Reform party, now running Kent County Council are likely to raise the rate Council tax.

Read yesterday that two more Reform councillors have been 'ejected' in Kent. Not sure if it was from Reform or the Council or both.
How many more can they afford to lose, without losing control of the council?

I get where you’re coming from, but it’s not that simple. Many people contribute to society in ways that don’t show up on tax records — unpaid caregiving, volunteer work, or informal jobs. Pensions are meant to support everyone in old age, not just those with formal employment. The bigger focus should be on reforming the system to make it fair and sustainable for everyone, rather than pointing fingers at specific groups flstudiomobileapk.net/

Yes, I am a real person, sunami, and I take your point: all of us in East Kent should sleep safer in our beds knowing that Mr Farage is our guard dog.

Ah! I see PaynesGray's post was referring to my previous post.

PaynesGrey

You are replying to spam, sunami.

Oh! I thought I'd seen that username before. Never mind, the idea of Farage standing on the cliffs of Dover looking all fierce and shouting in a menacing way is quite amusing. (As if "boat people" would be scared!)

PaynesGrey

You are replying to spam, sunami.

I suspected it was spam, but this interests me

Many people who didn’t pay taxes may still have contributed to society in other ways

It seems that the idea for providing old age pensions was introduced by Germany in the late 19th C. The German government seems to have had some understanding of how a money based economy 'works'. The pension was not only to support old people who could no longer work (so motivated by humanitarian concerns) but it was recognised that the money paid to them would be spent into the economy and so help to support it.

The comment about 'people who didn't pay taxes' ignores this second point. While these people didn't pay income taxes they still spent money into the economy and very little of the money spent into the economy escapes taxation. So their spending helped to sustain the economy. Pensioner's spending helps to sustain the economy, however the money was obtained in the first place.

Because nearly all a nation's money originates with its government (government issues the money and taxes it back to prevent a surplus being accumulated) and its primary purpose is to enable economic activity.

In the US civil war, when there was a shortage of money in circulation the Federal government (i.e the government of the non breakaway states) solved the problem of money shortage by issuing a new currency, the 'greenback dollar' with which to pay the suppliers of their military needs and for the general population to be able to carry on domestic trading in the normal way. These dollars weren't backed by gold or silver, but were accepted as a medium for economic activity because the Federal government insisted that they were used for payment of taxes.

What we forget is that 'money' is an artificial construct which only acquires its universal acceptance in a society because firstly, it is needed to pay taxes and secondly its 'value' is fairly stable and is trusted by those who use it. And it only has any value when it is being used in trading/exchange activity. If everyone were completely self sufficient, able to provide for their needs for shelter, food and clothing using natural resources we wouldn't actually need it...

You are replying to spam, sunami.

Chocolatelovinggran

I live in Kent and was amused by the rhetoric from the Reform group about the massive savings they would make by cutting waste and removing expensive DEI initiatives.
When in power they discovered - surprise, surprise, the previous Conservative team had cut all the waste, and there were no expensive DEI initiatives.
They did take down the flag of Ukraine, so perhaps that was sold on eBay.
I was angered to learn that they had sold off many works of art belonging to the people of Kent, not the Reform party, to raise a little cash, with no consultation with the owners - us.

But you have Farage standing on the cliffs of Dover guarding you all from marauding foreigners! Be grateful!!

carryttr

I understand your point, but the situation is more complex than that. Many people who didn’t pay taxes may still have contributed to society in other ways — for example, unpaid caregiving, community work, or jobs that weren’t formally registered. Also, pension systems are supposed to support everyone in old age, not just those who had stable employment. The real issue is fixing the system so it’s fair and sustainable for future generations, not blaming specific groups. simownersdetails.pk/

As far as I know, the purpose of pension systems isn't set in stone anywhere. Most people paying into any kind of pension system think it's to support them in old age. What are they supposed to think if they know that those who aren't paying into the system will have the same entitlement anyway?

Is Kent County Council the one with spotty, clueless 18 year olds trying to run it ?

Doodledog

Too many people are not contributing financially to society outside of their own homes, and this has been the case for far too long.

It may have made sense immediately after the war for men to work and women to raise children; but for ages there have been people not paying tax but taking from the system. Now those people are drawing pensions, despite in many cases not having paid in. It just can’t go on.

There are also too many people working part-time and getting top ups from the government. Why should some work full time for the same money as others working half the hours?

The system has to skew in favour of working people- if it doesn’t they will simply stop being prepared to work and contribute so that others don’t have to.

Many part time workers would like to work full time, but the full time jobs are not available. In many industries, service industries in particular the tax regime makes it advantagious for employers to have lots of part time workers rather than fewer full time workers.

In these days where every individual needs to work, many women, in particular are having to slot work around domestic responsibilities caring for children or disabled and/or elderly family members. In the past this was all done by the non-working adult in the family.

People's contribution to society cannot just be limited to money. If many people went back to work fulltime other people would need to be paid to look after children, disabled people and old and frail people. many people contribute to society by their unpaid work in the community and home.

For many people part time work is part of a route back to full time worke. I stayed at home an 'non-working' mother for seven years and then worked part time for 5 years when my children were small, returning to work full time when they were old enough. Any state pension I draw is based on the contributions I paid when I was working.

Too many people are not contributing financially to society outside of their own homes, and this has been the case for far too long.

It may have made sense immediately after the war for men to work and women to raise children; but for ages there have been people not paying tax but taking from the system. Now those people are drawing pensions, despite in many cases not having paid in. It just can’t go on.

There are also too many people working part-time and getting top ups from the government. Why should some work full time for the same money as others working half the hours?

The system has to skew in favour of working people- if it doesn’t they will simply stop being prepared to work and contribute so that others don’t have to.

Primrose53

MayBee70

PaynesGrey

Don McGowan’s substack piece on the DOGE nonsense.

donmcgowan333.substack.com/p/dolge?r=5wpi28&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

I see there has been a batch of Tory councillor defections to Reform today. Leaving one sinking ship for another or a Trojan horse.

I think the clouds are starting to gather over Farage e.g. Gill, Cottrell, overseas donors, not declaring his income (nothing in the MPs register of interests since May). Who is paying for his £1 million a year security? Who has been paying for his recent trips to the USA?

Byline Times piece:

‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/thick-as-thieves-nathan-gill-and-nigel-farages-putin-problem/

Tweet of the day from musician Tanita Tikaram:

^At this point Nigel Farage could appear in an interview in a KGB uniform & the British media would go ‘ No nothing to see here, let’s talk about Angela Rayner’s Eccles Cakes.^

Farage is in court today I believe. Does anyone know what for?

He is in court for the trial of an asylum seeker who threatened to kill him on TikTok.

It’s rather a bizarre case. The accused actually sounds a bit deranged to me. Apparently he said he wanted to marry Farage’s sister Does F even have a sister?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv6zd73jmzo

That's an interesting quote MayBee70. Of course, Reform leaders don't riot: it's some of their supporters who do so.

Mind you, he’s not against threatening violence himself is he? “Nigel Farage has said he would, “don khaki, pick up a rifle and head for the front lines” if Theresa May fails to deliver Brexit in the fashion he wants.

Addressing an audience at a £63 a head event in Southampton on Sunday, the former Ukip leader said that if Brexit was not delivered properly, "there will be widespread public anger in this country on a scale and in a way we have never seen before."

He added: "If that happens, much as I'm enjoying myself... I enjoy my trips to the States with Trump and the White House and everything else. I'm enjoying my life.”

MayBee70

PaynesGrey

Don McGowan’s substack piece on the DOGE nonsense.

donmcgowan333.substack.com/p/dolge?r=5wpi28&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

I see there has been a batch of Tory councillor defections to Reform today. Leaving one sinking ship for another or a Trojan horse.

I think the clouds are starting to gather over Farage e.g. Gill, Cottrell, overseas donors, not declaring his income (nothing in the MPs register of interests since May). Who is paying for his £1 million a year security? Who has been paying for his recent trips to the USA?

Byline Times piece:

‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/thick-as-thieves-nathan-gill-and-nigel-farages-putin-problem/

Tweet of the day from musician Tanita Tikaram:

^At this point Nigel Farage could appear in an interview in a KGB uniform & the British media would go ‘ No nothing to see here, let’s talk about Angela Rayner’s Eccles Cakes.^

Farage is in court today I believe. Does anyone know what for?

He is in court for the trial of an asylum seeker who threatened to kill him on TikTok.

Ha! Not so easy is it.

Rosie51

Grantanow I think that's a lesson all the parties find (not the rioting, the mouthing off). Theory is a wonderful place where anything is possible, reality is quite another thing. I do feel for the people in Kent who fell for the hype, and even more so for those who didn't!

I live in Kent,please dont feel sorry for me, .i am glad they have taken control.

PaynesGrey

Don McGowan’s substack piece on the DOGE nonsense.

donmcgowan333.substack.com/p/dolge?r=5wpi28&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

I see there has been a batch of Tory councillor defections to Reform today. Leaving one sinking ship for another or a Trojan horse.

I think the clouds are starting to gather over Farage e.g. Gill, Cottrell, overseas donors, not declaring his income (nothing in the MPs register of interests since May). Who is paying for his £1 million a year security? Who has been paying for his recent trips to the USA?

Byline Times piece:

‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/thick-as-thieves-nathan-gill-and-nigel-farages-putin-problem/

Tweet of the day from musician Tanita Tikaram:

^At this point Nigel Farage could appear in an interview in a KGB uniform & the British media would go ‘ No nothing to see here, let’s talk about Angela Rayner’s Eccles Cakes.^

Farage is in court today I believe. Does anyone know what for?

I live in Kent and was amused by the rhetoric from the Reform group about the massive savings they would make by cutting waste and removing expensive DEI initiatives.
When in power they discovered - surprise, surprise, the previous Conservative team had cut all the waste, and there were no expensive DEI initiatives.
They did take down the flag of Ukraine, so perhaps that was sold on eBay.
I was angered to learn that they had sold off many works of art belonging to the people of Kent, not the Reform party, to raise a little cash, with no consultation with the owners - us.

Don McGowan’s substack piece on the DOGE nonsense.

donmcgowan333.substack.com/p/dolge?r=5wpi28&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

I see there has been a batch of Tory councillor defections to Reform today. Leaving one sinking ship for another or a Trojan horse.

I think the clouds are starting to gather over Farage e.g. Gill, Cottrell, overseas donors, not declaring his income (nothing in the MPs register of interests since May). Who is paying for his £1 million a year security? Who has been paying for his recent trips to the USA?

Byline Times piece:

‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem

bylinetimes.com/2025/10/04/thick-as-thieves-nathan-gill-and-nigel-farages-putin-problem/

Tweet of the day from musician Tanita Tikaram:

At this point Nigel Farage could appear in an interview in a KGB uniform & the British media would go ‘ No nothing to see here, let’s talk about Angela Rayner’s Eccles Cakes.

Maremia

Don't have the details to hand but allegedly, one of Farage's financial advisors, or similar, is now being investigated by the tax folk.
So, maybe a wee bit dodgy with their book keeping?

People who think Reform are there to help working people need to check out their various links ( eg Russia) and who exactly is funding them. One such person is an American climate change denier I believe.

Grantanow I think that's a lesson all the parties find (not the rioting, the mouthing off). Theory is a wonderful place where anything is possible, reality is quite another thing. I do feel for the people in Kent who fell for the hype, and even more so for those who didn't!

It's not so easy running the show instead of mouthing off and rioting.

Maremia

Don't have the details to hand but allegedly, one of Farage's financial advisors, or similar, is now being investigated by the tax folk.
So, maybe a wee bit dodgy with their book keeping?

His grandfather is a Baron and his uncle is Lord Hesketh.