I could like this article 100 times because it is all true. Anyone who knows anything about NHS, social/welfare sector, or who works in any carers role, will say the same. Austerity, entitled Tories, chief Brexit agitator, Farage and his anti EU racist propaganda and lies, together, all this greed and incompetence broke Britain. It took years to get this bad and it will take years to fix it. Immigrants aren't the problem. They are the solution.
It’s total stupidity, and largely due to attempting to pander to the right wing rhetoric of “stop the boats” type xenophobic paranoia which has been allowed to flourish due to the likes of Farage. The figures you have sensibly laid out here should be broadcast on national News to give a wider vision of what the consequences for Britain are likely to be going forwards. As always, thanks Bear!
Sadly, excellent. I’m nearly 80 and not quite resigned to being considered expendable collateral damage by Labour. I cannot believe their stupidity and wilful blindness. My personal consolation is to live in a Libdem constituency whose super MP has a fair chance of hanging on.
All so true but if only I felt the Greens hadn't started behaving like the left version of Reform with populist slogans, divisive rhetoric about Jews and Muslims, and insisting that a wealthy tax is that answer (despite it not working anywhere else. And mot recognising the new wealth taxes Labour has introduced). I flirted for some years with voting Green instead of Labour as the LibDems I had always voted for became a wasted vote locally. I genuinely liked their green ideology and admired Caroline Lucas hugely, and Carla Denyer. And then ZP crashed the Party and now I can't imagine ever considering them as a serious option again. Lost their USP and forgotten what they stand for.
I share your distrust of Polanski. Amateur politician with good instincts for a grift bandwagon. I wouldn't buy a used car from him.And also deeply regret the loss of Lucas from the political landscape.
I live in a deeply entrenched Conservative electorate so the viable tactical choice is the LibDems though a lot of their policies are distasteful. But hey ho. Democracy by definition is about compromise and therefore taking the least distasteful option. Sadly the country doesn't dance to my personal taste in music. Silly buggers.
I didn't know about Polanski to start with; but I have now followed up on his policies and watched several interviews. Yes he makes some mistakes - but basically, unlike any of the other leaders, he is starting with a vision of a better society and with enough support and help, which he is getting, that will be made to work.
Absolutely excellent explanation. Unfortunately no one seems to be listening at Labour HQ. It feels just like the pre-Brexit discussion: a car crash in the making. Some can see the issues clearly and others are on the bandwagon. Endlessly we see politicians opting not for what’s good for the country but what’s good for them and their party at great cost to the country. This government was not elected to do that. It’s incredibly frustrating to see these choices being made. There are many who are in the same boat who believe that full rejoining with the EU would mitigate much of these issues about migration. A bit of education on these issues in certain areas might help too.
The challenge of joining up policies across health, social care, housing, economy, investment, labour market and education has defeated the UK Government for decades. The Tories of course never really tried to work holistically (too woke). Labour is trying but failing on immigration as Bear skilfully explains.
The individual snarking at you has prejudice and bile spitting hatred. Nothing else. I doubt they have run anything more than a bath. And that with adult supervision.
What they don’t understand is economics, social structures, organisations, society in action and lack any sort of compassion.
I’m currently in an NHS hospital waiting room. Where the world population has come together to treat my condition with professionalism, learning, compassion humour.
All the things the poisonous Faragistas lack.
The most fundamental qualities required to successfully function professionally as a decent human being are good character, attitudes and values.
To which your interlocutor and their ilk are strangers.
I'm really not sure why anyone would think that limiting migration is any kind of fix for anything. The Bear has actual hands on experience of working in the NHS but in many cases the care sector has been taken over by private providers, who don't appear to value staff enough to pay them a decent wage or guaranteed working hour contracts. The NHS is on its knees along with other social care structures, getting services outsourced to the private sector who can't keep staff because of low wages (zero hours contracts?) and ever increasing demands on them. I totally agree that migration hasn't caused this problem - successive government policy over many, many years has.
I am sure that many of the early Labour pioneers of a compassionate UK that looks after its citizens are turning in their graves. Great post Bear as always.
Thank you for this. Not only will Labour get no credit for this from their 'hero voters', the people they want to convince will never be satisfied. The goalposts are already shifting to calls to get rid of settled communities, particularly racial minorities who are highly visible. I am (morbidly) curious at how Labour will pivot to accommodate that. Or will they fiegn surprise that their direction of travel has reached its destination?
There you go again Bear, being bloody rational . . . . . .
I could like this article 100 times because it is all true. Anyone who knows anything about NHS, social/welfare sector, or who works in any carers role, will say the same. Austerity, entitled Tories, chief Brexit agitator, Farage and his anti EU racist propaganda and lies, together, all this greed and incompetence broke Britain. It took years to get this bad and it will take years to fix it. Immigrants aren't the problem. They are the solution.
It’s total stupidity, and largely due to attempting to pander to the right wing rhetoric of “stop the boats” type xenophobic paranoia which has been allowed to flourish due to the likes of Farage. The figures you have sensibly laid out here should be broadcast on national News to give a wider vision of what the consequences for Britain are likely to be going forwards. As always, thanks Bear!
Sadly, excellent. I’m nearly 80 and not quite resigned to being considered expendable collateral damage by Labour. I cannot believe their stupidity and wilful blindness. My personal consolation is to live in a Libdem constituency whose super MP has a fair chance of hanging on.
Again, very sadly, all true.
All so true but if only I felt the Greens hadn't started behaving like the left version of Reform with populist slogans, divisive rhetoric about Jews and Muslims, and insisting that a wealthy tax is that answer (despite it not working anywhere else. And mot recognising the new wealth taxes Labour has introduced). I flirted for some years with voting Green instead of Labour as the LibDems I had always voted for became a wasted vote locally. I genuinely liked their green ideology and admired Caroline Lucas hugely, and Carla Denyer. And then ZP crashed the Party and now I can't imagine ever considering them as a serious option again. Lost their USP and forgotten what they stand for.
Sorry Greens. Not for me now.
I share your distrust of Polanski. Amateur politician with good instincts for a grift bandwagon. I wouldn't buy a used car from him.And also deeply regret the loss of Lucas from the political landscape.
I live in a deeply entrenched Conservative electorate so the viable tactical choice is the LibDems though a lot of their policies are distasteful. But hey ho. Democracy by definition is about compromise and therefore taking the least distasteful option. Sadly the country doesn't dance to my personal taste in music. Silly buggers.
I didn't know about Polanski to start with; but I have now followed up on his policies and watched several interviews. Yes he makes some mistakes - but basically, unlike any of the other leaders, he is starting with a vision of a better society and with enough support and help, which he is getting, that will be made to work.
I find it odd that you think Labour aren't trying to create a better society
Absolutely excellent explanation. Unfortunately no one seems to be listening at Labour HQ. It feels just like the pre-Brexit discussion: a car crash in the making. Some can see the issues clearly and others are on the bandwagon. Endlessly we see politicians opting not for what’s good for the country but what’s good for them and their party at great cost to the country. This government was not elected to do that. It’s incredibly frustrating to see these choices being made. There are many who are in the same boat who believe that full rejoining with the EU would mitigate much of these issues about migration. A bit of education on these issues in certain areas might help too.
The power of reverse-salience is very strong around the immigration debate and policy choices.
https://grahamebroadbelt.substack.com/p/reverse-salience-the-reason-why-we?r=68lng&utm_medium=ios
The challenge of joining up policies across health, social care, housing, economy, investment, labour market and education has defeated the UK Government for decades. The Tories of course never really tried to work holistically (too woke). Labour is trying but failing on immigration as Bear skilfully explains.
Morning Bear.
The individual snarking at you has prejudice and bile spitting hatred. Nothing else. I doubt they have run anything more than a bath. And that with adult supervision.
What they don’t understand is economics, social structures, organisations, society in action and lack any sort of compassion.
I’m currently in an NHS hospital waiting room. Where the world population has come together to treat my condition with professionalism, learning, compassion humour.
All the things the poisonous Faragistas lack.
The most fundamental qualities required to successfully function professionally as a decent human being are good character, attitudes and values.
To which your interlocutor and their ilk are strangers.
… and AI is not going to solve it, only more people will.
I'm really not sure why anyone would think that limiting migration is any kind of fix for anything. The Bear has actual hands on experience of working in the NHS but in many cases the care sector has been taken over by private providers, who don't appear to value staff enough to pay them a decent wage or guaranteed working hour contracts. The NHS is on its knees along with other social care structures, getting services outsourced to the private sector who can't keep staff because of low wages (zero hours contracts?) and ever increasing demands on them. I totally agree that migration hasn't caused this problem - successive government policy over many, many years has.
I am sure that many of the early Labour pioneers of a compassionate UK that looks after its citizens are turning in their graves. Great post Bear as always.
I love this, would you mind if I forwarded it on to my Labour MP, I think it's about time he was educated in facts and not fiction and biased opinion.
Excellent article which delivers a clear assessment of how seeking popularity on immigration lacks any rational case for adoption! Well written 👏
This is a superb post and says it all. It should be appearing all over the place - but our pretend government don't seem to get ANY of it.
Thank you for this. Not only will Labour get no credit for this from their 'hero voters', the people they want to convince will never be satisfied. The goalposts are already shifting to calls to get rid of settled communities, particularly racial minorities who are highly visible. I am (morbidly) curious at how Labour will pivot to accommodate that. Or will they fiegn surprise that their direction of travel has reached its destination?