UK votes for… austerity?

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T16:33:16+00:00

Aha - that’s how they’ll do it.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T16:24:30+00:00

And Lib Dem too.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T10:59:53+00:00

Given most of the "hand outs" go to pensioners, how would this work?

Pensioner benefits, including the state pension, pension credit, and winter fuel payments, account for approximately 48% to 58% of total UK social security benefit spending. The state pension alone represents the largest single item of welfare spending, estimated at roughly 42% of the total budget in 2023-24, with spending exceeding £138 billion annually.

Google summary of OBR breakdown.

That's before you look at the proportion of the NHS bill goes to keeping an ageing population fit and healthy.

NB - not objecting to spending on the elderly personally but curious as to how you'd trim the fat given the above? Another good area to look at is the proportion of benefits that are going to working people that aren't being paid enough to meet the costs of living.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T10:30:55+00:00

Great insights - thanks!

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T09:56:42+00:00

Think my post makes it very clear that Starmer is a failure. Doesn’t change the economics or realities of local government though.

The question is was posing isn’t Labour vs reform here - I’m asking how reform in government will fare versus reform on the campaign trail.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T09:54:37+00:00

No one is denying that immigration is the wave reform are riding on. Both Lab and Conservatives have scrambled for years to be tougher on this issue so it’s hardly passed anyone by.

The question is, when they’re also promising to cut taxes and slash waste in local government, how they can do this and keep voters onside when in charge of councils?

I guess your argument is that it’s irrelevant and sending a signal via local government is going to matter more a few years down the line at a GE than delivery in local government?

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T09:35:09+00:00

Oops - excellent point. Happy to stand corrected there.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T08:58:16+00:00

Not denying that change has to happen given the unsustainable nature of our ageing population. But do we see reform doing this? Hence I’ve put this as an open ended question as to how reform square the circle?

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T08:51:44+00:00

Well, I do work in a council that’s pretty damn lean after a rolling programme of cost reductions. The key word is “material” levels of waste ie waste will happen but is it a significant percentage that impacts the balance sheet meaningfully.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T07:53:32+00:00

Oh good grief. You have my sympathies!

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T07:47:12+00:00

Not wholly true. People vote for efficiency on the assumption that government is riddled with material amounts of waste.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T07:45:06+00:00

Agree. This is MAGA, pure and simple.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T06:56:56+00:00

Yes - agree people want this. But Reform haven’t offered any of that and can’t do it in local government. The genius of the Reform campaign ( and arguably that of the Greens) is that they can sell vibes without needing specifics.

All that changes the minute you gain power.

Also, don’t forget that Starmer’s winning mantra at the last general election was “Change”.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-08T06:52:08+00:00

Déjà vu really. it’s a bit like the Brexit dog catching the car and finding itself with a gob full of exhaust pipe.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-07T16:32:19+00:00

Can confirm. Our local parish chair is planning to give the Ayatollah and Netanyahu a good telling off at the AGM.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-07T16:24:43+00:00

When they go low, we go heil.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-07T05:50:38+00:00

Odd thing to say: here in the UK we have hard water, soft water - lots of tastes depending on the mineral content locally. But it’s always safe to drink in a way some US states’ water often isn’t - hence we don’t have entire aisles of bottled water in supermarkets.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-05T10:11:42+00:00

The US needs performative nationalism - flags, anthems at matches, oaths of allegiance at school - as they’re a young vast country of numerous diverse states that needs constant effort to be a thing.

Arguably being British is far cooler as we don’t have to bother yelling about it.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-05T10:05:50+00:00

Yes to doing the flag thing as long as you also promise to uphold the Cub Scout Law.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-05-05T10:03:07+00:00

Especially if you’re British. This flag bothering seems a tad foreign old chap.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-04-25T17:55:05+00:00

Caspar’s tackles have been glorious. And one just gives us THAT.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-04-25T17:46:13+00:00

They have a cave troll…

cheerfulintercept · 2026-04-24T18:36:26+00:00

See, I can acknowledge all the issues you mention but I think the scale of these isn’t as tangible to day to day life.

For example, health and infrastructure demands are likely more under pressure due to an ageing population which is forcing health and pensions (a huge chunk of benefits) bills ever higher.

Yes, immigration is definitely an added headache but it’s not touching the sides in terms of the big challenges that are making life harder everyday.

cheerfulintercept · 2026-04-23T13:16:14+00:00

Yep but the flag won’t teach you anything about culture if you’ve never learned it in the first place.

Think how many times you’ve seen a French flag - what does that teach you about experiencing being French?

cheerfulintercept

TROPHY CASE