Member Info for StickyToffeePudd

That's the spirit Mark!

I almost spontaneous burst into Rule Britannia, but hasn't that been banned now or something.

But the bit that puzzles me is what are all these brexiteers and Reform UK supporters going to go when they get old and dotty, when they need someone to tend to their basis human needs.... I am guessing that some of the folks on here are already have the carers in, by the archaic views of some on here.

Bizbeen, fist invested in Lloyds in 2008, but have remained invested in them for several years now. Just so you don't get the impression that I am loitering around here to pass the time of day. My time is far too valuable for that.

Great fun watching the tories absolutely tearing themselves apart at a moment. Desperate actions of a party in terminal decline.

As to Reform UK, I am happy to inform you in advance that you are sure to be disappointed. They will same buttons to win votes and the same suckers will lap it up hook, line and sinker.

That is great news giandsquid!!!

Hope they get surge in support and we have a pincer movement on the tories and they get lacerated.

Labour surges ahead to take biggest lead over SNP

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24079574.poll-labour-surges-ahead-take-biggest-lead-snp/

Great news, Labour surging ahead in Scotland also.

Morning TFE

“landed us in the mess we are in”

I was of course referring to the NHS, breakdown of law and order (stabbings, crime etc.), chaotic and overpriced transport infrastructure and immigration crisis. It was the collective we.

Alas , as to my own circumstances you are right, I do struggle. In fact, I struggle to only spend 1/3 to a 1/4 of my take home salary, and have then to ponder how to squirrel it away for my retirement.

Menu del dia beckoning soon.

The politicians knew what they were doing, it was the suckers who voted for Brexit, that landed us in the mess we are in.

Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kufqdyH4r2c

General Sir Patrick Sanders has warned members of the British public they may have to be called up to fight in the event of a war because the military is too small.

https://news.sky.com/story/british-citizens-should-be-trained-and-equipped-to-fight-in-a-potential-war-with-russia-military-chief-says-13055161

It will be conscription next...

Anyone below 60, will be expected to defend King and Country...

Might have to re-plan our retirement planning....

Well, now it is clear that what I have done is invested in a kamikaze a55

2024 to the year of another crash then?

Primetime, nail on the head!

"A Vote for Reform is a vote wasted & makes Labour party stronger .

But the Tories have failed UK plc."

But Brixton. UKIP failed to delivery on their promises, so don't expect too much from reform UK!

Yes, it will make you fell better supporting them, so has therapeutic value, but beyond that....

How about CBEs - Paula Vennells?

Not at all keen on Keir Starmer!

Hopefully Stamer has some kind of mishap, after he is elected PM, and has to step down.

And before any of you pounce on my for being so callous. We are not real people to them. We are simply pawns and quite dispensable. Anyone who has been thru a conflict and was lucky enough to come out the other side will understand that!

Far prefer to have Angela Rayner, as PM. I cherish the thought

ERV, not "sourcing cheap tat", as you so elegantly put it, highly spec. equipment custom items subject to FAT and SAT, with stage payments. Almost ended up living in Portugal a couple of years ago, but fortunately remained in Spain. Mind you I do think that the food is better in Portugal, than Spain. As to how the UK thinks and this forum thinks. In the case of this forum probably 70% Tory, about the same pro Brexit with an average age of about 60. Rather narrow demographic I would say. As to how the country thinks; we can only guess by how much the tories are going to be trashed in the next election. I am looking forward to voting in it, for Labour!

Glad to see you are on form there TFE.

The point about Tata steel is that shutting is they are losing the ability to manufacture virgin steel.

The one thing we should have learned from Covid, was that we need to be independent in the UK, when it comes to manufacturing. That shannanigans with PPE at that time was unreal.

The point is that other countries are prepared to provide state for steel, so why not also the UK?

https://www.steelonthenet.com/kb/state-aid.html

On a per capita basis, we have

1) Lux

2) Singapore

3) Ireland

4) Norway

5) Qatar

6) UAE

7) Switz

8) USA

9) Denmark

10) Neatherlands

27) UK

https://www.worldometers.info/gdp/gdp-per-capita/

LTI, I think it was more a case that the jobs (cotton mills etc.) were taken from the UK as it was no longer competitive, as opposed to make a present of these jobs to other countries, as you are implying.

"The UK is the sixth largest economy in the world out of nearly 200 countries.

Not bad for a small island"

Correct!

Yeah LTI but UK used to be the No 1 manufacturing country, in times gone by.

Yes, it is all very sad, the demise of manufacturing industry in the UK. I am on a daily basis involved in decision about sourcing goods in western Europe versus China or India. Numerous long established market leader established western brands simply cannot compete on price. In some instances we simply switch to new suppliers and in other the Western Brands have teamed up with Chinese firms, who they outsource the manufacturing to. The cost saving are 30% to 50% which simply cannot be ignored. But this has been going for years and it is nothing new and the consequential loss of western jobs. But what is new is AI, the huge job losses due to that are yet to be felt, so overall, I'm not sure what the next generation are going to do, to be able to pay the bills.