James O'Brien's take as 'people in power are arguing with each other over immigration'

[@JerzyFeliksKlein]

Living in UK right now feels like being completely paralyzed on a back seat of a car crashing in slow motion.

[@JwayT]

Why don't you leave it then?

[@Adipsia1]

The car went into a major skid six years ago. Now we're watching 60m people going through the windscreen because this government didn't take corrective action at the time.

[@derin111]

@@JwayT I have! Retired early at 55 years old from my job as an NHS Consultant Surgeon and moving to Germany. Lebewohl! Auf Wiedersehen! 🙂

[@mdb3040]

@@JwayT you do realise it’s not like popping down to the supermarket don’t you? 😂 I’d love to leave but not sure if the £14.57 I’ve got in my bank account is enough to renew my passport let alone everything else that I’ll need to pay for

[@JwayT]

@@mdb3040 wasn't asking you

[@Adipsia1]

Twelve years ago I would have classified myself as being very slightly right of centre, although probably more of a Liberal than a Conservative. At the time my two stepsons were just about entering secondary education and I was so pleased that they benefitted from a cosmopolitan outlook and where the world was going to be their oyster. And you're quite right, then came along Brexit. The very Conservative party that we still have in power opened a Pandora's box in offering Joe Public a referendum on something that they didn't understand... and in doing so set the seeds for the ruination of our country's finances and prospects. It's hard to believe that the same party is still in power and intent on digging us yet deeper into a hole that has not only made us the laughing stock of the world, but will leave our children in debt for decades to come. Watching the news these days is like rubber-necking at an ever-continuing car-crash. And we've done this to ourselves, there's no one else to blame.

[@lesleyhemingway1345]

I won't take the blame, didn't vote for Brexit,wanted the young ones to be able to travel all Europe easily.

[@TheOutsider840]

Joe Public didn't understand the implications of the referendum? Based on what? Are you a mindreader? What people have you asked/studies have you consulted?

[@paultursner-upcott3651]

Well said..

[@johncobourne361]

@@TheOutsider840 "Based on what"? Their stated beliefs as to what the implications would be.

[@TheOutsider840]

@@johncobourne361 What specifically are you referring to? What is your sample size/what studies have you consulted to be confident your extrapolation that millions were uninformed is an accurate one?

[@JohnSmall314]

The problem the Tories have is that free movement of people is an essential part of free market ideology, hence free movement of goods, services, capital and people in the EU single market. But to get what the Tories see as the 'lower classes' to vote for tax cuts for rich people and free markets, they have to tell them immigrants are the source of their problems, not rich parasites creaming off the wealth of the country. So they end up in a complete twist, pro free market, and against state interference in businesses, but anti-free movement of people and pro government interference in who companies can employ. Which is why they're arguing over immigration. They can't decide if they're in favour of free markets or want to keep bashing immigrants to keep who they regard as the "lower classes" voting Tory.

[@tt-ew7rx]

Spot on.

[@PurushaDesa]

Yeah the ERG ideology breaks the classic racism/capitalism coalition of Conservatives. You would only pursue such a project if you were unhinged enough to think the current state of capitalism isn't making you and your 12 superrich friends enough money. They're so greedy they're willing to concentrate wealth beyond even their own upper middle class base.

[@DD-fc1rv]

👏👏👏👍

[@denisdaly1708]

excellent analysis. i think it is accurate

[@lisastickytuna8668]

Absobloodyloutely!

[@kappaslapper14]

This all comes down to people on the lower ends not being payed enough and therefor not having enough to put back into the local economy .

[@kiwihib]

Never mind that 157 pound windfall they are going to get will help the local economy, oops sorry needed to pay for the energy bill. In this day and age, and it is the same here in New Zealand it should be able to work out as an average price for energy across the board instead of pinning it to the highest price, so much for the market will be competitive and force prices down.

[@aries6776]

lol which is why the tories opposed public sector worker getting an inflationary pay rise claiming it will push up inflation but then give tax cuts to the rich a few months later which somehow won't increase inflation. The mind boggles how ordinary people just accept it.

[@stevedavidson666]

Excellent excellent comment. These Tory Tossers will never get it. They're too busy trying to kowtow to their rich useless backers with their hidden offshore dosh that they've never understood how a proper economy works. Starmer's renewable energy concept with its attached jobs (and spending by those employees) is exactly what is needed and I hope he and Labour get the chance to prove it. Hopefully they'll also start a proper house building drive - on NIMBY greenbelt land - and do the same.

[@tommonk7651]

Here in the US, the "voodoo economics" of Reagan and the "trickle down" has devastated the middle class. Average people have to be paid to keep the wheels of the economy going.

[@msa-tt4bg]

Employers haven't needed to increase wages when they know there are plenty of people willing to come here and work for the minimum wage.

[@forbeswalker2585]

Listening to Chloe Smith DWP Secretary of State doing the TV rounds today trying (and making a fool of herself) to defend the immoral mini budget transported me back to the worst days of Johnson and his propagandists. I truly despair of the politicians we have allowed to do this to us

[@nick1065]

Try listening to Rayner and Co then

[@robertosborne7542]

She didnt even try tbh just said she couldnt comment which was pathetic itself.

[@jonathanbarraclough5917]

This is lower/ worse than Johnson. Our Country will only recover with a change. Labour looking better, not at the level of a Government yet but I say that using the old minimum. Currently we are well below any merit level as regards Ministers and MPs.

[@ianlayton6949]

@@nick1065 Which is a none answer in support of a party that has nothing to offer except a discredited and empty ideology. "If you think we're bad, wait till you see the others" is not only unjustifiable given Labour has been away from power for 12 years and is still to show it's hand, it's also the language of the defeated. You're already speaking like an opposition party. "We're bad, but they'll be worse" is a pretty weak defence given the state the Torys have got the country into.

[@kevhavard]

@@nick1065 muppet

[@diamondgeezer3933]

The Tories are slowly dragging us back to 1970s and still people will vote for them 🙈

[@badbones777]

I'd say your giving them a couple of centuries leeway there mate!

[@kanedNunable]

1870s....

[@heffo67]

@@badbones777 Haha....👍

[@chatham43]

....yep...the years of Wilson and Callaghan....

[@moonmoggyjohn5227]

Over the cliff for invertible climate and economic disaster like we nether known

[@L3L3Lee]

James O'brien is approaching wizard levels with his understanding and predictions on the conservative party. It's unbelievably accurate...

[@einsteinsmonkey8867]

I know, but for all of his wise words and 'foresight' the man still voted for Boris Johnson

[@JD_London]

@@einsteinsmonkey8867 best of a bad bunch at the time

[@richardlewis7498]

@@JD_London well thats the problem vote for who you think is the least worst person

[@Adipsia1]

James is doing a great job, but this was here for everyone to see six years ago.I don't know how David Cameron is able to sleep at night, much less show his face as a guest at the Queen's funeral.

[@einsteinsmonkey8867]

Quite obviously was the worst of the bunch but I can see the media convinced you otherwise.

[@medialies6254]

i live in Spain and i speak perfect Spanish but i see many many Brits living in Spain that only speak English.....and guess what...loads of them were in favour or voted for Brexit...lol...i´m not even kidding

[@malachy1847]

Remember seeing on TV a group of Elderly British folks on the Costa 'Yorkshire' near Alicante being interview at their little Astroturf Lawn Bowling Club and they as a grouping were not phased at all and they almost to a man said they HAD voted for Brexit and one lad being interviewed said, "Ah sure we OWN this Place"... talk about ,"Playing a Card against yourself" you couldn't make that stuff up... [now many have Date Stamps placed on their Passports being allowed only to stay 120 days in any Six month period....]

[@medialies6254]

@@malachy1847 yep except its only 90 days in a 6 month period....even worse....plus now all their driving licences are invalid....lol

[@sylviamaua745]

@@medialies6254 they hate foreigners but love the Costa del Sol.

[@LAD907]

Welcome to Trussia

[@GiraffeCrab]

Well we do have enough Russian oligarchs in parts of London for it to be knows as Londograd and with the Tax cuts to the top 1% all these Russian investments in the UK that we don't want to sanction because we need Russian money will be making a bit more than they were. Funny how it all works out.

[@cpotter1268]

What to get 2 million vacancies filled? Fair pay, not the living or minimum wage.... but a wage that can't support a family to not just survive but live. There's usually no more than 6 layers between the lowest paid and board members, either link the two so there's no more than six times the difference in pay or forever be in wonder at why you can not fill employment vacancies. And make zero hour, seven hour and any other diabolical sham of a contract against the law.

[@kenwalker5384]

Bravo, well said!

[@michaelscott4291]

Perfectly put

[@marksykes5434]

In the 1950s a study was done of top companies & their pay structure . It found that on average the highest paid person at a company was paid , on average 40 times more than the average salary at that company ! Today it is over 320 times the average salary at that company !

[@johnf3326]

Cake for the rich, crumbs for the poor

[@richardhowlett4097]

I remember in the seventies when the tories were in power I went to work to earn enough to go to work the next week, it's no different now, the working man is still paid a pittance.

[@chuggermagic]

If the pound is nearly on par with the Euro we wont have as many seasonal workers coming over in the first place

[@michaelmccarthy9411]

Being on a par or otherwise is meaningless. It's about purchasing power

[@fredfunf3456]

@@michaelmccarthy9411 Which in this case would be the pound being stronger than the Euro. If the pound is weak then it won't be worth workers from Europe coming over. It is totally relevant what he said.

[@prrrakrrra]

That is why they are begging Africans to come here

[@ATHLDN]

Trust me, nobody wants to come here

[@bryanmoyna9715]

I was thinking on going to the uk but if their economy keeps getting repeatedly backstabbed by the government, ill say itd be economic harakiri to my finances.

[@audreymcgready4329]

That's not British politics. That's English Tory politics.

[@thecockerel86]

Is there a difference? English Tory politics runs Britain. It's done so for over 40 years.

[@bereal6590]

It's tory politics

[@beachcomber1able]

@@thecockerel86English Tory politics about to be kicked out of Scotland.

[@RealOGfikey]

@@beachcomber1able Here's hoping.

[@richardlewis7498]

no difference been the same way since world war 2 austerity politics and it always affects the poor

[@Alex-cw3rz]

At least people will realise that the Tories have no understanding of even basic economics

[@TheDom277]

You’d think so yeah. But when you have a large amount of people that can only form an argument around “yeah but Labour/LibDems are worse.” An understanding seems out of the picture sadly.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@TheDom277 yep it's constant gaslighting by the Conservatives in the vain justification of their failed policies

[@markwelch3564]

@@TheDom277 if they manage to find someone shivering and munching on bread as even toast is too expensive, who sincerely and honestly says "yeah, but it would be worse under Labour", I don't know if I'll laugh or cry

[@cujimmi]

Kwasi kwarten has a PhD in economics from Cambridge University.. I'm sure he understands basic economics

[@TheDom277]

@@markwelch3564 The problem with that though is. They probably have done. And instead of helping and showing an ounce of compassion, what do we get? Giving the rich more money and the poor less overall. As well as certain Tory monsters that prefer to tell people already overstretched to either work harder or get a better job… or both.

[@CASM-ze7lb]

British and Italian politics in dilemma, and Russia’s threat to eastern Europe. Anyone else sensing history repeating itself???

[@blahblahcw]

Yep anybody else scared

[@denisdaly1708]

with climate crisis, it could even be worse.

[@petef7323]

@@denisdaly1708 cLIEmate crisis, yes yes

[@Jimmie16]

To be honest this is not British politics it's English pure and simple nobody else wants this.

[@CASM-ze7lb]

@@Jimmie16 I’m not disagreeing, the decisions made by Westminster are causing so much conflict amongst other British countries.

[@trqoiz]

I worked for an importing buisness, they had to make me redundant today due to the value of the pound crashing. Nice 'growth' kwasi.

[@robinmcara793]

Sorry, something else will come up.

[@Mark08138642]

Sorry about that mate!! 😒!! As ever no thought for who decisions made will impact upon those actually working in related sectors..

[@Mr-qt4xr]

Hope you didn't vote for them.

[@OrphanAnnie10]

Just read about a woman in Labour, who got turned away from her nearest maternity hospital, she's had to go to one over a hours drive away because it was the only one with a bed and enough staff. The grandmother voted Conservative and so did the woman having the baby and they probably will again. WE NEED PR not FPTP.

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

Labour conference is voting on it in a couple of hours…

[@OrphanAnnie10]

@@HistoritorJimaldus Do you think enough will want to change to PR? I'm not so sure

[@AndyM_323YYY]

They have a majority of seats allocated using PR in Italy. Now they have neo fascists in charge.

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

@@OrphanAnnie10 the vote should pass this year now unions are supporting - then the members have to force the leadership to follow through

[@bereal6590]

Annie I so hope u r right..... knowing those women they'll probably blame Corbyn! ! Or the local bin man. Crazy tends tbe their middle name. I watched part of the labour conference today and it was positive ✌

[@timmurphy5541]

This is all about the electorate electing people who tell them the lies they want to hear and one party decided that losing power was worse than lying.

[@denisdaly1708]

yes, there is an affinity between a gulible electorate and unscrupulous politicians. In a way they resemble each other.

[@timmurphy5541]

@@denisdaly1708 well, nothing more gullible than deciding to fool yourself and demanding that other people help you :/

[@bodybalanceU2]

have you been reading the torys manifesto tim?

[@GiraffeCrab]

Yes blame the people, but i doubt you will ever take responsibility and say things like "maybe if I campaigned for my political viewpoint more than people would be less gullible" but no you don't you sit there and complain when it goes bad. Welcome to the UK where no one does anything but everyone expects results!

[@timmurphy5541]

@@GiraffeCrab I'm from Zimbabwe so I know that one cannot overcome a tide of stupidity. It's important to try to survive it.

[@poultonreal]

The ULTIMATE Den of Thieves - 10 Downing Street. 💩🤡

[@paulscousedownie]

Spot on with your assessment of lack of skilled workers. I’m a highly skilled welder I’m coming to end of my working life. I keep getting employment agencies contacting me about work. They’re now having to constantly increase pay rates I said to one company looking for naval shipyard welders you can increase the wages infinitum it won’t make blind bit of difference there aren’t enough skilled welders n the U.K. to fill the available jobs. Period!

[@bereal6590]

It's their fault as well they had years post referendum to up skill now they wanna force old people into work! Not economically active is the most insulting thing ever

[@richardlewis7498]

but we got no skilled welders carpenters gas fitters electricans gardeners police doctors nurse care assistants veg pickers teachers. But we got far too many jounos far 2 many experts and far 2 many call centres operaters. so it seems to me that all we can do is Talk

[@Ayresplastering]

Yes but surely the solution is to provide training? Cheap labour pushes the problem down the road and if not then you've got downward pressure on the value of skills. It's just a race to the bottom.

[@john-xo9mg]

Blame the people who did away with aprentiships and also made any one feel bad for being proud of being skilled and better at the job they did.

[@pansepot1490]

Lack of skilled workers is caused by lack of schools and training. Not enough workers, ok, need people from outside but unless you purposely deprive other countries of the skilled workers they have spent time and resources to train, even “generic” immigrants need training. Complex problems can’t be solved by simplistic solutions. Government must invest in education and match the courses with the need of the economy as much as possible.

[@keithhobbs1]

Well it's what I've said all along. The conservative party and brexit experiment was always going to be undone by the inherent contradictions.

[@Mark08138642]

A very intriguing perspective, would you say we are 8 years on (?) and we still don't have the foggiest what Brexit is and are now finding out the real deep consequences of this?!

[@davidfarrow875]

Truss & Kwarteng vs Braverman & Badenoch..... and the Right Honourable Gentleman the Minister for the 1870s cannot decide which team to back......😂😂😂😂 This is like watching a bunch of Spaniels being let loose in a sausage factory - see who can outwit the others and grab the most sausages before security (the electorate) round them all up and herd them out.

[@adrianspin]

🤣 brilliant analogy

[@robertosborne7542]

Unfair to spaniels who are generally friendly and loyal,intelligent too...the 4 humans you mentioned are not worth 1 spaniel and will never create the same level of happiness that having a dog does.

[@davidfarrow875]

@@robertosborne7542 Yes, that is very true and I completely agree with you. I used the analogy because once food is brought into the equation, a Spaniel loses interest in EVERYTHING else ! One even ate my mate's car keys once, just after he'd driven a hundred miles to visit his brother. He couldn't come home until he got his keys back two days later.....😂

[@kokomormon]

Love it and so correct, mad dogs in power 🐕

[@EricaNernie]

Very funny. Can't get the visuals out of my mind now.

[@DaveyGaming1080]

2 million available jobs but in what pay bracket. Me myself through lockdown left the catering sector and now I can't motivate myself to go back. What is the pointwhe I'm poor and can't afford to live either way. The country is on its knees and it'll lead to serious conflict within the UK over the next few years.

[@kenwalker5384]

Bring on the revolution! Life is cheap in tory Britain, spend it well, sell it dear on the barricades!

[@caspar_gomez]

I finished a masters in genomics right before the pandemic, lost jobs over vaxx status, worked as a bike courier all through lockdown, couldnt do it anymore, entry level positions in my field asking for masters degrees and pay less than when I was stacking shelves part time...and the pound is worth way less now. I'm with you, what's the point. Just hoping the apocalypse is half as interesting as the movies make it look

[@kylekeenan3485]

@@caspar_gomez If you really do have a master's degree, then it won't be hard finding gainful employment that pays well and certainly more than a part time shelf stacking job. Stop moaning and get on with it.

[@Steve_Coates]

@@caspar_gomez You have a masters in genomics and lost jobs because of vaccination status?

[@nowtsofunny3035]

Invest in our own young people - more apprenticeships and free university education for degrees in shortage skills areas. The only reason the tories want to import those skills is to keep wages low.

[@markwelch3564]

also because they've been asleep on the job and left it too late. Training people takes time, but importing is quick (assuming trained people are out there, and can be tempted to come here rather than somewhere else) Typical backfooted Tory panic policies

[@bryanmoyna9715]

You don't get it, the uk is not missing 2mill highly skilled professionals, it is missing the basic workers. Theres no local economy that can thrive without the bottom line, not even companies can survive that let alone a country. Just imagine your city without any services, full of office buildings and skyscrapers but not a single service in sight. You would go crazy, not even silicon Valley can retain its workers with all the benefits and high wages they offer.

[@bryanmoyna9715]

We are humans not ants. The ants movie itself criticize this iirc.

[@theotherside8258]

Our universities cannot output what is needed in terms of skill s that are needed. However, many graduates go into jobs where the skills they studied are not needed nor pay enough to repay loans. The government should offer loan amnesties to people working in the fields they studied if they are areas with skill shortages.

[@bryanmoyna9715]

@@theotherside8258 Problem is, that money has been given to 1% of the population that dont need that money at all. And the Gov is borrowing money with interest from this people at the same time, funny isnt it?

[@austenkeith8891]

When a certain politician claimed that we could have our cake and eat it, he failed to tell us what the ingredients were of this cake he was delivering to us were, turns out lies, hate, greed, xenophobia, and lashing of BS doesn't make a very appetizing cake, who'd of thunk it, also he didn't tell us that's all there would be to eat.

[@heffo67]

'Dooms day cult'....funny 😂...scary 😐...true 🤔

[@richardlewis7498]

and the leader of the doomsday cult Mr J Obrien

[@tomtheeagle1]

@@richardlewis7498 Pay attention or stay away from a keyboard!

[@giansideros]

@@richardlewis7498 he's quoting the UBS spokesperson who's explaining why investors are ditching the pound and gilt yields are having to rise to persuade investors to trust in the UK economy, this is following the mini-budget the other day. Do pay attention.

[@chatham43]

@Tommy....let's not get touchy Tommy boy........he's not the messiah......despite what he thinks......

[@richardlewis7498]

@@giansideros oh dear rich investors are in a panic coz another expert tells them what he thinks may happen based on his assumption of a perfect market theory

[@MsCharlieBrown78]

I'm despising my country more and more by the day. It's like we're living in some messed up alternative reality.

[@yvonnelygo681]

I heard a rumour that imported workers must be paid more than British Workers to prevent them becoming reliant on the government to top up their wages to a living level......so it's ok to pay Brits peanuts but not foreign workers. This is a damning indictment of our wages today.

[@Scot_Tz]

You 'heard' it, doesn't mean its true.

[@kwameboxa567]

During lockdown there were many British people who were looking to get some work on farms picking frut, however because these people came in camper vans and didn't need the lodgings that came with the non , they weren't picked, which ultimately meant that the famer had to actually pay them more, since none was going on accommodation. This sort of thing should have been picked up by Labour in Westminster and they should have called for laws to be introduced to force employers to look within the UK to fill positions first. I would imagine thée are very few roles which cannot be done by a British person, for a "fair days pay.....

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

And the phrase "a fair days pay" is where it all falls down. Because those people who came over to pick asparagus, were not paid a fair rate for their work.

[@mspring00]

Give evidence - name the people who refused British workers. I won't hold my breath for your response

[@reasonrules4165]

I totally agree that the Labour Party is totally to blame, for the mess that that the country is in, despite the fact that the Tory party has been in power for 12 years with a large majority and cut the funding for just about everything. But is still the Labours.

[@kwameboxa567]

@@mspring00 Rise up out of your pit and tune in to Farming Today, on Radio 4, 05:45 Mon -Fri and 06:30 on Sunday (for an edited recap). If you want to further question the varicity of the reports on the show, take it to OFCOM. Finally, please do hold your breath.

[@kwameboxa567]

@@FelixstoweFoamForge That's my point exactly and I am tired of people talking about a 'skills shortage' in the UK, which has now become a euphemism for cheap foreign labour.

[@MonkEsquire]

2 million vacancies offering below inflation starvation wages and people wonder why they're not getting filled.

[@helenafish7645]

As a social worker in England I can vouch for the fact that we are desperate for social workers and every team is depleted. We are now seeking foreign workers from Africa to plug the enormous gap that needs filling. I’m sure all those Brexit voters will be delighted to hear that we are practically begging other countries to send us their workers!!!

[@Aegmog]

Of course you are, all services are struggling. The UK has imported millions of people every year since 2000. Nobody can keep up.

[@AleXoEx0]

You import more workers to "plug holes in labour" like a near bankrupt person takes out loans to pay off credit cards.

[@zeeone4492]

@@AleXoEx0 Nothing like that

[@incognito96]

Brexiteers are fool's, they got what they voted for, Nigel Will sort it

[@happyspaceinvader508]

@@AleXoEx0 That’s a spectacularly bad analogy.

[@julezpanda14]

I'm dying here 😂😂🤦🏼‍♀️ Turkey plucking how about a pheasant plucker I know a tongue twister about that 😂😂

[@b00ts4ndc4ts]

No such thing it's done by machine, first they dip them though hot water and then run through the machine.

[@thomulcahy]

As an Irish person, I truly feel sad that millions of my neighbors are being subjected to such a horrible regime, that there are now more food banks than fast food establishments.

[@sk00p]

bore off, import my romanians to do your cheap labour.

[@kjpcrow]

Have been living in wales in 1998 and it became a nightmare after the initial Britexit as it was sold on lies as now people are finding out . This country it’s finished as I’m planning to return to Ireland as am initially from Dublin .

[@chatham43]

.....fascinating.....

[@richardhealy]

When did food banka become normalised? I still react with horror when I hear the term.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

No foodbanks in Dublin ? I saw quite a few last time I was there .? Maybe because you can't export all your unemployed to UK anymore ?

[@digitaldiorama]

The Conservatives told Joe Bloggs - "If you can't afford the cost of living crisis - get a better job" & that's what people are doing. Most of those unfilled 2 million vacancies are not "cost of living" sustainable.

[@Bikejon]

There is also the issue that the job vacancy (e.g. fruit picker) is often nowhere near the job seekers in terms of geography (town). Being seasonal work, it also isn't viable to re-locate to the job. Trying to match the numbers by spreadsheet doesn't account for any other factors based on practicality.

[@edwinsargent9105]

I'll bet money that the expression "Doomsday Cult" will be remembered when everybody in this sad arsed government has been forgotten.

[@raysmith9152]

James, I am one of those wealthy pensioners you alluded to. I feel that I am wealthier than I ever was during my working life even though I never reached the dizzy hights of a £70k or even £60k salary or a commensurate expense account. I have 6 or so private pensions of which at least 2 are final salary and I do indeed own my own house which has no mortgage. In addition, I have over the last few years lost close relatives that I have benefitted from with inheritance. HOWEVER, I am totally disgusted, disillusioned with the present politics in this country and in no way condone the activities of Truss or her minions even though I may be one of those who benefit most from the chancellor’s “mini” budget. I definitely do NOT feel as though I do. In fact, I feel very sad & annoyed that some of the values & morals that I have held dear all my life have been eroded away making me feel exactly the opposite, a lot poorer. Regardless about what this budget does to the finances in the short term and that is not to dismiss that, in the long term it will affect the finances of the country in that it will severely lessen the standing of our country in the world as well as making our decisions and actions untrustworthy.

[@tone6403]

👏

[@john-xo9mg]

Brexit, never have so many been lied to by so few, mind you at least Truss got one thing right the pound is trickling down..

[@Steve_Coates]

More of a plummet than a trickle.

[@chatham43]

....but it's soared back.....😊

[@135Ops]

@@chatham43 I'm coming to the conclusion you need some help.

[@theotherside8258]

Or Never in the field of UK economics will so much be owed by so many to so few rich people

[@bristolspotlight6387]

Of course we need to import workers from abroad, not least because we need millions more immigrants to service the needs of the millions of immigrants that have swamped this country in the past 20 years, even since Brexit; and when they grow old, ill or end up in prison, in due course we'll need millions more to take care of them, especially as we never hear O'Brien and his ilk advocating for training up the unemployed in this country.

[@chrisball3778]

Honestly, the anti-immigration racism in the UK is barely affected by the actual levels of immigration- just the media reporting of it. The areas of the country that are most hostile to immigration include some of the areas with the very lowest levels. You could easily increase the overall levels of immigration without angering them if you can keep the story out of the Mail and the Express.

[@barryjones8123]

Really? Where did you get that little fact?

[@ryantate6447]

Ok so if 200,000 people from India came to this country where are they gonna go ? That's a whole town bud. Europeans for Europeans

[@sylviamaua745]

@@ryantate6447 well with Brexit the UK has swapped EU migration with immigration from the rest of the world.

[@135Ops]

@@ryantate6447 Leaving the EU will not have an impact on Indian immigration it won't even stop illegal immigrants from the EU.

[@135Ops]

@@barryjones8123 The Tory party and Brexit which you voted for have already done significantly more damage to the economy than immigration ever will. Open your eyes....

[@edwardwilson4974]

Well done, James. You verbalise our fears and suffer on our behalf. If only Brexit voters would listen in to you!

[@trevorluft6032]

Most of the jobs are only worth it if you can live 20 to a house

[@griseldamussett7754]

The British economy has relied on foreign immigration for at least 300 years, maybe more. People are brought in to do the actual work (factories, medical wards, drive trains, pick fruit, whatever....) and to pay taxes to support the rest of us. It's madness to suppose the country can supply all its own needs. We can barely supply any, at all.

[@craphead9842]

Population in 1950 was 50m and now in 2022 its 67m and rising... So having more means jackshit and a burden to your country... Tony cuenca

[@janwilson9485]

I dont know how old you are but Im old enough to remember that this was not the case. It was the predominantly whitre working class carrying out those jobs until Thatcher closed the factories and demolished industry in the North. P.S Im not hundreds of years old.

[@stephen4716]

@@janwilson9485 jan white doesn’t equal British…..

[@Account_CB]

Absolutely love this analysis 😄

[@anyone1704]

Do you ha ha ha ha ha me tioo

[@Alex-cw3rz]

We have to acknowledge also that one of the reasons we have such a shortfall of workers in our country, is because the government reduced education funding.

[@mathewgurney2033]

To reduce it to a single case, a young girl i know fled school and never returned because she was beaten in the back of the head by black immigrant kids and there is not even a paper round for her to do because it's done by a fat foreign woman in a car. Education funding is the least influential factor in her story. Immigration, immigration, immigration only, fix it and everything else will slip back into its traditional functional state.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@mathewgurney2033 that is called an anecdote which is worth nothing in the presence of statistical analysis, of which I doubt your story is even true. How did you keep in contact with someone who "fled school", do you think it is only immigrants who bully people... a paper round done by someone in a car? That's called the owner of the shop, because you'd lose money if you did that independently.

[@bereal6590]

@@Alex-cw3rz clearly they're trolling. Many are out at the moment. Ur comment is right.... i wanted to go further but there wasn't funding and I couldn't afford to do so unlike these Cambridge Eton Oxford dunces

[@markwelch3564]

@@mathewgurney2033 how far back are you thinking for that traditional functional state? Victorian workhouses maybe?

[@mathewgurney2033]

@@Alex-cw3rz How long have you been an advocate for the enemy ?

[@aerobrain2001]

I heard about this great idea to help with skills shortages, it was a kind of union arrangement with a large pool of closely located countries. I forget what it was called........

[@Woke_White_Woman]

It’s called Cognitive Dissonance But I actually believe it is far worse than this It looks & feels like a complete Psychotic Break

[@bereal6590]

👍👏👏

[@tempodread6348]

i've been calling the tories a bunch of cults for years

[@chatham43]

....that's one of James's lines....show some originality...

[@tempodread6348]

@@chatham43 i know thats why i said it

[@space.youtube]

0:22 You can NOT attribute the calamity of current FISCAL policy to 'modern MONETARY theory'!!! Apart from the obvious distinction between fiscal and monetary policy, the recipients of a decade of tory largess are the capital class NOT workers, the poor or expanded government service provision. Increased social spending injects money into the real economy, creating real economic activity, whereas corporate and capital class welfare leads to the extraction of money from the real economy, is hoarded away by capital if not redistributed via progressive taxation. And the tax take has become distinctly "flatter" since the tories took office. This is why the gap between rich and poor has ballooned, any gains in productivity have been hoovered up by capital while real wages have stagnated. This is not the fault of MMT, it is the fault of neoliberalism, supply side econ or 'trickle down econ" call it what you will. The "economist's" narrative is bunk, a red herring designed to distract from neoliberalism's continued upward redistribution/extraction/theft of wealth from workers and the poor to the capital class. He would love nothing more than to salvage the failed 'supply side' economic modality that affords him relevance, while shifting blame to an alternative economic theory that attempts to address capitalism's inequities. It's like pruning flowers with a lawn mower then blaming the unused secateurs. ("growing" analogy a bit forced but still, you get the picture )

[@django3422]

The reason they're both correct while at odds is because they've painted themselves into a corner through idiocy and incompetence.

[@Xplosiv3s]

Lol I work in equity research for the commodities industry and we've been saying the exact same things as UBS. The macro trends are looking absurdly abysmal.

[@denisdaly1708]

Its car crash stuff. There is a real prospect of stagflation, with Brexit. No easy way out of that. I would still be selling the pound.

[@vivekb1658]

Great guy not scared of telling the truth!👌🏻

[@jameshblack]

Telling the truth gets you into trouble

[@paulwood6048]

When did he do that, gobshite

[@shanedavies6980]

The whole world is going through dark changes and the people need to make a stand before we hit a point of no return and it feels like we are very close to that atm

[@moonmoggyjohn5227]

James u are my hero

[@JwayT]

Hello Carl beech, how's prison?

[@sammydingdong4540]

I'M Not the pheasant plucker I'M The pheasant pluckers son ,I'M only plucking pheasants till the pheasant plucker comes.🐦🐦🐦

[@brianwaterfield6185]

I'm not a pheasant puckerI I'm a pheasant plucker's mate and ,I'm only plucking pheasants 'cause the pheasant plucker's late .

[@lorrainegalletley9711]

You are a clever human

[@PaulaXism]

@@lorrainegalletley9711 they been listening to The Wurzels

[@ivaylodaskalov7054]

Absolutely spot on!

[@stevedavidson666]

But James, Patel and Braverman have got what they actually wanted - planeloads of their family members from India, so what's the problem?

[@tybes99]

Those older people who long to be back with in the 1970's will be rejoicing at the current state of affairs, even if it means they live in misery. Nostalgia can be a dangerous thing, especially when it's weaponised against the public.

[@kiwihib]

70s weren't too bad compared to what came after, look at what the last few years have brought you in the UK.

[@velvetunderpants44]

If we've learned anything from Trump's presidency it's that some people don't mind suffering if minorities that they hate suffer more

[@dj71162]

Well I wasn't around in those days but I would say things were better then.

[@chatham43]

.......b/w tv's.....no internet....no smartphones or even land line phones...no microwaves...no dishwashers.....how did people survive the hellish seventies....?

[@johnhollyoak9295]

The music was a lot better in the 70’s.

[@markcockfield2932]

Oh my does he ever stop, has he got a switch off button

[@bodybalanceU2]

you are not forced to listen to him stop being a victim

[@markcockfield2932]

@@bodybalanceU2 did I say I was a victim, I can take whatever anyone says but it’s all he ever says, brexit brexit brexit with his biased views

[@sk00p]

@@markcockfield2932 brexit lives rent free in his head like many remained losers

[@roberthuntley1090]

Re people leaving the workforce, one reason I retired from the public sector is that I could look forward to years of below inflation pay rises if I carried on working, vs inflation linked pension increases if I retired. The government seems to have replicated that situation now, with retirement looking increasingly attractive for people in the last few years of their career. Could well lead to a shortage of critical workers etc. hampering any attempts to improve NHS delivery, social care improvements etc. etc. Have got to be aware of incentives that drive worker behaviour.

[@jammin8300]

Paying uk workers a decent wage rather then foreign low paid workers being imported surely is the way to properly investing in British workforce for the future?? . Profit over people continues to be this government's policy

[@peterjol]

the trouble is you have to live in 'another' country to make the wages for the unfilled jobs in this country worth having..WE can't live here on the wages...but for them a grotty year or two of living here 20 people in a house and they can probably go back home and buy a house and acre of land and maybe coming back here to work just for the odd season or two.

[@DeadleeDan]

Well done james 👊🏾🔥 thank you for your honesty and true intelligence

[@lancewalker5895]

There may be 2 million vacant jobs but there are also 172k vacant conservative members - which is worse?

[@jasonbourne7499]

We've had 100 thousand arrive on dinghys the last few years , can they not do the jobs ?

[@hg82met]

@@jasonbourne7499 Not until their claim is resolved.

[@davebento1548]

Anyone remember those great days when our economy was so booming we needed immigrants to fill the jobs the booming economy created ? The booming economy that led to massive investment in the NHS and schools. That was under labour and in the EU. Now we are out of the EU and under these fascists - is this what you knew you were voting for. ?

[@chatham43]

....a doomsday party......James has been saying this for years..and he's never wrong......get into politics James and stop pontificating from the sidelines and start making a difference....

[@DNW28]

Yeah yeah , give up this at £2000 a day and all the other stuff making at least £750,000 for £80K+ , you are having a laugh

[@chatham43]

..no...I'm sure James would put his political ideals above his personal wealth.....

[@gsxr7736]

There are loads of jobs out there. Just none that will support you and your family. Why not take less for the share holders and more for the workers. Why aren't they training people to be nurses and doctors. Nothing has changed after brexit because people in power( share holders) won't pay wages

[@hypatia4754]

The Tories are so smart they've manoeuvred themselves between a rock and a hard place. And all by themselves! Well done!

[@chrissilver7719]

Why do the media keep focusing on Asylum seekers who apparently are invading but the numbers are 30-40k annually while legal immigration has increased since Brexit to 1.3 million . Now we need people nurses, HGV drivers, Doctors, short term workers in agriculture, service industries, hospitality etc. We can't survive without these people and yes there are issues but these should be solved by a competent government. A house building strategy and that means social housing, invest in services NHS etc. You should ask why we are demonising some and ignoring others.

[@theotherside8258]

Because it's a tory media that doesn't want to upset tory voters. People vote tory to keep immigrants out and they don't want people to know that they are enabling tory donors to shift immigrants in in large numbers for profit. In nearly every news topic, it's not what the media tell you that's biased, it's what they don't

[@itsjustfood1333]

James O'brien always making sense 👏 on point sharp and ready to help others see sense 👍 can't argue with you even Nick has lost the battle 😳

[@TheGeopigMan]

3:10 anyone else notice the hand and nose rub?

[@alexisvazquez8780]

"Doomsday death cult" Perfect description of the right wing. Lol, im gonna use that to describe the republicans here in the states.

[@breakingbadheisenberg9703]

We already know!!!!!!!!

[@AleXoEx0]

Who are the climate change psychos again?

[@johnharding6394]

If Liz is going to up immigration she needs to go. Why do we never get someone in power that has a word and keeps it? I do not want labour in that would be the end of Brexit. But we do not want more immigration there are not enough doctors hospitals housing to go around now immigration will only worsen it.

[@Steve_Coates]

As if the end of Brexit would be a bad thing.

[@johnharding6394]

@@Steve_Coates I take it your woke lefty remainer then? We never got Brexit Mrs May (remainer) and Boris (not sure so only did what Carrie told him) neither wanted Brexit just tried to cancel the people's vote. So should we ever get Brexit then you can wobble your jaw

[@nigeldepledge3790]

Increasing immigration to fill job vacancies isn't the only way to decrease the number of vacant jobs. Instead, you could improve pay and work conditions so that people here can afford to take those jobs.

[@Bikejon]

No, because the rule is only rich people can have a payrise. Giving it to impoverished people will lead to inflation, apparently.

[@stormyweathers9887]

@LBC 6:30 Just what kind of jobs have been left vacant, Jamie Boy?! Coffee shop baristas? Toilet cleaners?! You're right! Those wages only suit people, who only plan to be here for as log as they have to, not those who have to pay £200 P/W for a bedsit!!

[@auldspider52]

Tory party split..EXELENT

[@nosuchthingasshould4175]

I think the last line of that monologue, combined with what the doomsday duo did to the economy as their opening flourish, gives us a clear answer as to which side will win.

[@mericet39]

Oh Brexit again. The gift that just keeps on taking away.

[@joeparker8533]

Top Class Paddy O'Brien. Much Love. Logic.

[@rexstout8177]

Blame the voters. 40% of them.

[@chatham43]

....yup....democracies a real drag...there's got to be a better way.....

[@SpencerCJ]

@@chatham43 You need a functioning democracy and a media that doesnt work for its government opposed to keeping it in line

[@jimhartley1421]

James, "what do you think about the economy"? "Brexit". "What about the migrant crisis and people dying crossng the channel?" Brexit. "How do you feel about the schools asking for supplies from the public"? Brexit, Brexit, Brexit, Brexit, Brexit...... and repeat daily.

[@ptv8113]

Don’t you understand that Brexit was an utter disaster and does in fact have a hand in this? Are you seriously still in denial?

[@jimhartley1421]

What I do understand is people voted, a decision was made, deal with it, we all have. You don't see people demanding a recount because Labour, the liberals or the greens didn't get in at the last General election do you? Nope, the will of the people made the decision. Don't you understand how democracy works?

[@peterhagan8454]

this same situ was in the 50 60 and 70s hence import jamacians and other countries to drive buses and such

[@paulmcgrath3248]

Always enlightening.

[@frozenice61]

try increasing the salary try putting minimum wage to 15 quid,try treating people with respect and see if it improves the way of things

[@AleXoEx0]

But that would mean an end to the massive profits all the big businesses are making!?

[@imSatnav]

It's finally happened. The hard right Conservatives have chased their tails so hard they've finally dissappeared up their own backsides. Anyone think Truss will get to Christmas without vote of no confidence?

[@TonyErgonie]

On that last bit, how many of the dingy people do you really believe will be net contributors to the economy?

[@robdrew2745]

zero contribution!!, immigration, illegal or otherwise has destroyed my once great country!!

[@RG-qn2qm]

🇨🇦......great show ...from Toronto Canada .

[@lizcollinson2692]

By the end there i was waiting for James to break into a soliloquy. "Two camps both alike in accuracy..." 😁

[@kensaiix]

9:27 that right there is very nicely condensed. and it is happening all over the world. merely 80 years since last time.

[@jotaylor2]

Oh, I just discovered I'm woke 🤣❤️ I didn't realise being human meant woke!

[@barryjones8123]

It means being falsely virtuous and not listening to facts.

[@chatham43]

....not naming names.....😊😊.....

[@SpencerCJ]

@@barryjones8123 Guess that makes all conseratives woke, they have been virture signalling for years and endlessly ingoring the facts of reality

[@paulmcgrath3248]

Never fails to cheer me up in these wee small hours

[@eggyfart4738]

Divide and Rule has always been a trademark of the British Establishment - India, Palestine, Ireland and Within the Working Class of our own country, in my area Whites, Somalians, Caribbeans, Yemeni's etc all share the same position and common cause

[@LovzaNo]

Listen, it is not divide and rule. There are many people that are not happy with immigration and this sentiment is then translated into political action. People are divided because they have different worldviews.

[@eggyfart4738]

@@LovzaNo The right wing media which is in the hands of the British establishment perpetuates this by indoctrinating one group, the white working class, into thinking that the common man is an enemy if he has a different skin colour, nationality or religion

[@andyforshaw8489]

If you go to another country to live then you have to abide by their cultures and rules. If not go back.

[@markwelch3564]

@@LovzaNo it is divide and rule. It's the ten cookies on a plate situation - the Tory has just grabbed nine of them, but is pointing at the immigrant and saying "they are about to steal your cookie!"

[@SH-cs9we]

@@andyforshaw8489 and Andy I suppose the British did that when they went to India ? You abided by the rules ? At end of the day you went to these ppls country.. first destroyed it. And now their in your country . Get over it . UK is a small island .. on its own it cannot survive. It needs to go out loot ppl..like it did in India.. destory countries attract dodgy money .. or act as tax haven . Look at how we openly greeted rich Russian oligarchs .. even had politicians chancellor's ( Osborne) ..go on their yachts .. made them peers. Without lootng India. Or rich Russian Arab dodgy money/investment you wouldn't be much 😃. On its own it wouldnt be much .

[@danmayberry1185]

Instructive to watch this unfold from Canada. Temporary Foreign Workers were "undermining" the fabric of our nation, and now we need farmhands, restaurant staff, shop help, nurses, etc. We saw the silver tsunami coming 30 years ago, stopped breeding, poo-poo'd immigration .. how did we get here?

[@kevinheath7588]

Feminism has made men and women enemies in western type democracies. That's why we no longer get married or breed. We simply despise each other. Simple really.

[@dawnmills5567]

Hate and racism will only bring destruction. If foreigners treat us how we treat them I wonder what would happen.

[@3rddegreebyrne19]

At least we can be a cautionary tale for other countries.

[@theotherside8258]

Yeah, tories love the focus to be on the illegal boat people but many times more are brought in legally to work on the plantations of tory donors

[@robertkukla591]

James, you're wonderful. I'm very happy you're around in these days.

[@TheKermit2110]

Are we getting it yet?

[@michaelmccarthy9411]

Nobody has mentioned that the lack of a constitution has caused most of these problems. A written constitution would be even more effective

[@derin111]

I used to (until recently) think that living in the UK had become like living embedded in an episode of The Simpson. However, over the last three weeks, The Simpsons has become more akin to a serious documentary programme than life in the UK.

[@johnstirling6597]

"Im learnding". (obscure Simpsons reference). But unfortunately the UK is not.

[@volvos60bloke]

Please keep going, James. You are a beacon of hope.

[@yantomanuel6919]

has JOB discussed sweden or italy yet or leicester??

[@paulvalletta]

A lot of conservative voters, say farmers for instance, would like to import workers on the pretence that they can pay "seasonal" workers £3 an hour, with the blessing of the current tory gov?

[@ruthguthrie1099]

Roll on Scottish independence!!

[@chatham43]

....p[ease please go.......🙂

[@ruthguthrie1099]

@@chatham43 With pleasure but why do the conservatives and Labour, the two main parties in England not want us to????

[@kylekeenan3485]

@@ruthguthrie1099 They want your oil and access to your amazing golf courses!

[@ruthguthrie1099]

@@kylekeenan3485 Indeed Kyle 😁

[@tommyi6667]

Everything straight from the book of Reaganism. The more the government theories are put out there, it just means if the normal people are in- fighting and blaming anyone they blind us to the big problem. Quote-the problem isn't the government, The problem is the government