super competitive and margins are very slim and they already squeezed the hell out of suppliers.
The same idiot policy being applied by the SNP in Scotland.

Subsidising demand does nothing to help inflation when you have price pressures upstream.

The SNP one is especially bonkers
This is what you get when politicians go from uni to politics without ever having a real job(*) or gaining any experience of how businesses function.

* No, being a lawyer doesn't count.

On the upside, taking up the lawn to plant anti-starvation potatoes would mean I didn't have to mow damned thing any more.

DoctorG · May 19

Odds for the Arbroath by election are up

SNP 1/5
Lab 5/1

Should be an easy SNP hold if anyone fancies tying their money up

Aberdeen south is tighter

SNP 1/3
Con 11/4 (Tory candidate is newly re elected MSP Douglas Lumsden)
Reform 11/1
Lab 14/1

Labour were second at 2024 GE but will fall back after the Holyrood result. This one is much closer, but likely to be an SNP hold over Tories, unless enough Reform voters back the blues to unseat the SNP.

Well played Andy Burnham for sitting both of these contests out

HYUFD · May 19

At least the public might support just having a double lock linked to earnings and inflation. Though clearly removing the double lock entirely does not have much support

Roger · May 19

Alanbrooke said:

Roger said:
Plumber wanted for seat in Makerfield. Preferably female though other sexes will be considered
Leader wanted for Labour Party only middle class white men need apply

Surely you're not going Reform? After they've driven the blacks to Rwanda you know it'll only be a matter of time before they come for the Irish?

rottenborough · May 19

eek said:

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
https://x.com/danbloom1/status/2056760536084185405

Andy Burnham’s team is working on a plan for his first 100 days in government in the event that he wins a crunch by-election and replaces Keir Starmer, three people tell me

The plan is in its early stages but is likely to include reforms to the creaking social care system

Already doing more planning than Sue Gray
The thing is he is probably the one person who can do something about Social Care - he’s managed it for 10 years so has an idea of where the issues are and will be able to carry things along

Back in the Brown days he proposed a levy on every estate on death for social care.

Will this be back on agenda?

At the moment Casey is doing a report on social care but not due until 2028.

Edit: And also, coincidentally (?), Fabians are releasing a report this week on social care.

HYUFD · May 19

In Athens and we spent the day going around the Acropolis and Parthenon. Amazing to see the cradle of democracy and the ancient temples and fantastic views from there on a warm and sunny day of the city as well as from the Areopagos hill where St Paul spoke to the Athenians.

Though fair to say the Acropolis museum is not a fan of Lord Elgin and the British Museum. Even leaving spaces in its marbles display for where the missing pieces are, though given some of them were quite weather beaten maybe his Lordship did his best to conserve them after all

OnlyLivingBoy · May 19

FrancisUrquhart said:
private sector: −377,000 jobs, 3.0% wage growth
state-funded sectors: +114,000. 4.8% wage growth.

https://x.com/ColeFusionHQ/status/2056628397221048660?s=20

Public sector wages playing catch up. Or should public sector workers' pay fall ever further behind that in the private sector? (Good luck with recruitment and retainment when TAs and nurses can earn more at Aldi, BTW).

Taz · May 19

rottenborough said:

eek said:

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
https://x.com/danbloom1/status/2056760536084185405

Andy Burnham’s team is working on a plan for his first 100 days in government in the event that he wins a crunch by-election and replaces Keir Starmer, three people tell me

The plan is in its early stages but is likely to include reforms to the creaking social care system

Already doing more planning than Sue Gray
The thing is he is probably the one person who can do something about Social Care - he’s managed it for 10 years so has an idea of where the issues are and will be able to carry things along
Back in the Brown days he proposed a levy on every estate on death for social care.

Will this be back on agenda?

At the moment Casey is doing a report on social care but not due until 2028.

Edit: And also, coincidentally (?), Fabians are releasing a report this week on social care.

The initial findings from the independent Morrissey review (not the moody vegan Singer) into the State Pension age is due Imminently.

It’s then over to the govt to review with findings due just prior to the next election

OnlyLivingBoy · May 19

HYUFD said:
In Athens and we spent the day going around the Acropolis and Parthenon. Amazing to see the cradle of democracy and the ancient temples and fantastic views from there on a warm and sunny day of the city as well as from the Areopagos hill where St Paul spoke to the Athenians.

Though fair to say the Acropolis museum is not a fan of Lord Elgin and the British Museum. Even leaving spaces in its marbles display for where the missing pieces are, though given some of them were quite weather beaten maybe his Lordship did his best to conserve them after all

Athens is amazing. Can't say I blame them for wanting their bits and bobs back.

Gallowgate · May 19

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
https://x.com/reformexposed/status/2056722637296923021

Reform UK’s Candidate for #Makerfield Robert Kenyon (
@Makerfield_RFK
) deleted his old account - we assume because he reposted a lot of far-right stuff.

Like Carl Benjamin, Peter Sweden and Wayne O’Rouke who was imprisoned after inciting violence during the Southport Riots.

Kenyon himself posted an 11 post thread trying to defend Reform UK when a member of his campaign team was found to have caused criminal damage in the riots.

So this is guy who wants to challenge the King in the North in open combat!

kinabalu · May 19

Phil said:

kinabalu said:
No, ending the Triple Lock was no part whatsoever of The Change That People Voted For.

It will only happen if cross-party. Like 'fixing social care' and several other things.
Which will not be happening in the short term because every party has a huge incentive to defect & promise to maintain the triple lock to the electorate in the run up to an election. The temptation is just too great & the electorate too willing to believe the promise that the triple lock can be maintained.

At some point it will no longer be fiscally sustainable & a government will be forced to pull the rip cord, probably by some externally imposed crisis. Until that time, the old age pension will continue to eat an ever larger proportion of government expenditure.

Every politician knows, or ought to know, that the triple lock in unsustainable. None of them are willing to admit it in public because the voting public simply doesn’t want to hear it.

Look at the damage to Labour from the modest change to WFA.

Taz · May 19

OnlyLivingBoy said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
private sector: −377,000 jobs, 3.0% wage growth
state-funded sectors: +114,000. 4.8% wage growth.

https://x.com/ColeFusionHQ/status/2056628397221048660?s=20
Public sector wages playing catch up. Or should public sector workers' pay fall ever further behind that in the private sector? (Good luck with recruitment and retainment when TAs and nurses can earn more at Aldi, BTW).

A compensation package is not just the wage. It’s the holiday entitlement, pension entitlement and pay scales too.

OldKingCole · May 19

rottenborough said:

eek said:

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
https://x.com/danbloom1/status/2056760536084185405

Andy Burnham’s team is working on a plan for his first 100 days in government in the event that he wins a crunch by-election and replaces Keir Starmer, three people tell me

The plan is in its early stages but is likely to include reforms to the creaking social care system

Already doing more planning than Sue Gray
The thing is he is probably the one person who can do something about Social Care - he’s managed it for 10 years so has an idea of where the issues are and will be able to carry things along
Back in the Brown days he proposed a levy on every estate on death for social care.

Will this be back on agenda?

At the moment Casey is doing a report on social care but not due until 2028.

Edit: And also, coincidentally (?), Fabians are releasing a report this week on social care.

What exactly is wrong with a levy on estates? Yes I've worked all my life etc etc, but the increase in the value of, in particular, my house is down to social development, not my efforts.
Anyway, I've done my best to ensure my sons and grandchildren can look after themselves.

rottenborough · May 19

Taz said:

rottenborough said:

eek said:

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
https://x.com/danbloom1/status/2056760536084185405

Andy Burnham’s team is working on a plan for his first 100 days in government in the event that he wins a crunch by-election and replaces Keir Starmer, three people tell me

The plan is in its early stages but is likely to include reforms to the creaking social care system

Already doing more planning than Sue Gray
The thing is he is probably the one person who can do something about Social Care - he’s managed it for 10 years so has an idea of where the issues are and will be able to carry things along
Back in the Brown days he proposed a levy on every estate on death for social care.

Will this be back on agenda?

At the moment Casey is doing a report on social care but not due until 2028.

Edit: And also, coincidentally (?), Fabians are releasing a report this week on social care.
The initial findings from the independent Morrissey review (not the moody vegan Singer) into the State Pension age is due Imminently.

It’s then over to the govt to review with findings due just prior to the next election

I'm guessing they will propose 70?

Roger · May 19

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
YouGov / Sky / Times voting intention

RefUK 25(-3),
CON 18(+1),
LAB 17(+1),
GRN 15(-1)
LDEM 14(+1),

https://x.com/SamCoatesSky/status/2056600843181236522

Anywhere to bet on a Labour lead under Burnham? Surely due one at the start at least

A guy grifts a few million quid from a Thai business men and all of a sudden Farage reeks of rotten fish

Foxy · May 19

OnlyLivingBoy said:
I have looked at polling on the UK fiscal outlook especially on spending on the elderly. There is no recognition among the public of fiscal realities, unfortunately. We slag off our political class but it's our own fault for punishing anyone who tries to do anything sensible and rewarding people who tells us we can have more free stuff paid for by other people.

The basic problem is that most people do not know how much government spending goes where. Which is how people get elected by promising to balance the books by reducing MPs expenses and sacking diversity officers.

Taz · May 19

rottenborough said:

Taz said:

rottenborough said:

eek said:

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
https://x.com/danbloom1/status/2056760536084185405

Andy Burnham’s team is working on a plan for his first 100 days in government in the event that he wins a crunch by-election and replaces Keir Starmer, three people tell me

The plan is in its early stages but is likely to include reforms to the creaking social care system

Already doing more planning than Sue Gray
The thing is he is probably the one person who can do something about Social Care - he’s managed it for 10 years so has an idea of where the issues are and will be able to carry things along
Back in the Brown days he proposed a levy on every estate on death for social care.

Will this be back on agenda?

At the moment Casey is doing a report on social care but not due until 2028.

Edit: And also, coincidentally (?), Fabians are releasing a report this week on social care.
The initial findings from the independent Morrissey review (not the moody vegan Singer) into the State Pension age is due Imminently.

It’s then over to the govt to review with findings due just prior to the next election
I'm guessing they will propose 70?

Over time with 68 pulled forward by five or so years, and 69 inserted too by 2044 then 70 by 2050. Something like that. Incremental step changes rather than one leap

I’d also expect them to keep the 10 year rule (unwritten)

Taz · May 19

OldKingCole said:

rottenborough said:

eek said:

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
https://x.com/danbloom1/status/2056760536084185405

Andy Burnham’s team is working on a plan for his first 100 days in government in the event that he wins a crunch by-election and replaces Keir Starmer, three people tell me

The plan is in its early stages but is likely to include reforms to the creaking social care system

Already doing more planning than Sue Gray
The thing is he is probably the one person who can do something about Social Care - he’s managed it for 10 years so has an idea of where the issues are and will be able to carry things along
Back in the Brown days he proposed a levy on every estate on death for social care.

Will this be back on agenda?

At the moment Casey is doing a report on social care but not due until 2028.

Edit: And also, coincidentally (?), Fabians are releasing a report this week on social care.
What exactly is wrong with a levy on estates? Yes I've worked all my life etc etc, but the increase in the value of, in particular, my house is down to social development, not my efforts.
Anyway, I've done my best to ensure my sons and grandchildren can look after themselves.

I never saw a problem with it either.

eek · May 19

kinabalu said:

Phil said:

kinabalu said:
No, ending the Triple Lock was no part whatsoever of The Change That People Voted For.

It will only happen if cross-party. Like 'fixing social care' and several other things.
Which will not be happening in the short term because every party has a huge incentive to defect & promise to maintain the triple lock to the electorate in the run up to an election. The temptation is just too great & the electorate too willing to believe the promise that the triple lock can be maintained.

At some point it will no longer be fiscally sustainable & a government will be forced to pull the rip cord, probably by some externally imposed crisis. Until that time, the old age pension will continue to eat an ever larger proportion of government expenditure.

Every politician knows, or ought to know, that the triple lock in unsustainable. None of them are willing to admit it in public because the voting public simply doesn’t want to hear it.
Look at the damage to Labour from the modest change to WFA.

Labour screwed that up in so many ways it's hard to think where to begin. I suspect if they had raised taxes then - they would be way better off now as there would have been some money to spend on some projects to make people happy.

Andy_JS · May 19

I agree with the header, it is very depressing.

HYUFD · May 19

DoctorG said:
Odds for the Arbroath by election are up

SNP 1/5
Lab 5/1

Should be an easy SNP hold if anyone fancies tying their money up

Aberdeen south is tighter

SNP 1/3
Con 11/4 (Tory candidate is newly re elected MSP Douglas Lumsden)
Reform 11/1
Lab 14/1

Labour were second at 2024 GE but will fall back after the Holyrood result. This one is much closer, but likely to be an SNP hold over Tories, unless enough Reform voters back the blues to unseat the SNP.

Well played Andy Burnham for sitting both of these contests out

I think the Tories are more likely to be able to squeeze Reform voters to beat the SNP in Aberdeen South than Reform can squeeze Tory voters in Makerfield to beat Burnham

williamglenn · May 19

Burnham's double whammy

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/2056769036390633863

EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham won’t commit to keeping Labour’s manifesto promises on tax and has opened the door to new tax rises if he becomes PM.

His decision to back the current fiscal rules wins him a reprieve from markets, but it limits his options to fund policies like council house-building. It raises the prospect of tax hikes.

Battlebus · May 19

Pensions are as underfunded as Social Care. If you save, GDP will be depressed. If you do save, the government will come for it.

What to do?

Also be nice to your children. They pick your care home.

solarflare · May 19

You probably did it in the last thread, but can't wait for the flying cars, jetpacks, cities on the Moon and teleporters to appear before HS2 ever finishes being constructed in the year 3000 for eleventy trillion or whatever it is costing now.

HYUFD · May 19

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
YouGov / Sky / Times voting intention

RefUK 25(-3),
CON 18(+1),
LAB 17(+1),
GRN 15(-1)
LDEM 14(+1),

https://x.com/SamCoatesSky/status/2056600843181236522

Anywhere to bet on a Labour lead under Burnham? Surely due one at the start at least

Reform plus the Tories are on 43%, same as Boris got in 2019. Labour plus the Greens on 32%, same as Corbyn got in 2019. Add the 14% for the LDs and Labour plus Green plus LD exceeds Reform plus Tories. Can Burnham squeeze the Greens and LDs more than Farage can squeeze the Tory vote? Probably

Roger · May 19

Andy_JS said:
I agree with the header, it is very depressing.

I listened to your 'white man' being beaten up around the world.

Rather fascistic didn't you think?

bondegezou · May 19

Taz said:

OnlyLivingBoy said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
private sector: −377,000 jobs, 3.0% wage growth
state-funded sectors: +114,000. 4.8% wage growth.

https://x.com/ColeFusionHQ/status/2056628397221048660?s=20
Public sector wages playing catch up. Or should public sector workers' pay fall ever further behind that in the private sector? (Good luck with recruitment and retainment when TAs and nurses can earn more at Aldi, BTW).
A compensation package is not just the wage. It’s the holiday entitlement, pension entitlement and pay scales too.

Yes, and after all that, there are still lots of vacancies in many public sector jobs.

algarkirk · May 19

TSE should calm down. As polling goes it is less depressing than polling about the Nazi holocaust being a myth. It's just of example of human nature, by no means the worst aspect of it.

About 100% of respondents are or expect to be recipients of this pension money thing. They are not averse to it going up in principle. No-one is. The question is a blunt one. For the poorest pensioners it should actually go up a lot. For many others (including me) it should be taxed more rigorously. That level of nuance can't be achieved in a Yes/No answer to a general question about support.

HYUFD · May 19

williamglenn said:
Burnham's double whammy

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/2056769036390633863

EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham won’t commit to keeping Labour’s manifesto promises on tax and has opened the door to new tax rises if he becomes PM.

His decision to back the current fiscal rules wins him a reprieve from markets, but it limits his options to fund policies like council house-building. It raises the prospect of tax hikes.

Confirmation Burnham would restore the 50% additional rate income tax rate the Brown government introduced and Osborne scrapped. A Burnham government would also revise council tax bands to hit wealthy property owners more

Dopermean · May 19

Stuartinromford said:

eek said:

Fishing said:
As usual YouGov ask the wrong, or at least an incomplete, question.

People usually want more money spent on them, until the costs are spelt out, which in a full public debate on the subject, presumably they would be. Public spending choices aren't about one thing in isolation, they're about making an acceptable use of limited (these days, very limited) resources.

The real question should be something like "Do you support keeping the triple lock even though welfare spending is taking up more and more of our national income, taxes are at a record high and throttling growth and the young are stuggling under more and more debt?"

Then we'd have an idea of where public opinion would be if and when the debate is ever fully joined.
That's way too complex.

The questions should be - at some point the triple lock is going to requires taxes to rise. Are you willing to pay?
I personally shouldn't have to, well duh but [boo group of choice, whether that's the rich, benefits scroungers, foreigners or people paid to do woke non-jobs] should.

The vibes of being less generous to the retired than they were to their parents just don't bear thinking about. I blame St Winifred's School Choir, Clive Dunn and those Werther's Originals adverts.

The current retired generation were less generous to their parents' generation weren't they? Despite the ratio of them to their parents' generation being higher than it is now.

Andy_JS · May 19

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
YouGov / Sky / Times voting intention

RefUK 25(-3),
CON 18(+1),
LAB 17(+1),
GRN 15(-1)
LDEM 14(+1),

https://x.com/SamCoatesSky/status/2056600843181236522

Anywhere to bet on a Labour lead under Burnham? Surely due one at the start at least

Restore UK are on 4% with this poll.

DoctorG · May 19

HYUFD said:

DoctorG said:
Odds for the Arbroath by election are up

SNP 1/5
Lab 5/1

Should be an easy SNP hold if anyone fancies tying their money up

Aberdeen south is tighter

SNP 1/3
Con 11/4 (Tory candidate is newly re elected MSP Douglas Lumsden)
Reform 11/1
Lab 14/1

Labour were second at 2024 GE but will fall back after the Holyrood result. This one is much closer, but likely to be an SNP hold over Tories, unless enough Reform voters back the blues to unseat the SNP.

Well played Andy Burnham for sitting both of these contests out
I think the Tories are more likely to be able to squeeze Reform voters to beat the SNP in Aberdeen South than Reform can squeeze Tory voters in Makerfield to beat Burnham

There's no excuse now, if voters don't want an SNP MP the tactical choice is Tory. I can see it staying yellow on account of a stubborn Reform vote. Flynn would have some personal vote, but likely not massive. I'd say around 75% chance of an SNP win as it stands

carnforth · May 19

Andy_JS said:

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
YouGov / Sky / Times voting intention

RefUK 25(-3),
CON 18(+1),
LAB 17(+1),
GRN 15(-1)
LDEM 14(+1),

https://x.com/SamCoatesSky/status/2056600843181236522

Anywhere to bet on a Labour lead under Burnham? Surely due one at the start at least
Restore UK are on 4% with this poll.

Prompted or unprompted?

Leon_VotedForStarmer · May 19

HYUFD said:
In Athens and we spent the day going around the Acropolis and Parthenon. Amazing to see the cradle of democracy and the ancient temples and fantastic views from there on a warm and sunny day of the city as well as from the Areopagos hill where St Paul spoke to the Athenians.

Though fair to say the Acropolis museum is not a fan of Lord Elgin and the British Museum. Even leaving spaces in its marbles display for where the missing pieces are, though given some of them were quite weather beaten maybe his Lordship did his best to conserve them after all

What I don't understand is why some of the Parthenon Marbles are STILL IN FUCKING ATHENS

What the fuck is that about? Why?? What stupid Woke nonsense is this? We need to chopper the SAS in and secure the museum, take all the art and stuff, and whizz it back to the British Museum, where it can be properly admired. And we have to keep the Bayeux Tapestry once we get our hands on it, and also take the Book of Kells from Dublin because it's nice. And Aquitaine

eek · May 19

HYUFD said:

williamglenn said:
Burnham's double whammy

https://x.com/alexwickham/status/2056769036390633863

EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham won’t commit to keeping Labour’s manifesto promises on tax and has opened the door to new tax rises if he becomes PM.

His decision to back the current fiscal rules wins him a reprieve from markets, but it limits his options to fund policies like council house-building. It raises the prospect of tax hikes.
Confirmation Burnham would restore the 50% additional rate income tax rate the Brown government introduced and Osborne scrapped. A Burnham government would also revise council tax bands to hit wealthy property owners more

Property taxes need to rise - a full revision of council tax bands would be fun though. As everyone down South ends up in bands G and above..

Taz · May 19

bondegezou said:

Taz said:

OnlyLivingBoy said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
private sector: −377,000 jobs, 3.0% wage growth
state-funded sectors: +114,000. 4.8% wage growth.

https://x.com/ColeFusionHQ/status/2056628397221048660?s=20
Public sector wages playing catch up. Or should public sector workers' pay fall ever further behind that in the private sector? (Good luck with recruitment and retainment when TAs and nurses can earn more at Aldi, BTW).
A compensation package is not just the wage. It’s the holiday entitlement, pension entitlement and pay scales too.
Yes, and after all that, there are still lots of vacancies in many public sector jobs.

Doesn’t invalidate my point and there are so many vacancies as there are so many roles and it’s ever expanding.

Indeed the public Sector saw a net increase, over 110,000, in the job figures out today even though there was a decline overall.

https://x.com/colefusionhq/status/2056628397221048660?s=61

Taz · May 19

bondegezou said:

Taz said:

OnlyLivingBoy said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
private sector: −377,000 jobs, 3.0% wage growth
state-funded sectors: +114,000. 4.8% wage growth.

https://x.com/ColeFusionHQ/status/2056628397221048660?s=20
Public sector wages playing catch up. Or should public sector workers' pay fall ever further behind that in the private sector? (Good luck with recruitment and retainment when TAs and nurses can earn more at Aldi, BTW).
A compensation package is not just the wage. It’s the holiday entitlement, pension entitlement and pay scales too.
Yes, and after all that, there are still lots of vacancies in many public sector jobs.

Doesn’t invalidate my point and there are so many vacancies as there are so many roles and it’s ever expanding.

Indeed the public Sector saw a net increase, over 110,000, in the job figures out today even though there was a decline overall.

https://x.com/colefusionhq/status/2056628397221048660?s=61

TheScreamingEagles · May 19

Well now.

Trump endorses Ken Paxton.

algarkirk · May 19

kinabalu said:

Phil said:

kinabalu said:
No, ending the Triple Lock was no part whatsoever of The Change That People Voted For.

It will only happen if cross-party. Like 'fixing social care' and several other things.
Which will not be happening in the short term because every party has a huge incentive to defect & promise to maintain the triple lock to the electorate in the run up to an election. The temptation is just too great & the electorate too willing to believe the promise that the triple lock can be maintained.

At some point it will no longer be fiscally sustainable & a government will be forced to pull the rip cord, probably by some externally imposed crisis. Until that time, the old age pension will continue to eat an ever larger proportion of government expenditure.

Every politician knows, or ought to know, that the triple lock in unsustainable. None of them are willing to admit it in public because the voting public simply doesn’t want to hear it.
Look at the damage to Labour from the modest change to WFA.

WFA was the inverse of the fact that people can be bribed with very small amounts of money. Governments can also sink as a result of the removal of the same small sums.

Eabhal · May 19

DoctorG said:

AnneJGP said:

DoctorG said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
UK Treasury pushes supermarkets to cap food prices

Retailers are said to be "furious" at the Government's effort, which is aimed at limiting the impact of inflation

https://www.ft.com/content/85736371-40bc-4ec1-a502-4f557d3a68b0

The government do realise that UK supermarkets are super competitive when it comes to food where margins are very slim and they already squeezed the hell out of suppliers.
I don't think they do, which is the problem. How on earth do the government intend to cap food prices without having any direct say in whether a supermarket stocks a particular product, and are not intending to cap producers inputs? Do producers make the product for free?

It's the other side of the coin from allowing all & sundry to shoplift all their requirements and still expecting the store to keep going.
Shoplifting will be up significantly since the emergence of self serving tills in most supermarkets. The stores will have a percentage margin to account for shoplifting built into their costings. Then they work out if its cheaper to employ a human being and go back to having every item scanned for you, or continue with this model.

Logistically I can't see minimum pricing working. Supermarkets telling suppliers to lower their costs will only result in a massive headache in the supply chain. Our bigger problems lie with an orange faced Head of State on the other side of the Atlantic

There is also really good price differentiation in supermarkets too for most staples. Very difficult to see where the margin is, unless there is some sort of tax/subsidy to support the essentials.

StillWaters · May 19

Roger said:

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
Well Burnham has got further than I ever thought he would. He is Labour’s candidate in a by-election.
A certainty I would say. Why choose an anonymous racist MP when you can select the Prime Minister and put Wigan Pier on the map?

Don’t get too cocky. There’s a long road.

Dopermean · May 19

Battlebus said:
Pensions are as underfunded as Social Care. If you save, GDP will be depressed. If you do save, the government will come for it.

What to do?

Also be nice to your children. They pick your care home.

More importantly, be nice to your carers, they'll keep you clean, hydrated and happy.

SandyRentool · May 19

Taz said:

OnlyLivingBoy said:

FrancisUrquhart said:
private sector: −377,000 jobs, 3.0% wage growth
state-funded sectors: +114,000. 4.8% wage growth.

https://x.com/ColeFusionHQ/status/2056628397221048660?s=20
Public sector wages playing catch up. Or should public sector workers' pay fall ever further behind that in the private sector? (Good luck with recruitment and retainment when TAs and nurses can earn more at Aldi, BTW).
A compensation package is not just the wage. It’s the holiday entitlement, pension entitlement and pay scales too.

Compensation.

Another daft Americanism.

TheScreamingEagles · May 19

carnforth said:

Andy_JS said:

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
YouGov / Sky / Times voting intention

RefUK 25(-3),
CON 18(+1),
LAB 17(+1),
GRN 15(-1)
LDEM 14(+1),

https://x.com/SamCoatesSky/status/2056600843181236522

Anywhere to bet on a Labour lead under Burnham? Surely due one at the start at least
Restore UK are on 4% with this poll.
Prompted or unprompted?

Both.

Screen one depending on your location asks

Con/Lab/Lib Dem/Reform/Green/Other/Would Not Vote

If you choose Other then Restore are prompted there.

Foss · May 19

carnforth said:

Andy_JS said:

BatteryCorrectHorse said:
YouGov / Sky / Times voting intention

RefUK 25(-3),
CON 18(+1),
LAB 17(+1),
GRN 15(-1)
LDEM 14(+1),

https://x.com/SamCoatesSky/status/2056600843181236522

Anywhere to bet on a Labour lead under Burnham? Surely due one at the start at least
Restore UK are on 4% with this poll.
Prompted or unprompted?

YouGov's linked methodology page doesn't include them on the list of parties they prompt for.

Why abolishing the triple lock would be political suicide – politicalbetting.com

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