I see two days ago the government sorted out the pay dispute between the train drivers and put an end to the nonsense of the last few years - that went undetected by the closet Tories on here. Starmer is a paying season ticket holder that has been moved to a private box for his own protection - there's enough nutjobs in this world without someone having a go at a football match. Absolutely non story imo.
Couldn't agree more. No rules broken, save for some mysterious unwritten moral code, it seems. I wonder where it went to when the Tories were in! After fourteen ruinous years of Tory clowns and fraudsters, I'm glad to see any helpful support for a Labour prime minister provided that no rules are broken and no influence is being wielded. But the Tory media would love everyone to make a fuss about it. Let's face it, they haven't much else to go on at the moment!
"mysterious unwritten moral code"....there's no mystery at all, when you're in public life with a position of authority and influence, don't accept money or gifts from anybody.
If you truly believe that, especially after the last 14 years of previous Govts, then just wow. No one is cut from the same cloth as liar liar Johnson and the less said about Truss the better.
Not sure why he hasn’t been given a directors box seat. The most secure area of a football stadium and where most politicians sit. Again, it’s a freebie but no extra security necessary. The PM definitely pays for a season ticket though so it’s not quite the gotcha that the MSM and his detractors are suggesting. Arsenal will be losing money by giving away the box, but he’s the PM ffs. Of course they’re going to roll out the red carpet. Also - of course he’s received the most freebies in recent years. He was likely to become PM, he now is the PM. It’s completely normal in the murky world of politics. But that’s the issue I guess. Many will look back at his many prior quotes where he was critical of other politicians for accepting such gifts. And it’s just not a very good look is it? He’s a millionaire knight of the realm and talking about things being hard and all being in it together whilst at the same time being gifted designer glasses, clothing and an expensive corporate lounge to attend football games. Optics innit? I don’t like the fella and didn’t vote for him. But that’s why I’m not as angry as others seem to be. There’s plenty of Tory voters who are hammering him for seemingly not having the morals of Jeremy Corbyn. Who does sit inside the same football stadium. Alongside fellow supporters. Which is pretty funny. You get what you pay for. That’s the key.
It's great that he's given the train drivers what they wanted even though they were already on a fortune. Not to mention they have backdated it for them very nice. All labour have done since taking charge is tell us how bad the finances are and what a mess we're in. Like I said wait for the budget.
How would you describe the current crop of Labour MP's and their actions in the few short months they've been "in power"? I'd describe it as "much of the same", "The King is dead, long live the King". Whether it's Sunak or Starmer, Truss or Blair, May or Brown...all they did was continue this Country on the downward trend it's been on for my lifetime. Lies, broken promises, self-enrichment and scandal is the only common denominator. But, you keep voting, lambasting those as fools that choose not to through apathy or downright disillusionment at the whole thing, and nothing will change, and we'll keep on with the slow decline (which is starting to speed up rapidly) of our standard of living, the general "mood" and togetherness of the Nation. That's your choice. I will take no part, that's my choice.
Don't look at the MPs Register of Members financial interests then, you might be in for a shock. (and thats the ones they declare don't forget).
I'm sure I won't be shocked, but the same principle of not accepting money or freebies should be across the board.
Yep the average train driver will now be on 69k a year for a 37 hour week. And they get it back dated for 2 year so some will be getting a big wedge to come. Great if you can get it I suppose.
Yeah they’d have been much better not doing anything and just letting the strikes continue like stubborn toddlers… Train driving is pretty well paid. It’s also skilled, pressured, responsible for millions of pounds worth of freight or even more importantly - hundreds of lives on every trip. They’ve been given a rise which equates to less than inflation matching overall for the three years. After not getting much for years before. This government has also ended a two year long dispute that led to 44 days of strikes with junior Doctors, by listening, and negotiating. A 22% rise - when they’d been asking for 35%. Positive outcomes, preventing further strikes and thus improving things for the general public. Grown up, sensible government. As opposed to refusing to budge, being stubborn and letting the country suffer. The budget coming will be interesting. I’d suggest it will be painful and will be pilloried in the media. I don’t think we will like it. But it might be wise to look at it in the context of the situation the country is in and the fact the previous government have ruined so much, yes the economy but also public services, even society.
The first two terms of Blair the country was not on a downward trend. That’s a lie. He took us into a bloody stupid war for disingenuous reasons but his premiership created much more than that. The ‘new Labour’ government is lambasted but the quality of life and general outlook improved so much through the late nineties and early 00’s - we have regressed hugely since 2010 as a nation for various reasons.
It's largely forgotten now but Blair inherited a strong economy. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/may/11/tonyblair.labour15
The problem with giving in to demands more will then come from others. And is it costed for if so where from? Northern were recruiting for train drivers before and after covid they were quite often starting salary 29k I think no quals needed then when trained up 52k per year. Beats going to uni etc if you can get it.
I would describe the current crop of Labour MPs as ‘ Jury’s still out’ but encouraging signs as disputes being settled, not giving the rich ‘tax breaks’ whist taking vey hard decisions on ordinary people. I do have every confidence that we’ll see nowhere near the same sleaze, kamikaze politics of the economy, lies of the last 14 years. Sounds like Starmer has scored a bit of an own goal with some of these so-called freebies’ but let’s get things into perspective here, to compare and say ‘much of the same’ as this to the last 14 years of corrupt, sleaze,dishonest, self-serving actions etc is totally way off mark. What I’ve also noticed is the outrage on here from certain posters who were mostly nowhere to be seen or trying to blindly defend the last lot in govt. 3 months into a new govt that includes a summer recess, is hardly comparable in the slightest. Spectemur Agendo
They haven’t given in to demands, they’ve sat around a table, negotiated and prevented further disruption. The country will be better off for it in the long run. Better than the ongoing situation inherited from the nasty party