When Did the UK Last Have A Competent Politician In Charge Of The Country?

Leaving aside Truss, I think they were all competent up to a point. But as with many people in power, it tends to be corrupting and I think some of those fared better than others.

Winston Churchill. It seems now with every new leader we get taken down a step, two steps backward one step forward. We may as well have god in charge for what good these politicians do. They couldn't run a piss up in a brewery...only a garden party.

Quote from Stew 65

From this lot we have had strikes non stop, violence on picket lines, household rubbish piled high in the streets, abuse of a dead pig, An illegal war, recessions, the quickest destruction of the countrys economy in it's history, Partygate, the manhandling of the Covid outbreak and the inept job of making brexit work.

What violence on the picket lines, i must have missed that one.

But all in all that was a complimentary as fcuk post, out of interest was there anyone you liked?

Quote from Stew 65

I go far back enough to remember Edward Heath, he was followed by Harold Wilson then James Callaghan.

Then we had Maggie followed by the dithering Major (he signed us up to political union with the EU without asking us the eejit).

Next came the sweaty armpitted Blair who took us into a war fought on lies, succeeded by the dour Brown.

Things couldn't get any worse I thought at the time of the 2010 election....!

Oh how wrong was I!

Cameron the pig lover, May the field frolicker, Johnson the one man jibbering baby machine, Truss the pork specialist and country wrecker and finally Rishi with the tax avoiding wife.

From this lot we have had strikes non stop, violence on picket lines, household rubbish piled high in the streets, abuse of a dead pig, An illegal war, recessions, the quickest destruction of the countrys economy in it's history, Partygate, the manhandling of the Covid outbreak and the inept job of making brexit work.

I dread to think of what is next, Thankfully global warming will put an end to the pain and suffering of us all.

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Clearly you are reflecting with the power of hindsight. At the time these characters were elected (and I am referring to those elected via a GE win and not mid term replacements) were seen by the majority vote as the best available for the job or the least worst as we would say today.

How they will perform and what will be their downfall is still in the future by events yet to unfold.

What I have taken from a lifetime of watching the political clusterfuck unfold is that politicians are merely human beings and we are all flawed individuals.

The one thing all these people had in common except for John Major is that they were all the product of private education and fine universities. Read into that what you will.

Stew what you describe is the politics of envy. Believe me, my upbringing totally qualifies me to say that.

Managers and owners have always taken the lions share, there has always and will always be a disparity between the haves and have not. But ask yourself what is a have not.

I am 61, retired on I'll health from the police, retired because I want now from working but with several medical conditions. Conditions borne out of poor diet, shift work, manual work, accidents at work and genetics but for the first time in my life I am not concerned about money.

There were times I had 3 jobs, my wife had 2. We saved for 12 months to go away on a 2week camping holiday when the kids were little, but we appreciated it.

No ipads, no mobiles, no smart tvs your only 3 yrs younger you know exactly what I mean.

I hated school, but excelled at some things in the army,was a half decent cop but never gonna be a chief. A good lower/middle manager or supervisory grade, too out spoken, too honest and too principled.

There are wages out there I believe should be stopped or at least capped. Footballers a prime example, stupid wages for boys to kick a ball, badly in some quarters. Politicians aren't well paid for the hours and responsibilities, they're paid less than council CEOs.

I agree with you over Blair, Labours most undemocratic leader. He removed the parties right to dictate policy, but has it made them more electable....Not on your newly.

But times have changed and people still cling to the past glories. The NHS, a great invention has run its course. Too expensive due to high demand,I am one of those who makes demands. Tax is high, too high but it would be clawed back in other ways. But I agree with one socialist mantra, " a fair wage for a fair days work"

But governments shouldn't intervene in the affairs of private companies, what and how they pay their staff so long as it falls within acceptable criteria (min wage), its your choice to take that job or seek to better it.

Your last sentence just needs modifying, not the man on the street but the tax payers of which the top tax payers pay far more than the lower paid. But the disparities cloud judgment on that issue.

Stew, I think you are misreading the room…

It seems people like to slate your ideology but are quite happy to pedal theirs.

Some of us are more than qualified to have the views we gave on poverty, work or war. Been there on all got the certificate medal t-shirt was in the movie.

We live in a materialistic society where if you haven't got iPhone or top smart phone, 65" smart tv full sky package and cable broadband, love people of the same sex or fancy changining yours or even your neighbour earns way more than you but he is a tory then your in poverty and we need redistribution.

Well they can kiss my hoop. Want it ! WORK FOR IT, I sure did.

The problem is that minimum wage needs to be matched with inflation and living costs without having to struggle or scrimp and save. The problem then is that the cost of the end product or service then increases so those at the top can also keep that higher wage inline with those at the bottom of the scale. What needs to happen is those at the top get taxed a lot more along with blocking all the tax loopholes to evade paying tax. We need to rob the the rich to pay the poor but the rich already have the money and contacts, accountants, lawyers etc to protect themselves and their investments and keep it among their own circles whereas those lower down the scale do not have that opportunity which in turn keeps them there. You need money to be able to make more money. If I was in charge I would put a cap on wages and if it's seen that they have assets here or abroad that do match their earnings then they should be treated the same way as criminals who then have those assets seized.

Quote from Stew 65

I've said what I'm going to say, there is a no point me replying because most of you on here think it is OK for the poor and sick to suffer while others flaunt their wealth and influence in their face.

If you can quote where that was said by anyone your post might be valid. Otherwise it’s just more lefty emotive bollocks.

Quote from Stew 65

Most on here are right of Hitler!

Genghis Khan.

I dealt with a few homeless whilst a cop, a few of them ex military. They openly admitted that they had problems which caused them to not being able to stay somewhere very long. In other words drink, drugs etc. You can call them addictions or illnesses all day long, but it doesn't alter the fact that they are self induced.

Kicked out by wives/girlfriends or parents for being financially inept, violent, abusive or similar but of course its the government's fault someone is a cnut. They even kick off in A&E where even after leaving the police I ended up dealing with them. Same goes for youths who believe the world owes them a favour. People going to food banks, reportedly nurses or firemen who get good wages, but clearly can't budget themselves for toffee, but hey ho it's the government's fault. Mortgages beyond their ability to pay, damn government's fault.

Yes, there are genuine poverty cases, but not as many as we're lead to believe. There is work out there, if your hungry or cold you'll do it. It's easier to get a better job if in work than if unemployed. But references are earned and if your a good worker employers will want to retain you.

As a boy we went potato picking every year, £10 a day at 14/15yrs old was great, bought my vinyls, my Levis, my wranglers and/or allowed me to take my girl to the flix good life preperation imho. But you never hear of it now. As a teen if given min wage would you do a couple of weeks fruit picking? I sure would.

Quote from Stew 65

No I'm not, you have people posting pictures of AK47s and advocating shooting boats with people on them.

You have people saying it is alright for people to go hungry while a tax cut is given to those better off.

Most on here are right of Hitler!

I think you’ll find they were joking. It was all a little tongue in cheek, and borne of frustration.

The bottom line is, we need to control immigration. The wokes won’t like it, but they don’t represent the opinions of ordinary citizens.

Quote from Stew 65

No I'm not, you have people posting pictures of AK47s and advocating shooting boats with people on them.

You have people saying it is alright for people to go hungry while a tax cut is given to those better off.

Most on here are right of Hitler!

LOB

Its called Gallows Humour