Labour needs an urgent re set, because it’s failing

[@nickbarton3191]

What is the point of growth if the profits end up in the hands of a few shareholders, or worse goes abroad. Would be better to measure an improvement in people's lives, reduce child poverty, improve health and education.

[@helphelpimbeingrepressed9347]

Are you suggesting that a government govern? Whatever next lol

[@nickbarton3191]

@helphelpimbeingrepressed9347 I'm actually suggesting a wealth tax, a fair redistribution. The wealthy can stay wealthy, but at least to pay a basic rate, many of them don't contribute even this much. An increase in minimum income too. The resulting spending would naturally boost the economy. Labour seem to think that economic growth can come from the private sector, well it starts with government spending.

[@lindajohnson325]

Exactly what I was thinking. Well said.

[@domefford864]

You socialist are the problem, SME are the backbone of the economy and they need growth.

[@indricotherium4802]

They won't say it but in effect Starmer and Reeves believe that trickle-down is how people get better off. It's astonishing that Labour leaders could believe this but they must do.

[@Hickalum]

We are the country nobody wants to copy, a case study in what not to do, the subject of a cruel experiment in destroying a successful and cohesive society.

[@william_marshal]

I'm sure Burma, Chad, Bolivia and Albania would agree with that !!!

[@allegory6393]

@@william_marshal We should not talk about domestic abuse in this country then because life for women in other parts of the world is worse, and so on.

[@billB101]

Utter nonsense. FFS get a grip.

[@1292liam]

Correct

[@advocate1563]

@ and girls in Rotherham, Bolton Oxford, Telford, Aylesbury and 45 other tons in the UK experiencing industrial-scale rape gangs.

[@serenity8145]

I don't want Labour messing with pensions, which is the lowest in in Europe, and one which people have worked hard for their whole lives. They need to look at multi national corporations and the wealthy first.

[@billB101]

Pensioners are the group who have done the best out of _anyone_ over the last few decades.

[@tomo_xD]

Pensions need to be frozen if we're to have any chance if not going bankrupt

[@zrunner4311]

@@serenity8145 The only pensions they should be tinkering with, are Public Sector pensions. Aggressively.

[@zrunner4311]

@@billB101 And why shouldn’t they? Turn your focus on those who don’t contribute a jot to society and the economy, yet do very nicely by choosing the handout lifestyle.

[@billB101]

@ why shouldn't they, because it pushed the price of housing though the roof that's why, all to appease a voting demographic. Also are you _really_ trying to say that people on benefits do very nicely here. I mean, that's straight out the Daily Mail playbook of utter nonsense tbh.

[@Kenbreg]

Every time I heard someone say "growth" I put them in the "not very bright" box.

[@alfredjovanovic2106]

Look up the Taylor rule, and how central banks and governments work to keep growth at a low controllable level rather than allowing it to get out of control/hyperinflation occur.

[@Serpsss]

but "It's the right thing to do" I always love hearing that lie. Everytime a Politician uses it what they mean is that they made the choice based on their ideology & how it affects the public doesn't matter.

[@coolbanana165]

Genuinely, why?

[@ceales3]

Your cancer surgeon will love you

[@Serpsss]

@ceales3 😂 in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger: "It's not a tumour!"

[@nornje]

"What we need are things that are small in themselves, but big in their consequences." This should be the key sentence for every European government for the next decade. Thanks for that!!!

[@nellyx1x493]

Its not just Labour that needs a reset. It's the whole country. We need a form of expectation management, and a realistic story of where we are heading.

[@ScruffyTubbles]

The Second World War did that for most mainland European countries.

[@swojnowski453]

Starmer just gave you the story. AI will be the priority in the country where energy is scarce and most expensive in the world. Led by donkeys ...

[@shaunmiller7370]

The country needs the government, we don’t need outside asset, stripping companies or more privatisation. We need our own investment in our own country.

[@is-real592]

@shaunm... Bravo 👏🏿Shaun but forgot 2Add You do This With Your Own Ppls. I've tried to explain to Yr Govt that We Israelites_ 1948WindRush Caribbn& descndant & Othr Nations NotYoursTo Keep! MONETARYGovt Steps Needs To be Taken🚢🚢🚢🚢🛳👋🏿

[@ryantennyson7562]

Reallocation of the wealth is such an obvious solution to the problems we have. Yet governments ignore wealth accumulation or encourage it. Consider the increased amount of electrical generation required for AI when there are common people struggling to pay their electric bill and warm their homes. Seems we're going backwards. It all depends on how one defines and inacts growth.

[@roasthunter]

That’s what taxation does

[@alanevans9604]

Yes communism.

[@ryantennyson7562]

@@alanevans9604 Nothing definitionally wrong with communism. It's just become a bad word.

[@5UM0N3]

@@alanevans9604 unironically, yes

[@5UM0N3]

@@physiocrat7143 wealth /wɛlθ/ noun 1. an abundance of valuable possessions or money.

[@brendanlea3605]

We had a politician with that vision, and Starmer and his cabal along with the rest of the establishment made it their priority to make sure he never got anywhere near power. What a sorry state of affairs.

[@meekcomplete211]

The labour politician who recognised this and who would layout actual steps to help the country already existed. His name was Jeremy Corbyn. He was crucified.

[@hawklord100]

and rightly so, a moron called corbyn

[@TheGalifrey]

Biggest mistake the UK electorate ever made was Electing BoJo over JC and McDonnell

[@hawklord100]

@@TheGalifrey LOL a russian sleeper and an old marxist LOL how would that have worked, Putin sitting in Kiev and knocking on your door because Corbyn the traitor had pulled us out of NATO and chucked away our only deterence, the nukes...

[@IndependentHeathen]

I think you mean John McDonnel. But yeah you're right, ​@@TheGalifrey

[@TheGalifrey]

@@IndependentHeathen Yeah sorry, wasn't sure of his spelling, glad you understood Corrected now.

[@tricky1992000]

I'd love to see the poorest postcodes given tax exemptions such as to council tax, business rates and corporation taxes.

[@skyblazeeterno]

Interesting idea

[@malkeri2107]

7:03 Dont let government mess with our Pensions and ISAs or they will just screw that up too.🤪

[@edwinmoreton2136]

It is designed that way! Once Starmer has done his job - BlackRock will buy it all up for peanuts!

[@coolbanana165]

I dunno, it's just odd when Richard J Murphy says there is no growth, and seems to blame Labour for that, even though the budget doesn't start until April.

[@lanagibson4334]

@@coolbanana165 most of the budget started from the day it was announced we have another budget in April Labour are just One-nation conservatism take from the poor to give to the rich

[@gormless890]

@@coolbanana165 The budget doesn't start immediately, agreed, but the private markets opinions on the prospective budget, which then effectively decide how much interest the government has to pay on gilts, has already taken hold. This in turn means less growth because they'll be unable to take on as much debt as they would have a year prior, so they'll have to reduce public spending, which will therefore reduce growth, in order to keep that gilt interest at a manageable level.

[@davideyres955]

@@lanagibson4334do you earn more than 37k? If the answer is no then you are taking more than you get in benefit from the state. If you class earning less than 37k as poor then it would be the poor that are taking from the rich.

[@lanagibson4334]

@@davideyres955 answer to you question yes I do earn more than 37k

[@waynegodfrey8565]

Richard is so on point

[@juliewake4585]

Always, it seems.

[@philipcrossley1279]

In a nutshell..... If you are rich enough you can "buy" a government. If you own a government, you can "own" the people. When you own the people, you can "own" the country. When you own a country, you own its wealth. All of it.

[@philipcrossley1279]

@brian5001 Let's just not make more billionaires. Let's not allow billionaires to concentrate more wealth out of the economy.

[@eddieharris6004]

Credit where it is due Richard....our political class have ensured growth for themselves, for example help heating their second homes.

[@advocate1563]

Don't forget the.council tax payments.

[@clivejonathan8014]

Richard ,if you want to improve wealth for the lower paid , raise the tax threshold to £20,000

[@DaveP668]

Minimum wage and start of income tax should be equalised, the would reduce the need for UC. We now have an expensive and complicated system in an attempt to redustribute wealth, but those on low wages are still paying income tax to then receive it back through a complicated UC system which cannot adapt to the flexibility required of modern workers. Workers are reluctant to earn more due to the effect on their UC, where mistakes can be made which low paid workers then have to spend time sorting out.

[@kevinsyd2012]

But the poor would then buy an extra tattoo, a bottle of booze, a trip to the bookies and then complain that they "can't put food on the table". Some people just spend everything they get regardless of how much that is.

[@l3eatalphal3eatalpha]

They have no big picture thinking. Hopeless.

[@MrJohnfoster70]

@@l3eatalphal3eatalpha Your big picture isn't mine. I'm small picture thinking.

[@l3eatalphal3eatalpha]

@MrJohnfoster70 You must be very proud of the results.

[@MrJohnfoster70]

@@l3eatalphal3eatalpha GDP per capita is tanking while the oligarchs are prospering. The best way to enhance your personal GDP is to be born lucky.

[@SalmiakAlert]

Growth, but not wage growth because that would lead to inflation say the governments. So not growth for ordinary people.

[@nickbarton3191]

@@SalmiakAlert The resulting spending would create growth. Stupid keeping people poor.

[@william_marshal]

The government have just increased the minimum wage by more than the rate of inflation ... are you asleep?

[@5UM0N3]

@@william_marshal too little too late, the privileged few have made off with the profits and Starmer is too cowardly to tax it back to build our country back up

[@SalmiakAlert]

@@william_marshal Governments keep trying to keep wages down and say that higher wages will lead to inflation. I didn't mention the statutory minimum wage. Look at all of the fuss the Tories made over wage increases for NHS staff.

[@sibutterworth6542]

Keith Starmer should grow a spine and address the crippling energy costs that are destroying any chance of investment in people and sustainability in business. We need a hundred year commitment to guarding the welfare Interests of the citizens of the UK and less commitment to corrupt money laundering practices in other countries.

[@mojonojo3]

Not going to happen, an agreement with shell was made In order to get them to move to the UK.

[@howdan1985]

Exactly! Let's start by not funnelling £100 BILLION+ into the corrupt Ukraine laundromat.

[@spudinho1]

Another trenchant analysis from Mr Murphy! My question is: can meaningful wealth distribution, a radical social housing program and massive investment in the NHS be expected from this, or any, Labour government? Richard Murphy seems to think that the Labour government needs to shift leftwards - presumably in the direction of Keynes - whereas as others, myself included, believe that radical social change is needed to dismantle neoliberal capitalism entirely. With around 20% of Britain's population living in poverty [including "in work poverty"] after 40 years of market-driven capitalism, the time for a socialist alternative is long overdue.

[@hyhhy]

Trump will get to work on it tomorrow.

[@michaelgreen2448]

Richard contradicts himself all the time, the illusion of printing money and creating inflation is whilst giving it to public services would be hilarious if it was coming from a child, but an ‘expert’ that people believe has a grasp - very worrying

[@terencewise7349]

From Terence Wise in UK………Stop money flooding out of Britain. Impose exchange controls and invest in infrastructure.

[@clivebroadhead4381]

Hospitals wear out and need to be replaced after a number of years. Therefore, the NHS requires an ongoing rolling programme of new hospitals just to maintain standards.

[@kathyswearingen1509]

WEF DAVOS and neoliberal economics- thats the big picture

[@howdan1985]

100% correct Kathy, very well said.

[@GavLiddle]

Those above them. The northern tyranny

[@BeepBoop2221]

​@@howdan1985 dan Reform UK are in bed with the same people.

[@mikesmart390]

It was 4 degrees yesterday in the garden in January .and 15 degrees in the greenhouse .imagine if that greenhouse was double glazed.tripple glazed.theirs a clue their how to build houses.but they wont. they want 2 grand gas or electric bill go green lol what they say and what they do are two differant things😢

[@sanderda]

Yes, but what about cooling a greenhouse in the summer. Changing weather patterns mean heat is more of an issue than the cold UK climate.

[@neilgriffin6197]

Electric cars will now paying £190 a year road tax. older diesel car £40.

[@mikesmart390]

@@sanderda open the roof vents and turn on the solar fans

[@infinitesky-59]

​@@neilgriffin6197 Yes, my 2016 diesel has de polution systems that make it clean enough even for London and so I only pay £35 a year tax. It has also averaged 61mpg over the last 15,000 miles despite being a large 4 seater with a 170 bhp engine. No need for an electric car for me.

[@johnmulligan912]

@infinitesky-59 😂BS!

[@Paulkovski]

Richard, instead of saying and thinking what Labour should do. Ask the yourself the question why they are doing what they are doing to our country. Do some research, it by design. To make way for Stake holder capitalism, agenda 2030.

[@PM9Video]

The only conclusion is, that they do not want to end poverty. They do not want to do anything other than controlled decline.

[@malkeri2107]

6:34 so your answer is those on lower incomes drive the economy so the government should keep everyone poor?🧡

[@nellyx1x493]

Am not interested in working hard to make already rich people even richer, or for the profits to be offshored. Give workers more stake in the outcomes of their production.

[@shanecollie5177]

Then work for a publically listed company,and buy shares in them .

[@elwynjones763]

You and Gary Stevenson are SOOO right!!!! Fight together!!!!

[@peterh7842]

All they needed to do to make me believe was sort the water barons... nope no luck

[@JillOsgerby]

Why don’t they launch a British savings scheme as a way for savers to invest in UK capital projects? Real honest investment by ordinary people with a slightly enhanced return on capital?

[@igboman2860]

Mark Carney in Canada is running against Pierre Pollievre and they are both promising varying degrees of austerity

[@ButlerGrisholm]

Always growth growth growth and yet this nation shrinks on all fronts. Growth can never be sustained

[@PMMagro]

Who cares about the nation? It is all about me and my pals getting to use taxpayers money for wheter ..enriches the most. Oh the nations off course ;-)

[@milese3475]

Labour: I want to my garden to grow, but I'm refusing to water or weed it. It's the flowers fault! Damn lazy.

[@AngelaBee_13]

Please don't recommend taking more money out of pensions and ISAs it's literally all I have and will barely get me through retirement. I've already taken the tax free sum to get my kids through uni.

[@neilbufton2926]

With the current trajectory, the pension will be bankrupt before young people ever see a penny of it. An aging population put more strain on the nation's services than any small boat crossing the channel ever could. The choice seems to be work now(and contribute taxes) for a better future for the country or cash out and put and enjoy as much benefit from this formally rich nation as possible and hope you're not around to see the whole thing fall apart.

[@AngelaBee_13]

@neilbufton2926 yes it's really sad. I really hope things get better for the young people especially.

[@sharongillesp]

But there IS GROWTH - of the 1% - and we should be asking *why* and *how.*

[@stephengreen5628]

The pursuit of growth over redistribution of wealth is barmy imo. It's just more neo liberalism economics

[@indricotherium4802]

According to some I've read, the word that goes round the conference halls at Davos is "A change of government should not be allowed to change economic policy". SirK and Rach must have been in the front row taking notes.

[@Hickalum]

It’s almost as if politicians can’t implement their own policies; nor the wishes of the electorate - instead they must obey the directives of the intellectual oligarchs who run the three letter institutions, NGOs and agencies.

[@plerpplerp5599]

The UK government's actions and policies have systematically damaged the country from within. Through xenophobic immigration policies, erosion of civil liberties, economic mismanagement, and divisive rhetoric, the government, helped by the media, has undermined the nation's social cohesion, economic stability, and democratic institutions. This self-inflicted damage demonstrates that a country can be severely harmed by its own leadership. You don't need war to destroy a country. A government can do that on its own.

[@milenko1965]

@@plerpplerp5599 Over a million immigrants in one year is hardly a a xenophobic policy. I’m proudly from immigrant parents btw. That said doesn’t mean I don’t recognise that social cohesion is higher the more homogeneous the population is. Like it or not we’re just baldy monkeys and as tribal as a troupe of baboons. It’s not what my ideal society is but it is reality and no amount of “reeducation” or social engineering will change that.

[@keithpp1]

The growth we see is statistical noise. The economy has flatlined.

[@DavidWoodCodesleuth]

"When a measure becomes a goal, it ceases to be a good measure" Excellent message.

[@clivebroadhead4381]

As any engineer will know, a good design can be compromised by inappropriate changes. It's important to keep on the ball to achieve the original aim.

[@KeithFoster-me3xl]

I can’t see any politician coming along with redistributive policies. For the money which now runs our “democracy” there is no profit in that.

[@knowledgeseeker5499]

It’s disappointing to see the UK is slowly becoming a poorest country of Western Europe 😢

[@GavLiddle]

By design the other countries will follow

[@nialllennon4664]

He said recently that economic growth is a thing of the past.

[@gordonwilson1631]

Another vital video. The growth in their equation is Exponential Growth. Just like continual acceleration, it’s mad and stupid. Distribution and redistribution is the way to go. The logic is to expand the public sector, something we actually have control of. Don’t give our future to megalomaniac oligarchs.

[@mrmeldrew693]

Reduce taxes. Stop sending money abroad. Cross off EVERYTHING on their to-do-list to avoid any further mistakes.

[@nancyrobinson9448]

Their housebuilding aspirations are also not compatible with sustainability. They could work on speeding up probate so that there can be a quicker availability of property and also invest in sorting out who owns empty derelict houses. Private companies snap that opportunity up, if alerted to the properties by the public.

[@sibutterworth6542]

I have just watched 2073 a sci-fi doc drama about the very real dystopian future we are building for our children. We are becoming the enemy of our own children.

[@seanm3558]

Making growth the goal of a national economy is like maximising the profits of a business. It should be a consequence of your main activity, not the activity itself.

[@ancietman]

Fourteen years to prepare and 6 months in power Labour need a reset its not a good look. The public are fed up with all politicians after the last 20 years they not prepared to wait years for Labour to get some kind of plan together to put it right. Unfortunately Labour campaigned on pointing the finger at the useless Tories & got in power because people either did not bother to vote or voted any party that were not Tories now we find out Labour got no plan.

[@william_marshal]

Check out fullfacts and educate yourself ... Labour are doing a lot .... NHS, Housing, Working time regulations and many other things but this country only measures them on the economy, which receives no support from the rich when their Muppet party (Tory) is out of power !!!

[@Serpsss]

That's because Starmer actually scrapped all the stuff they had prepared over the years shortly after he became leader; despite basing his campaign for leadership on continuing them. The plans were very close to this video: A redistribution of wealth, reinvestment in crucial public services along with a strong focus on improving rights & quality of life for the poorest & most vulnerable in society.

[@coolbanana165]

Labour literally has plans.

[@Serpsss]

@coolbanana165 they're not working well though is the point & the reason is because they're a rush job that's still being cobbled together, after they scrapped the ones they'd developed for a decade. Why? Because Starmer pretended to be on the left of the party in his leadership bid so he could win via their votes & then once he'd gained the position he decimated their side of the party completely along with their plans that he'd used to leverage his campaign.

[@coolbanana165]

@@Serpsss What do you mean they're not working well? Barely anything has happened yet. A budget or legislation.

[@janeknight3597]

“Real things happening”. Bang on Richard. Thank you.

[@khaledays]

We suffer in Kuwait from similar self-serving policies, unfortunately. Lots of money spent, little actual change/improvements happening.

[@pw3591]

Not enough Police, or thousands of Police that are not on the streets, doing "nothing" jobs, with completely the wrong priorities ??

[@user-lx6pk9os2d]

We are a cold, wet island sat in the North Sea. We emit less than 1% of global CO2 - therefore it is senseless for us to fanatically pursue energy policies that are harmful to our economy and deliver absolutely no benefit to the planet as a whole (although that doesn't mean we shouldn't move to clean energy over time in a considered, orderly manner as technology advances) We have destroyed our manufacturing base through idiotic policies of 1980's economists and their wet dream of a "tertiary economy" that has proven to be disastrous. Our idiotic politicians have LITERALLY given our wealth away while letting UK citizens suffer enormous hardship and have broken the number one rule of looking after the UK first. Our borders are completely porous, we have no idea who is coming here and what their background is - and we have a massive problem with radical Islam that no politician wants to touch. Our public sector is stuck in the 1980's with a completely unafordable pension scheme that is a massive Ponzi scheme and actually insolvent which, again, no politician or union leader wants to admit. Start there...

[@Hickalum]

There is a surprising level of complacency on the left regarding what’s coming with islamisation. My own political leaning is slightly to right of Ghengis Kahn, so I’m looking forward to it.

[@user-lx6pk9os2d]

@@Hickalum The irony of leftoids not inderstanding just how opposed Islam is to their "liberal worldview" is staggering. Their naivety will come back to haunt them big style.

[@garysmith5025]

We spent an estimated £80bn importing fossil fuels in 2024, without renewables it would have been £190bn, clearly your claims make no logical sense.

[@user-lx6pk9os2d]

@@garysmith5025 We have to import fossil fuels because we've shut down our own domestic production. Doh! That's what makes no logical sense! Were you actually aware of that? This is what I'm on about - pi$$ poor political decisions with real world, long term implications are shredding the UK.

[@frankhayes1135]

@@garysmith5025 And where did that oil go to that we didn't buy? Do you think it stayed in the ground unused or do you think that prices dropped due to reduced demand thus encouraging greater consumption in other countries? Global oil consumption in creased by 840,000 bbls/day in 2024 and is set to increase by 1.1 million barrels in 2025. You live in a fantasy and need to get streetwise.

[@itsverygreen532]

Will someone please make this man PM? Lots of simple common sense.

[@michaelgreen2448]

@@physiocrat7143exactly I initially thought he talked sense but over time he encourages borrowing and imagines public service bring real growth when the opposite is true

[@zippy_uk1046]

We will NOT be an AI superrpwer because the UK is too uncompetative in terms of energy costs, workforce and taxes.

[@louise2209]

I agree, this and the ‘leading Green economy’, big talk, but we are no longer the superpower of 200 years ago. We are just a small fish with a big attractive, hollowing city and a couple thousand years of history, which is and always will be in the past.

[@sailaway8244]

All powered by unicorn farts 🤔

[@11nephilim]

Also because genAI is bollocks anyway

[@Thinkforyourself1234]

It’s the new Y2K

[@geoffreycodnett6570]

If AI worked it would reduce the need for workers so it's a pretty poor way of improving the income of the country.

[@jonboy2950]

What happened to the idea of long term infrastructure projects which would increase efficiency, boost employment and cause growth?

[@isobelmcallister8886]

Change the self-imposed rule that all electricity must be priced the same as that produced from gas. If you must take the high cost of gas into account, you could average out the differences. This would boost both individuals and businesses and act as an incentive to spend and invest.

[@jeanyves651]

"no inflation" ? my 'impression' is that food has generally gone up and with some products as much as 7 - 8%

[@jdcharlwood]

totally agree. unfortunately slogans are now everywhere

[@theotherside8258]

Labour needs to be Labour not a constrained tory party

[@SennethLawrence]

The obvious solution to this issue is for Labour to call their next meeting at The Winchester.

[@facelessvaper]

I say it again, we could, we won't. Inflation hasn't gone, anyone who shops from one week to the next & notices prices will know that.

[@Chris-f7s2y]

Please could you tell us now your theory as to why this government and the last have failed to do as you have suggested so eloquently in this presentation.

[@petermach8635]

Government in itself can do very little to facilitate growth, what it can do is to foster an environment friendly to business and to inculcate confidence in the public ...... this present government, with it's top-down attitude can only lead to further and increasing disaster.

[@clivebroadhead4381]

We need a mature Labour Government with sustainable policies of getting things moving again after the years of Tory incompetence, under posh boys like Cameroon and Osborn again!

[@kevbrown2532]

I've come to the conclusion that Starmer, and therefore Labour, have a number 1 goal of being "as clear as possible". This has nothing to do with improving accountability, of improving the country, society, the environment, the world we live in. It has everything to do with obfuscation, of moving the focus away from its incompetence.

[@clivebroadhead4381]

As an engineer I am fully aware that plans don't work out the first time. The basis of good design is that you modify and adjust to achieve the initial aim. I presume that this policy is equally applicable to economics and public policy.

[@davidmcculloch8490]

Indeed. Which is why the mantra of growth is pathetic. More about making lives better.

[@michaelgreen2448]

Wasn’t Richard urging the government to print money and spend (waste) it on public services ( inflation is rising in real terms too !)

[@keithpp1]

We were repeatedly told during the General Election, the answe was growth. We were not told the question, nor were we told how that growrh was ti be achieved.

[@pauldivers]

Good points re how to improve people's lives Richard. If Labour were to implement your suggestions then the mental health of the country would improve drastically. However, like the Tories, they appear to prefer cruelly punishing those who struggle rather declare that they are going after those corporations and individuals who avoid their paying taxes. Where is the action on recovering the billions stolen in the PPE scandal for example? This tells us who both Labour and the Tories are working for. Ps, I watch most of your videos Richard. Great work.

[@BoredomIncarnate1]

The reset of a reset of a reset of a reset of a reset of a.... Starmer needs to go. He has done nothing but talk about what he's going to do, without actually doing anything.

[@OneAndOnlyMe]

Private sector has seen 5.6% pay rises. If growth wasn't happening we would not be seeing pay growth. Flat isn't bad, it's sustainable. We tried high growth and it's just unsustainable and leads to economic crashes.

[@pauls7363]

How about fixing the NHS by opening more inpatient beds? Then we can get the ambulances back on the road, clear patients out of corridors and get rid of all the managers managing patient flow. You can measure the growth of hospital beds!

[@graemeshort1928]

Why is our useless Chancellor RR still in Post? as her Budget has Failed as slammed by B of E and OECD? She needs to resign NOW! Or be SACKED if KS has the BALLS to do this. Find a real economist! Support the OAP’S, WASPI's and the FARMERS. STUCK FARMER

[@billB101]

Wrong.

[@scottyfive4319]

@@billB101 100% correct, now who was it that lost to a lettuce, and was better that RR??

[@howdan1985]

100% spot on Graeme. Your brilliant comment is supported by a huge weight of evidence: UK Gilt Yields soaring above 5.00%, Sterling falling to the lowest level against the Dollar in years, Consumer Confidence plunging, investment plunging, 11,000 wealth-creators fleeing......

[@japfourme381]

The best thing to do, is call a general election, let the people decide, we’ve seen the mess Labour have made in six months!!

[@william_marshal]

We've just had a general election and the people decided ... They didn't want the Tories. Because of our voting system you only have two choices in this country .. Tory or Labour so you want the corrupt Tories back, who were far worse than Labour you dummy !!!

[@nancyrobinson9448]

Love this. The slogans are such a drag and Keir Starmer is still reeling them out at PMQ's, he really doesn't know what else to say. He's so constipated with the phrases, he can't clear them out of his vocabulary.

[@IanMackie-ff1sn]

What about steady-state Economy? Is endless growth even possible?

[@grodesby3422]

Need a prime minister with enough mandate and self-confidence to crush the established bureacracy utterly so it can be rebuilt with efficacy in mind.

[@graemejones9707]

What does Labour do now? Stand down.

[@samuelwilkin5]

Mostly agree but we do also need the large projects like HS2 - building dedicated high speed corridors allows more train capacity on other lines too allowing more regional trains. Also it's an example of the government spending money which you just recommended before.

[@toend1]

What would a more concrete program for economic development look like? I assume that just like in my country Sweden, there is a very great need to repair and restore society. Why hasn't the Bank of England lowered interest rates? It must be so inhibiting for the economy?

[@clivebroadhead4381]

You should not let the country fall apart and then have Churchillian war-like slogans to put it back on the road. Public services are an ongoing activity and require continuous investment.

[@brianchapman8120]

The live, laugh, lovification of politics

[@gillcorless5273]

The Labour government's job is to make things happen, as Richard says. And when companies see government investment, it will give them the confidence to invest too. Waiting for companies to invest with so much uncertainty makes no sense. Investment in the NHS means suppliers of NHS equipment can confidently expand - otherwise, why would they? A new building program for crumbling schools and hospitals and council housing requires more builders, plumbers, electricians, and so more employees will be trained and recruited - otherwise, why the need? Labour must start the investment program so others will follow suit, not wait until something happens!

[@kubhlaikhan2015]

The main reason that the economy has to "grow" is in order to service the national debt and prop up the exchange rate of the pound. Zero growth doesn't mean things stay the same - it means things are falling apart.

[@antonyjh1234]

The main reason the economy has to grow is businesses that everybody's retirement funds are invested in need to show growth, the whole stock market depends on growth otherwise it isn't needed.

[@x7zy-xx]

During a long time of human history there was no big yearly growth. Why should it be some sort of law of nature of it happening continously in our time?

[@Hickalum]

Because we are so much debt.

[@Chris-f7s2y]

You forgot about the pledge to build 1.5 million houses in this parliament. This one is by a huge margin, the most absurd of all the commitments we have heard from this government, far more than your examples.

[@stephencurrie6270]

Even when growth happens we will only get trickle down economics to the poor.

[@blackwavenoise]

The word ‘Growth’ means nothing to the average person. This does not affect me directly.

[@dereknesbitt5378]

What they should and what they will do are polar opposites. She'll double down on known failed policies, remember she's a humble accountant.

[@danburke6568]

Uk energy is a very high cost in the western world, maybe the highest...not a good thing. Not going full nuclear power is crazy. We need energy to live at good standards but having power stations take 10 years long than planned(most likely corruption). UK can get tech or have it, to have cheap energy, gas from the north or skilled nuclear engineers. The good chaps rules have run itself to the UK death.

[@billB101]

The decisions to go _mostly_ Nuclear should have been made decades ago but were, at the time, halted by public opinion and sentiment.

[@nickbarton3191]

@@danburke6568 Nuclear is actually quite expensive but reliable, green energy is substantially cheaper but less reliable. We probably need a mixture.

[@mojonojo3]

​@@nickbarton3191UK requires about 25 new power stations in the next 50 years irrespective of renewables. It's clearly not going to happen.

[@infinitesky-59]

Completely agree but human greed will ensure that we never have cheap and plentiful anything.

[@scottyfive4319]

@@mojonojo3 Currently Scotland produces "Extra" energy most days. It does however need a backup system for days when there is NO wind or Rain. Proper planning prevents piss poor performance, something the UK has been severely lacking in the UK specifically Westminster for the last 50+ years.

[@SOberem-o7b]

What Labour should do is revitalize the high street. If they make attractive high streets through a shop frontages act *and* make sure there there is free short term (30 minutes) parking spaces *and* there are no business rates for 12 months on any shop that has been boarded up for 12 months - shops will open, and businesses will start.

[@eve938]

The only things that are up are our bills and mortgage interest rates, so the lies they told about inflation are lies.

[@chillitotes]

Richard can you tell us what we as consumers need to do. How can we start to topple the corporations.

[@william_marshal]

Stop buying their products !!!

[@manoo422]

So basically the complete opposite to what Labour are actually doing...

[@mattsawyer343]

I agree with you except for HS2. We really do need that.

[@sanderda]

HS2 is a disaster. What's the point of carving up the beautiful English countryside so that people can get to a destination 30 minutes or so quicker. Let's focus on comfortable mass transit, not speed.

[@deaconswayne1894]

⁠@@sanderdaHS2 is not really about getting to a destination 30 minutes faster (not that there’s anything wrong with that) but rather about alleviating capacity constraints primarily on the WCML but also the MML & ECML, something which is very much needed. This in itself would do much to make rail travel on the existing mainlines more comfortable.

[@ruthedwards7775]

We really don't!! Just good ordinary rational public transport would be a start. Every time I return from Sheffield there are far too many people having to use a totally inadequate small train, yet on the final slog home there were three of us on a 64 person double decker bus!!

[@deaconswayne1894]

@@ruthedwards7775 Ruth, we’re absolutely agreed on the need for ordinary and rational public transport. That must surely include the unreliable and overcrowded train services which you indicate are totally inadequate yourself? HS2 addresses these legitimate complaints by creating a new, fully integrated high speed mainline with the aim of solving the worst capacity bottlenecks found across the existing network by effectively bypassing them. You’d be reaching your destination in less time and greater comfort.

[@ruthedwards7775]

@@deaconswayne1894 with respect one partial main line doesn't in any way solve the chronic public transport requirement that exists throughout this country. (e.g. my daughter's friend was late for work every day because of public transport foul-ups)..

[@mohammadsiddiqui3564]

They did nothing to help growth, instead they dumped all the responsibility on others.