General election/politics

Jajon · Club Coach

RE: General election/politics

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I read somewhere that for the Tories, a change could be perfect now - timing is good to give someone else time to establish themselves ahead of an election, get distance from Boris and his lead, and someone more popular like a Sunak or Truss would be a good thing for the Tories

the addict · Tennis legend

Sorry, I have no faith in Truss after she demonstrated her maths ability counting the nurses.

Don't rule out Priti Patel - that woman has ambitions

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
Sorry, I have no faith in Truss after she demonstrated her maths ability counting the nurses.

Don't rule out Priti Patel - that woman has ambitions

I will leave the country if Patel gets the top job!

brendan · Strong Club Player

the addict wrote:
Sorry, I have no faith in Truss after she demonstrated her maths ability counting the nurses.

Don't rule out Priti Patel - that woman has ambitions

So did Lady Macbeth

indiana · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
Sorry, I have no faith in Truss after she demonstrated her maths ability counting the nurses.

Don't rule out Priti Patel - that woman has ambitions

Another with slight numbers issue as she demonstrated when she finally turned up to do a covid daily briefing.

As Jon said, it is being suggested that replacing Johnson now may be no bad thing for the Tories and some commentators are saying that Labour maybe should bear that in mind when judging how far to push things.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Personally I think the Tories will try and keep Boris Johnson in for a few more months at least. There are some more difficult decisions coming up re Covid, and possibly potential issues relating to the inbound checks on goods resulting from Brexit. When they bring somebody new in, they will want these issues resolved/finished, so that the new party leader doesn't become so associated with any problems that arise from these tough decisions.

I would predict a change of leader in the 2nd half of this year. That would still give that person time to get their feet under the table well before any new election campaign.

As for who ......... good question.

paulisi · Tennis legend

Boris' time in charge is numbered and he knows it. If the Grey report doesn't bring him down, the backbenchers will force him out. His continuous one rule for him and his cronies(flat, Priti Patel bullying, parties etc etc) and one rule for the rest is tainting the Tory party.
Who would be the best candidate to replace. Difficult to call - Sunak is the obvious candidate, but the well respected Jeremy Hunt could be a decent shout.

With captain hindsight in charge of the opposition, the threat to a Tory majority is minimal as long as the current government clean up their act.

Strongbow · All-time great

Seems we are back to "party" politics wink

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

And this is why Johnson should resign

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-60023560

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Well this is well and truly an ouch month and tightening of the reins required:

1) Energy costs to go up by circa 54% in April - just had the pleasure of our fixed deal stopping and moving to variable and cant switch, so going to see a big monthly hike there.

2) The Council Tax rebate for Bands A to D wont help as we are Band F, sadly.

3) Mortgage rates going up as interest rates rise to 0.5% today.

4) NI of course is going up in April

5) Inflation more generally hitting us all

6) Corporation Tax due to hike next year, as a small business that will hit

7) Oh and Self Assessment just submitted last week and that is a lovely higher than expected tax bill that needs paying.

I am sure virtually all of us are the same - and it starting to hurt and a lot. My Corporation Tax bill is due in April, that will be big, VAT bill needs paying 7th April latest. Massive raid on the savings pot sadly.

I work from home largely, so heating bills have been higher than I would like, heating now off during the day, I can wear an extra sweat shirt or some such

I am sure everyone else is feeling it as well - it is easy to say the Government can't do anything about it, all the pressures are driven by demand and supply in the energy markets, fuel and shortages in the food sector hitting us and inflation and knocking it on, but it is also Governments role to have a clear plan to fix these things, and I am not sure that is there. Hiking up interest rates, giving tax rebates is reactive, but where is the proactive focus on these things.

Elegant Point · Satellite level

Cabinet re-shuffle rewards BoJo toady Rees-Mogg, he will be overseeing Brexit opportunities furious The man has already made millions for himself and his friends as a result of Brexit

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Lots of news this morning about the Non-Dom status of Rishi Sunak's wife and how she doesn't have to pay taxes on overseas earnings.

I found this thread very interesting as it questions some of her statement and explains how Non-Dom status can be justified or otherwise.

twitter.com/RichardJMurphy/status/1511964400978214912

I will leaves others to draw their own conclusions.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Lots of news this morning about the Non-Dom status of Rishi Sunak's wife and how she doesn't have to pay taxes on overseas earnings.

I found this thread very interesting as it questions some of her statement and explains how Non-Dom status can be justified or otherwise.

twitter.com/RichardJMurphy/status/1511964400978214912

I will leaves others to draw their own conclusions.

Even the Mail is questioning the whole thing, which means she must be on sticky ground.

More importantly, to me, it questions the ethics of Sunak. He is Chancellor and should be well aware or made aware of this as an issue and have been ahead of this one. The fact he wasnt suggests he wants it to go away.

No one likes to pay taxes more than they should do - I am struggling very much right now paying a combo of my end Jan self assessment (late), July self assessment tax coming, my corporation tax and my VAT and it is a nightmare as it has come at a time when my income has down turned (yes, I know we should put it aside but running a self employed business isnt so simple sometimes). But pay it I will and am doing, albeit with much difficulty.

People like the Sunak family shouldnt be above the tax rules of the country

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I'm not defending her or them AT ALL but, Jon, she is NOT above the tax rules of the country - she has acted completely within the rules.

Non-dom status has been around for ages, it's always been a centre of much controversy, no government has had the guts to cancel it (they've just tinkered around the edges, giving people a flat fee they can choose instead of a tax rate as such).

Of course, it looks very bad, and given her husband is such a political public figure, it may well have been a very poor choice. But she is one of thousands who choose that option, quite legally (I know half a dozen or so others).

My issue is not with her (as such) but with the government (and previous ones) for allowing such a system.

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Thursday 7th of April 2022 11:14:14 AM