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The attitude of some evidently Labour supporters to the "mis-doings" of the current government are precisely the same as those Tories who could see no fault with the previous senior Tory leadership - despite its obvious failings. One may have hoped that the pursuit of high standards to which...

Echo chamber stuff - hardly illuminating

At the moment, to my mind the negatives far exceed the positive. The successes are still aspirational - we will all get to judge in a few years time whether BG Energy, nationalising rail etc etc (a) actually happen, and (b) deliver.

In 1960 the average weekly pay was £14.2s (for those who remember £SD) - about £700 pa. Average pay in 2024 is £35830 - 50 times as much. Property has increased 4 times as fast as incomes. Tells the same story but much more credible. Largely down to the fact that we have built too few...

Given their performance over the first 100 days, it is difficult to have any greater trust in our current government. Charitably it could be due to 14 years in opposition, no real experience of government, and performance will improve. I am not so charitable - their campaigning and government...

GDP has stagnated due to legislative changes which have improved employee rights - eg: minimum wage, paternity leave, blacklists regulation, equality act, agency worker regulations, parental leave, flexible working etc etc etc. These are both Labour and Tory initiatives - so no political slant...

There is an implausible confidence in the capacity of science to produce conclusive answers. I, for one, have always been sceptical of: "In the currently popular model of the Universe, 70% is thought to be dark energy, 25% dark matter and 5% normal matter" It may be partly down to my...

I wonder where the market Axminster serves is going. The following thoughts are generalities, not absolute observations. Those 60+ grew up at a time when any self respecting lad could fix their motorbike or car. On buying a property they were capable of decorating, renovating and fixing it...

One of the most distressing aspects of Xmas is the realisation that hundreds or thousands of ££££ has been spent on: packaging which finds its way into the dustbin on the day, swiftly followed by most of the plastic cr*p bought at outrageous expense which either falls apart or fails to...

Not really sure what your point is - unless it is some sort of anti-immigrant, possibly racist slur. If you look further in the Migration Observatory report you will note that it is predominantly the older generation who at immigration had no or limited English - 39% of those age 50+ compared...

Seems to be unmitigated rubbish - unless you are able to identify some credible evidence to back your assertions. A link to Migration Observatory report which seeks to identify the English speaking talents of immigrants based on the 2021 census. In summary - 52% of immigrants spoke English as...

The UK is somewhat unusual compared to its European neighbours in that borders are clearly defined by water, not sometimes arbitrary lines drawn on a map or the outcome of conflict. This may be a partial explanation for the attachment to concepts of "Britishness". Whether the concept of...

Although not a future I aspire to, for many the Costas are simply Southend, Margate or Eastbourne with year round sunshine. They don't want to integrate, prefer a profusion of bars selling John Smiths bitter and restaurants with a traditional Sunday roast. If they are happy with their lives...

What truly annoys me is the Rayner assertion "it is good for business" and "growth". This is garbage - that employment rights should be improved in some areas denies employers flexibility and increases risks and costs. Decent employers do not need these rules - they know providing reasonable...

Starmer is not dim witted - although one may argue he is misguided. That he is at odds with a personal opinion does not render him wrong and you (or me) right. The same set of circumstances and events can generate different opinions. There is a probability that he is right and you are wrong -...

In the last few years I have been to 3 Axminster stores - Cardiff, High Wycombe and Axminster. All were bereft of customers in the store - perhaps 2 or 3 at any one time. Stores cost a lot of money to stock, employ staff, pay rents etc etc. The reality is they simply do not have sufficient...

I dislike stop start. I usually switch it off at the start of a journey or when it first activates. If I forget, the trip computer at the end of a normal journey shows that the SS has operated for perhaps one or two minutes. The fuel saving from a minute or so of engine idling avoided...

The root of the problem - TV development has mainly focussed on improving the visual and audio experience - only in the last few years has the need for processing capability increased. Last year some builders managed to break a small (32") TV. They swiftly replaced the LG model with a cheap...

Labour have the political reins for the next 4+ years. We need to get used to it - like it or not! Many changes will take some while to implement requiring legislation, training, plans, recruitment etc etc. To expect evident progress on anything of substance in three months is implausible and...

Legal immigration last year exceeded illegal by a factor of 10 - net legal ~700k, illegal ~70k. The UK is an attractive place to live, despite frequent criticism from some quarters. It is relatively wealthy, democratic, law and order prevails, tolerant etc etc. That migrants take huge risks...