[Tubby Isaacs]

Trouble is that taxes aren't low by historical British standards

Can anyone point me to a decent explainer that can tell me why this should be the case at the same time as there being no money for basic services? I don't need an idiots' guide - I studied Economics to degree level, albeit as part of a politics degree, just something reasonably concise and readable.

Demographics is very important, like all across Europe. I think older people cost something like ten times the average to the NHS, before you get to the pensions. The Triple Lock has in my view been a mistake, given how hard other things have been squeezed and how hard it is to raise taxes to pay for funding those other things as well. I'd have done more of the Gordo targeted approach.

Also, I think, the expectation of what tax rates should be was very much set by the 80s-90s, in which tax rates were kept low by windfalls from North Sea Oil and privatisation proceeds. Neil Kinnock and John Smith tried to raise them in 1992 and massively underperformed. So here we are.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Jez popped up again today, talking about how "the left offered solutions". The solution was "you want this stuff, paid for by someone else?" Which would solve a few things, no doubt, but he threw in such trifles as student debt and social housing. I don't back him as being the first man anywhere in Europe to square the circle.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I see the Labour candidate in Islington North is being hit with "private healthcare bastard". He's been involved in running a company that provides IVF.

What's the logic of this? That the NHS should provide unlimited IVF for free? That people shouldn't be allowed to try IVF privately? That private providers shouldn't make profits? Maybe I'd tuned out by the 2019 election, but I can't recall Jez arguing for a massive increase in IVF on the NHS. Is he even arguing for it now?

It probably plays well, but I can't stand this stuff. Same with Owen Smith having "pharma lobbyist" held against him. Bloke worked in important industry, generally that's a good thing. I can accept that politics is personal and Jez has copped his share of that. It's more that it's made out of complete ignorance of how you might fund (the implied) Jez policy cost? They've no idea. Same with him committing to "deal with" student debt, pulling 58bn WASPI out of his arse in the last week of the campaign, his history of Kipperism etc.

[Crabcakes]

Jez popped up again today, talking about how "the left offered solutions". The solution was "you want this stuff, paid for by someone else?" Which would solve a few things, no doubt, but he threw in such trifles as student debt and social housing. I don't back him as being the first man anywhere in Europe to square the circle.

The solutions he offered, such as free broadband, were to things that weren’t particularly problems while ignoring the things that actually were problems because a solution to them was either too difficult or would have required him to do something ‘icky’, like compromise.

[Tubby Isaacs]

He could have offered free broadband tmrw by giving the poorest vouchers. But what he (rightly) identified as something every household needs would have had to wait four years while he spend a fortune buying up the network and ran it much better than people who actually run it now because there'd be no dividends or something.

[Crabcakes]

My single regret about no longer being on Twitter is that when Corbyn (hopefully) loses, I won’t be able to send him a message saying “never mind - the real fight starts now” and see how much he fucking likes it.

[Youngian]

My single regret about no longer being on Twitter is that when Corbyn (hopefully) loses, I won’t be able to send him a message saying “never mind - the real fight starts now” and see how much he fucking likes it.

I can do that on your behalf. He won the argument.

[Nigredo]

[Killer Whale]

Fuuuuuuucccccckkkkkkkk...

[Andy McDandy]

The Goodies are looking rough.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

#3 son is in Bermondsey. Said he won't be voting for the antivax nutter...

[RedSparrows]

That is the most horrific video I think I've ever seen.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Piers' best effort...

[Youngian]

Didn’t the Circus run MI6 in Le Carre’s novels? It all fits.

[Crabcakes]

Apart from anything else, and fuck me there’s a LOT else, why would anyone trust the judgement of people who think the best place to record a promotional video is on the London Underground?

[Killer Whale]

Apart from anything else, and fuck me there’s a LOT else, why would anyone trust the judgement of people who think the best place to record a promotional video is on the London Underground?

Men (of course they're men) of the people, innit?

[Crabcakes]

Also, in the second video the AI changes his name to Cobdor Cheps

[Andy McDandy]

Just says to me that this carriage is full of mentlers.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Comment from son

Wow, it’s almost depressing how mad they are. And that’s a lot of props to be taking on the underground!

[Tubby Isaacs]

The Goodies are looking rough.

I was thinking ""Lord Longford looks better than I expected".