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General UK politics VII -Return of the Starmer

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Today's Tory outrage is Labour taxing education.

Starmer's tax on private school fees is a sordid strategy to throw red meat to Corbynistas and proves he's a class warrior.
 
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The Don said:
Mrs Don brought up some more good questions regarding the Tories' forced labour programme.

Who is responsible for finding and allocating roles ?

What if the 18 year old moves, for example to go to university, how do they get a new role ?

What if I am incompatible with the assigned role ?

How do I get to and from my assigned role - especially in areas where roles are a long way away and public transport is poor ?

How about meals while I'm volunteering who is going to pay for those.

What if I'm sick ?
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They have put this out

"Will 18-year-olds at university be exempt or allowed to defer?

No. Everyone will have to do National Service and fit it around their lives. There will be very limited deferments and none for university students.

What if the young person has a job?

There will be no exemption for those who are in work.

What if they are on a gap year abroad?

This will not be a reason for exemption and those abroad will be expected to do their National Service alongside any travel.

What if they already work in the emergency services, prison or care sectors?

The Royal Commission will look at exemptions, including where people are already working in the military. But the starting point remains that all people serve.

What if the young person has unpaid caring commitments?

The Royal Commission will aim to ensure everyone can take part.

Will the royal children be expected to take part?

Yes – everyone will be expected to undergo National Service.

Will the scheme apply in Northern Ireland?

Yes – although the Royal Commission will consider how to manage any sensitivities surrounding National Service"
 
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jimbob said:
That is not conscription.

The proposal *currently seems* to be to have 30k join the army, and the remaining 670k doing unpaid work.
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Service means citizenship. You have to ask yourself what is the difference between a citizen and a civilian?
 
Planigale said:
In Scotland we keep being told how wonderful all things Scandi are, but this does not seem to include national service. Many other countries seem to manage.

If having conscripts reduces the risk of getting into wars that seems a good thing?

Combat infantry training currently takes 6 months, if followed up by reserve duties that would give an ability to rapidly expand units in the event of an emergency.

I think that the health and care services could accept conscripts also.

Interestingly dentists are being effectively threatened with conscription. They will have to do four years in the NHS or have to pay the full costs of their training.

I could also see an option for doing national service post degree e.g. in schools, policing support, those with sociology and criminology degrees could do national service working in prisons! Lawyers could do service in crown prosecution or public defenders offices.

The reward might be remission of university debt.

The problem is making sure that these posts are additions and do not displace
'regulars'.
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The highlighted is a big question. It's likely to be a drain on the army resources.


jimbob said:
That is not conscription.

The proposal *currently seems* to be to have 30k join the army, and the remaining 670k doing unpaid work.
Click to expand...




Planigale said:
Service means citizenship. You have to ask yourself what is the difference between a citizen and a civilian?
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I don't follow your thinking. Being made to work for one's training or to pay it off is not conscription, it's a contractual arrangement.

And the counties with conscription pay the conscripts.

Would you be happy to spend 5 weeks unpaid work. Possibly having to give up a paying job and maybe having to pay for your travel to the unpaid work?

With the threat of prison if you don't?

Compare that to the 40-300 hours community service sentences criminals might get.

The most positive spin is that it's a special sort of tax on young adults. The sort of tax that costs the treasury. And which provides illusory benefits at best.


ETA. I'm a British citizen and I pay my taxes, so why should my friends' kids have more onerous requirements than me?

Especially because Sunak thought it would be a vote winner. Someone who had to be shamed into renouncing his non Dom status.
 
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jimbob said:
The highlighted is a big question. It's likely to be a drain on the army resources.









I don't follow your thinking. Being made to work for one's training or to pay it off is not conscription, it's a contractual arrangement.

And the counties with conscription pay the conscripts.

Would you be happy to spend 5 weeks unpaid work. Possibly having to give up a paying job and maybe having to pay for your travel to the unpaid work?

With the threat of prison if you don't?

Compare that to the 40-300 hours community service sentences criminals might get.

The most positive spin is that it's a special sort of tax on young adults. The sort of tax that costs the treasury. And which provides illusory benefits at best.


ETA. I'm a British citizen and I pay my taxes, so why should my friends' kids have more onerous requirements than me?

Especially because Sunak thought it would be a vote winner. Someone who had to be shamed into renouncing his non Dom status.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_urWSSZgwU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMTz9nIUkGc

Know your memes!
 
Well, these two people on their way to the food bank say they will be gutted if Rishi Sunak doesn't win as the Conservatives have helped them more than anyone with the cost of living crisis. They are trying to help the poorer rather than the richer. You remember how Rishi walked out in the rain in his suit?

Trying to figure out which satirical genius made this. Obviously can't be genuine....? :jaw-dropp

https://x.com/thatcymraes/status/1795160086874103836
 
The Conservatives have promised to raise the tax-free pension allowance via a "Triple Lock Plus" if they win the general election.

Under the plans, the personal allowance for pensioners will increase at least 2.5% or in line with the highest of earnings or inflation.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the scheme "shows we are on the side of pensioners," who the Tories say will save £275 by 2030.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3ggvrp8v28o.amp
 
Sam Freedman on Twitter

In total now the Conservatives are saying they'll raise £6 billion a year from cutting tax avoidance.

So they are acknowledging they've left tens of billions on the table over the last 14 years while cutting public services. Or they're making it up.

Has to be one or the other
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The Greater Manchester police says it won't take any action over Tory allegations against Angela Rayner.

Being reported on The Guardian's live political commentary..
 
KDLarsen said:
The Greater Manchester police says it won't take any action over Tory allegations against Angela Rayner.

Being reported on The Guardian's live political commentary..
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As with "Currygate" more public funds wasted as the Tories, aided by the Mail, try to weaponise the police against political opponents.
 
Darat said:
There are 6 weeks to voting, which means Rishi can relaunch his election campaign 6 times.
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You're assuming he can keep on track for a whole week at a time?

In other news my dog's got an upset stomach and we've got Tory Election Strategy ALL over the garden..:(
 
KDLarsen said:
The Greater Manchester police says it won't take any action over Tory allegations against Angela Rayner.

Being reported on The Guardian's live political commentary..
Click to expand...

It's served it's purpose in any case, a significant proportion of the UK electorate think that Angela Rayner did something dodgy which makes Labour just as corrupt as the Conservatives so you may as well vote Tory. :mad:

The absence of evidence clearly demonstrates how corrupt Labour are - they're clearly very good at covering their tracks.
 
Gillian Keegan the Education Secretary says

Imposing VAT on private schools will result in

"Over 200,000 more children flocking into our state schools"

Which apparently means slashing a large proportion of our special educational needs provision and cost taxpayers up to £1.6bn.

She also says,
"Labour have no plan to improve education standards so revert to the politics of envy"
 
Kevin O'Sullivan on Talk TV says

"Manchester's Labour police force has decided not to prosecute Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner. Gosh, what a surprise."

Lots of Tory talking heads jumping on this.
 
Grant says

"The Unions are cheering after Rachel Reeves’ speech.

Labour have completely bowed down to their demands to import French-style laws that will cost British businesses £1,250 a year per employee.

But as Conservatives we will stand up to unions and back business to create jobs."
 
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