John Healy has resigned as Defence Secretary

Tuliptree your post of 15.16.25 is in extremely bad taste.

Spare a thought for the people, usually women and children that this has happened to, and continues to happen to…

We could get Elon to orchestrate a campaign on X to hunt down people who hadn’t bought any bonds and then post naked images of them.

Tuliptree

Yes Sarnia just like War Bonds but I suppose we say Defence because we’re not actually at war. I guess they’d be a long term investment but they would be safe. They could invoke the patriotic spirit and NF and TR could tell us how much they were investing. It would be a good test of putting your money where your mouth is wouldn’t it? Royal Family could also publicly buy some bonds.

Great idea👍

NF could encourage some of his
‘patriotic’ billionaire friends to invest in them too.

Grantanow

Presumably Dan Jarvis is perfectly content with the Starmer and Reeve's allication to defence and will defend it to the last man or woman standing.

Not necessarily at all - it’s often a question of whether you’re in or out of the tent isn’t it as you urinate? Also maybe until you’re really doing the job, you don’t know what it really entails or the power dynamics .

Maremia

I think the ecstasy was at the removal of the Tory after so long.

Exactly Maremia
But it’s the same welcome that any new government gets.

I was surprised that the Conservatives won 2 further elections after the 2010 change from Labour.
Why were the memories of the LP rule so bad, and the potential LP Prime Ministers so unappealing that not enough Labour voters turned out to effect an earlier change?

Tuliptree

Yes Sarnia just like War Bonds but I suppose we say Defence because we’re not actually at war. I guess they’d be a long term investment but they would be safe. They could invoke the patriotic spirit and NF and TR could tell us how much they were investing. It would be a good test of putting your money where your mouth is wouldn’t it? Royal Family could also publicly buy some bonds.

Sounds brilliant

Tuliptree- would like to see the idea of Defence Bonds discussed/ proposed as an option by the government.

Useful explanation here
www.google.com/search?q=how+would+defence+bonds+work&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#lfId=ChxjMe

Yes Sarnia just like War Bonds but I suppose we say Defence because we’re not actually at war. I guess they’d be a long term investment but they would be safe. They could invoke the patriotic spirit and NF and TR could tell us how much they were investing. It would be a good test of putting your money where your mouth is wouldn’t it? Royal Family could also publicly buy some bonds.

Presumably Dan Jarvis is perfectly content with the Starmer and Reeve's allication to defence and will defend it to the last man or woman standing.

LemonJam

Tuliptree

I did post yesterday asking what people thought about the issuing of defence bonds?

How would this work Tuliptree?

Do you mean like the War Bonds? I remember my GF had some of those.

Tuliptree

I did post yesterday asking what people thought about the issuing of defence bonds?

Yes, I did mean to reply. I think it would be a good plan. Would it raise enough money though? Defence seems to be a bitof a bottomless pit.

Tuliptree

I did post yesterday asking what people thought about the issuing of defence bonds?

How would this work Tuliptree?

Silvershadow

DaisyAnneReturns

Silvershadow

I don’t think they’ve said that, have they? I’ve certainly not read that anywhere.

Don't you? Are you expecting to vote for a right-wing party?

I’m confused at what you’re implying here. You said Trump, Badenoch and Farage have intimated ending the benefits for pensioners to give to other departments. Is that what you’re saying upthread? I replied to you saying I’d not seen any of those three individuals saying that. How does that lead onto me voting for a ‘right wing party’. Also, my voting intentions are for me to know. In the same way I wouldn’t expect to know yours.

Farage has fully committed Reform UK to keeping the triple lock, proposing to fund it by slashing out of work benefits.

Badenoch has criticised this approach as "lacking a clear strategy". She said she won't scrap the triple lock for now but has suggested that there needs to eventually be discussions about means testing the state pension.

ronib

The UK has one of the least generous State pensions in Europe I seem to remember .

I have posted this before, but my French friends only had one pension to which they made contributions. They were surprised that we had made contributions to state and occupational pensions. I think that is the difference.

I did post yesterday asking what people thought about the issuing of defence bonds?

DaisyAnneReturns

David49

nanna8

State pensions should only go to the financially stressed. No one else. As with most countries. Use the money saved to build up defence.

Agree with that, my sister in Brisbane manages fine without

Australia's experience is actually that it evolved through a series of reforms over roughly 75 years, with major changes in 1960, 1969, 1976, and 1985, rather than through one long scheduled phase-in.

One thing that often surprises people when comparing pension systems internationally is that Australia is unusual among developed countries in relying heavily on a means-tested public pension, while also encouraging private retirement savings through the compulsory superannuation system. That combination evolved over decades rather than being introduced all at once. So Australia don't have a magic wand any more than any other country.

I agree with DAR that any changes to the 2011 Pension Act as suggested (ie towards a means tested state pension award on retirement) would need to set out a reasonable timeline for change so that people approaching retirement could plan accordingly and and be informed appropriately by the DWP.

To reform the 2011 Pensions Act the UK government must follow the standard legislative process, draft a new bill, secure parliamentary approval (this could prove tricky and time-consuming with political parties of various colours reflecting on how such reform would impact on their vote share) and then receive Royal Assent.

Thus a cross party approach, with a realistic period of time towards tapered change, is a more viable route. Or alternatively to use the tax system to claw back the state pension from those who have sufficient wealth not to need it- thresholds of wealth, and definition of 'wealth' to be included in calculation, debated and agreed in parliament and to rise with inflation year on year

The defence budget has more imminent challenges and risks. I think it's unrealistic that the annual increase needed by 2030 can be met solely from state pension savings in that timescale.

Potential savings from abolishing the triple lock, in itself would not be enough but could reasonably form part of a larger savings plan. We already know Reform has vowed they will keep the triple lock but realistically a large segment of the population supports a fit for purpose UK Defence Budget.

The other option is to Borrow to fund Defence Budget.

I like AB and think he has done a good job in Manchester, I hope he doesn't win next week and thus have a go at leading Labour because Labour is a poisoned chalice and he will fail in the light of the strong right-wing zeitgeist all over the World.

Silvershadow

I don’t think they’ve said that, have they? I’ve certainly not read that anywhere.

The only person I have heard say that is the Green Party candidate in the Makerfield by-election and no disrespect to her but I doubt she will be in any position to put that in place.

nanna8

State pensions should only go to the financially stressed. No one else. As with most countries. Use the money saved to build up defence.

So the contributions you make all your working life then go to somebody else? Is that fair?

The only difference for a few months is that my television won’t be turned off every time Starmer speaks. Have to protect against high blood pressure?? westendgirl

What difference is it going to make if Burnham takes over ?

I think the ecstasy was at the removal of the Tory after so long.

Ilovecheese

I don't believe they resigned on principles. I think they are leaving a sinking ship in the hopes of securing a position in the new court.

I don’t think all of them totally lack principles, but I agree with the second part of your comment.
It’s so disappointing when I look back at the ecstasy with which Keir Starmer was received and how quickly it reverted back to the usual (after any change of government) blame game.

DaisyAnneReturns

Silvershadow

I don’t think they’ve said that, have they? I’ve certainly not read that anywhere.

Don't you? Are you expecting to vote for a right-wing party?

I’m confused at what you’re implying here. You said Trump, Badenoch and Farage have intimated ending the benefits for pensioners to give to other departments. Is that what you’re saying upthread? I replied to you saying I’d not seen any of those three individuals saying that. How does that lead onto me voting for a ‘right wing party’. Also, my voting intentions are for me to know. In the same way I wouldn’t expect to know yours.