Senate The UK Politics discussion

1.5m Homes is theoretically doable. Reality is a different thing. They need to stop going on about building on greenbelt. They need to call it local regeneration of run down areas. If pressed about location point out that its replacing land already built on and that there are no plans to pull down hedges. If needs be, make an announcement on the crappy run down industrial estate that happens to be on the green belt so it makes it harder for the the right to spin it.

Say 1.5m is aspirational, its a target to aim for but outline a realistic goal. "We believe 900k is doable and should be complete by the end of our first parliament, we'd like to stretch that to 1.2m and with the right sympathetic legislation in place we believe it is a manageable stretch target and ideally we'd like to get a further 300k homes approved for building, preferably built by the end of the parliament". Then be open, acknowledge it'll be tough, some people will support and other oppose but stress its the right thing to do. Then give some subsidies to builders and get them working.

Bring in bursaries and grants to encourage people into nursing and care. Be honest with the country that cutting migration in these area's now is just lunacy and only those wanting to destroy the NHS are all for it BUT add that VISA's for care/nursing etc... will begin to fall as those in training start to move into the employed sector. Stress it'll be slow but at least it won't break the NHS/Care system and then announce that they're looking at an integrated care plan so that hospitals and care homes actually work in tandem rather than against each other. This will also help cut costs and paperwork too (eventually)

Education, yep this is a stupid move and they need to think harder about it. From an Uni perspective, they need to legislate that student loans move to peppercorn interest and whats in place now is just offensive.

PIP - agree

The other thing that really gets me. They have an almost unprecedented majority, they can do pretty much what they want provided they don't piss off their MP's. They're currently doing stupid things thats pissing off the left leaning part of the country they need AND their MP's. It's just utter political suicide.

 

Theoretically possible, with many caveats, isn't going to survive political messaging. I think there is a way to review green belt by showing what is classed as it, hint - it isn't green. Still likely requires more political courage than Labour appears to have for it.

And yes, they have that majority and this is what they're doing with it. 100+ majorities don't ever seem to be good for governments.

There is an argument that the good stuff they are doing isn't being reported on. Along with the same media boosting REFUK every chance they get. But that's more reason to stop engaging in these self-inflicted wounds that eclipse any good they've done.

 

It's difficult but I would 100% prefer an honest aspirational politician who gives me a target and a long term goal vs someone telling absolute lies.

We May not get there but we'll make progress and the milestones are X,Y and Z. Hitting X is bare minimum and what we expect, getting to Y will be amazing and Z is where we aspire to get to. Granted the UK media will spin it every which way from fair but considering "Targets drive behaviour" and "Targets should be challenging but achievable" the government should outline what is bare minimum and if they miss is a fail and what they hope to get to if the stars align. Don't try to sell us the Stars, Sell us the target and say you hope to go further and that if they can push to Y or Z it would be amazing.

Get the messaging right, no ambiguousness. We WILL do X, we're aiming for Y and Z would be amazing.

As distasteful as it is. They need to be talking to the right wing. Liverpool pilloried Starmer for speaking to the Sxn a while back. I understand why they did but depressingly, if you want to get you're message out, you need to speak to the dregs of media and try to get them on side. Barry Gardner is a regular on Patrick Christys show on GBeebies, I won't watch Gbeebies but he's cutting through with some left leaning ideas on a right wing broadcaster and he's doing it by being funny, taking the piss out of the right but doing it in the right way. He's getting the message across with minimal cut back and when it happens he manages it. He's doing on GBeebies, what Farage and co did on Question Time.

The left is very late to this messaging party but if they finally deliver that message of hope (which they've failed to do miserably so far) they could improve things between now and the election. They need to stop shooting themselves in the foot first or Starmer won't even make it to the election.

 

I'm more sceptical much thought went into the decision to go with 1.5m.

It also comes across to me like Gromit laying the rails as the train is in motion in The Wrong Trousers.

And that off-handed attitude of 'trust us, we'll work that out later, it'll be great' crops up elsewhere.

 

I can tell you from experience that being right so often about these politicians is a burden

 

Apartment blocks are going up anywhere there is space around where I live, there certainly doesn't seem to be a shortage of new homes anywhere. Most of them probably aren't affordable for the people who live in those areas, but they are there.