General Election 2017 | Cabinet reshuffle: Hunt re-appointed Health Secretary for record third time
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Can you please two stop this as you are never going to agree on this? Isn't it enough of Diane Abbott already?
Roughly 50% of people using them do so because of benefit sanctions and other restrictions on benefit payments, so it's pretty fair to say the use is down to cash flow issues. There is very, very little real poverty in the UK after all.
Theresa May is that you?
I'm afraid that doesn't take away from the utter idiocy of trying to dismiss the issue by using a term as callous as 'cash flow problem'.
Generally only people with no money in the first place end up with the kind of 'cash flow problem' that means a single delayed payment would leave them starving ffs.
The only cash flow problem they have is that they have no cash coming in. Poor statement, that.
I'm your standard leftist, so naturally I am supporting Corbyn/Labour.
However, isn't it best for Labour in the long-term if the Tories win this election?
Whoever is leading the brexit negotiations is probably going to come out looking like an idiot - the EU are surely going to make an example out of us and condemn us to a bit of recession/hardship?
Is it best to let the Tories endure the chaos and 'make a mess of it'? (rather than having Corbyn as a scapegoat)
We know it doesn't matter who leads the negotiations - the EU will have the final say (ask Yanis Varoufakis)
However, isn't it best for Labour in the long-term if the Tories win this election?
Whoever is leading the brexit negotiations is probably going to come out looking like an idiot - the EU are surely going to make an example out of us and condemn us to a bit of recession/hardship?
Is it best to let the Tories endure the chaos and 'make a mess of it'? (rather than having Corbyn as a scapegoat)
We know it doesn't matter who leads the negotiations - the EU will have the final say (ask Yanis Varoufakis)
This is pretty much my way of dealing emotionally with the inevitable Tory victory. I don't go as far as wishing for it though.
Those newspaper headlines make me depressed. I could certainly see how you could spin it to be an even debate, but yet again they all attack Corbyn. Even the Guardian. God forbid someone thinks we should consider wealth redistribution.
I hope Corbyn attends the last debate, but makes an agreement with the other leaders beforehand to only attack May and the Tories. If they attack each other, coalition of chaos will just be plodded out everywhere. But if they all focus on the Tories they might just have a chance.
Will never happen though, and judging by the state of some people on last night's debate they deserve a good kick up the p45 arse when there's 'no-deal'.
I hope Corbyn attends the last debate, but makes an agreement with the other leaders beforehand to only attack May and the Tories. If they attack each other, coalition of chaos will just be plodded out everywhere. But if they all focus on the Tories they might just have a chance.
Will never happen though, and judging by the state of some people on last night's debate they deserve a good kick up the p45 arse when there's 'no-deal'.
Probably yes, but if Corbyn loses then the left is going to get mauled by the New Labour faction. Probably not a great result long term whatever happens.
I completely disagree with this. The cost of living is rising every single year and wages aren't. I pretty much buy the same food week in and week out and the past few months I've noticed my weekly shopping bill has increased around £15 a week. My council tax has increased, my water bill has increased. Luckily I'm in a comfortable situation so I'm fine but I can imagine there will be plenty of people who will struggle with this so no I don't think it's a cash flow problem and poverty does exist in this country.
Most people will digest last night via clips on news shows. Not sure the very personable and frankly good performance Corbyn had in the opening audience section will be seen by that wide an audience other those who were watching last night in a segment that went directly against Britain's Got Talent.
Corbyn did well against Paxman in the opening half of that segment but he was never really asked anything of note and instead a serious of ridiculous questions. Again, not sure if that section will be seen by many people other than those who tuned in to watch.
So far he most common bits to pull out of Corbyn's turn was the questions towards the end on national security where he was less comfortable.
May wasn't as terrible in the audience bit as I thought she'd be, but nowhere near as good as Corbyn. But again not sure many people other than those who saw on the night will really see it. On the Paxman interview I thought she was better than she was with Neil but still struggled.
Corbyn did well against Paxman in the opening half of that segment but he was never really asked anything of note and instead a serious of ridiculous questions. Again, not sure if that section will be seen by many people other than those who tuned in to watch.
So far he most common bits to pull out of Corbyn's turn was the questions towards the end on national security where he was less comfortable.
May wasn't as terrible in the audience bit as I thought she'd be, but nowhere near as good as Corbyn. But again not sure many people other than those who saw on the night will really see it. On the Paxman interview I thought she was better than she was with Neil but still struggled.
Reckon this is how it will go on the night:
Most recent poll of polls update by electoral calculus. Can see the Tories getting around 45-48% and Labour around 32ish.
Most recent poll of polls update by electoral calculus. Can see the Tories getting around 45-48% and Labour around 32ish.
I hate to sound like a leaver, but I don't think this is going to happen at all. In fact, the worry with these negotiations isn't the EU "looking to make an example of us" it's with the earlier bit; the divorce bill.
If the Tories can get through the divorce bill, they are in the home straight. They can get extensions to negotiations through to 2022, and get the comprehensive free trade agreement they want. Businesses that need full access to the EU will move at least part to the EU, so we will feel a bit of hurt, but nothing great.
Once we have left the EU maybe we will feel the hurt more keenly. But that might take another 5 years before it really kicks in.
If the Tories survive until 2027, then they've had a good 17 year innings. They can't ask for more than that.
Of course, if we can't get the divorce bill agreed we are screwed. If for whatever reason we can't get an extension agreed, we're screwed.
It's the definition of a cash flow problem if the money coming in is down one month through benefit sanctions. Stupid remark for a politician to make but it's still true.
Wage inequality and cost of living increases are a different issue. As are the reasons the benefit sanctions are being imposed.
This is the relevant bit though. He rightly gets no credit for technical accuracy as he's completely missing the point.
Yes he's missing the emotional element of it. Personally I don't think emotion should have any place in elections. Emotion gets us people like Donald Trump and Diane Abbott.
The figures of people who regularly rely on food banks will tell you more than those who have used a food bank. Even those on relatively high incomes can have cash flow problems. In an ideal world nobody would have to use them and those who regularly do is a shame on the country but the fact someone uses a food bank once doesn't necessarily mean it's something for the government to address.
My brother for example works as a tube driver and on a great wage, few months ago his boiler went and it was a huge expense to replace but a necessity. He ended up borrowing a few quid off me even though I earn a lot less. It's feasible that had someone been in his position without family to help them out they might rely on a food bank. You can't blame the government for his situation. And there'll be many reasons why someone otherwise relatively comfortable might need a food bank.
There are people that earn considerably less than nurses who manage their money to the point where they don't rely on food banks too.
My brother for example works as a tube driver and on a great wage, few months ago his boiler went and it was a huge expense to replace but a necessity. He ended up borrowing a few quid off me even though I earn a lot less. It's feasible that had someone been in his position without family to help them out they might rely on a food bank. You can't blame the government for his situation. And there'll be many reasons why someone otherwise relatively comfortable might need a food bank.
There are people that earn considerably less than nurses who manage their money to the point where they don't rely on food banks too.
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He's missing more than that. He's missing his government's role in the 'cash flow problem'.
How do I block idiots?
Most nurses don't use food banks. Most people who earn less than nurses don't use food banks. I think the nurse in questioned earned £25,000 a year. Not a fantastic wage but there are people who earn a lot less than that who manage their finances and don't rely on food banks.
Just carry on posting Twitter videos of politicians spliced to music and everyone will eventually think you're 12 and stop talking to you.
This irrelevance does not remotely justify his comment.
And there you go, the tories prefer 'cash flow problem' to poverty as it attributes blame to the user and not themselves. Such use of wordings has been their main tool for years.
Not just wording but situations, after years of cuts the tories will proudly claim funding increases now.
But it does if we stop using "but nurses.." as an emotive issue.
Regular use of food banks by those who don't earn enough is a huge problem. Specifically those on zero hour contracts. But someone earning enough where they really should manage their money better doesn't become the government's problem just because they're a nurse.
Not managing your money isn't necessarily indicative that you're criminally underpaid.
The average income is around £23,000, I think. Nationally with regional variances. If you earn above that, nurse or not, chances are you earn more than many people on your street. If everyone on her street is using a food bank then we have a problem and yes government needs to address it and take blame for it. If people earning less than her on her street don't have to use a food bank then I don't think I'm heartless in thinking the remedy is her managing her finances better rather than anything the government has any responsibility for.
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Again, what relevance does this have? Food bank demand has increased hugely. Unless you think frivolous spending by the those on low incomes has increased hugely then it is utterly ridiculous to imply the problem is due to individuals mismanaging their finances rather than government policy.
The overall trend of food bank use is of course down to government but not every use of a food bank is a government issue. I don't think it helps to make the poster woman of the issue someone that probably earns more than many people reading about it who themselves manage without relying on charities to feed themselves.
The discussion should be on genuine, low wage workers who do rely on food banks and who the government has abandoned. Not someone who earns above national average wage who most likely does use a food bank because of poor financial management.
Fair.
Banning zero hour contracts has to be a start. Also banning the spurious use of 'self-employed' where it's just a firm not wanting to pay someone the minimum wage or wriggle out of taxes and financial obligations that comes from employing someone.
You see jobs advertised now in call centres as a 'self employment opportunity'. It should be outlawed immediately.
You see jobs advertised now in call centres as a 'self employment opportunity'. It should be outlawed immediately.
Is this the Deliveroo and, I forget the name of the taxi company, situation?
Whats the average hours that a nurse works? What region was this person in?
£25k to a home owner with no or a low mortgage is easy money. £25k for someone living in an expensive region, spending £1k a month on rent, £1.5k on council tax, £1k a year on gas an electricity, £1k a year on car insurance, £1k a year on petrol, £300 a year on car maintenance, £360 a year on water, £360 a year on a telephone line...
Oh and that £25k a year wage is actually £20.3k after tax.
That leaves £60 a week for food, school fees, and everything else.
I don't think any of my numbers there are unreasonable. If you are working 60 hours a week as a single wage earner with dependents in an expensive region, it's not unreasonable to say there is no way it's sustainable.
The clip of Boris losing it on SkyNews 
That oaf is our foreign secretary ffs
That oaf is our foreign secretary ffs
Raping the NHS of resources is funny if you're posh and have crazy hair
That guy yesterday attacking Corbyn for imposing a minimum wage on him/his employees... perhaps if you can't afford to pay your employees a living wage then your business is a failure. Perhaps the wellbeing of the millions on minimum wage is more important than the businesses that rely upon the underpaid labor of its employees. Crazy talk in the 21st century I know, crazy I am. Raving!
This country is so far right of me that I feel obligated to emigrate.
This country is so far right of me that I feel obligated to emigrate.
It's crap like this that means Labour can't win, no matter how good or bad everyone performs. My mum, a staunch Labour voter, told me the other day that she wasn't voting for them because of "the disgusting things Corbyn has said about Britain being to blame for the Manchester attack"... she had read a fecking Daily Mail headline and that was it. I had to show her what he actually said before she realised that she had been taken for a mug.
We really do need to stop having parents.