Forum Topic

Danny Who??

Insignificant Tory MP Danny Kruger (no, I'd never heard of him either) has defected to Reform, and Fagage has boasted that he's put him in charge of (don't laugh!) preparing the party for government, despite the fact that he's never actually done anything.What a dream team of defectors: Nadine Dorries and now this Kruger!

Richard Carter ● 1d69 Comments

Thank you, Mr Hawkes 

Michael Ixer ● 1h

Mr Hawkes. I just hope he doesn't make it down to the Rocket :-)

Michael Ixer ● 1h

Jobs have changed a lot in our lifetime as there are many fewer managers and almost everyone now seems to write their own email communications and do their own admin instead of having any admin staff.  This puts extra time stress on the professionals who are often also out and about carrying out their work.  This can make it very time consuming for everyone checking up on emails and phone calls as well as those trying to make contact.  Instead of getting site reports in the post or even by email now you may have to sign in online to find out whether there has been a site visit and to read any report and remember to do that before meetings.  An awful lot of time now can be spent just chasing this or that person (if you actually know who it is) with phones and messages to call going unanswered.  This isn't really satisfying progress when it is so stressful and frustrating! And as for having to deal with AI Personal Assistants..... it is unbelievably irritating being expected to spend time training them.Good luck with looking for that job but don't dismiss the IT  because you really just can't get away from it!

Philippa Bond ● 1h

Mr Boyce'I’m not at all surprised that so many young people are depressed, demotivated and anxious about their future; depression seems like an entirely reasonable response to a future which in which they are laden with debt from the moment the leave third level education, with zero prospect of home ownership or secure renting, a high probability of low paid, unsecure, precarious employment, and a lack of any positive vision as regards dealing with climate change. And that is just the start, without wanting to mention ongoing wars and clownish politicians sponsored by global industries ensuring their vested interests are protected'"It's being so cheerful that keeps me going"?Mona Lott from ITMA (It's That Man Again)And the solution is ?

John Hawkes ● 1h

Mr Ixer'I wonder what evidence Mr Farage had for making this homophonic statement?'Perhaps he was just singing along at his local !

John Hawkes ● 1h

Mr IxerYou make good points regarding the effect of new technology has on employment rates and job availability.

John Hawkes ● 1h

Ms Carter'there were 634,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed, 59,000 more than the previous year. The unemployment rate for young people was 14.1%, up from 13.4% from the year before‘. Do you give any credence to the claim 'businesses are refusing to recruit new staff because they are desperately worried about potential tax rises in Rachel Reeves’s November Budget. Firms are putting off recruitment until they see what the Chancellor does, a new expert report shows. It follows last year’s Budget when the Chancellor put up National Insurance rates for businesses, increasing the cost of employing workers by £25billion, while increases to the minimum wage also pushed up costs. Firms also fear that the Government’s Employment Rights Bill will make it even more expensive to hire staff'.

John Hawkes ● 1h

Mr Ainsworth'"One statistic is that the proportion of people aged 16 to 24 who are economically inactive (i.e. not in employment, not seeking employment and not in education or training) is around 40%."So, having no income, what are they living on ?If their parents support them fine.If not they should seek employment or training.

John Hawkes ● 1h

Mr Ainsworth'what proportion of these 4 million adults are actually fit to work'This depends on how you define 'fit to work'.Wheelchair bound probably not fit.Suffering from 'anxiety' probably fit if they got off their *rses.

John Hawkes ● 1h

Mr Rose'It is implausible that so many individuals, some quite young, are unfit to work.'Of course it is.But while they can get 'cash in hand jobs' like fast food delivery and can claim benefits online perhaps by chatting with a bot, why would they want to work.I feel sympathy for the 'squeezed middle', the group that work and pay taxes and sit between pensioners and the determinedly unemployed on benefits.

John Hawkes ● 1h

The growth industries here, as far as I can see, are in the media: right wing provocateur ideally espousing casual racism and homophonic ideas, or internet influencer flogging botox jabs, steroids and fentanyl…..that or dog walking.

Gerry Boyce ● 1h

As a shortsighted pessimist, may I ask if there is anyone who sees employment opportunities really expanding in the years to come?Perhaps the design amd manufacture of robots and drones, but surely even that ... ?-------------------------------The Terminator: I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle. Oh, and your job.

David Ainsworth ● 2h

"However the House of Commons library indeed states the 39.6% to which you refer. Clearly the unemployment rate of the young is a cause of concern but I don’t understand the difference between the nearly half’ and the 14%."The House of Commons Library says:-"In April to June 2025there were 634,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed, 59,000 more than the previous year. The unemployment rate for young people was 14.1%, up from 13.4% from the year beforethere were 3.85 million young people aged 16 to 24 in employment, 137,000 more than the previous year. The employment rate for young people was 51.8%, up from 50.8% the year beforethere were 2.94 million young people aged 16 to 24 who were economically inactive, 71,000 fewer than the previous year. The inactivity rate for young people was 39.6%, down from 41.3% from the year beforeIn January to March 2025, there were 923,000 people aged 16 to 24 who were not in employment, education or training (NEET), 12.5% of all 16-to-24-year-olds. This includes unemployed and economically inactive young people who are not in education or training."AI has some help:-"What "Economically Inactive" Means for Young People:    • The category of economically inactive includes people who are not seeking or available for work.     • For young people (16-24), a significant reason for economic inactivity is being in full-time education. In Q2 2023, for example, about 30% of young people were inactive because they were students.     • Other reasons for economic inactivity in this age group can include long-term sickness or disability, but the rate for students is a major factor. "I think that this helps a bit, though my head doth spin.

David Ainsworth ● 2h

That's very respectful of you towards your son, Martine. I guess a lot of organisations just aren't committing to positions at present because of economic or geopolitical uncertainties at present. I suppose I'm in touch with those who are firefighting or trying to avoid cyber attacks because of a lack of previous investments! Sort of glad I'm retired ...Wishing you and your son well in the job hunting. 

Michael Ixer ● 2h

My son isn’t doing the sort of tech. you are involved in Michael, but thanks for the advice.  I don’t want to be more specific because it’s not fair on him for me to talk about his life.  I am just keeping it general. One mum said to me that the kids can’t even get jobs through having contacts.  The young people want jobs with prospects which is where there seems to be a shortage. Casual work seems to be available.  

Martine Guy ● 3h

It's interesting,  Martine. I know some IT and CyberSec companies complaining they "can't get the staff" and some organisations that try and promote those areas. But they'll rule out people, say, over 50 even though they have lots of experience (ok, I know it's not legal but it's common), or youngsters get ruled out because they don't have five or ten years experience (how do they get that without a job and training?). So there must be jobs out there ... it just needs better vision on employer's part?  I sat in on a discussion session at a trade shows a couple of years ago; it was data centre mangers complaining no youngsters applied to them as (1) they didn't know there were big warehouses of computers and storage driving all their phones apps (2) they wanted the high profile jobs: writing games, AI, phone apps software.I hope your son does well and finds a job, I don't know exactly what he's studying but I'm sure there must be jobs for "techies" - and there's always data centres - I see Google are investing in the UK. Perhaps start researching the jobs market early on?

Michael Ixer ● 3h

I’m not at all surprised that so many young people are depressed, demotivated and anxious about their future; depression seems like an entirely reasonable response to a future which in which they are laden with debt from the moment the leave third level education, with zero prospect of home ownership or secure renting, a high probability of low paid, unsecure, precarious employment, and a lack of any positive vision as regards dealing with climate change. And that is just the start, without wanting to mention ongoing wars and clownish politicians sponsored by global industries ensuring their vested interests are protected. ‘No, mum, I’m not getting up today, I feel crap and I’m staying in bed’.

Gerry Boyce ● 3h

Re: Employment/Unemployment, what I am hearing from people is that it’s difficult to get a job.  Someone mentioned to me yesterday that there are no jobs for young people, eg in construction.  Also I know someone at Oxbridge who is worried about the jobs situation, This is of particular concern to me as I have a 19 year old at University.  He is doing a tech. degree, the type you would have done once at a polytechnic.  I hope he gets a job at the end of the course.

Martine Guy ● 3h

Ha, ha, David. Tripped up by predictive text again: homophonic - characterized by the movement of accompanying parts in the same rhythm as the melody. Well, it could be relevant in a straight or gay context, I'll leave the "accompanying parts" to your imagination? :-) But I still think Nigel's comment was homophobic - I can think of one gay couple who've been together for 30+ years; that beats his record of relationships …

Michael Ixer ● 3h

Jane, that will teach me to skim quickly through to see if I want to respond to anything - I read that as "Michael, I can explain..." which made no sense! :-) To be honest I can't see any obvious reason for that discrepancy unless it's a timing difference. If someone did the stats immediately after final exams there might be many "economically inactive" between education and work? But really one for Radio 4's More or Less where they can dig into the underlying data. There is a concern that many entry level jobs - the ones taken by school leavers - are being taken over by AI so higher education might become more important - someone's got to write and maintain the other AI. Of course, someone's got to build the data centres fuelling AI ... but modular robotic manufacturing of data centre units will probably reduce those needed at a "nuts and bolts" level. (That's why Trump's plan to shift manufacturing back to the US will have limited success; the new factories will use more and more robotics ... let's be honest, even fast food outlets are using more and more self service kiosks!)Not sure that really answers what you asked :-)

Michael Ixer ● 3h

I did know who he is but interestingly since both his parents were/are South African doesn't that mean he fails the criteria for "white British" that that Professor who has made so much of birth numbers such as this in his book and which the right wing media have been promoting so as to to cause more division in society?

Philippa Bond ● 4h

"twice married, now living with a third partner Nigel Fagage!""Nigel Fagage"Not quite homophonic, as Mr Ixer might write.

David Ainsworth ● 4h

"The most stable relationships, the ones that last the longest, tend to be between men and women," says twice married, now living with a third partner Nigel Fagage!I wouldn't take relationship advice (or, for that matter, any other advice) from this character.

Richard Carter ● 4h

Michael - see posts from 01.01 onwards

Jane Carter ● 4h

Jane, I don't think I've been following this part of the discussion ..."Perhaps Michael I can explain?"

Michael Ixer ● 4h

I wonder what evidence Mr Farage had for making this homophonic statement? More likely just sharing a prejudice when welcoming his new party member?https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/farage-homophobia-reform-conservative-b2826737.html

Michael Ixer ● 4h

And we must not forget the devastating effect the increase in NI has had on small businesses, many of which went under.  The effect was not only felt by small businesses and many businesses have slowed down employment.

Ivonne Holliday ● 4h

Rather than sniping at the Left or sneering at young people too ‘ravaged ‘ by mental illness to leave the house, it’s probably more useful to stick to the facts.According to the ONS ‘ In April to June 2025:there were 634,000 young people aged 16 to 24 who were unemployed, 59,000 more than the previous year. The unemployment rate for young people was 14.1%, up from 13.4% from the year before‘. However the House of Commons library indeed states the 39.6% to which you refer. Clearly the unemployment rate of the young is a cause of concern but I don’t understand the difference between the nearly half’ and the 14%. Perhaps Michael I can explain?

Jane Carter ● 5h

"What rational explanation can be for the fact that 40% of young people between 16 and 24 are economically inactive? Are we supposed to believe that almost half of young people in the prime of life ate too infirm to leave the house? Or has mental illness so ravaged the younger generation that barely a majority are capable of working or looking for a job or studying? It's simply not credible. Something has obviously gone seriously wrong in our country. Yet many on the left refuse to see it. Why?"As you say, it's simply not credible. Can you please give your source for the information?

David Ainsworth ● 6h

What rational explanation can be for the fact that 40% of young people between 16 and 24 are economically inactive? Are we supposed to believe that almost half of young people in the prime of life ate too infirm to leave the house? Or has mental illness so ravaged the younger generation that barely a majority are capable of working or looking for a job or studying? It's simply not credible. Something has obviously gone seriously wrong in our country. Yet many on the left refuse to see it. Why?

Steven Rose ● 13h

"One statistic is that the proportion of people aged 16 to 24 who are economically inactive (i.e. not in employment, not seeking employment and not in education or training) is around 40%."Are they all in receipt of incapacity payments?

David Ainsworth ● 15h

But what proportion of them are fit to work? I agree that those fit to work should, but we need to know who they are. Finding the numbers ´implausible’ isn’t evidence.

Jane Carter ● 15h

Labour membership numbers had become embarrassing and hence they stopped publishing them.I think it was Mandleson that said Labour support have no where to go.Can Labour actually manage their membership?? I'm not sure I have faith in their numbers even if they could supply them!"Labour goes quiet on membership data after LabourList reports falling numbers"https://labourlist.org/2025/05/labour-membership-numbers-members-how-many-political-party/

Ed Robinson ● 15h

One statistic is that the proportion of people aged 16 to 24 who are economically inactive (i.e. not in employment, not seeking employment and not in education or training) is around 40%.

Steven Rose ● 15h

There is an ideological void. Labour no longer believes in socialism but isn’t committed to a market economy either, so it veers between the two. They can’t decide whether they want to increase the size of the cake or cut the slices of the existing cake more equally. On the one hand they say they want to promote economic growth, but on the other they are unable to reduce  welfare spending requiring high levels of taxation which inhibit  growth. Keir Starmer’s cabinet has been drawn from the right of the party, but the  soft left Mainstream movement are taking advantage of the latest scandals to promote the candidacy of Andy Burnham who they think will move the party in the opposite direction. Unfortunately neither the right nor the left of the party are prepared to face economic reality, namely  that the country will be bankrupt unless it changes course.

Steven Rose ● 16h

"It is implausible that so many individuals, some quite young, are unfit to work."It may seem implausible to you, but do you have any statistics or other facts about this? For instance, what proportion of these 4 million adults are actually fit to work?

David Ainsworth ● 16h

Ivonne,I did not suggesting it's anyone fault regarding premature babies. We all probably know, have a sibling or close relative that was premature and would have died without medical intervention.I pushing back on the "absolute right to bodily autonomy" which means no constraints on the mother's decision to have an abortion including time limits.Unfortunately the UK follows the US in many policies and we have already seen some watering down of UK law.We also had recently the opinion that UK law was not sufficient to prosecute doctors that perform abortion purely due to the fetus not being the desired gender.In societies where there are no constraints, it is often females that get aborted often due to cultural or other pressures which leads to gender imbalances and wider society issues."Of course there must be a limit for abortions' Unfortunately not everyone believes that and the absolute right will remove it.

Ed Robinson ● 17h

Wow! Yesterday you were saying that there is ‘a void at the heart of Labour’, now your’re saying that ‘Mainstream Labour’ is backing Andy Burnham in his bid to bankrupt the country! You’re quite the drama queen Steve!

Gerry Boyce ● 17h

Pensioner benefits are the largest component of the welfare bill but incapacity payments, claimed by 4 million working age adults, account for £43 billion, estimated to rise to £63 billion by 2028. It is implausible that so many individuals, some quite young, are unfit to work. Welfare spending, unless it is reduced, is likely to bankrupt the country. Mainstream Labour, who are currently promoting the virtues of the Angel of the North, Andy Burnham, seem unwilling to recognise this fact.

Steven Rose ● 18h

So you will be OK with cuts in pensions, Ms Hammond?

David Ainsworth ● 18h

@Steven 17'06The voice of common sense! 👏🏻. The trouble is nobody in the current Government has any!

Sue Hammond ● 18h

Hello Ed,As a mother of a very premature baby, I do take exception to your words.  It was not my choice for my baby to be born at week 28!!!!!Of course there must be a limit for abortions - meaning abortions decided by the mother and not those that occur naturally at  20 weeks of pregnancy.Should the mother have a decision making power over having an abortion within the legal timeframe?  Absolutely!!!  After all, she is the one carrying the baby, not the father!Also, whatever the Democrats say in the States, it is for the US people to decide - nothing to do with the UK!Also, kindly tell me in which posts Richard and Gerry mentioned abortion times.

Ivonne Holliday ● 19h

"2018 was 7 years ago. Please quote some recent figures"I did write "But, naturally, Labour has lost 200,000 members since then." That was my guess for recent.End of last year:- 333,235 members:-https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce83jgnx4w5oLabour List back in February this year suggests 309,000.With a bit more rough arithmetic I reckon that now it might actually be a little below 300,000.It has to be guesswork, if, as you write, "Labour stopped reporting their membership figures".

David Ainsworth ● 19h

I seem to remember that Labour were not too choosey about defectors when they were in opposition.On tax it needs reform and apart from Dan Neidle, founder of tax policy (mentioned in the above thread) and some Reform policies a tweak here or there simply will no longer do. It's already over complicated and inefficient due to decades of Chancellors not being transparent by trying to hide increases as well as  creating political short term giveaway headlines.https://taxpolicy.org.uk

Ed Robinson ● 19h

David I believe Labour stopped reporting their membership figures.2018 was 7 years ago. Please quote some recent figures and while you at it pick up some milk and eggs all for a couple of bob!

Ed Robinson ● 19h

"absolute right to bodily autonomy"So Gerry and Richard are you saying you do not agree with UK law that includes limits on abortion?Sounds like you are echoing US Democrat extremists that believe in abortion right up to birth and Richard is just agreeingSo we leave one baby to die and another we put in an incubator and give round the clock care, purely on the decision on the mother?I hope these are loose words and you have simply not thought about what you have said!

Ed Robinson ● 19h

One aspect that should be looked into very carefully is the transfer of vast amounts of money to tax havens. It was, after all, one of the reasons for Brexit as the EU was introducing a law (cannot remember what if was called) regarding tax avoidance.From memory, this came about after the EU paid vast amounts to countries after the financial crisis of 2008 and it was discovered the very low tax receipts in some countries.

Ivonne Holliday ● 20h

I think a big part of the problem here is that there is not any form of comprehensive vision for what kind of country should be built, instead we get fairly minor squabbles about individual issues.I would say any positive moves towards a functioning country would require a much closer relationship to the European market, a much clearer approach to energy generation and security, a ‘green’ strategy that encompasses energy efficient homes in sustainable developments, as well as investment in public transport, investment in education to provide access to courses relevant for the new economy as opposed to a lot of rip-off uni degrees that cost a fortune and lead nowhere. Maybe Labour are laying the ground for the kind of changes that I think are required, if so, I wish they would let us know.What really is no help at all are flag waving tossers banging on about the European Court of Human Rights.

Gerry Boyce ● 20h

As David pointed out on another thread, Pensioner benefits: State pensions and other benefits for the elderly are by far the largest component of the welfare budget. So if you want to reduce the welfare budget you’ll either have to reduce their benefits or reduce the number of pensioners. Bearing in mind the outrage here when the chancellor tried to remove the winter fuel allowance, I can’t see this going down well.

Jane Carter ● 20h

Ok thanks. I understand those points, but aren’t they all still pretty minor moves. If it is accepted that lack of growth is a major issue that needs to be addressed, then I don’t really see how those changes you are suggesting really make much difference.

Gerry Boyce ● 21h

In answer to the question, ‘What should be done?’, the government  should start by reversing several of its ill- considered initiatives eg by removing VAT on private schools, abolishing IHT on family farms and restoring a flat rate tax on non doms at a rate comparable to that offered by other countries. Then it should abandon its workers rights bill, which is likely to stifle growth. Next it should restore its original bill to reduce the welfare before it was watered down by rebel MPs  who support Andy Burnham’s Mainstream movement.  Finally it should stop Miliband’s net zero madness.

Steven Rose ● 21h

"I hope he's going to do the right and proper thing and stand down and let the voters decide."I dunno. It may be a defection, but not a difference, in his mind.

David Ainsworth ● 22h

"By the way Reform now have 246,457 subscribed members."That's awfully good really. Still:-"Labour’s membership dipped slightly last year but remained above the half a million mark, suggesting the party is retaining the vast majority of the supporters it has gained under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.Figures from the party’s latest accounts show it had 518,659 members in December 2018, down from a peak of 564,443 the previous year." (Gdn 8/8/19). But, naturally, Labour has lost 200,000 members since then. Sad, but necessary, I'm sure."The Lefties are seriously bricking-it now because the realisation that Reform will form our next Government is extremely likely.  (Paddy Power odds for a Reform win are 10/11).  Nigel Farage our next PM!  As he once famously said 'well you're not laughing now!'"AI "The phrase is a euphemism and condensation of the more vulgar expression "shitting bricks". The imagery comes from the idea of being so frightened that you produce a large, solid stool in the shape of a brick."Well, I think that, in that case, Reform can do us all good. Certainly it will save many of us the price of laxatives.The effect of Mussolini's Fascists was a little too extreme, sadly. "Mussolini's regime used castor oil as a form of torture, forcing victims to drink large amounts, causing severe diarrhea, dehydration, and humiliation."Anyway, perhaps Farage will arrange for all these solid bricks to be sent to Trump for one of his border walls.

David Ainsworth ● 22h

Kruger clearly said that the Tories are over and that's why he left. Fair enough!If I was in  East Wiltshire I would want a by-election, I hope he's going to do the right and proper thing and stand down and let the voters decide.

Gerry Boyce ● 22h

You don’t have to repeat my whole post just to tack on  a barely decipherable line at the end! Snoozers are losers, John, come on, wake up! Also, you haven’t  made any suggestions as to who might be up to the task of sorting this omnishambles out.

Gerry Boyce ● 22h

Oh dear.  All the know-alls who actually knew nothing about Danny Kruger but ridiculed him anyway, and led by Richard Carter, have been educated by Steven Rose.👏🏻  If you want to know how and why Mr Kruger defected from the Tories to Reform the link below is the live stream of the announcement/press briefing this morning:https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16z4EAqeVH/?mibextid=wwXIfrThe Lefties are seriously bricking-it now because the realisation that Reform will form our next Government is extremely likely.  (Paddy Power odds for a Reform win are 10/11).  Nigel Farage our next PM!  As he once famously said 'well you're not laughing now!' By the way Reform now have 246,457 subscribed members.

Sue Hammond ● 23h

Mr RoseZara Sultana who has defected from Labour and will/might join with Corbyn in forming a new one has given voice to its mission statement."Describing her fellow MPs as ‘dishonourable members’, Sultana outlined her path to power. ‘Kick out the Tories. Tell Reform to “fuck off”. And take on Labour, the genocide-enabling party which is now also the nonce party".Far left ?!No details about how this will be done though.

John Hawkes ● 23h

Mr Boyce'In order to move forward we have got to understand why things are so bad; this partial list should go some way to reminding us why we are in the mess we are in'.For how long can the Labour Party continue to blame the previous Conservative government for the current economic state of the country ?'As to how we get out of it, that is the billion dollar question.I know who doesn't have the answers, the question is, who does?'Are those that don't also the Greens, LibDems and Reform ?

John Hawkes ● 23h

In order to move forward we have got to understand why things are so bad; this partial list should go some way to reminding us why we are in the mess we are in. As to how we get out of it, that is the billion dollar question.I know who doesn't have the answers, the question is, who does? Any and all suggestions are more than welcome.

Gerry Boyce ● 1d

Liz Truss, Kwasi  Kwarteng, Matt Hancock, Boris Johnson,  Suella Braverman , Priti Patel, Dominic Raab…  Oh dear. It  all sounds like Orwell’s ‘Two Minute Hate’ in ‘1984’ where the workers vent their hatred against class enemies in a daily ritual. I realise that this kind of thing must be therapeutic for disappointed left wing enthusiasts, but rather than expressing contempt for former Conservative ministers (only one of whom is actually an MP right now), wouldn’t it be more useful to consider what needs to be done to rescue the country?

Steven Rose ● 1d

Hello Richard,I had not heard of Danny Kruger either.  Considering there are some 650 MPs in the HoC, it is not surprising!  I Googled him and found he is Prue Leith's son.  I am not too sure what worries me most.  That he (and others) have left the Conservative Party or the fact that they have gone to Reform......I do not think that Badenoch is an asset to the Conservative Party, far from it.  It is time they put their thinking caps on.  The problem is that there is no suitable Conservative politician to take over from her.....As for Nadine Dorries, Reform are more than welcome to her.  Her suggestion that Boris Johnson joins Nigel Farage is, well, to put it politely, catastrophic for the UK! I suppose she is still looking to be made a Lady.......

Ivonne Holliday ● 1d

Indeed...but Phuckjumbo or The Henley-gobshite is usually as close as I get to uttering his name.Don't forget Suella Braverman, Priti Pattel, Peter Bone and Dominic Raaaaaaaaab.

Gerry Boyce ● 1d

"And that's before you get to Brexit, Liz Truss, Kwesi Kwarteng, Michelle Mone, Matt Hancock, Chris Pincher etc etc."And possibly the worst of a very bad bunch, Johnson!

Richard Carter ● 1d

Yes, Danny Kruger's fame never made its way to me either, then again, I tend not to bother with nutters who think that women shouldn't have an "absolute right to bodily autonomy". Or that that marriages between men and women were "the only possible basis for a safe and successful society". He is correct though when he says, "The rule of our time (the tories) in office was failure. Bigger government, social decline, lower wages, higher taxes and less of what ordinary people actually wanted."And that's before you get to Brexit, Liz Truss, Kwesi Kwarteng, Michelle Mone, Matt Hancock, Chris Pincher etc etc.

Gerry Boyce ● 1d

Reform's admin must be something busy counting the defections from the Conservatives that they forget a little matter like reporting Nigel's expenses ...https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-trump-visit-parliamentary-rules-b2826380.html

Michael Ixer ● 1d

As matters stand I'm more than happy to put aside my usual party loyalty and support any party that will help to stop the economic mess being caused by the incumbents.  I have yet to find to a credible tax expert do anything but condemn the proposed tax plans as utter lunacy.  It's worth following a chat called Dan Neidle on the issue - he's traditionally a bit of a lefty but he understands his onions when it comes to tax and has reviewed the proposals in detail (as has many within his network) and think they do nothing but cause damage. I hope for some sort of wider coalition that can get these guys out before the damage gets worse.

John Geoffries ● 1d

He's not done nothing. At least he has caused a local deer stampede - or his dog has."Mr Hockley said the deer, many of which were pregnant, were left in a “panicked state”, while Pc Riggs called out for the owner, who was “at that point nowhere to be seen”, to bring the dog under control.Volunteer ranger Duncan MacCallum said he asked Kruger to call his puppy back, “which seemed to spur him into action”, the court heard."Perhaps he hopes to create another (Tory) stampede - towards Reform?

David Ainsworth ● 1d

I think, Richard, that anyone who observes the political scene attentively, would have heard of Danny Kruger. He received an MBE in 2017 for his charity work, being the founder of Only Connect, a charity aiming to prevent youth crime. He is an evangelical Christian who argued strongly against the Assisted Dying bill.

Steven Rose ● 1d

According to the Independent, Prue Leith's son, and also was shadow minister for work and pensions. No, I'd never heard of him. The question now being asked is how long will Ms Badenock remain leader of the Conservative Party? Surely it's time for them to have another change?

Michael Ixer ● 1d