Rich B wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2026 3:47 pm
I don’t really understand the point of having “the opposition”. All they do is propose pie in the sky policies they will do “if they get in power”. Surely that’s just campaigning?
It would be great if they all worked together to some extent, as currently it seems like if one came up with a policy that solved world hunger for £25 the others would automatically oppose every element of it as being left/right wing nonsense rather than working together challenging elements to refine it.
You calling them out for automatically disagreeing with others does sound like the pot calling the kettle black
Rich B wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2026 3:47 pm
I don’t really understand the point of having “the opposition”. All they do is propose pie in the sky policies they will do “if they get in power”. Surely that’s just campaigning?
It would be great if they all worked together to some extent, as currently it seems like if one came up with a policy that solved world hunger for £25 the others would automatically oppose every element of it as being left/right wing nonsense rather than working together challenging elements to refine it.
You calling them out for automatically disagreeing with others does sound like the pot calling the kettle black
Aaah, so they’re just doing it to get a conversation going when they’re bored at work!
Rich B wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2026 3:47 pm
I don’t really understand the point of having “the opposition”.
The largest party which is not in power is automatically the opposition, but they don't have any power. What they do have is the best shot at deposing the government at the next election. All the parties are having conferences and proposing policies; it's half way through the current government's term so it's not surprising they're trying things out.
But if they hit on something which actually makes a difference then they can run with it. It is just campaigning; what relevance do the speeces at the Lib Dem annual conference really have? But the Greens have shown how you can probably lose the next election during conference season even if you can't win it.
Yeah, i do get the basics, i was talking in a more conceptual manner. i just think we’ve ended up in a situation where the opposition agreeing to ANYTHING the government propose would be unthinkable. Even when they do end up settling onto the same proposal, the opposition then tries to score points by saying they copied them.
that can’t be good for the country.
You're right, though there have been times when it's been obvious that having a solid and conscientious opposition is a good thing - e.g. the pressure on Tony Blair on WMDs and I'm sure loads of other less headline policies over the decades. Just gainsaying the other parties, particularly when they're all so split and there are 5 or 6 parties all of which could have an impact on a hung parliament, isn't going to be particularly successful. Unless you buy the media and get special coverage...
Gavster wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2026 3:23 pm
What the hell is going on with the tories? It’s like they’re fishing for votes with the most stereotypically Tory policies possible. Last week was all about cutting taxes, then the iron dome defence. this week is cutting IHT. Defence is important, but I cannot understand how any tax cuts are going to be funded. They’re just desperate.
I agree with tax cuts, personally. I think they would lead to growth. BUT. It has to be the right tax cuts. And cuts to inheritance tax are nothing more than tinkering around the edges to win votes.
Do they really think that this is the big wowser moment for the party?
I saw the anouncement about fuel proces and how he was going to do something, and I was quie chuffed, tax on fuel is huge, and a percentage, so Governments have taken 5 p or whatever off before... No, local prices on Google. FFS.
Been watching the Rest is Politics interview with Burnham. It's mad how normal and relatable he is, I can't remember a PM in my lifetime who didn't sound like they were trying to spin everything.
Gavster wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2026 2:19 pm
Been watching the Rest is Politics interview with Burnham. It's mad how normal and relatable he is, I can't remember a PM in my lifetime who didn't sound like they were trying to spin everything.
Common knowledge = rumours imo. There's certainly something fishy about the Rochdale grooming gangs case, GMP and Burnham, but I don't believe it's quite that direct and scandalous. He buried the report into GMP failings on the run up to mayoral elections, probably because he didn't want any failings to reflect on him. But I don't believe it goes further than that.
On a separate note, he needs to tone down his "man of the people schtick" when he starts throwing pub-level statements out like he did about Russian interference in Brexit. It was good to see MI5 set the record a little straighter on that point.
ZedLeg wrote: Wed Oct 14, 2026 11:37 am
At the same time we shouldn't minimise outside influence in our politics because some people don't like to be told they were played.
That's fair enough. But he's clearly trying to spin it that the Russians influenced it, as opposed to what MI5 are saying which is that they tried but with minimal effect.
It's stupid as it then brings into question his motives for reopening the Brexit debate, when he quite simply didn't need to go there.
