The Politics Thread

To be fair, if l’d spent years in a living hell of bombs, disease and no medicine, why the hell would l want to live with the French?

I cant help wonder, just sometimes, if opposition ran councils are cutting the ‘wrong’ services, to make Central Government look bad.
In regards to preferred suppliers, l could probably guarantee that the local head could get the same stuff, cheaper, locally. The great civil service have a not great reputation for negotiating supplier contracts. See also MOD, Network Rail, Defra.

I think Boris being focussed on investing and spending in the North to reward the voters who backed him will actually help to rectify many of the issues. Schools in the South probably have the same funding issues but parents are in a better position to help out financially. The prosperous areas of the South have very few disabled people of working age compared to the industrial areas of the North. Giving extra money to Northern councils won't just buy votes in 5 years time it will be morally and socially justifiable.

I have always felt that the councils, police etc have used the catch all phrase of ‘the cuts’ mainly to wriggle off the hook because of their pure incompetence at running a service.
I have got no idea what I am doing let’s blame ‘the cuts’ boys!!
Isn’t it interesting that those things that affect the public perception the most, state of roads, rubbish collection, children’s education are the one that have had the most severe cuts.
Can anyone name any council leader that is:
a) competent and
b) hasn’t given themselves a nice big lumpy pay rise during these years of ‘austerity’

Council Tax is going up by more than £70 for the average Band D home in 2020 but I've always felt that people who vote Tory should pay for their mistakes


Drastic cuts to local government funding have seen the UK’s most deprived metropolitan areas “shoulder the burden of austerity” while some more prosperous counties have flourished, according to new research.

Analysis by the TUC and public service union Unison of central government funding for local councils in England since 2010 highlights a yawning chasm between urban and rural areas. It shows that , overall, councils in England are spending £7.8bn a year less on key services than they did in 2010, which equates to a cut of £150m a week.

The analysis reveals that the 20 councils with the biggest funding gaps are overwhelmingly metropolitan boroughs in London and the north of England. Of these 18 are controlled by Labour; only one is Conservative-run.

In contrast, the 20 councils with the smallest funding cuts are overwhelmingly all Conservative-controlled county councils. Of these, 16 are controlled by the Conservatives and just two are Labour-run.

The analysis – using methodology employed by both the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Centre for Cities – found that Labour-run Salford Council is spending 38% – or £99m a year – less on key local services than a decade ago. That works out to £479 a year less per resident.

Camden Council, also Labour-run, is spending 32% – £103m a year – less than in 2010. That works out as £620 a year less per resident.

In contrast, Conservative-run Surrey Council is spending 7% – £54m a year – more on key local services than in 2010, which works out at £11 a year more per resident.

Wiltshire Council, a Tory authority, is spending 8%, or £27m a year, more on key local services than in 2010, which works out at £16 a year more per resident.

The Local Government Association estimates that in the past eight years, councils in general have lost 60p out of every £1 the government used to provide prior to the funding cuts. This has left councils increasingly reliant on raising income through council tax, business rates and other charges and fees. Urban councils in more deprived areas have found this task more difficult than their rural counterparts.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/nov/24/deprived-urban-areas-shoulder-burden-of-funding-cuts

I have always felt that the councils, police etc have used the catch all phrase of ‘the cuts’ mainly to wriggle off the hook because of their pure incompetence at running a service.
I have got no idea what I am doing let’s blame ‘the cuts’ boys!!
Isn’t it interesting that those things that affect the public perception the most, state of roads, rubbish collection, children’s education are the one that have had the most severe cuts.
Can anyone name any council leader that is:
a) competent and
b) hasn’t given themselves a nice big lumpy pay rise during these years of ‘austerity’

Not to mention the soon to be ex- leader of the London fire service who has been roundly condemned, not only for Grenfell but for running of the fire service generally, to retire at 50 with a nice 2 million in her pension pot.

Marko, any chance that you can quote any rag other than the Guardian, no-one cares what guff they write.
I had a cursory run through your post as I get bored easily but it would appear the case for the defence is that Conservative councils use their funds more wisely than Labour councils.
I am pretty sure that 60% reduction you spoke about is the money siphoned off to pay those nice pensions that local government and police pay themselves.
I don’t trust any council of whatever colour not to piss our hard earned, so never try to make me feel sorry for those reprobates.

I think Boris being focussed on investing and spending in the North to reward the voters who backed him will actually help to rectify many of the issues. Schools in the South probably have the same funding issues but parents are in a better position to help out financially. The prosperous areas of the South have very few disabled people of working age compared to the industrial areas of the North. Giving extra money to Northern councils won't just buy votes in 5 years time it will be morally and socially justifiable.

Will Johnson actually fulfill his promise of investing in the north though?

What about the people with disabilities in the less prosperous areas of the south?

So any newspaper that doesn't support your view of the world isn't worth reading? Learning new information can be so tedious can't it? Much easier to print your opinion,however ill-informed. What job do you do?

Local councils to see central funding fall 77% by 2020

https://www.ft.com/content/9c6b5284-6000-11e7-91a7-502f7ee26895

Marko, any chance that you can quote any rag other than the Guardian, no-one cares what guff they write.
I had a cursory run through your post as I get bored easily but it would appear the case for the defence is that Conservative councils use their funds more wisely than Labour councils.
I am pretty sure that 60% reduction you spoke about is the money siphoned off to pay those nice pensions that local government and police pay themselves.
I don’t trust any council of whatever colour not to piss our hard earned, so never try to make me feel sorry for those reprobates.

Yeah Marko get some accurate quotes from The Sun man!

I get the impression The Conservatives can do no wrong in your eyes am I right?

Council Tax is going up by more than £70 for the average Band D home in 2020 but I've always felt that people who vote Tory should pay for their mistakes


Drastic cuts to local government funding have seen the UK’s most deprived metropolitan areas “shoulder the burden of austerity” while some more prosperous counties have flourished, according to new research.

Analysis by the TUC and public service union Unison of central government funding for local councils in England since 2010 highlights a yawning chasm between urban and rural areas. It shows that , overall, councils in England are spending £7.8bn a year less on key services than they did in 2010, which equates to a cut of £150m a week.

The analysis reveals that the 20 councils with the biggest funding gaps are overwhelmingly metropolitan boroughs in London and the north of England. Of these 18 are controlled by Labour; only one is Conservative-run.

In contrast, the 20 councils with the smallest funding cuts are overwhelmingly all Conservative-controlled county councils. Of these, 16 are controlled by the Conservatives and just two are Labour-run.

The analysis – using methodology employed by both the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Centre for Cities – found that Labour-run Salford Council is spending 38% – or £99m a year – less on key local services than a decade ago. That works out to £479 a year less per resident.

Camden Council, also Labour-run, is spending 32% – £103m a year – less than in 2010. That works out as £620 a year less per resident.

In contrast, Conservative-run Surrey Council is spending 7% – £54m a year – more on key local services than in 2010, which works out at £11 a year more per resident.

Wiltshire Council, a Tory authority, is spending 8%, or £27m a year, more on key local services than in 2010, which works out at £16 a year more per resident.

The Local Government Association estimates that in the past eight years, councils in general have lost 60p out of every £1 the government used to provide prior to the funding cuts. This has left councils increasingly reliant on raising income through council tax, business rates and other charges and fees. Urban councils in more deprived areas have found this task more difficult than their rural counterparts.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/nov/24/deprived-urban-areas-shoulder-burden-of-funding-cuts

Begs the question why Council funding was cut, however you have not given a reason, the negatives (as usual) is all you spout. In the last 5 years our local Police force, City Council and County Council has burned millions on ill advised Court Cases and in the case of the Police IPCC investigations with no benefit to the Council Tax payers whatsoever.

In addition, you make no mention of the additional funding made available to the Councils by being able to retain business rates instead of handing them over to Westminster.

If you have a minute check out Cumbria Police accounts and balance the amount paid in wages and salary's to the head count, something does not fit..........

Marko, any chance that you can quote any rag other than the Guardian, no-one cares what guff they write.
I had a cursory run through your post as I get bored easily but it would appear the case for the defence is that Conservative councils use their funds more wisely than Labour councils.
I am pretty sure that 60% reduction you spoke about is the money siphoned off to pay those nice pensions that local government and police pay themselves.
I don’t trust any council of whatever colour not to piss our hard earned, so never try to make me feel sorry for those reprobates.

Yeah Marko get some accurate quotes from The Sun man!

I get the impression The Conservatives can do no wrong in your eyes am I right?

No. I don’t believe or trust any of them. Read my last sentence, I don’t trust councils of any colour.
All I know is that councils used to give us 10 times the facilities for way less tax.
Go figure

So any newspaper that doesn't support your view of the world isn't worth reading? Learning new information can be so tedious can't it? Much easier to print your opinion,however ill-informed. What job do you do?

Local councils to see central funding fall 77% by 2020

https://www.ft.com/content/9c6b5284-6000-11e7-91a7-502f7ee26895

Only you could spout such hypocrisy in your first sentence! Unreal......

"A protracted legal battle between Cumbria County Council and its former highways contractor has left the authority with a £21 million bill.

Leaked documents have revealed that the long-running dispute, which was finally resolved last year with a costly 42-day High Court trial, has left the council obliged to pay £11.6m to Amey, as well as its own £10m legal bill."

-----------------------------------------------

These costs were much higher.

"Nearly half a million pounds has been spent by a council on legal advice in a five-year planning row over an airport.
Carlisle City Council revealed the £441,000 figure, which represents legal costs alone, after a Freedom of Information request from the BBC."

---------------------------------------------------------------

"The seven-month suspension of a chief constable over minor misconduct allegations has cost the taxpayer an estimated £300,000.

Stuart Hyde, Chief Constable of Cumbria, has been suspended on full pay for seven months despite the police complaints watchdog deciding the allegations against him “do not amount to serious misconduct or are based on unsupported suspicion”.

---------------------------------------------------

That lot would have filled a few potholes and paid for social care.

The council were on a hiding to nothing on the Amey case. Someone on the council cocked up but no-one owned up. The should have settled out of court and saved the tax payers a lot of money and sacked their legal dept

Funding from central government has been cut from all councils,

This means that councils are more reliant on council tax, business rates and other income such as car parking and parking fines.
This means that councils with a lot of businesses in their area, high value housing and housing density can raise more revenue than poorer areas.
Rural areas like Cumbria tend to lose out

In addition many Councils have been investing our money in assets over decades, surplus money that could have been used to keep Council tax down.....

I think that's the point Graeme. the Tories have slashed funding for councils so councils have increased council tax. But the increases haven't kept pace with the cuts

The IFS has also looked at the level of cuts to local government since 2010, revealing budgeted revenues to cover day-to-day spending in 2019–20 “will be approximately 18% lower in real terms than in 2009–10”.

They said after accounting for population growth that equates to cuts of 24% per resident, but the burden has been even worse for those in deprived areas.

The IFS said as a result of the cuts: “Councils’ spending on local services has fallen around 31% in the most deprived areas, on average, compared to 16% in the least deprived areas.”

The IFS’ associate director David Phillips said: "The differences between the parties’ plans for council funding are stark, and imply vastly different future directions for the country.

"Taken at face value, the Conservatives plans wouldn’t meet the rising costs and demands for local services – necessitating a further retrenchment in services or unfunded top-ups to the plans set out."

"In contrast, the Labour Party has allocated more than enough money to meet rising costs and demands, allowing increases in service provision and quality, even without council tax increases – although this isn’t costless, as other taxes would increase substantially under Labour, and these would not just hit the top 5%."

So cuts in council services were what you voted for

Lovely drive through the Tory heartlands from town to Wasdale this morning.
Every town and village voting blue where once voting Conservative would have been unthinkable.
Not surprised when you read the downbeat tones of Corbyn followers on here frowning on positivity whilst boring everyone to death by putting our fantastic country down.
But at least you gained that sort after northern hotbed.

Putney :-D

That and The Road to Wigan Pier-no particular order.

We seem to building a consensus on here-most want the welfare state to be the safety net, not the crutch.

Certainly can't argue with the second part. What pisses me off is how many of your wastrels end up in Scotland.

Let's not forget that Orwell was a committed socialist who fought in Spain for the Marxists. AF is as much about capitalism as it is about communism. Propaganda, the illusion of choice, brainwashing over potential enemies. Orwell said himself that while he did not approve of the Soviet Union he did not know what Stalin could have done differently at that time. AF was translated into over 80 languages after Orwell's death by the CIA who also bought the film rights; it was pushed as anti-Soviet propaganda. Ironic that Orwell stood so strongly against propaganda and yet became a victim of it himself.

The Road to Wigan Pier? The whole second half is about the misconception in Britain of socialism?!!

Yep. Orwell was such a huge Marxist that he wrote this.

In left-wing circles it is always felt that there is something slightly disgraceful in being an Englishman and that it is a duty to snigger at every English institution, from horse racing to suet puddings. It is a strange fact, but it is unquestionably true that almost any English intellectual would feel more ashamed of standing to attention during ‘God save the King’ than of stealing from a poor box. All through the critical years many left-wingers were chipping away at English morale, trying to spread an outlook that was sometimes squashily pacifist, sometimes violently pro-Russian, but always anti-British.”

Lovely drive through the Tory heartlands from town to Wasdale this morning.
Every town and village voting blue where once voting Conservative would have been unthinkable.
Not surprised when you read the downbeat tones of Corbyn followers on here frowning on positivity whilst boring everyone to death by putting our fantastic country down.
But at least you gained that sort after northern hotbed.

Putney :-D

Sought-after :-D

Sort ffs.

I quoted that a few days ago.We British have a set of values, the core ones being identity and patriotism-sneered at by Corbyn and his disciples, but carefully guarded by most decent British nationals.

Please for the love of God could just [censored] google it!!

Workers' Party of Marxist Unification- POUM Partit Obrer d'Unificació Marxista

It's what the whole book is about, sob

Homage to Catalonia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homage_to_Catalonia


Orwell joined the POUM, rather than the far larger Soviet supported Communist-run International Brigades. Orwell had been told that he would not be permitted to enter Spain without some supporting documents from a British left-wing organisation, and he had first sought the assistance of the British Communist Party and put his request directly to its leader, Harry Pollitt. Pollitt "seems to have taken an immediate dislike to him ... and soon concluded that his visitor was 'politically unreliable.'"[5] Orwell then telephoned the headquarters of the ILP, and its officials agreed to help him. The party was willing to accredit him as a correspondent for the New Leader, the ILP's weekly paper with which he was familiar, and thus provided the means for him to go legitimately to Spain.[6] The ILP issued him a letter of introduction to their representative in Barcelona. The party was affiliated with the independent socialist group, the POUM. Orwell's experiences, culminating in his and his wife Eileen O'Shaughnessy's narrow escape from the Communist purges in Barcelona in June 1937,[7] greatly increased his sympathy for the POUM and, while not challenging his moral and political commitment to socialism, made him a lifelong anti-Stalinist.

An article on Tv today claimed that the Tory landslide, especially breaking down the red wall, was actually started by May in 2017 and Boris just needed a bit of a push to collapse it completely, the Tory share of the vote only increasing a little, Labour vote dissapearing.

I can't believe how the likes of Pidcock and Lewis think labour should move further away from the centre ground, the gift that just keeps giving.

The Momentum group seem to be relying on the fact that the Labour party are the biggest party in Europe with 500,000 members, but just a little over 200.000 voted for Corbyn and Corbynism, which I think works out at roughly 1 voter in 200 when it comes to an election.

Their arrogance does them no favours either, is it me or can none of these arseholes accept the result of a referendum or election.

Sturgeon lost the independence referendum and the brexit referendum, because she lost the first she can't argue Scotland didn't vote for brexit because it was a UK wide vote and Scotland voted to be part of the UK in the first referendum.

Swinson ex leader of the Liberal Undemocratic Party.

An article on Tv today claimed that the Tory landslide, especially breaking down the red wall, was actually started by May in 2017 and Boris just needed a bit of a push to collapse it completely, the Tory share of the vote only increasing a little, Labour vote dissapearing.

I can't believe how the likes of Pidcock and Lewis think labour should move further away from the centre ground, the gift that just keeps giving.

The Momentum group seem to be relying on the fact that the Labour party are the biggest party in Europe with 500,000 members, but just a little over 200.000 voted for Corbyn and Corbynism, which I think works out at roughly 1 voter in 200 when it comes to an election.

Their arrogance does them no favours either, is it me or can none of these arseholes accept the result of a referendum or election.

The Labour membership was flagged up as one of its strengths, when in fact it was one of their weaknesses. A party whose membership is 25% based in London, with a politically correct and identity politics agenda.

It's true that Labour managed to mobilise many of these party members to canvass for the party, but in my experience they were a dogmatic, fanatical bunch, some of them in Carlisle were local, but others seemed to be shipped in from who knows where. I mean who wants to harangued by a bunch of extremists on your own doorstep? And extremists they were.

Interestingly there was a former Labour MP on LBC radio, who had been in conversation with a Trade Union convener in his former constituency. The Trade Union chap had reported that people had been literally queuing up to cancel their political levy to the Labour Party on the day after the election.