Clacton by-election

He is getting to be a mini Trump.

That is what is scary.

Petulant

Childish ‘me me me’

After enriching himself, willing to dodge tax, accept questionable money

Rude to the press when actually uncalled for

Entitled

Cult of personality not of Party. Why else fall out with different party members and they split off and form alternate groups?

Treats our democratic parliament like a soap box. Only attends now and then. Just like when he was an MEP.

Signs of the beginnings of paranoia (imo, at a low level)

FriedGreenTomatoes2

PIP:
Could explain why a quarter of the UK population now considers themselves ‘disabled’.

If that figure is correct … likely because we are in the baby boomer old age era… and many are in some form ‘disabled’ if not physically crippled.
The key point is that the official definition is broad. It includes people who:
* have a physical or mental health condition lasting at least 12 months, and
* say it limits their day-to-day activities either “a little” or “a lot.”

So the figure includes people with a wide range of conditions and levels of impairment. Many are in employment and lead largely independent lives. It does not mean that one in four people has a severe disability or receives disability benefits.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

PIP:
Could explain why a quarter of the UK population now considers themselves ‘disabled’.

Where have you got that stat from??

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Cossy
THIS re PIP:

Sir Keir’s decision to back down on billions of pounds of cuts to PIPs is regarded as the moment he ceded power to the soft Left of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

In his report, Sir Stephen said that almost 39,000 responses to a call for evidence on reform of the handout had found that it was no longer fit for purpose.

“This interim report delivers a clear message – while PIP is widely valued as a benefit, it is not working as intended and needs fundamental change,” he said.

More than half of those who wrote into the review complained the benefit, worth up to £778 a month, was not generous enough to cover their needs. But some respondents said receiving the handout discouraged people from seeking work because it made them more financially secure.

One person quoted by the report said: “I have worked with or been friends with a number of people that are on PIP and don’t need to be. In fact, that they are receiving PIP means they have no incentive to find formal work and are able to get work cash in hand and not declare it.”

Tbh, imo, taking someone’s opinion of their friends on PIP, who are claiming it falsely, is 1) pretty laughable and 2) pretty ridiculous. Even on the highest element of care, PIP is £778 and that certainly is enough for some people’s disabilities, yet in the next para it states that it’s enough to discourage people for looking for work?

Claim PIP, I was turned down by the assessors the first two times I applied. Third time luckily, I get low level care, nothing for mobility, I retired early for health reasons at 64, having been in paid work since age 15, not always full time, and raising four children.

PIP, as a general rule, is not easy to have awarded, it’s a long laborious form plus an assessment, usually every four years.

I completely accept some people managed to fake symptoms and conditions but given that in addition to the form and the assessment you have to provide medical evidence for every condition mentioned on your application, I’d be amazed if fraud was very high.

I think it’s very hard to get one’s head around PIP and why it’s awarded and how it should be used, unless you’re unfortunate enough to have to make a claim to it in the first instance.

Also he is no threat to “ the establishment “ as once elected, like Trump, he will ignore the British people, like he has done his constituents, and work to enrich himself!

PIP:
Could explain why a quarter of the UK population now considers themselves ‘disabled’.

Whitewavemark2

nanna8

Hate to say it but it was so very predictable that they would dig the dirt on Farage. They really don’t like him, he is a threat to the establishment. I don’t particularly like him, either but the way they are going at him might well backfire.

What you don’t appear to understand really is that Farage is simply a mini-Trump. That is why he is so disliked. This latest stunt is so Trumpian. It is merely to get the narrative away from the charges of corruption, money laundering etc.

Exactly! No idea why FGT supports the dispicable ‘ out for myself’ person?

Okay fair point MaizieD

In future I shall just say ‘in my opinion’.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Be good to get rid of Rachel Reeves for a start MaizieD. She plateaued a long time ago after bugging herself up as the first woman Chancellor. What an abject mess she’s making.

I supported Starmer and I still support the LP, but for some reason I’ve never taken to RR, and I think had Starmer replaced her a year ago he might have stood a better chance.

Completely take on board your Makerfield comment and I didn’t support what happened there, it wasn’t quite the same, but dirty tricks (in my opinion) in both areas.

I’ve no doubt AB will make errors. Are you somehow suggesting that if (massive IF) Farage did become PM that neither he nor his cabinet would ever “stuff up”?

So - we need change.
Desperately.

It’s not ‘just’ about immigration.
We’ve moved on from that.

Yes it’s a part, but it sure as hell isn’t the whole story.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Be good to get rid of Rachel Reeves for a start MaizieD. She plateaued a long time ago after bugging herself up as the first woman Chancellor. What an abject mess she’s making.

In your opinion, FGT (and mine, incidentally, but Reforms policies would do far more damage than Reeves'). But you are appointing yourself the spokesperson for 'some voters', unspecified number of....

Cossy
THIS re PIP:

Sir Keir’s decision to back down on billions of pounds of cuts to PIPs is regarded as the moment he ceded power to the soft Left of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

In his report, Sir Stephen said that almost 39,000 responses to a call for evidence on reform of the handout had found that it was no longer fit for purpose.

“This interim report delivers a clear message – while PIP is widely valued as a benefit, it is not working as intended and needs fundamental change,” he said.

More than half of those who wrote into the review complained the benefit, worth up to £778 a month, was not generous enough to cover their needs. But some respondents said receiving the handout discouraged people from seeking work because it made them more financially secure.

One person quoted by the report said: “I have worked with or been friends with a number of people that are on PIP and don’t need to be. In fact, that they are receiving PIP means they have no incentive to find formal work and are able to get work cash in hand and not declare it.”

The UK has always been and will always be multi cultural.

Take it or leave it.

It’s actually quite boring (sorry if sounds rude) to go over and over the trans debate. No one can change their biological sex, we all know this, the law now clearly states this. Why anyone would continue to get their knickers in a twist over such a very small percentage of our overall population I really don’t know

Oh Cossy try telling that to some NHS trusts who are STILL insisting.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

It will indeed.
If Burnham stuffs up (he will) then voters will be properly riled. If the welfare stare isn’t tackled, PIP payments, net zero etc then a fire will be lit in the bellies of folk who are demanding Change. To stop doing the same thing over and over, ad nauseum throwing money at all and sundry who bleat it’s not enough. Never is.

So let’s take PIP, what do you think is wrong with this benefit? How should it be changed?

Galaxy

They don't want immigration on the scale it has been Cossy. Sorry if it upsets people ( my father is an immigrant and I to be honest don't have particular strong feelings either way) but for many that is a belief they hold. They don't want to be told they are bigots for waving a flag, they don't want to have to nod along with the latest insane belief ( men are women being one example). They don't believe multiculturalism has worked ( I would probably agree with them) , they would also like decent housing, schools, etc. I am aware i am dividing people into groups and making very broad brush statements about groups of people but I am doing that because I do think we are very divided.
Also ( this was the case with Trump as well) some just want to say get stuffed, what the result is, well that is almost by the by.

I think by this stage, anyone who does not or cannot accept we are very much a multicultural country has a big problem.

I agree the boats need stopping, I believe in controlled immigration, but find it amazing that Farage and his ilk never admit that the biggest group of “illegal immigrants” are in fact, visa overstayers.

It’s actually quite boring (sorry if sounds rude) to go over and over the trans debate. No one can change their biological sex, we all know this, the law now clearly states this. Why anyone would continue to get their knickers in a twist over such a very small percentage of our overall population I really don’t know. Those people who pretend to be trans in order to attract/attack/rape women are MEN, and should rightly be charged as men and sent to a male prison. Separate safe spaces should be available for women.

Flag waving per se is not an issue, but, imo, using our English and Union flag to intimidate people now living in this country, in my view, is not right. Particularly when the founder of Raise the Flag (or whatever it’s called) is on remand for murder and Yaxley-Lennon and his mob drape themselves with these flags.

I think all people, from all parties, want decent housing, decent schools, decent employment.

People like Farage are the very reason this country is so divided. Since Brexit he and his chums have done all they possibly can do to be divisive. Very cleverly exploiting people’s darkest insecurities, fears and anxieties and firstly blaming small groups of mi orities and now the “establishment”

Talk is cheap, where is all the good work Farage has completed in Clacton to make his community better, to level them up, to give them opportunities?

Be good to get rid of Rachel Reeves for a start MaizieD. She plateaued a long time ago after bugging herself up as the first woman Chancellor. What an abject mess she’s making.

I use this one Galaxy, it’s the tracker for all the polls.
www.pollcheck.co.uk/gb-polls

It will indeed.
If Burnham stuffs up (he will) then voters will be properly riled. If the welfare stare isn’t tackled, PIP payments, net zero etc then a fire will be lit in the bellies of folk who are demanding Change. To stop doing the same thing over and over, ad nauseum throwing money at all and sundry who bleat it’s not enough. Never is.

Some voters are crying out for the change that Starmer promised. And failed to deliver.

Labour has delivered renter's rights, enhanced workers' rights, abolition of the 2 child benefit cap, increase in the minimum wage, falling immigration and faster dealing with asylum claims and deportation. It has started taking the railways back into public ownership and has nurtured green industry to the tune of it being worth £100billion pa to the economy.

(I post as a long standing critic of the government; I know there is much more which could have been done, but have to give credit where it is due)

What is it specifically that 'some voters' wanted changing?

Which is why people are becoming even more desperate to give Reform a chance.

Polling and by election results (both national, and local to replace duff Reform councillors) are telling a different story. Reform's support has plateaued or is waning.

x.com/i/status/2074929733398044725
I think anything could happen but not disappeared yet.

an MP *

I doubt it FGT2, I think the peak has now passed. Time will tell though.

Ah Casdon give it time.
When it really COUNTS watch Reform surge.

You misunderstand me MaizieD.

I was addressing Cossy’s concerns about constituents left in the lurch in the interim period when a by election is called. She raised the point about Clacton being without a Morning Paula.

As Makerfield was - for a time- is all I meant.