Top Economist Abandons Starmer Support With DAMNING Indictment - w/. Prof. Danny Blanchflower

Prof. Danny Blanchflower is one of Britain's most important economists. Tenured economics professor at Dartmouth College and former member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, he backed Keir Starmer in the election - and now has issued a damning indictment.
I talk to him here about why Labour's economic strategy is a disaster - and what the alternative is.
Please like, subscribe, comment, share - and help us take on the right-wing media here: / owenjones84

[@OwenJonesTalks]

Please like, subscribe, comment, share - and help us take on the right-wing media here: www.patreon.com/owenjones84

[@Fish_N_Chips_Dude]

The twitching is getting worse or maybe the cat brought home fleas.

[@Fish_N_Chips_Dude]

I can’t find this channel’s report of the celebration of the London festival of diversity known as the Notting Hill Carnival.

[@Fish_N_Chips_Dude]

So, to summarise the cartoon. “I supported 2TierKeir but he’s not doing what I would do so he’s wrong and I don’t support him but I support something else.”

[@markstevens7190]

We don't have right wing media, centre right at best. All make more sense than the rubbish you preach. Time to put your big boy pants on and man up.

[@ppetal1]

Great footballer.

[@razorednight]

This guy endorsed Starmer? Why? I'm not an economist, but I have a brain, I have eyes, I could see Starmer's plans for austerity months ago.

[@dom4427]

Because, like many Starmer supporters before the election, whether consciously or not, he thinks of himself as smarter than everyone else, and conned himeself into thinking that Starmer was the same just because he looked the part. He said early on in the video that he thought there was some secret plan that wouldd be announced as soon as the election was won, which is something I saw a lot of Starmerites saying in arguments with the left in the run up to the election. These people think of themselves as seperate and above the general public, and they belive that you have to say all that nasty stuff to win over the uneducated masses and then you can sneak your real plans in. It's a superiority complex.

[@DaveATKIN]

​@@dom4427wow, way to go to over-inflate the situation with some pompous priggery and bizarre conjecture Dom.

[@ster2600]

Who were the alternatives

[@adamnealis]

@@dom4427 Indeed. They expect politicians to be lying about what they will do, yet if the Other Party lies it's bad, while it's OK if their party does it.

[@YtuserSumone-rl6sw]

This guy also thinks Brexit was per definition economic sui - side. Only pipe vision indoctrination makes a person "think" like that.

[@darkhorseman8263]

Austerity isn't about economics. It's about control. They want to squeeze the lower and middle classes out of their homes.

[@Wouter-dj2pm]

Exactemento.

[@trydowave]

Whats the end goal?

[@markwelch3564]

​@@trydowave modern feudalism, where the neo kings and barons rule from glass skyscrapers rather than castles

[@darkhorseman8263]

@trydowave Billionaires don't store their wealth in a bank. They keep it in earning assets and then take loans against those assets to appear to be in debt so they don't have to pay tax due to poor global capital gains tax rules. As long as the asset pays more than the interest on loans, they make money and live securely without paying tax. Now, what happens when you give trillions in tax cuts to billionaires and there aren't enough stocks or assets to invest in. Politicians use Austerity and central banks squeeze people out of their homes using interest rate increases, so billionaires have a safe harbour to hide their wealth in. This comment will probably be shadow banned knowing youtube.

[@trydowave]

@@darkhorseman8263 if that's true its truly sick and disgusting behavior.

[@K4rmaRules]

Sick of these people's excuses. It was OBVIOUS what Starmer and Reeves would do. If many of us on the left knew then how could a prominent economist not realise?

[@kathrynhayman5758]

My thoughts as well. Starmer has nasty leanings and as Blanchflower states Reeves and Starmer are inexperienced fools who think they know.

[@coloaten6682]

Exactly!! They're all claiming buyers remorse hen they were told it was a dud. Tossers like Blanchflower never admit they're effing useless at politics because they don't understand people at all.

[@MaRi-Br1984]

Hi, I think the problem is that starmer is Mr Micromanager, how many stories of whipping have we heard from labour under his leadership? And he has the shortest eyesight in history it seems, to him it’s always only about him as the leader of the labour, so much so that he forgot to even prepare a vision of change should that labour ever rise to power in the Uk, now that it did, he still just trying to micromanage things, to him the bar is just clear off sunak. How long till he understands that the left has different standards than the far right?

[@Jay...777]

Starmer is a member of the Trilateral Commission, the Bilderberg Group, loves Davos & is completely in bed with the security services. He is a neocon neoliberal junkie, a true believer in repression & surveillance - 100% the establishments man.

[@davidjames2083]

@@kathrynhayman5758 *Lions being conned by less than donkeys!* 🫏🧠💩🚽

[@nigeltown6999]

Starman is the face of the establisment - the wealthy, entitled, 'super rich' - what other outcomes did you expect?

[@william_marshal]

So was Sunak and Farage, so who the hell do we vote for?

[@Hitchhiker007]

​@@william_marshalindependent candidates. But no the people were too scared.

[@Lervish5]

@@william_marshal Earth Party

[@mohammedmir777]

Starmer is a true blue.

[@mohammedmir777]

Establishment never would except person like Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister of the country.

[@martinwatson9615]

From how starmer ran the labour party and reacted to the Gaza genocide it was absolutely clear what a disaster he would be in government.

[@paulmaggs3212]

@@martinwatson9615 he does seem to want to prosecute the nation…..when you’re a sledgehammer , everything seems like a nut .

[@ruthirwin8222]

And kneeling to the blm

[@martinwatson9615]

@@ruthirwin8222 well no, he doesn’t give a damn about it. He tried to dismiss the BLM but had to backpedal

[@Enetrebrab]

Austerity is simply the rich taking from the poor. Flipping the bill for billionaires/corporations not paying their share, markets, etc. there are better answers.

[@keithpp1]

I never understood why he supported Starmer in the first place.

[@davegubbins4428]

the establishment was/is in "ANYONE but Corbyn" mode. the ' fairness for all' he proposed was/is way too much for the rich to stomach. 'democracy' my foot !

[@phillipgriffiths9624]

Starmer is a sociopath. All he wants is power, and to get it he was prepared to say anything. He lies constantly, he will not listen to the people, and he does it all with no pangs of conscience. People, wake up!

[@Hide_and_silk]

Austerity is the 21st century equivalent of the workhouse.

[@janewright2800]

So true!!

[@WarrenPeaceOG]

19th century economic Liberalism gave us Dickens, the workhouse, and hungry children. Late 20th century Neo-Liberalism gave us Ken Loach, exploding private debt, and hungry children. (Mid 20th century Keynesian mixed economies gave us NHS, welfare state, and rising living standards for all. Called the Golden Age of Capitalism in US. The Glorious Thirty in France)

[@GabrielHellborne]

@@WarrenPeaceOG True, but, as we've seen, the Keynesian compromise was easily rolled up. Raw capitalism won in the end.

[@chokinonashes61]

Thatcher loving Starmer has not surprised me in the least. He's a cop, he's complicit in a genocide, he's expelled all dissecting voices. Of course they won't change from the Tories.

[@g1fcg]

He's also creating a 'democide' here!!

[@l3eatalphal3eatalpha]

He moved the portrait to his bedroom.

[@Golkfyerick]

They might make some changes to Tory policies when they realise where they are after 3-4 years.

[@karlarcher8773]

The Tories were New Labour lite. The Left hasn't been interested in economics for a long time. They haven't been a party for the working class since Blair. They are all about cultural socialism no matter what happens to the economy.

[@andrew-r5k]

what genocide can you prove that

[@Thelma7361]

I’m sorry but neoliberalism has ruled Britain for 45 years. That’s a fact. Since thatcher we’ve had the same government.

[@davidwasilewski]

How come public spending and the size of the state has never been bigger (since WW2 anyway) and the tax burden never bigger then? Hardly ‘austerity’? Would you be happy if the state expanded even further? I strongly suspect we are going to be paying more and more, for less.

[@Thelma7361]

@@davidwasilewskiid be happy if government taxed wealth higher and labour lower.exploiters of society should be paying a much higher contribution to the tax burden than hard workers.

[@davidwasilewski]

@@Thelma7361 I agree. ‘Gary’s economics’ style. But I’ve yet to seen it done successfully anywhere? There are too many vested interests and corruption that captures politics and political parties. I think that asking a millionaire to tax wealth may be difficult

[@csharpe5787]

Thatcher gave the illusion of a strong economy, but all she was doing was selling the family silver.

[@csharpe5787]

@@davidwasilewski aren’t you completely missing the point? This is about spending to invest and grow the economy..

[@g1fcg]

What annoys me is these 'people' make their wealth - move to the US and say 'I can see a doctor tomorrow' - there are also poor people in the US who cannot afford to see a doctor. He could also afford private healthcare if he still lived in the UK - so again, he could 'see a doctor tomorrow'! Where us, the 'serfs' are unable to get the help we need. I use the term 'serf' because that's where we are now - a feudal state!

[@missmerrily4830]

You are aiming your frustration in the wrong direction. Professor Blanchflower doesn't need to make any apologies for accepting a post in the USA. It's what educators do. They are highly sought after and no wonder as they study for years and pay hugely for their education and work hard to acquire experience. Study at tertiary level and beyond requires a massive effort. And that's not to say that you, and many others including myself haven't worked hard in our lives but have failed through lesser intellect, or less effort to reach his standard of employability. There's nothing fair about life. If you believe there is you will be tortured all of your life. Don't blame him for being successful, blame those of little intellect who shouted to come out of the EU and then brayed for 'change; because they were sick of the Tories. A proportion of people commenting here are now denying they ever voted Labour, but many people did! They don't want to be embarrassed by their poor choice. At leat this man is standing up and truthfully saying he made a mistake. Something all human beings can do! And he's capable of suggesting corrective change. Whether this cloth eared government would ever listen is unlikely, but that's not his fault any more than it's yours.

[@AK-np4rp]

​​@@missmerrily4830Intellect isnt earnt. It is gifted. Pure luck. Just as the opportunities afforded to you including the family you are born into is down to pure luck. And it is fallicious to imply that success is purely down to effort, and studying at tertiary level is harder than doing manual labour or doing one of the many underpaid essential worker jobs such as cleaning or caring for the aged and disabled. Life may not be fair, but it does not follow that we ought do nothing to try to address inequalities.

[@rhysjaggar4677]

@@missmerrily4830 Wasn't true in England before the 21st century. People left University debt free in my generation and for several years afterwards. You should ascertain whether Prof. Blanchflower emerged from college with £50k of debt before asserting that he did, friend.

[@rhysjaggar4677]

@@AK-np4rp Like anything, there is an aptitude for intellectual effort, but aside from the odd genius, you don't become a Professor by being a lazy bum. You have to work hard. No, you don't dig ditches, you don't service boilers, but you still have to work hard. When I studied science at Cambridge, we had Saturday morning lectures, and in final year, it was a full working week of 9-5 lectures + practical work and then you had to do all the reading and essays in the evening.

[@AK-np4rp]

@@rhysjaggar4677 Nobody said it doesn't require effort but the effort required is no less admirable, worthy or taxing as the effort required to clean and care for a disabled person. People in low paid essential work perform these duties on the weekend and at night, as well as the early hours of the morning. Furthemore, the work required to study Cambridge doesn't have the potential for breaking your back. Importantly, being able to study at Cambridge requires opportunity.

[@Ste-sr1fr]

The British public have been kidded for decades. The country was rebuilt by borrowing after the war. Austerity is not a necessity, it is a political choice.

[@MsOpportunity68]

The country was supported by borrowing during the war as well. Without lend-lease we wouldn't have been able to keep fighting.

[@Lervish5]

What austerity?

[@TheCam920]

@@Lervish5 Millionaire spotted. Face the wall

[@DarrenSmith-tq2xz]

We need to cut government spending by 60 percent starting with overseas aid and the funding ov wars we are bancrupt 150 percent of debt to GDP and this can't be paid back

[@markwelch3564]

​@DarrenSmith-tq2xz we aren't bankrupt, and absolutely cannot be bankrupt We do have to worry about currency value and inflation, but they're doing alright. We can borrow if we're borrowing for productive investment, and manage taxes appropriately

[@ehitaredestiny3146]

Owen thanks for everything you’ve done for Palestine 🇵🇸. History will forever remember your support.

[@OwenJonesTalks]

to the very end!!

[@SDemirci-jb7js]

@@OwenJonesTalks 👌👏👏👏

[@Fish_N_Chips_Dude]

He’s done nothing except support hummus.

[@derektrotter4287]

💤

[@ehitaredestiny3146]

@@Fish_N_Chips_Dude you’ve done nothing except support the terrorist state of isreal and its terrorists forces.

[@steveturner609]

Austerity is a means by which the Establishment can kill off the Poor of the Nation!!!

[@Lervish5]

Eating junk food and smoking kills off the poor.

[@WarrenPeaceOG]

In the eyes of aristocrats and billionaires, every 😵serf is a pound saved in taxes. (They are economically illiterate as well as sociopathic)

[@MaRi-Br1984]

This is a matter of starmer listening to what his big donors want, rather than actual progressive economists, I just hope he and Rachel changes course on their economic agenda, austerity light would be a massive mistake, one that will not be forgiven or forgotten if they try to keep it like that.

[@andrewwalsh2755]

The US Congress does the same...

[@stepheneurosailor1623]

His doners/handlers reside in Tel Aviv.

[@csharpe5787]

@@stepheneurosailor1623100%

[@andybrice2711]

I think the problem is, they've convinced themselves this is progressive. The mainstream Left has been taken over by this weird new brand of authoritarian neoliberalism wrapped in identity politics. Where (for example) its okay to force all poor people into tiny rented apartments, as long as the property developer has race and gender diversity on its board full of nepo-babies.

[@allovdem]

Blanchflower signed a faculty letter expressing support for the actions of Dartmouth College president Sian Beilock, who ordered the arrests of 90 students and faculty members nonviolently protesting the Israel-Hamas war.

[@BabelSongs]

Whaaaaaaaa?!?

[@5amonline699]

Is this true? Why didn’t Mr Jones question Blanchflower on this? ..Although might have been difficult to a get a word in edgeways in between all the Brown-nosing 😮 Please state source of accusation?

[@user-gd1vr1fx8o]

One of the many Labour supporters who've changed their opinion since they came to power.

[@jeffreypetchharrison4363]

its not labour its labator ..jeff..

[@davegubbins4428]

hoping beyond hope that labour wasn't just another tory govt...alas.

[@romancenturion3507]

The only thing Starmer seems to concerned with is increasing prison places and arresting protestors

[@andrew-r5k]

yep

[@aidanknox122]

Oh yes, those 'protesters'.....

[@philiplowcock1004]

Journalists are now being targeted. Kannard and Wilkinson for example

[@nadia11119]

Oh yes, the far right thugs 🙄

[@o_o8203]

10:47 I've lived in the US all my life and politicians _love_ to say we cannot afford things like universal healthcare or proper infrastructure.

[@william_marshal]

What they really mean is our mates, the rich don't want to pay for it !!!

[@Padraigp]

It's insane. You guys think we pay lots of tax in europe. I pay one tax..well two. SAles tax or vat... and income tax. Thats it. 28 percent. No water tax no state tax no federal tax just income tax. One tax. Dont have to do any returns. Just gone before i even haave it. I get every disease treated every ambulance every education degree i need for free. Eben get paid to do my degree. Somone asked how much does having a baby cost in usa its 4k how much in your country. All told with everything I get about 100k for my child till he is finished college at 22m I get child benifit free birth money every week for every child for school everything added up. 100k. So I get my taxes back in all of that and it's worth every penny. You guys pay and get sweet fa.

[@ubiktd4064]

A system run by and for corporations.... There's literally nothing else going on.

[@serenity8145]

Continuous austerity takes a huge mental and well being toll on people and families.

[@therealrobertbirchall]

And leaves a mess behind for generations. My Grandparents used to talk about the General Strike in the 1930s, sounds like it's all coming back.

[@andrewkerswell8657]

It would be nice to have real Economists like D.B and Richard Murphy on the BBC/ITV/Sky talking about this stuff rather than the paid for house trained mouthpieces from the Tufton St Think Tanks. Well done Owen for giving D.B a platform.

[@tonychorley4936]

Not sure the Tufton St gang are really a think tank, just lobbyists.

[@davegubbins4428]

shame the uk news media is so thoroughly establishment/tory. it'll never tell us ANYTHING to do with money that does not primarily benefit the rich.

[@philiplowcock1004]

Richard wollf or Yanis Varofakis are 2 others much better than this guy

[@Nimboid-20]

Add Andy Haldane to that list.

[@janewright2800]

I am no intellectual or well educated person but even i could see through this red tory party and knew what to expect!

[@nadia11119]

Same. It just proves lots of certificates and letters after your name doesn’t make you have common sense.

[@janewright2800]

​@nadia11119 so true

[@paulmaggs3212]

They aren’t Tories… there is zero aspiration there … they want to impoverish everyone

[@janewright2800]

​@@paulmaggs3212The only aspirations the tories have, are for themselves not us! Have you forgotten the devestation the tories caused the last 14 years?!!

[@paulmaggs3212]

@@janewright2800 tories are history….look ahead to the next group that are going to screw you….they are all alike….egotistical but without the skills and knowledge to do the job of improving the life of Brits.

[@coloaten6682]

Danny doing everything except saying he was told and he was naive and thought he knew better. He should try listening to the people on the Left, instead of reading newspapers.

[@mairead9515]

And, he is wrong about "months austerity" implemented in the USA. it very much is present, the governments, federal and states, simply use different language

[@tahminachoudhury4046]

Working smarter not harder is the way to go. My team worked on getting NHS waiting times down and we halved it on the project we worked on. Unfortunately the big wigs don’t want to hear our ideas probably because I’m not an economist. I’m a service user and can give unique insight into my own lived experiences. It’s high time Labour listened to us the people

[@emmanuelminet1233]

We may not know what's Labour plan to grow the economy but at least we know what's the plan for beer gardens....says a lot about the priorities....

[@JeanSparrow]

Absolutely brilliant, Danny! Thank you, Owen, for having this guest on.

[@chrisdavies2401]

Owen, please get talking to Gary Stevenson, he makes more sense than any of these old establishment people👍

[@ac4486]

Danny might be a top economist but his original judgement of Starmer was clownish. Like hilariously bad.

[@Ozzy1984_]

100% it's embarrassing beyond belief.

[@davegubbins4428]

the establishment was/is in "ANYONE but Corbyn" mode. the ' fairness for all' he proposed was way too much for the rich to stomach.

[@microwaves25]

There's just so many smart people in the comments. And lots of modesty. We'll be out of this crises in no time.

[@ac4486]

​@@bestcomsystems4458hmm. Who to believe. "Bestcomsystems4458" on the internet, or the economists who backed Corbyn's spending plans in letters to FT, Guardian.

[@microwaves25]

@@bestcomsystems4458 I've found critical thinking and nuance are effective over I told you so or I knew it all along.

[@user-dh1zg8mi1i]

How could he think, since Gaza, that the Labour cabinet consisted of people with a heart and soul. Was he not paying any attention? Weird.

[@keithtt7798]

I've never spent so long listening to an economist. Many comments about why did Danny B support Labour before the election. Well I understand because I felt the same, a feeling of hope and expectation that things really would get better. I can honestly say I was shocked by the actions of Reeves & Starmer, taking cash away from the elderly and treating the population like naughty school kids promising future punishment with austerity v 2.0. This is not a Labour government and I am so disappointed at having my feelings of optomism utterly squashed. I do hope these clueless politicians will listen to people like Danny B & recognise that they are heading down the wrong road.

[@Golkfyerick]

You are disappointed by your own expectations. Yours and others hopeful expectations (based on???) have and will continue to let you and other labour supporters down.

[@smj6710]

If you actually felt hope and thought things would get better under Starmer's Labour, then it's not the politicians who are clueless.

[@keithtt7798]

​@@smj6710Well actually I am still somewhat hopeful. Frankly this new Labour government has got to be an improvement over the chaos caused by the Tories, even if I find myself a little poorer financially under Labour. Seriously would you choose Boris or Truss over Starmer to represent your country on the world stage?

[@GeorginaHaycock]

Very difficult interviewee, hard work getting Blancheflower to answer the questions without going off the point, maybe that’s why he misjudged Starmer cos he wasn’t listening? You did well Owen 😉, but when he did answer a question relevantly, he made some interesting points, that austerity is a a way of killing the poor; trickle down does not work in economics; the final question “what are we going to do about this?”…… he (eventually) said cut the cuts and stop austerity. Which is the the correct answer, thank you Danny and Owen ❤️

[@Fish_N_Chips_Dude]

Yes, the was a lack of bobbling from the puppet and many interruptions from it. .

[@Padraigp]

Hes a mess. Not a clear thinker a complete waffler. Full of it.

[@lisalisker2659]

DB's story about Alastair Darling brings us back to the plans to further privatise the NHS. The entire population depends on the NHS, its collapse is unthinkable. There is nothing to replace it. I was refused an orthopaedic appointment at one of these private (funded by NHS) clinics. They refused because of a heart condition. They knew they couldn't handle an emergency, even though unlikely! It's utter madness.

[@alphaomega1328]

There is something to replace it though! All those private Medical Groups run by the ministers or their mates. The writing was on the wall when the Tories let the private companies insert there people into the NHS as 'consultants' or on the boards to decide how things worked, where they purchased supplies etc...

[@MarkCW]

New Labour represent the rich just like the Conservative party and will make life harder for the working and middle classes.

[@g1fcg]

He said it 23:00 - what austerity is for - I knew it all the time!! We are done for if 'something' isn't done about these evil entities!!!

[@nk-gp1ml]

Is this the individual who signed a faculty letter of support for the Dartmouth College President who ordered the arrests of students and faculty staff nonviolently protesting the Gaza slaughter? If so, I’m appalled Owen is promoting such an individual.

[@AK-np4rp]

Looked at his name. You've got a 99% probability that he signed it. I feel sorry for 1%.

[@lordstov8592]

Does that completely negate his expertise as an economist?

[@AK-np4rp]

@@lordstov8592 No, but it negates his credibility with regard to being a decent human being.

[@AK-np4rp]

@@lordstov8592 No, but it negates the credibility that he is decent human being.

[@arnedomi]

Hope is what politicians use to manipulate you

[@janewright2800]

Well said!!

[@ruthgillett3136]

that is so true

[@csharpe5787]

They don’t bother giving us hope any more, they think hope is overrated.

[@rahabhassan6541]

And now The Cold Winter Fuel Allowance is being taken away from Pensioners.

[@davidwright8432]

I'm such a wrinkled ancient ruin (war baby born Jan 1943) that I vividly remember the election of 1963, when Labour under Harold Wilson, won; his party having (no prejudice as to right or wrong) as a tag-line, '12 Years of Tory misrule' (1951 - 1963). Huge difference in periods of misrule: the earlier one was far better for the 'average voter in the street' than the second. I said a while back that the Conservatives and Labour were essentially indisitnguishable as to economic policy. Labour was now not just 'Tory Lite' but 'Tory Tory'. So really, no escape ...

[@wilmanleung]

One thing Blanchflower failed to mention is that more government borrowing usually means more wealth inequality as the printed money goes through the economy and ends up with the rich.

[@thumper8684]

When they say "tough decisions" they mean godawful decisions.

[@davegubbins4428]

'tough decisions' = the majority WILL PAY for the rich to keep enjoying their ever increasing, work free incomes

[@keithpp1]

Yannis Varoufakis did not support Starmer.

[@thepm3972]

When individual persons or companies have more wealth than the country they claim to support tells you something. More than enough to go round...greed rules...greedy people have taken over....lobbying for the common person should be the priority. But where are they. Big pharmaceutical companies etc. Oil etc. Bankers etc...we know this happens yet can do nothing...talk is cheap....we should take to the streets like the poll tax....

[@BoiseLou]

The thing that must be driving the English crazy is that if austerity was a reasonable way to balance the budget and restore the health of the economy it should have worked by now. Instead, after all of these years the wealth gap has grown and the economy has continued to suffer. Austerity is obviously just a con to enrich the wealthy at the expense of society. The hope that Labor would be prepared to do anything differently was always naive. Centre-left governments of this era are not the friends of the workers or the middle class because they have been bought out by the wealthy and are not afraid to wear their neoliberal colours with pride. The fact that they are not afraid to do this shows how much they have their heads in the sand because they cannot hold left-wing populism back forever. The more they fail the people the more voters will be driven to vote for smaller, populist parties.

[@PortilloMoment]

It is impossible to 'balance the economy' in a fiat monetary system. Anyone telling you so or failing to challenge those who tell you so is either ignorant or guilty of a lie.

[@roslauchland4006]

You say 'the English '. Don't you realise that Westminster controls the economy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too?

[@BoiseLou]

@roslauchland4006 Sorry you are so offended. It's just semantics and I am obviously a foreigner so it's not at front of mind for me.

[@BoiseLou]

@PortilloMoment OK so I could have worded it better but when I say balancing the budget I'm not referring to the government paying back debt it owes itself. I am talking about choosing what to spend the money on that is created by the government and its distribution throughout society. A balanced economy is one that invests in its people and workers. The government obviously cannot create endless money because it would create inflation. Taxes are still used to balance inflation. I'm sure this is an oversimplification but I am aware of the basics of what fiat currency means. Not sure what the F is up with all the nitpicking here because I'm just having a rant. It's hard to see what is happening to the UK and I can empathise with living in a society controlled by oligarchs.

[@PortilloMoment]

@@BoiseLou We should all be allowed a rant! And thanks for the clarification. Much appreciated.

[@markthomas328]

Agree Brexit was the biggest act of self harm ever

[@roseannemain9957]

Starmer is a politician with a heart!! Yes, but it's one he stole and the person he took it from is now dying without it.

[@GillianAlbiston]

Gordon Brown = Scotland's shame.

[@keithpp1]

How could he have been so easily fooled by Starmer?

[@csharpe5787]

I’m not sure he was fooled. I think he was just desperate to see the back of the tories. That hope proved to be misplaced.

[@deborahcoveney8846]

Like he is supposed to be bright!!! I could see Starmer what a nasty man he was re Corbyn

[@susiebrig4722]

Oh, I'm finding Danny Blanchflower, unlike famous footballer, not scoring too many goals. Why did he foolishly support Keir Starmer? I don't and saw through the lies and deception to cowardly gain power. He sounds arrogant too. Sadly disappointed by him.

[@aidanknox122]

Well it might have been hope over experience hoping for Starmer and Reeves to pull it out.... but the modern incarnation of the nasty Tories was the only alternative and that is still much, much worse.... Need new electoral system obvs, but Lab Tory pact not going to support that....

[@davidmcculloch8490]

Hearing Richard Murphy this morning and Danny Blanchflower on this video gives me hope: that Starmer will listen to these learned progressives. Instead he seems to be listening to the champions of greed who use austerity to increase inequality in their own self-interest. If Starmer is doubtful, listen to Gary Stevenson and the patriotic millionaires. We need change.

[@comenatural]

Professional economist basing his support for Starmer on a wing and a prayer. Absolutely pathetic and disgraceful. What work did he do to verify Labour’s economic plan? You are no longer credible so take a seat and shut up. 🤬🤬🤬

[@davegubbins4428]

the establishment was/is in "ANYONE but Corbyn" mode. the ' fairness for all' he proposed was/is way too much for the rich to stomach.

[@paulmaggs3212]

There was no plan .. hence they said nothing during the election campaign… look at the lack of calibre in all the present U.K. politicians …

[@Canigetanawwwwyyyyeeeah]

You know when a tenured man speaks up, you should most definitely be listening carefully.

[@Fish_N_Chips_Dude]

We did, he said support 2TierKeir, so we did.

[@Golkfyerick]

Bigger fool you...if you actually did

[@trueman2542]

Western civilization risks losing its moral foundation when it turns a blind eye to the tragic events unfolding in Gaza. We must not repeat the mistakes of the past, where wealth, power, and prosperity were built on the suffering and bloodshed of others. Instead, we should strive to uphold the values of justice, empathy, and human rights that we claim to represent....

[@JamieJinBrown]

I am not sure we have really had much more foundation though. In my lifetime, the War on Terror clearly made that point a long time ago.

[@janeshorter434]

Nobody is discussing utility standing charges which poor people who cannot afford to heat their homes have to pay. Possibly 90 % of their bill and also doesn't discourage high users to limit use for environmental reasons

[@EamonCoyle]

Would be an interesting time to ask how many of the Labour voters who backed Starmer and didn't support Corbyn would now change their view ?

[@sichambers9011]

He was still on twitter calling Corbyn unelectable. He absolutely does not understand the 100,000s of members who joined needed to be turned into a political force to leverage a leftwing program. He is still happy to flush that down the toilet because of one bloke. He doesn't understand political power.

[@BabelSongs]

I don’t think they would like that question

[@barnabycauwood3983]

Why does it matter? How many more chances were you willing to give Crobyn after 2 failed general elections and major referendum on EU membership. Corbyn failed the labour voters and allowed the Tories to run a riot on our country.

[@arnedomi]

I am sorry but US politicians say their country cannot afford things all the time. It is the logic behind privatized medical care, for example.

[@BeitAlWafra]

they can afford to pay for Genocide

[@yes-me6yg]

I believe his point was just that fiscal rule rhetoric is particular to the UK

[@doreenhollywood7459]

Thanks Owen for this. Danny should have realised Starmer has lied constantly so how did he think people would be better off with him in charge????? He is only out for himself and his FINANCIAL friends as well as power

[@Alden1957]

The answer is profit - Labour has again chosen capitalist profit over any other goal.

[@therealrobertbirchall]

Not profit rent

[@lisaglaze250]

Where is the profit if people have no money? It must come from diverting government money from spending on the people to lining the pockets of the rich.

[@ericrogers8519]

Gorden brown was the genius who claimed to to have abolished boom and bust just before the 2008 mega crash.He also flogged off half the UK gold reserves . Gold then was £200. per ounce now it's nearly £2000. per ounce.

[@Jiesta1256]

Every self respecting creature on earth should turn on Starmer!!

[@johntruman4397]

NHS Dentistry was destroyed by the Government by chasing up private dentist who were doing the work by recovering money and lowering the price of the work they were doing and now there are no NHS dentists out there any more. Those dentists who were just doing NHS work stopped paying their staff, so where does it all end?

[@Lainxxs]

I love seeing jones’s interviews they are interesting

[@paulexormy]

32 minutes in. I’m loving how Danny is explaining things: simple but not simplistic. Making it very human. Like the woman on the Mile End bus with thing. Only criticism: how he says “wait list” rather than “waiting lust”.

[@paulyflyer8154]

As soon as Blanchflower said Gordon Brown was a politician with a heart and he was a big fan of him he lost the dressing room and I switched off. What a pleb.

[@lisabritton2004]

Starmer is going into putin mode and look what happened to him!

[@seanashmore8785]

Literally nothing you hate more than a centrist Labour government.

[@Pomegranate_David]

Owen please cover the British journalists and activists that are being arrested on Terrorism charges for covering the genocide in Gaza.

[@Fish_N_Chips_Dude]

@Pomegranate_David ‘Genocide’ is now Word of the Decade. It’s interesting how so many people using it, yourself included, don’t know what it means. Myself? I’m using the UN definition, same as the ICJ. That’s right, the ICJ who can’t find any. Yourself?

[@Pomegranate_David]

@@Fish_N_Chips_Dude I use my own eyes and ears to discern a genocide is definitely happening. Look at the death toll in Gaza of predominantly women and children. Look at the actions of the Israeli soldiers, parading in womens lingerie, blowing up schools, hospitals and water pipes and raping captives. There is no serious attempt to negotiate a hostage release with Hamas, why do you think that is? Many academics say it is a genocide too. Why don't you believe it? Are you Israeli?

[@Pomegranate_David]

@@Fish_N_Chips_Dude I did reply but KZbin deleted it. But I said I use my own eyes and ears to discern a genocide is happening. The ICJ hasn't come to a conclusion as they only follow orders from Western governments that are protecting Israel. The ICC has made a clear decision that a genocide is happening though and they have issued instructions that Israel should leave the occupied Palestinian territory.

[@shirleynanono6428]

@@Fish_N_Chips_DudeYou’ve commented more than 100 times on this channel. If you hate leftist views just leave. Because at a certain point your hate watching becomes creepy. Why are you obsessed over people you hate?

[@AK-np4rp]

​@@Fish_N_Chips_DudeIzraylee bot. Give up.

[@guymathews974]

Owen I agree with the comment that it would be great to hear from you on the way in which Richard Medhurst was arrested & how people who speak out on Palestine are being marginalised as you have been... worth a pod maybe but look forward to this new, long awaited, project ... luv❤

[@chris-terrell-liveactive]

Agreed, a series on all of UK political prisoners and those being hassled for dissenting is much needed.

[@dougm4160]

People across the world need to rise up against the rich. I know I'm feeling famished.

[@manco828]

The capitalism diet.

[@eileenmccann8347]

Send this to Starmer, just in case he wasn’t listening

[@Timlagor]

Nothing Starmer has done since the election is at all surprising. Criticising him now after supporting him for election shows an abject failure of judgement.

[@jenniferwilgar7485]

Thankyou for coming forward to share with us Danny and Owen. Very informatve!

[@robertdownie6135]

Professor Blanchflower is a real hero of mine. Talks total sense, puts people first. I just wish Owen was a better interviewer, struggles not to interrupt 😬

[@sabinahusain1225]

Wow, powerful speech. We need MORE independant candidates

[@inspectortanzi]

Sorry - but as soon as he said Gordon Brown was a 'caring guy', that completely evaporated any credibility in what this guy had to say.

[@lisaglaze250]

To be fair to Gordon Brown, when he introduced tax credits as a single mum I was able to take my kids on holiday. He took large numbers of children out of poverty. It has all been watered down since

[@camillaconstance6526]

The problem with the "each take one step down the ladder" analogy for current times, is that those on the top wrung aren't stepping down, they're stepping up! They convince everyone else that we're all in this together whilst stepping up into their next billion.

[@johntruman4397]

Prof. Danny Blanchflower is my favourite person on saving us from disaster period.

[@jamesabernethy7803]

Ive never voted Labour & Never will! their economic plans will always end in higher taxes & higher national debt..

[@منالعبدالله-ل6ل]

Free Palestine 🇵🇸🤲🏻

[@derektrotter4287]

💤

[@Fish_N_Chips_Dude]

From hummus.

[@jake751]

​@@Fish_N_Chips_Dude🥱🥱🥱

[@JohnAdams-kc8wx]

Great guest there Owen. Just sensible economics, why can’t people like him get to make the decisions we need?

[@federicoprice2687]

Excellent discussion, thank you both. Shared.

[@LindaLund45]

I have heard that we encouraged financial institutions to buy Ukrainian bonds, guaranteed by the BOE that when they mature will be worthless. That will be a real black hole.

[@rjScubaSki]

Thanks Kremlinbot

[@paulexormy]

Love how this is summarised: IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!

[@RayGoodspeed]

It seems clear to me that Blanchflower knew all along that Starmer offered nothing for working people but (correctly) thought that it was important to get the Tories out. Understandable but very dishonest to write the letter. But at least he is trying to backpedal now, at least.

[@michaelstimpson1137]

Debt based economic system, all economic growth IS simply new debt.

[@obaidhameed6850]

Owen, well done. ❤❤❤❤

[@bernardfox9078]

They should lock Mr Blanchflower in a room with Ms Reeves and not let her out until she sees sense. Labour have got to start investing in the economy. Yes initially the debt will go up but over time the higher growth will allow us to pay off the debt at a later time.

[@useyourbrain.5574]

Anyone who voted labour, you need to sign the petition to get him out. You caused this mess, now clean it up.

[@jcleaverchamberlinjr]

What petition is this?

[@whycantiremainanonymous8091]

I think Starmer and co. really, really wants Nigel Farrage to replace him in Downing 10. He does everything in his power to obtain that result.

[@Sam-jy5tj]

We have labour councils who would rather spend 10s of millions on Ulez cameras, congestion charges, blocking roads than School meals for children or of basic services local people really want. That tells you all you need to know and it’s been going on for 10 plus years. There is plenty of tax being raised it’s a question of how you want to spend it.

[@adamnealis]

Even someone like Blanchflower can make a naïve mistake, based on hopes of things that had not been mentioned. IMO a stupid mistake, but I admire and applaud that he is admitting it openly.

[@dpbusby]

Never mind Keir Starmer, it is the so-called top economists the world needs saving from

[@adamfysh-foskett961]

In one very big way, fair play to the guy for being big enough to spot and admit that he made a bad call (on his Starmer election endorsement). We all get things wrong and I'm not always able to do these when it's me. Nonetheless, I'm surprised he wasn't able to see what Labour would be like in power, when many of us could and they were pretty open about it. And the idea that they had some secret progressive policies they'd been working on for ages and would unleash once elected is an extraordinary thing to entirely base your endorsement on!

[@hellevorst]

Your guest will not let you finish a sentence, so annoying, he doesn't notice, bless the man.

[@futures2247]

We need to rise against the rich

[@FAS1948]

We could not vote for Labour because we are socialists.

[@MerrilyMerrilyMerrily]

Australia is in the vanguard of doing exactly as Washington directs. This week union busting, a HUGE mouthful for Albanese as he takes authoritarian control of the biggest, toughest, meanest union in the country and gets away with his life, but not a second term. All other economic policies come via the IMF and austerity for the plebs remains a constant.

[@AK-np4rp]

Labor are afraid of the Greens because the aussie public are waking up to the fact that neither the LNP or Labor care about the everyday Aussie.

[@vasilispatsalidis5683]

The rats are abandoning the sinking ship.

[@cryptobitez6090]

The Tories?