HeadNun

This is terribly sad. Akif was a genuinely lovely man. I'm so shocked.

I have a couple of large boxes, if you still need some.

What would you have done differently, Rockets? I cannot, for the life of me, think of a financial strategy that would have satisfied 'working people' and businesses and driven growth and reduced the deficit. But I'm no economist. On another note, since we're bashing Labour, one thing that really got my goat was Labour's reaction to Kemi Badenoch being elected leader of the opposition. When our own dear Ellie Reeves was asked for her reaction to KB's election, the first thing she said was "I'm proud that she's the first black woman to lead a political party, but..." Congratulating someone for being black (she's Nigerian FFS, not 'black') and female is such an insult. You'd be forgiven for thinking that that's all Labour sees... and it completely detracts from her achievements as a politician. It's almost as if they were implying that she'd done well in spite of her race and sex. If that's not racist... I think Kemi is an absolute nut job. People in her own party have said she'd start a brawl in an empty room and would cross the street to bite your ankle. But that kind of makes me like her. And if anyone can hold Labour's feet to the fire, she can. (Ex labour party member here, who voted Keir for leader of the party, BTW, in case anyone wants to start a pile-on and call me a Tory lover).

There is no doubt that Labour's doom mongering when it came into office spooked the markets. Plenty of analysts and businesses said so pre-budget. And why the budget was leaked so much before its announcement, I do not know. Honestly, whoever is in charge of comms really needs to get the boot. I am so sick of hearing them bang on about 14 years of Tory decay - Labour repeatedly pressed the Tories for longer, more astringent lockdowns. It's largely thanks to the furlough scheme that we're in so much debt. I was such a staunch lockdown supporter at the time and now, looking back, it seems draconian. We're still paying the price in so many ways.

Labour was damned, no matter what it did, when it came to the budget. It loves go on about the black hole, but if Labour had had its way, we'd have been in lockdown for longer and the black hole would be even bigger. Am I only the one who thinks it's time the NHS became revenue-generating? Not private, but charging small fees for GP appts, x-rays etc? People who don't turn up for GP and out-patient appointments should definitely be charged a cancellation fee. When I lived in Norway I got incredible medical treatment, including follow up appointments, drugs, x-rays, all for £200. I was more than happy to pay it and could afford to. For fairness, make it somehow means-tested. I am sure there's a model in there somewhere that would be fair to everyone. It's time we stopped fetishising something that no longer works for patient or doctor. As for major growth, it's a thing of the past, no matter where in the world you live, unless it's China. Or unless you want a Truss-style, totally de-regulated economy and love capitalism with a large C.

I'm certainly not surly - it's Friday, so I'm in a delightful mood. As Earl Aelfheah said, the money has to come from somewhere. But Labour new that hiking fuel as well as employee NIC in would be a step too far - for businesses and consumers. It was the right decision for this moment in time. Suggesting that someone who's against fuel duty increase on this occasion is against and fuel duty full stop is quite a leap. Why do you demonise everyone who doesn't think that owning a car is a cardinal sin? I'm not sure using Clarkson as an example of your average farmer holds much weight as an argument, but you know that already, Mal.

Labour was right not to increase fuel duty - it's not just motorists it affects, but goods transport. Fuel goes up, inflation goes up. Inflation will go up now anyway, and growth will stagnate, because businesses will pass the employee NIC hikes onto customers. I think farms should be exempt from the 20% IHT. I don't know any rich famers, only ones who work their fingers to the bone. But it's in their blood and taking that, often multi-generation, legacy out of the family is heart-breaking. Many work to such low yields, and yet they'll often still bring a lamb to the vet, even if the fees are more than the lamb's life (or death) is worth. Food security should be made a top priority in this country. And, even tho the tax is only for farms over £1m, that's probably not much when you add it all up. I think every incentive should be given to young people who want to take up the mantle.

I know exactly who you're talking about. He recently remarked glibly, as he walked past me, that he 'would set his dogs on' something or other. Can't remember the context, but it confirmed the impression I already had that he weaponises his pets and likes that they intimidate people. I won't go outside with my dog if he's passing.

I've spent a fair bit of time living in the Nordics and they simply cannot understand why we use carpet in this country - they think it's unhygienic. I agree, I hate the bloody things (and yes, I have carpets). Better to mop three times a day than live with ground in dog / child vomit that, and various other nasty stains that, no matter how many times you scrub them with potions, you know will their remnants will always remain. Having said that, the houses are so well built there, they don't need to worry about drafts. I was living in a two hundred year old apartment block, no central heating - just one storage heater and underfloor in the bathroom, and a wee fire in the sitting room and I was toasty all winter long. Happy days.

No Sue - Sorry, I shouldn't have quoted your whole post. I was just referencing your point that there had been one or two arrests of people who weren't white, right-wingers. And then expanding it out to say that one of them was a Labour councillor. If you watch the video, what he said was appalling and no less toxic that any facist rant https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz074vyvjzvo My point was that it happens on the right, on the left and from people of all colour. None of is more right than the other. Genuinely, no offence to you was intended.

Ha! All I am saying is racism is racism, no matter what guise it comes in.

You mean who aren't white? Police are also looking for Muslim thugs who went on a pre-emptive rampage in Birmingham. And yesterday Labour fired one of their councillors who, on Wednesday night's anti facist march, called for the throat slitting of fascists, then shouted 'free Palestine'. It's funny how the virtuous left feels justified in using EXACTLY the same rhetoric as the right, like calling for the annihilation of a group of people - be they white facists or Jews........ but it's OK, because they're on the right side of history.

This is my favourite Banksy work

I imagine Banksy is absolutely delighted each time one of his pieces gets nicked. Lots of press exposure and he still makes millions from prints on coasters, t.shirts and all the other tat. Does anyone else think his work is the kind hackneyed dross you'd expect from a first year student, who's just read an idiot's guide to socialism? Always thought it was hype, personally.