What do you want from Boris Johnson's successor?
- Thread starter JuliaClementsRoche
- Start date
Lie detector every morning.
But seriously, a competent politician (if one exists) that can be seen and is focused on doing what is good for the country and carrying out the manifesto, albeit it will have to be tweaked due to world events of the past 2 years.
From a business point of view, reduce VAT, but it’ll be a tough ask.
But seriously, a competent politician (if one exists) that can be seen and is focused on doing what is good for the country and carrying out the manifesto, albeit it will have to be tweaked due to world events of the past 2 years.
From a business point of view, reduce VAT, but it’ll be a tough ask.
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A politician from any party to stand up and offer at least a sensible solution to one major problem, preferably several issues facing the country which will show the public there is a future for them.
For instance, announce a million social houses to be built within five years, amend planning laws, free up Council funds to pay for it etc.
Offer free home insulation for every house to bring it up to a minimum EPC C rating, preferably B. Helps with reducing energy bills, carbon reduction, less energy plants compared if we do not.
Instigate apprenticeship schemes and give them the same value as a degree, only trained mechanics, plumbers etc allowed to perform most tasks.
Reduce retirement age to sixty for everyone, particularly the Lords and MP’s. Give more jobs to the youth of today, more hope, a better future etc.
Chances of this happening? Zero.
For instance, announce a million social houses to be built within five years, amend planning laws, free up Council funds to pay for it etc.
Offer free home insulation for every house to bring it up to a minimum EPC C rating, preferably B. Helps with reducing energy bills, carbon reduction, less energy plants compared if we do not.
Instigate apprenticeship schemes and give them the same value as a degree, only trained mechanics, plumbers etc allowed to perform most tasks.
Reduce retirement age to sixty for everyone, particularly the Lords and MP’s. Give more jobs to the youth of today, more hope, a better future etc.
Chances of this happening? Zero.
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Given that the current cost of living issues are driven by supply issues, the next permanent chancellor has a problem.
It's not going to solved by reducing VAT. IF, and that's a big if, VAT reductions are passed on to the consumer, it will make things worse. Demand will increase, supply will not. Ergo, it will exacerbate things.
The government must therefore take action to ease supply, production and transport problems.
1) Immediately review shortage occupations in the UK. We need more transport drivers, more short-term agricultural workers and more food production. That means easing the visa restrictions for said workers.
2) Sack Priti Patel. See 1.
3) Ease red tape burdens on imports. Stop changing the systems every 5 minutes.
4) Allow asylum seekers to work while awaiting a decision. This might help with 1. Sack Priti Patel.
5) Stop buoying up the housing market. The average house price is now £250,000. This isn't making us richer, it's pricing people out of the market.
6) Review other red tape legislation that puts an administrative burden on small businesses, e.g. GDPR and the Consumer Contracts Regulations.
7) Slap legislation on the likes of Amazon and Paypal to make it a level playing field.
8) Terminate the contracts of all government consultants
9) Re-implement the eastern branch of HS2.
10) Expand Heathrow. Ya wanna be world-class or not? Schipol has 7 runways. Heathrow has 2.
11) Speed up automation of the railway system.
12) Invest more in public transport infrastructure in the North.
13) Bring cricket back on free-to-air TV.
14) Sack Priti Patel.
It's not going to solved by reducing VAT. IF, and that's a big if, VAT reductions are passed on to the consumer, it will make things worse. Demand will increase, supply will not. Ergo, it will exacerbate things.
The government must therefore take action to ease supply, production and transport problems.
1) Immediately review shortage occupations in the UK. We need more transport drivers, more short-term agricultural workers and more food production. That means easing the visa restrictions for said workers.
2) Sack Priti Patel. See 1.
3) Ease red tape burdens on imports. Stop changing the systems every 5 minutes.
4) Allow asylum seekers to work while awaiting a decision. This might help with 1. Sack Priti Patel.
5) Stop buoying up the housing market. The average house price is now £250,000. This isn't making us richer, it's pricing people out of the market.
6) Review other red tape legislation that puts an administrative burden on small businesses, e.g. GDPR and the Consumer Contracts Regulations.
7) Slap legislation on the likes of Amazon and Paypal to make it a level playing field.
8) Terminate the contracts of all government consultants
9) Re-implement the eastern branch of HS2.
10) Expand Heathrow. Ya wanna be world-class or not? Schipol has 7 runways. Heathrow has 2.
11) Speed up automation of the railway system.
12) Invest more in public transport infrastructure in the North.
13) Bring cricket back on free-to-air TV.
14) Sack Priti Patel.
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My controversial opinion is that public services shouldn't be run by private companies, but I also agree the Government doesn't have any skills pr ability to run anything remotely business properly. They need to attract good quality CEO skilled people to run these organisations.
Because of the above, I reluctantly and sadly actually think institutions like the NHS would benefit from being privatised but I don't think it should be. I feel energy, utilities, public transport, and the NHS should be public services run by the public sector for the public affordably or free where appropriate, by employing good quality commercially minded people to run them....but that's a pipe dream.
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The thing about public transport is how you measure success. Public transport only really makes a profit either running in dense urban areas or between such areas. Between London and Birmingham - yes. Between Bingley and Keighley... less so.
But profit isn't how you should measure it. It's the amount of economic value it brings to an area. Towns and cities should have been falling over themselves to be on the HS2 line, and contributing to both its construction and running costs. They'd make their investment back through the sheer increase in economic activity. Instead, we have the usual predictable NIMBY reaction.
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It's for this reason I included public transport in my list of services which should be provided by the public service and not the private sector. The private sector is in the interest of shareholders, the public sector can look at regional and local economic returns.
Which is why it would be lovely for a new PM to put together a Government that takes a complete drains up look across all this sort of thing. Not be afraid to make bold sweeping changes, irrespective of what Government put them in place previously, and take a long term view rather than what will win them the next election.
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It's interesting that the majority of responses revolve around what the government should give (including, by inversion reducing certain taxes), whether selfish or altruistic.
This is against a backdrop of
Monumental national debt
Impending recession = falling tax revenues and increased benefits
A war
Imo to have any credibility, the first thing a PM must do is to acknowledge we are in the shit and emphasise the role that we, the population should play in recovery
That would get my vote over any funding promise
This is against a backdrop of
Monumental national debt
Impending recession = falling tax revenues and increased benefits
A war
Imo to have any credibility, the first thing a PM must do is to acknowledge we are in the shit and emphasise the role that we, the population should play in recovery
That would get my vote over any funding promise
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Personally, as a non Tory, my views on this are not relevant, as the next PM will be a Tory.
But within that caveat, a bit of stability would be good for business, and the bravery to take some tough economy decisions. But bravery alone will not be enough - he has to bring Rubert Murdoch on board, who now has time on his hands again.
I am not sure why Boris became so unpopular. We learned nothing about him that we didn't know at the point of his election, so why the change of heart?
But within that caveat, a bit of stability would be good for business, and the bravery to take some tough economy decisions. But bravery alone will not be enough - he has to bring Rubert Murdoch on board, who now has time on his hands again.
I am not sure why Boris became so unpopular. We learned nothing about him that we didn't know at the point of his election, so why the change of heart?
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Well, my preference would be for the next PM not to be a Tory.
Right now, that is not totally relevant, as it is not one of the choices.
Moreover, I will not be asked to influence who is chosen. I am, of course, relaxed about that, it is the system. As my residency in the UK is intermittant.
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Didn't say the government was to necessarily get involved. They just to make sure everything works. Which may mean getting someone is to do the job.
With regards defence. You do not want government management. Almost everything that has gone wrong in the last umpteen years is because of the MoD getting it wrong.
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Road tax hasn't existed for about 40 years
We now have excise duty which is levied on emissions, not road usage, so doesn't solve congestion or road wear - in fact it favours EVs, which are big contributors to both.
Personally, I'm in favour of road tolls
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Yes, but it is still commonly called road tax.
You can't collect the duty though if there aren't any roads for them to drive on... (unless we all go down the road, pardon the pun, of off-road 4WDs).
Personally, I still prefer an efficient (or at least, a reasonably functional) public transport system. I do like the Underground, even if the District Line seems closed half the time.
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Watch your electricity bill go up.
About 25% is currently "environmental" costs and another 25% is network costs.
Both will increase as EV usage increases.
All available charts
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