The battle to save the high st is as lost as the war on drugs imo. Economies change and the need for as many shops selling items (as opposed to services) has diminished as did horse drawn carriages. So turn them into homes for which there is huge demand

Talking of Reform politician taking bribes from a hostile nation when are we going to see the Russia report? What is in it that is so bad? Will Greens publish it as no other party has? i cant see ReFO being keen

Zack Polanski is certainly shaking things up and calling things out. I don’t agree with all Green’s policies but I applaud the passion and apparent frankness

I can see why places like Cambridge are growing but what hope for Clacton cos despite the best efforts of its hard working MP i cannot envisage what new employment opportunities could be created there

If large amounts of money could not be made in politics would some of the present politicians be in it? Would our country be better if politicians believed what they said?

Anyone got a list or even few names, of billionaires who have invested in UK that provides new jobs here? Not in hedge funds, vulture capital or buying up own homes. Also excluding those who have moved production to cheap labour overseas

Ultra rich have their money where? In property yes and cant move that. In stocks & shares - if they sell those they remain here. In tax havens - yes but that money isnt here so we dont lose it. So what can they take away?

And when will UK catch up with Spain? After Brexit we were told we would be world beating.

Proportional representation would presumably take a long time to introduce. Will Labour try to bring it in or continue its present course convinced it will win the next election despite all evidence being to the contrary?

Even if gov does have secret info that made them proscribe PA they have done a piss poor job of selling the plan & lost huge numbers of voters over the issue. Like WFP, PIP cuts, two child benefit limit. But I suppose at least they are consistent

I deplore this talk of deporting people. I can see the argument for controlling immigration but to think of deporting those long settled here is inhuman, unjust, irreligious and appalling.

I have had a few people block me that I have not communicated with and have no idea why I was blocked. I wish they would vent their spleen on me as I might change my opinion if it that bad

Is Reform strongest in East of England and if so why?

I wonder if gov don’t go after Farage & RW media very hard now cos they know he has a lot of history they can use against him at election time? Other RW proponents will pop up to lead but might not be as attackable?

Is it a slow news day with so many posts about Badenough? About as relevant as Monster Raving Loony Party and soon to have the same number of MPs

Can the Home Sec order police to arrest people damaging property or threatening people but to ignore placard carriers? I think so. Why hasn’t this been done? Obstinacy?

Why are Labour not dynamic on this? They can arrest grannies with placards

Are there any deep thinking wise political brains with good strategies advising Starmer?

I think I want to feed hungry kids before ID cards

I think Labour are in a real bind. Voters split between 1. those who welcome immigrants-vote Green. 2. those who have no problem with people here but want strict controls on future numbers - vote Libs. 3. those wanting deportations-vote ReFO &Tories who will do a pact. Who left to vote Labour?

@glostermeteor.bsky.social here is article on ID cards

What will it take for gov to act on BBC bias?

So if you call someone by a name of racial insult that is a crime. But if you propose deporting them to effectively death camps , that isn’t?

Your Party, My Party, Anybody’s Party - Nobody’s Party!

I understand how AI is useful in science but anyone know how it will benefit average people in daily lives?

Why doesn’t gov put a competent civil servant in charge of Thames Water at least saving the huge bonuses & salaries and working towards sorting the mess out?

Clever

Wealth tax seems controversial in that many countries have tried but results disappointing I understand. But why do we tolerate tax havens as I believe Britain has the 3 largest?

If large “donations” to political parties were illegal most of this nonsense would go away

In the UK if you don’t want to send immigrants to their deaths, don’t want to harm the disabled, hungry kids, pensioners, gay &trans but do want to keep a deterrent & armed forces and maintain the economy - who do you vote for?

What you reckon USA- would you trade your guns and dead kids for this?

I wonder if most of the problems are caused by psychopaths and if scientists could develop a genetic test to identify them early: could we have a better world?

If, as a nation,we cannot get behind condemning genocide and also effectively stand up to plans to send refugees to their deaths then we are finished

I read Badenough calls for conservative councils to mount court challenges to asylum hotels- the hotels the Tories put the asylum seekers in!

I think the issue with Labour now is we all hoped for so much more after the Tories.

I read illegal immigration has plummeted in USA since ICE raids. A lot of people in US wanted it down. I wonder whether there was a more humane way to achieve this & if so what was it?

Are there any countries where big business/money doesn’t ruin it for average people?

It doesn’t have to be like this – says a North East economist with ambitions to change the world In Hexham, 70 gather to hear Maeve Cohen reimagine economics - where people, not profits, shape our future @northeastbylines.co.uk northeastbylines.co.uk/business/eco...

If BBC news/politics had covered Gaza properly would Gary have felt the need to do their job for them and lost his?

I think 2 child cap is too low. Some argue we shouldn’t pay for other peoples kids but even people planning a small family have unplanned. 3 or 4 is surely a sensible compromise for a cap?

I agree and would like to go further. Local authorities (say starting with Andy Burnham’s Manchester) are allowed to issue bonds to fund building council housing. Rents affordable fund the interest on the bonds. Too high rents & not enough housing are major solvable problems

I like this plan.

Some ecological good news

As Dan Neidle says wealth taxes haven’t worked in many countries I wonder how the dukes of Westminster etc seem to avoid inheritance tax. Earning wealth in your lifetime, as long as taxed like workers, fair enough but keeping it for generations when the less rich pay IHT, I am bothered about.

Choice is simple. EU model of socialism caring for each other. OR USA -rich take it all

Another massive post! We need huge social housing building done on post war basis. Can’t be left solely to profit driven building companies.

This post has more impact on my thinking than most. A huge issue hardly discussed. Those who say too many foreigners had better start thinking: do they want pensions, social services & NHS OR less foreigners?

I read a summary of Reform’s proposals and big one was they are going to send boat people back to France. No explanation as to how they will get France to agree to this.

When you are a muti billionaire think of all the good you could do via charitable foundations. What a legacy you could leave. Instead you concentrate on just having more so when you die everyone says good riddance.

I think the main problem is socialists are nice, caring, play by the rules. right wing are racist, don’t adhere to rules, prorogue Parliament, lie incessantly, cheat, thieve. Bad guys always make the first move so until the good guys learn to act first to stop the bad, things won’t improve