It is also truly unfair that people on the older basic pension like my mother get £140 less a WEEK than younger pensioners. Just like new Universal Credit claimants in exactly the same financial position will get less money than those already claiming. None of this is logical or fair..it's a farce. Keir Starmer is just a shockingly weak PM. Why do new welfare claimants deserve less?? It's not their fault the country is broke due to two inept governments.
I don't mind the flip flopping in changing his mind if the backbenchers are (quite rightly in my view) protesting against an unfair bill. But the PM and chancellor are meant to be competent adults with their faculties intact. Why do they make such terrible austerity driven bills that true Labour MP's are going to reject?? I was surprised the bill got through as it will just leave more disabled and vulnerable individuals worse off. Folk like Red may disagree with me but austerity is not the way to bring growth to an economy. Pushing the working poor into poverty (because people forget some welfare claimants do work) will just lead to more financial ruin for many.
Anonymous said
Jul 2 2:05 PM, 2025
Red Okktober wrote:
I'm no fan of Diane Abbott by any means - her whole political career seems to have been based on her being black, and finding offence and racism around every corner, while at the same time being offensive and racist to those who don't share her skin colour.
She also seems to be quite thick and not a very good MP.
However, she seems to have mellowed a bit lately and is one of the few prominent Labour MPs who will speak out about the current state of the party leadership.
I saw this pic of her today and think she is looking quite stylish for a lady in her 70s
Diane Abbott is a great example of how some women can get better with age, unlike modern media dictating that women hit "the wall" at 30 and should accept their days of attracting men are over. She has had some dodgy looks and hairstyles but looks far more attractive now than in her youth.
I used to like her very much as an MP, I don't so much now. I do appreciate any genuine left wing MP's who are old Labour though so I'm probably biased. I thought Corbyn was mocked needlessly, he wasn't fit to be PM but at least he had compassion, cared about people and actually wanted to help them. Those in Government are meant to be in public service and safeguarding the public, not the other way around.
I think the thing that irks people most about Abbott is that she is definitely in favour of black positive discrimination. Because I'm left wing I find it hard to dislike her completely.
I recall when the riots occurred in Tottenham and Cameron called the looters "animals", his eyes looked genuinely repulsed. He and his Eton ilk (where the butler has their own toilet..!)will never understand what it's like to be poverty stricken or worry about where their next meal is coming from and I do feel we need advocates like Abbott in the system. Obviously looting is wrong, I'm not suggesting otherwise. But there is no way privileged white people like David Cameron can understand what a bleak life it is for young black youths who have only known gangs, knife crime and poverty all their life.
Magica said
Jul 2 6:35 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Magica wrote:
Omg, Abbott strikes again
I don't think even she could be so thick, Mags.
She would have a good try Syl
Digger said
Jul 2 7:01 PM, 2025
Fluffy wrote:
Syl wrote:
Well, it is Diane Abbott...so it's very possible.
I think the thing that irks people most about Abbott is that she is definitely in favour of black positive discrimination. Because I'm left wing I find it hard to dislike her completely.
I recall when the riots occurred in Tottenham and Cameron called the looters "animals", his eyes looked genuinely repulsed. He and his Eton ilk (where the butler has their own toilet..!)will never understand what it's like to be poverty stricken or worry about where their next meal is coming from and I do feel we need advocates like Abbott in the system. Obviously looting is wrong, I'm not suggesting otherwise. But there is no way privileged white people like David Cameron can understand what a bleak life it is for young black youths who have only known gangs, knife crime and poverty all their life.
There are a lot of people who have, and always will, live in poverty. Yet they wouldn't dream of committing a crime or behaving like an animal. What changed in the decades since I was a kid is people's mind sets and morals. You see bad behaviour everywhere now, where years ago it was unheard of, or very very rare. So, yes, I get that people like Cameron might never have known any kind of poverty but I'm not taking the white privilege argument linked to wealth. If by white privilege you mean white people in a white country don't suffer the bias a black person might I can get that. I have black friends, and they've told me what they've had to endure. But that's not linked to wealth.
The other thing is that it's an insult to lump all black people into the victim box. There's plenty of black people who work hard, take advantage of our education system and all the other benefits and privileges and opportunities this country offers and make something of themselves. We all have choices.
Anonymous said
Jul 2 7:02 PM, 2025
Fluffy wrote:
Syl wrote:
Well, it is Diane Abbott...so it's very possible.
I think the thing that irks people most about Abbott is that she is definitely in favour of black positive discrimination. Because I'm left wing I find it hard to dislike her completely.
I recall when the riots occurred in Tottenham and Cameron called the looters "animals", his eyes looked genuinely repulsed. He and his Eton ilk (where the butler has their own toilet..!)will never understand what it's like to be poverty stricken or worry about where their next meal is coming from and I do feel we need advocates like Abbott in the system. Obviously looting is wrong, I'm not suggesting otherwise. But there is no way privileged white people like David Cameron can understand what a bleak life it is for young black youths who have only known gangs, knife crime and poverty all their life.
and many white kids don’t go through that? Being black shouldn’t mean being treated as a special case.
Anonymous said
Jul 2 7:04 PM, 2025
Digger wrote:
Fluffy wrote:
Syl wrote:
Well, it is Diane Abbott...so it's very possible.
I think the thing that irks people most about Abbott is that she is definitely in favour of black positive discrimination. Because I'm left wing I find it hard to dislike her completely.
I recall when the riots occurred in Tottenham and Cameron called the looters "animals", his eyes looked genuinely repulsed. He and his Eton ilk (where the butler has their own toilet..!)will never understand what it's like to be poverty stricken or worry about where their next meal is coming from and I do feel we need advocates like Abbott in the system. Obviously looting is wrong, I'm not suggesting otherwise. But there is no way privileged white people like David Cameron can understand what a bleak life it is for young black youths who have only known gangs, knife crime and poverty all their life.
There are a lot of people who have, and always will, live in poverty. Yet they wouldn't dream of committing a crime or behaving like an animal. What changed in the decades since I was a kid is people's mind sets and morals. You see bad behaviour everywhere now, where years ago it was unheard of, or very very rare. So, yes, I get that people like Cameron might never have known any kind of poverty but I'm not taking the white privilege argument linked to wealth. If by white privilege you mean white people in a white country don't suffer the bias a black person might I can get that. I have black friends, and they've told me what they've had to endure. But that's not linked to wealth.
The other thing is that it's an insult to lump all black people into the victim box. There's plenty of black people who work hard, take advantage of our education system and all the other benefits and privileges and opportunities this country offers and make something of themselves. We all have choices.
Good post.
Fluffy said
Jul 2 7:17 PM, 2025
Digger wrote:
Fluffy wrote:
Syl wrote:
Well, it is Diane Abbott...so it's very possible.
I think the thing that irks people most about Abbott is that she is definitely in favour of black positive discrimination. Because I'm left wing I find it hard to dislike her completely.
I recall when the riots occurred in Tottenham and Cameron called the looters "animals", his eyes looked genuinely repulsed. He and his Eton ilk (where the butler has their own toilet..!)will never understand what it's like to be poverty stricken or worry about where their next meal is coming from and I do feel we need advocates like Abbott in the system. Obviously looting is wrong, I'm not suggesting otherwise. But there is no way privileged white people like David Cameron can understand what a bleak life it is for young black youths who have only known gangs, knife crime and poverty all their life.
There are a lot of people who have, and always will, live in poverty. Yet they wouldn't dream of committing a crime or behaving like an animal. What changed in the decades since I was a kid is people's mind sets and morals. You see bad behaviour everywhere now, where years ago it was unheard of, or very very rare. So, yes, I get that people like Cameron might never have known any kind of poverty but I'm not taking the white privilege argument linked to wealth. If by white privilege you mean white people in a white country don't suffer the bias a black person might I can get that. I have black friends, and they've told me what they've had to endure. But that's not linked to wealth.
The other thing is that it's an insult to lump all black people into the victim box. There's plenty of black people who work hard, take advantage of our education system and all the other benefits and privileges and opportunities this country offers and make something of themselves. We all have choices.
I agree with you actually which means I don't agree with most of my post..! Just being poor doesn't mean you don't know the difference between right and wrong, nor does it mean you necessarily attack the system that wrongs you. I have done people in poverty an injustice there by lazy stereotyping.
However it must be hard to be young now and live in these times of peer pressure where kids as young as 15 are carrying knives and being involved in drugs. I do blame the government(s) for not investing more in these areas where life does seem so hopeless.
Anonymous said
Jul 2 7:48 PM, 2025
Fluffy wrote:
Digger wrote:
Fluffy wrote:
Syl wrote:
Well, it is Diane Abbott...so it's very possible.
I think the thing that irks people most about Abbott is that she is definitely in favour of black positive discrimination. Because I'm left wing I find it hard to dislike her completely.
I recall when the riots occurred in Tottenham and Cameron called the looters "animals", his eyes looked genuinely repulsed. He and his Eton ilk (where the butler has their own toilet..!)will never understand what it's like to be poverty stricken or worry about where their next meal is coming from and I do feel we need advocates like Abbott in the system. Obviously looting is wrong, I'm not suggesting otherwise. But there is no way privileged white people like David Cameron can understand what a bleak life it is for young black youths who have only known gangs, knife crime and poverty all their life.
There are a lot of people who have, and always will, live in poverty. Yet they wouldn't dream of committing a crime or behaving like an animal. What changed in the decades since I was a kid is people's mind sets and morals. You see bad behaviour everywhere now, where years ago it was unheard of, or very very rare. So, yes, I get that people like Cameron might never have known any kind of poverty but I'm not taking the white privilege argument linked to wealth. If by white privilege you mean white people in a white country don't suffer the bias a black person might I can get that. I have black friends, and they've told me what they've had to endure. But that's not linked to wealth.
The other thing is that it's an insult to lump all black people into the victim box. There's plenty of black people who work hard, take advantage of our education system and all the other benefits and privileges and opportunities this country offers and make something of themselves. We all have choices.
I agree with you actually which means I don't agree with most of my post..! Just being poor doesn't mean you don't know the difference between right and wrong, nor does it mean you necessarily attack the system that wrongs you. I have done people in poverty an injustice there by lazy stereotyping.
However it must be hard to be young now and live in these times of peer pressure where kids as young as 15 are carrying knives and being involved in drugs. I do blame the government(s) for not investing more in these areas where life does seem so hopeless.
Being poor isn’t an excuse for roaming the streets in gangs armed with knives, neither is being bored because the Govt hasn’t provided amenities to entertain little Johnny. Shouldn’t parents take responsibility for their kid’s thuggish behaviour? Why is it always someone else’s fault? Kids are the responsibility of the parents, not the Govt, not yours not mine. Your community lacks? then do something about it, raise funds rent a hall and lay on local events etc etc
My parents weren’t rich but neither were we belly-hungry poor, we certainly didn’t go round terrorising and stealing from others. We were taught to respect others and to work for anything we wanted eg newspaper rounds, babysitting and the likes when school age. Can’t get a paid Saturday job? - then knock on doors, sell yourself washing cars, collect shopping, cleaning drive ways…anything in fact to earn money to buy what you’re hankering over. Quit expecting every one to entertain and treat you as special.
Digger said
Jul 2 11:06 PM, 2025
Fluffy wrote:
Digger wrote:
Fluffy wrote:
Syl wrote:
Well, it is Diane Abbott...so it's very possible.
I think the thing that irks people most about Abbott is that she is definitely in favour of black positive discrimination. Because I'm left wing I find it hard to dislike her completely.
I recall when the riots occurred in Tottenham and Cameron called the looters "animals", his eyes looked genuinely repulsed. He and his Eton ilk (where the butler has their own toilet..!)will never understand what it's like to be poverty stricken or worry about where their next meal is coming from and I do feel we need advocates like Abbott in the system. Obviously looting is wrong, I'm not suggesting otherwise. But there is no way privileged white people like David Cameron can understand what a bleak life it is for young black youths who have only known gangs, knife crime and poverty all their life.
There are a lot of people who have, and always will, live in poverty. Yet they wouldn't dream of committing a crime or behaving like an animal. What changed in the decades since I was a kid is people's mind sets and morals. You see bad behaviour everywhere now, where years ago it was unheard of, or very very rare. So, yes, I get that people like Cameron might never have known any kind of poverty but I'm not taking the white privilege argument linked to wealth. If by white privilege you mean white people in a white country don't suffer the bias a black person might I can get that. I have black friends, and they've told me what they've had to endure. But that's not linked to wealth.
The other thing is that it's an insult to lump all black people into the victim box. There's plenty of black people who work hard, take advantage of our education system and all the other benefits and privileges and opportunities this country offers and make something of themselves. We all have choices.
I agree with you actually which means I don't agree with most of my post..! Just being poor doesn't mean you don't know the difference between right and wrong, nor does it mean you necessarily attack the system that wrongs you. I have done people in poverty an injustice there by lazy stereotyping.
However it must be hard to be young now and live in these times of peer pressure where kids as young as 15 are carrying knives and being involved in drugs. I do blame the government(s) for not investing more in these areas where life does seem so hopeless.
We live in narcissistic times. We see young girls looking as though they've all come out of the same mould, fake lips, hair, boobs, cheekbones, brows. There's this kind of generic look they all seem to strive for, and they'll all end up looking like Katie Price. There has never been a time it seems where so low a premium is placed on natural female beauty. We are lawless, degenerate, we have rape gangs, chronic obesity, shoplifters who won't be prosecuted, migrant men coming into our country by the thousands. Girl gangs beating up pensioners. Kids being stabbed daily. And a real drug problem. It goes on and on. Worst of all the woke madness and influence of social media that is twisting young minds and offers nothing but a warped reality they can never live up to. A whole generation who embrace the victim mentality and are infantilised beyond repair.
We're pretty much doomed I think. Gangs have always been around. I remember the gangs in Manchester. My husband was a police officer when they were at their most prolific. Someone got chopped to bits with machetes in a full restaurant in Chinatown by the triads. But you rarely saw kids killing each other. You rarely saw people attacked at random in the street for no reason. We are living in dangerous times.
It's no good chucking money at these kids. We've tried sending them on outward bound courses and expensive holidays. It doesn't work. What's broken down in the family unit. Your life is heavily influenced by what happens at home. We still have kids being murdered and abused by their parents because inept social workers are too weak and ineffectual. The rape gangs have thrived because nobody wants to upset muslims.
I am so fucking glad I grew up in a different era. An era where you could walk home at 2am as a lone female and not get molested. A time where most men treated you like a lady. Where music was real and concerts cost a couple of quid to get into. A time before our food got tampered with. A time when we were all slim and healthy. We didn't necessarily have much but we had freedom. We didn't have mental health problems. We could just be kids and teenagers.
In footballing terms, he's 'lost the dressing room' and can no longer control his own party, let alone run the country
It was a joy to watch MPs from all parties putting the boot in. The BBC described the type of questions and tone as being 'brutal'
Starmer evaded the question as to whether she will keep her job, and started banging on about the £22 billion black hole again!
www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2076323/rachel-reeves-pmqs-crying-kemi-badenoch
Some interesting comments below the clip
Oh boo hoo
It is also truly unfair that people on the older basic pension like my mother get £140 less a WEEK than younger pensioners. Just like new Universal Credit claimants in exactly the same financial position will get less money than those already claiming. None of this is logical or fair..it's a farce. Keir Starmer is just a shockingly weak PM. Why do new welfare claimants deserve less?? It's not their fault the country is broke due to two inept governments.
I don't mind the flip flopping in changing his mind if the backbenchers are (quite rightly in my view) protesting against an unfair bill. But the PM and chancellor are meant to be competent adults with their faculties intact. Why do they make such terrible austerity driven bills that true Labour MP's are going to reject?? I was surprised the bill got through as it will just leave more disabled and vulnerable individuals worse off. Folk like Red may disagree with me but austerity is not the way to bring growth to an economy. Pushing the working poor into poverty (because people forget some welfare claimants do work) will just lead to more financial ruin for many.
Diane Abbott is a great example of how some women can get better with age, unlike modern media dictating that women hit "the wall" at 30 and should accept their days of attracting men are over. She has had some dodgy looks and hairstyles but looks far more attractive now than in her youth.
I used to like her very much as an MP, I don't so much now. I do appreciate any genuine left wing MP's who are old Labour though so I'm probably biased. I thought Corbyn was mocked needlessly, he wasn't fit to be PM but at least he had compassion, cared about people and actually wanted to help them. Those in Government are meant to be in public service and safeguarding the public, not the other way around.
She didn't say that....did she??
I'll let you decide
Well, it is Diane Abbott...so it's very possible.
Omg, Abbott strikes again
I don't think even she could be so thick, Mags.
I think the thing that irks people most about Abbott is that she is definitely in favour of black positive discrimination. Because I'm left wing I find it hard to dislike her completely.
I recall when the riots occurred in Tottenham and Cameron called the looters "animals", his eyes looked genuinely repulsed. He and his Eton ilk (where the butler has their own toilet..!)will never understand what it's like to be poverty stricken or worry about where their next meal is coming from and I do feel we need advocates like Abbott in the system. Obviously looting is wrong, I'm not suggesting otherwise. But there is no way privileged white people like David Cameron can understand what a bleak life it is for young black youths who have only known gangs, knife crime and poverty all their life.
She would have a good try Syl
There are a lot of people who have, and always will, live in poverty. Yet they wouldn't dream of committing a crime or behaving like an animal. What changed in the decades since I was a kid is people's mind sets and morals. You see bad behaviour everywhere now, where years ago it was unheard of, or very very rare. So, yes, I get that people like Cameron might never have known any kind of poverty but I'm not taking the white privilege argument linked to wealth. If by white privilege you mean white people in a white country don't suffer the bias a black person might I can get that. I have black friends, and they've told me what they've had to endure. But that's not linked to wealth.
The other thing is that it's an insult to lump all black people into the victim box. There's plenty of black people who work hard, take advantage of our education system and all the other benefits and privileges and opportunities this country offers and make something of themselves. We all have choices.
and many white kids don’t go through that? Being black shouldn’t mean being treated as a special case.
Good post.
I agree with you actually which means I don't agree with most of my post..!
Just being poor doesn't mean you don't know the difference between right and wrong, nor does it mean you necessarily attack the system that wrongs you. I have done people in poverty an injustice there by lazy stereotyping.
However it must be hard to be young now and live in these times of peer pressure where kids as young as 15 are carrying knives and being involved in drugs. I do blame the government(s) for not investing more in these areas where life does seem so hopeless.
Being poor isn’t an excuse for roaming the streets in gangs armed with knives, neither is being bored because the Govt hasn’t provided amenities to entertain little Johnny. Shouldn’t parents take responsibility for their kid’s thuggish behaviour? Why is it always someone else’s fault? Kids are the responsibility of the parents, not the Govt, not yours not mine. Your community lacks? then do something about it, raise funds rent a hall and lay on local events etc etc
My parents weren’t rich but neither were we belly-hungry poor, we certainly didn’t go round terrorising and stealing from others. We were taught to respect others and to work for anything we wanted eg newspaper rounds, babysitting and the likes when school age. Can’t get a paid Saturday job? - then knock on doors, sell yourself washing cars, collect shopping, cleaning drive ways…anything in fact to earn money to buy what you’re hankering over. Quit expecting every one to entertain and treat you as special.
We live in narcissistic times. We see young girls looking as though they've all come out of the same mould, fake lips, hair, boobs, cheekbones, brows. There's this kind of generic look they all seem to strive for, and they'll all end up looking like Katie Price. There has never been a time it seems where so low a premium is placed on natural female beauty. We are lawless, degenerate, we have rape gangs, chronic obesity, shoplifters who won't be prosecuted, migrant men coming into our country by the thousands. Girl gangs beating up pensioners. Kids being stabbed daily. And a real drug problem. It goes on and on. Worst of all the woke madness and influence of social media that is twisting young minds and offers nothing but a warped reality they can never live up to. A whole generation who embrace the victim mentality and are infantilised beyond repair.
We're pretty much doomed I think. Gangs have always been around. I remember the gangs in Manchester. My husband was a police officer when they were at their most prolific. Someone got chopped to bits with machetes in a full restaurant in Chinatown by the triads. But you rarely saw kids killing each other. You rarely saw people attacked at random in the street for no reason. We are living in dangerous times.
It's no good chucking money at these kids. We've tried sending them on outward bound courses and expensive holidays. It doesn't work. What's broken down in the family unit. Your life is heavily influenced by what happens at home. We still have kids being murdered and abused by their parents because inept social workers are too weak and ineffectual. The rape gangs have thrived because nobody wants to upset muslims.
I am so fucking glad I grew up in a different era. An era where you could walk home at 2am as a lone female and not get molested. A time where most men treated you like a lady. Where music was real and concerts cost a couple of quid to get into. A time before our food got tampered with. A time when we were all slim and healthy. We didn't necessarily have much but we had freedom. We didn't have mental health problems. We could just be kids and teenagers.