Re: Politics in General
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2022 12:43 pm
A group for contestants and lovers of the Channel 4 game show 'Countdown'.
http://www.c4countdown.co.uk/
Still don't see where this helps people who aren't paying income tax, unless you're actually proponing the 'leftie' solution.Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:49 pmYou could still have a giveaway for non-taxpayers (ie those earning under £12,500) but we have taxed more AND spent more, which is Labour’s solution. Cut out the middle man here. We have taken money away in NI hikes and given it back to them in a state handout. That’s the Leftie solution.Ian Volante wrote: ↑Wed Jul 13, 2022 12:05 pmThis reads oddly to me. It gives me the impression that you'd prefer a tax cut as a performative measure rather than a rebate that has more chance of reaching the people who need it most (not that I'm saying the rebate was the best way of doing it).Rhys Benjamin wrote: A tax cut would have been better than the energy bills rebate and NI hike hits the wrong audience at the wrong time.
My point being that a large portion of people being hammered by energy bills don't pay income tax in the first place therefore they can't be helped by a tax cut. You may have been referring to VAT? A large cut here would help, but only marginally.
Upon further reflection, I’m #PM4PM
Hi Rhys,Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Wed Jul 13, 2022 9:40 am I am sad that Boris has gone although it was the right time for him to stand down.
As a voter in this election, brief views on each of the leadership candidates:
Kemi Badenoch:
“I’m the Prime Minister and I’m offended by unisex / gender neutral toilets” is bonkers. I’m not overly keen on net zero either but pledging to abolish it is a golden ticket for Labour and Greens and puts us on the wrong side of history.
Suella Braverman:
When you’ve been outschooled by Sebastian Vettel on Question Time your comms cannot possibly lead us into a General Election. You’re also nuts on trans issues and the pink press will be smearing us for another 50 years if you’re elected.
Jeremy Hunt:
More bitter than most lagers, what does he actually stand for these days? My 2019 criticism of “Theresa May in trousers” still stands and his positions on lockdowns are frightening. They should be a last resort, not a first resort.
Penny Morduant:
The timing feels strange and it does feel a little early for her. However, her policy positions appear to be the most sound although I am concerned about her U-turn on trans issues and some dirt that was given to me today about her (but it is fairly minor).
Rishi Sunak:
Have lost a lot of respect for him. Boris gave him almost complete autonomy over economic policy and we have not been Right enough. A tax cut would have been better than the energy bills rebate and NI hike hits the wrong audience at the wrong time.
Liz Truss:
Does she have the gravitas to be PM? Her cheese speech still lingers in my memory and she is ridiculous gaffe-prone but without the charm that Boris had for him to get away with it. Mogg/Dorries endorsement awfully cynical too.
Tom Tugendhat:
Too critical of Boris before Partygate although I like his tough stance on China and his plans to cut taxes.
Nadhim Zahawi:
Again, trans issues are the red flag here. An S28-style policy would be nuts and we would be failing to learn from our mistakes as a party. We cannot set one group against the other unnecessarily.
Summary: probably Mordaunt, Truss, or Tugendhat for me. But absolutely not the others.
She looked more scared than sympatheticGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Jul 27, 2022 8:04 am So the obvious question then. Was this staged to make Liz Truss look like the sympathetic caring candidate?
Yeah if that was the intention, it failed.Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Wed Jul 27, 2022 11:27 amShe looked more scared than sympatheticGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed Jul 27, 2022 8:04 am So the obvious question then. Was this staged to make Liz Truss look like the sympathetic caring candidate?
The UK Parliament has closed its account on the Chinese government website, also known as TikTok. Start with a c4c account, and expand from there. Don't go straight in with such a hardcore site.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:17 pm When did TikTok become "acceptable"? When it was first getting big, there was a lot of controversy abut it being this scary Chinese product that the Chinese government were presumably using to spy on everyone. Now it's everywhere, and you get the BBC going on about these viral TikTok videos with no reference to what they used to say about it.
Probably because most people don't care about bullshit racist scaremongering?Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:17 pm When did TikTok become "acceptable"? When it was first getting big, there was a lot of controversy abut it being this scary Chinese product that the Chinese government were presumably using to spy on everyone.
Maybe but it doesn't explain the flip-flopping narrative in the media.L'oisleatch McGraw wrote: ↑Fri Aug 05, 2022 12:02 amProbably because most people don't care about bullshit racist scaremongering?Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:17 pm When did TikTok become "acceptable"? When it was first getting big, there was a lot of controversy abut it being this scary Chinese product that the Chinese government were presumably using to spy on everyone.
I’m not talking about those people. They’re already being given more than the £550 most people are getting, as the Government is providing an extra £650 to those on low incomes and benefits.Ian Volante wrote: ↑Thu Jul 21, 2022 7:44 amStill don't see where this helps people who aren't paying income tax, unless you're actually proponing the 'leftie' solution.Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:49 pmYou could still have a giveaway for non-taxpayers (ie those earning under £12,500) but we have taxed more AND spent more, which is Labour’s solution. Cut out the middle man here. We have taken money away in NI hikes and given it back to them in a state handout. That’s the Leftie solution.Ian Volante wrote: ↑Wed Jul 13, 2022 12:05 pm
This reads oddly to me. It gives me the impression that you'd prefer a tax cut as a performative measure rather than a rebate that has more chance of reaching the people who need it most (not that I'm saying the rebate was the best way of doing it).
My point being that a large portion of people being hammered by energy bills don't pay income tax in the first place therefore they can't be helped by a tax cut. You may have been referring to VAT? A large cut here would help, but only marginally.
Upon further reflection, I’m #PM4PM
Absolutely - but will never happen or people would suddenly realise just how much tax they are paying - employers NI is invisible to most employeesRhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Sun Aug 07, 2022 9:12 am
(I personally would simplify the tax system by abolishing NI and Council Tax and merging them into income tax. But that’s another story.)
I've some sympathy with such ideas, although before stuffing up finances by dropping income tax, I'd be very tempted to bump up corporation tax and/or introduce a Tobin tax or similar. A lot of the money flows, such as dividends, have it too easy and end up taken away from the areas where they were generated, much as relevant companies may protest about their levels of investment.Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Sun Aug 07, 2022 9:12 am
I’m talking about the flat rate of £400 for everyone and the £150 for most people. Take 2p off the base rate of income tax for the 22-23 financial year and reverse the NI increase. That’s a better way of supporting people.
(I personally would simplify the tax system by abolishing NI and Council Tax and merging them into income tax. But that’s another story.)
I wouldn't care I've never taken an illegal drug in my lifeGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Aug 19, 2022 8:46 pm I don't think I would have given in to taking a drug test just because someone filmed me partying. Anyone else?
No, probably not. Don't buy the excuse of 'she may not be in a fit state to make a momentary decision' thing either. Do no world leaders drink alcohol?Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Aug 19, 2022 8:46 pm I don't think I would have given in to taking a drug test just because someone filmed me partying. Anyone else?
Well Boris Johnson is never in a fit state to make a decision, momentary or otherwise. Plus deputies exist and it's quite rare for a politician to suddenly have to act.Callum Todd wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 3:38 pmNo, probably not. Don't buy the excuse of 'she may not be in a fit state to make a momentary decision' thing either. Do no world leaders drink alcohol?Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Aug 19, 2022 8:46 pm I don't think I would have given in to taking a drug test just because someone filmed me partying. Anyone else?
I think I might have been swayed by whether or not I had anything to hide. Even if you know it's principally wrong I might be tempted to agree to it if I hadn't taken any drugs just to keep people off my back in the hope that next time someone films me and I have taken three ecstacies and a cocaine that I might get away with it.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Aug 19, 2022 8:46 pm I don't think I would have given in to taking a drug test just because someone filmed me partying. Anyone else?
I don't know. I mean, it might have the opposite effect. If you're "caught" partying another time, they might expect you to take a test again as it's the norm now. Also, it gives some credence to the view that her actions were in some way unacceptable. If she'd been filmed playing Scrabble, there wouldn't have been any calls for her to take a drugs test so why here?Matt Morrison wrote: ↑Sun Aug 21, 2022 8:07 amI think I might have been swayed by whether or not I had anything to hide. Even if you know it's principally wrong I might be tempted to agree to it if I hadn't taken any drugs just to keep people off my back in the hope that next time someone films me and I have taken three ecstacies and a cocaine that I might get away with it.Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Aug 19, 2022 8:46 pm I don't think I would have given in to taking a drug test just because someone filmed me partying. Anyone else?
Yeah, a journalist who tells lies should be removed from the public eye and never be allowed to gain a position of responsibility.Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 17, 2022 9:26 pm The world's worst journalist at it again.
He's even acknowledged he's wrong, but left the original, fake news, tweet up...
https://twitter.com/Peston/status/15809 ... XX0n1_lMsQ
What would we prefer a stable government like the conservatives or chaos like labour David Cameron 2018Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Wed Oct 19, 2022 7:40 pm I don’t know whether I’m joking any more when I post this.
https://twitter.com/rhysbenjamin/status ... AcZjGFR89Q
Why not go further and dig up Thatcher?
Or just use a hologram of her. You know, like ABBA.
Further still and dig up Churchill
Genuine question Rhys - what are the values of the Tory party? Do they reflect your own values? Do you believe Boris shares those values?
So that's 4 ex Tory PMs already since 2016Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 4:51 pm I just found out that ex-PMs are allowed to claim up to £115,000 per year indefinitely. The amount of BS expenses and stuff politicians are alowed to claim beggars belief. It's outrageous.
Yep!Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 5:19 pmSo that's 4 ex Tory PMs already since 2016Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 4:51 pm I just found out that ex-PMs are allowed to claim up to £115,000 per year indefinitely. The amount of BS expenses and stuff politicians are alowed to claim beggars belief. It's outrageous.
He was awful as Health MinisterGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 5:26 pmYep!Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 5:19 pmSo that's 4 ex Tory PMs already since 2016Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 4:51 pm I just found out that ex-PMs are allowed to claim up to £115,000 per year indefinitely. The amount of BS expenses and stuff politicians are alowed to claim beggars belief. It's outrageous.
By the way, a lot of people have short memories when it comes to politicians, so it's worth reminding people sometimes. I'm not talking about Boris Johnson, as there's no excuse for forgetting what a shambles of a man he is. But Jeremy Hunt is now viewed as some sort of "safe pair of hands" as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Well, this video might remind you of a few things about him.
If Boris Johnson is the answer, then you must have misunderstood the question
There's no context there. And this is just one person. Not "The BBC".Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 24, 2022 7:38 am The BBC aren’t even trying to hide their bias any more. I don’t ever want to hear that Boris was given a fair time of it. https://twitter.com/nj_timothy/status/1 ... eC41NlkJsg
Inasmuch as I'm generally happy to accept that people are going to have different political leanings to my own, I really can't understand how you can blithely defend this charlatan (or indeed the Conservative Party).Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 24, 2022 7:38 am The BBC aren’t even trying to hide their bias any more. I don’t ever want to hear that Boris was given a fair time of it. https://twitter.com/nj_timothy/status/1 ... eC41NlkJsg
Perhaps if you could answer the questions above this post, we could then debate this.Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 24, 2022 12:38 pm Bob, my boss, and 1922 committee member, so therefore neutral, has told the press that Boris got 100.
So maybe all the “journalists” who said he was lying about it should apologise to him?
That tells me that Boris didn't want to be PM as in a 2 horse race the Tory Party Members would have voted him inRhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 24, 2022 12:38 pm Bob, my boss, and 1922 committee member, so therefore neutral, has told the press that Boris got 100.
So maybe all the “journalists” who said he was lying about it should apologise to him?
She was then seen asking her guests: "Can we even show you the front pages just yet, have they arrived? No they haven't arrived. It's all a little bit, you know, lastminute.com isn't it? Because all the front pages were probably out of date by the time we received them."
Johnson, pulling out, thats a firstGavin Chipper wrote: ↑Mon Oct 24, 2022 7:51 pm Martine Croxall is being investigated over what happened.
Obviously she didn't say what she was gleeful about, although some might say it was clearly Johnson pulling out. But sure, investigate it, but in the general scheme of things it's a slap on the wrist. Krishnan Guru-Murthy got suspended for calling Steve Baker MP a cunt (off air) the other day. Again, I don't think it's worth getting too exicted about though.
I'm not sure I get the relevance of this bit though:
She was then seen asking her guests: "Can we even show you the front pages just yet, have they arrived? No they haven't arrived. It's all a little bit, you know, lastminute.com isn't it? Because all the front pages were probably out of date by the time we received them."
Fiona T wrote: ↑Mon Oct 24, 2022 9:54 am I agree that the reporting shown is pretty bad, and I'd expect complaints to be upheld.
But to reiterate my previous questions - what values do you personally believe to be important? What are the values of the conservative party? Does Boris lead by example when considering those values?
Johnson might have been an electoral asset in the past - not sure about now. But to be clear, if he was an asset it's because people were fooled by his ridiculous bumbling persona, not because he was in any way good.Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:47 pmFiona T wrote: ↑Mon Oct 24, 2022 9:54 am I agree that the reporting shown is pretty bad, and I'd expect complaints to be upheld.
But to reiterate my previous questions - what values do you personally believe to be important? What are the values of the conservative party? Does Boris lead by example when considering those values?
Boris Johnson remains our biggest electoral asset since Margaret Thatcher. Our values are about strong leadership, economic liberalism, and unionism. Boris is on the left of the party, but I think he embodies all of those.