Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th December 2021

[PaulfromYorkshire]

Good Morning

[gilsey]

Good morning.


Imo this just about sums up Labour's pathetic timidity. Experts say bills could go >50% higher, but all Labour can offer is scrap VAT, which is 5%.

Rachel Reeves
@RachelReevesMP
NEW: Analysis of VAT receipts shows again how government can - and should - back Labour's call to scrap VAT on home energy bills over winter.

Working people face soaring bills.

Why won't the Conservatives take this step to help those feeling the pinch?

[AnatolyKasparov]

The point is surely that its something that could be done right now, even by this government.

On the other hand they aren't going to do public ownership, however desirable that might be.

[tinyclanger2]

Morning all

[gilsey]

The point is surely that its something that could be done right now, even by this government.

I know what the point is, and it's pathetic.

[AnatolyKasparov]

Yes, but what do you want them to say?

[refitman]

"The way to bring down fuel bills is to bring power companies back into public ownership, where the priority is on serving the public, not making profits for the shareholders"

Maybe?

[PaulfromYorkshire]

A policy supported by the majority according to polls.

[AnatolyKasparov]

But at the risk of repeating myself, the above tweet was suggesting something even the Tories could do - right now.

[refitman]

But at the risk of repeating myself, the above tweet was suggesting something even the Tories could do - right now.

But it's not presenting a credible alternative. Also, it's just a tax cut - all it does in the long run is more austerity. It will just end up kicking poor people in the long run and isn't an actual structural change to the way things are currently run.

Although saying that, I have seen NO evidence that the current Labour leadership have ANY intention of making any structural changes to the way the country is currently run. More of the same and don't rock the boat seem to be the order(s) of the day.

[AnatolyKasparov]

Well, we will have to wait to see what is actually in the manifesto when the time comes. It may be better than some currently think.

[PaulfromYorkshire]

I hope so AK. The optimist in me says playing a waiting game was important. We really need people who voted (a) Boris and (b) Brexit to come round to the idea that they were misguided (careful choice of word).

The first of those has now happened it seems. Brexit is going to be interesting in the New Year!

I do worry that there needs to be some kind of accommodation between the right and left of Labour if the party is to ever win again.

[PaulfromYorkshire]

[tinyclanger2]

generous.

[PaulfromYorkshire]

[PaulfromYorkshire]

This hasn’t gone down terribly well

[refitman]

"I welcome the Prime Minister's decision, but urge him to go further."

*sigh*

[tinyclanger2]

yep

[PorFavor]

Good morfternoon.

England could fit Covid air filters to all classrooms for half cost of royal yacht

Scientists say air purifiers would help stop virus spreading in schools as fears grow of teacher shortages

(Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... oyal-yacht

And Labour says, "Yes, but a new Royal Yacht would be a jolly nice thing to have."

[PaulfromYorkshire]

@PF spot on!

[PorFavor]

"Actually, those figures would suggest that we could have two of them - you know, on the "heir and a spare" principle. Labour thinks that Boris Johnson could be doing more."

[gilsey]

"The way to bring down fuel bills is to bring power companies back into public ownership, where the priority is on serving the public, not making profits for the shareholders"

Maybe?

Exactly so, cheers rfm.

Imo the govt will actually have to do something about this despite Sunak's parsimony. No doubt whatever they come up with won't involve cutting the private sector's profit margins.

[refitman]

Anyone remember when Lammy was good, for like 5 mins?

[PorFavor]

Yes, I briefly entertained hopes of David Lammy.

[gilsey]

[AnatolyKasparov]

How is Walker's crank party doing?

[gilsey]

It's just how I happened on it, didn't want anyone to think I'd been trawling for Lammy's incriminating tweets!
So I've no idea, don't follow her or the party.

[AnatolyKasparov]

Lammy was never really a big Corbyn fan despite his nomination. Spent most of the 2017-19 parliament dissing him over Brexit.

[PaulfromYorkshire]

@ak Regardless of that party, which I don’t think is “hers”, I’d think twice if I found myself in the other side of an argument to Thelma.

[AnatolyKasparov]

Anyway, have publications started putting England's Test scores in the "comedy" section yet?

[tinyclanger2]

Afternoon nesters. Have just watched a recording of Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer's Christmas Gone Fishing Special. Teddy as Security was one of the funniest things I've seen for quite some time.

[PaulfromYorkshire]

@refitman

I am now literally crying with laughter at “adult human chicken”

(as seen on Twitter)

[refitman]

@refitman

I am now literally crying with laughter at “adult human chicken”

(as seen on Twitter)

Possibly one of the greatest GC self-owns.

[PaulfromYorkshire]

Yeah if you are going to shout dictionary definitions at people….

[refitman]

[PaulfromYorkshire]

Ha ha