The Dictatorship of the Etonariat

[LHC]

Well quite. He says it's "sad" that nobody is saying they'll put up taxes to pay for better living conditions for people, I point out that actually someone is, and he says it's never going to happen. Well it isn't going to happen unless enough people decide to make it happen, that's for sure. I thought it was Jeremy Corbyn who was supposed to be the indecisive one.

For most people Labour’s plans don’t mean that they’ll put ‘your’ taxes up, but rather that they’ll put other people’s taxes up (ie those paid more than them). In general most people are in favour of others being taxed more, as long as they are not affected.

[Richard Barrett]

The people seem to agree with you. I note that the Limp Dims have moved into 2nd place in the opinion polls this week.

Westminster voting intention:

CON: 32% (-)
LDEM: 23% (+4)
LAB: 21% (-2)
BREX: 14% (-)
GRN: 4% (-3)

via
@YouGov

Here's an interesting article on opinion polls by the estimable Richard Seymour.

[Richard Barrett]

For most people Labour’s plans don’t mean that they’ll put ‘your’ taxes up

Most people are either struggling to make ends meet or could easily find themselves in that situation.

[Richard Barrett]

Magic grandpa isn't going to make life better for those he claims to care about if he is still insistent on "respecting" the referendum
along with being keen on things like "economic growth" and so on

Do you watch the news? Labour policy is to hold a new referendum; its policies aren't decided by any one person, as we shall probably see in the conference next week; and JC embraced the "green new deal" at the London climate demonstration today.

[Conchis]

Labour policy on Brexit is moving, with painful slowness, in the right direction.

Of course, the smartest move would be a straight Revoke,

[John Locke]

Of course, the smartest move would be a straight Revoke,

Someone has already thought of that. Emily Thornberry described it as acting like the Taliban.

[vinteuil]

Of course, the smartest move would be a straight Revoke,

.

... I'm beginning to think We Should Build A Wall.

(Between Leave-land and Remainer-land, in case there were any doubt... )

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... I'm beginning to think We Should Build A Wall.
(Between Leave-land and Remainer-land, in case there were any doubt... )

[Wychwood]

.

... I'm beginning to think We Should Build A Wall.

(Between Leave-land and Remainer-land, in case there were any doubt... )

But who would pay for it?

[muzzer]

I completely understand why some would want JC as PM. But I think it would complete the UK’s status as the laughing stock of the world. I look at all this polarised hatred coupled with an often wilful ignorance of history, and I despair. If this hubris continues, then the accumulated grievances of the last 40 years will be as nothing to what comes. I say again, go read some history about what happens when the middle hollows out and nobody listens to anyone else anymore. No one over the age of 20 will survive to the next period of stability, I don’t think that’s what most of us want.

[John Locke]

a turning point in the 1980s towards a political ideology that held that voting completely selfishly was actually ok, and that this is one of the factors which enabled the ruling class to roll back many of the social-democratic reforms which had been instituted since 1945.

I wonder whether, decades later, we are finally reaping the whirlwind with the 'majority' demanding what they voted for in a rather unpleasant, thoughtless way. From the Attlee/Churchill era to Heath and Wilson, I don't think people were appalled/angry/disturbed at the thought of 'the other side' winning because both sides had coalesced somewhere in the centre. But the crash of 2008, the migrant/refugee problem and Brexit have unleashed the worst in people and politicians. Every man for himself and dog eats dog.

On the Labour taxation policies, I would be interested in some kind of perspective: in terms of revenue raised, how do the 'tax the wealthy' policies compare with, for instance, 1p on the basic rate of income tax?

[LHC]

I wonder whether, decades later, we are finally reaping the whirlwind with the 'majority' demanding what they voted for in a rather unpleasant, thoughtless way. From the Attlee/Churchill era to Heath and Wilson, I don't think people were appalled/angry/disturbed at the thought of 'the other side' winning because both sides had coalesced somewhere in the centre. But the crash of 2008, the migrant/refugee problem and Brexit have unleashed the worst in people and politicians. Every man for himself and dog eats dog.

On the Labour taxation policies, I would be interested in some kind of perspective: in terms of revenue raised, how do the 'tax the wealthy' policies compare with, for instance, 1p on the basic rate of income tax?

When the Coalition Government reduced the top rate of income tax from 50% to 45% it resulted in an £8bn increase in tax collected from the highest earners in the following year (although this was mainly due to deferred income). In the longer term the reduction appears not to have made any significant difference to the amount of revenue raised. This suggests that Labour’s proposed income tax measures are unlikely to raise any additional revenue, and could even lead to a small reduction in revenue. Labour’s proposals are ideological rather than practical

A 1% increase in income tax for everyone would generate significant sums because it would involve everyone paying more, rather than just a very small percentage of the population. However, that would also make it a very hard sell to the electorate. It’s much easier to sell tax increases for the ‘rich’ (or at least those richer than the general population) than ask everyone to make a larger contribution.

[MrGongGong]

Labour policy on Brexit is moving, with painful slowness, in the right direction.

Of course, the smartest move would be a straight Revoke,

Sadly, there is this to contend with

https://www.labourleave.org.uk

[Conchis]

Sadly, there is this to contend with

https://www.labourleave.org.uk

Of all the historical examples illustrative of the phrase ‘whistling to keep (your) spirits up’, the radio adverts, the motorway gantry ‘papers’ warnings and stuff like the above will go down as the most wastefully expensive.

I think a special place in hell will be reserved for Labout leavers, though. ‘Reactionary leftists’ like Skinner and Hoey may be able to use their own innate stupidity as a defence, but pepole like Frank Field and Caroline Flint, who know the damage Brexit will cause but are supporting it ‘because it’s what their constituents voted for’ have no such excuse.

[John Locke]

Sadly, there is this to contend with

https://www.labourleave.org.uk

I didn't accept their cookies!

What seemsworrying, though, is the intolerance shown towards centrist moderates by sections of the left. What happened to the 'broad church'? My MP is threatened with deselection, just like some of the Tory MPs, though not for opposing Brexit but for being critical of the party leadership.

As for supporting the 2016 vote on the grounds of 'democracy', this is rather like an amateur football team scoring the first goal and then declaring the match over.