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Lies, Damned Lies and LABOUR |
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We probably all know the phrase "Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics". According to Wikipedia (thanks), it is a phrase describing the persuasive power of statistics to bolster weak arguments, "one of the best, and best-known" critiques of applied statistics. It is also sometimes colloquially used to doubt statistics used to prove an opponent's point. The phrase was popularised in the United States by Mark Twain (among others), who attributed it to the British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli. However, the phrase is not found in any of Disraeli's works and the earliest known appearances were years after his death. Several other people have been listed as originators of the quote, and it is often attributed to Twain himself. Since the incumbency of Labour into the UK government, there are many, particularly on social media platforms such as X that have been quick to point out every U-Turn that the new Labour Government has made and in many cases call them out for what they believe they are: "Lies". A short list, which may well turn into a long list, of presumed untruths No increase of National Insurance contributions for employees How the Chancellor can ever mention the increase in employer contributions and claim this is not in effect an increase for employees with getting a red face, or better still resigning, is beyond the pale. A direct increase of the contributions that employees pay would of course hurt the employee directly but increasing the employers part is exactly the same. In both cases it increases the cost of an employee to the employer, which means, wage increases will be shortened, the chance of employing new people decreases because, particularly small sized companies, can't afford it. It will increase, as we already see, inflation. Optimism on the side of industry seems to have already collapsed with almost zero growth prognosis now that Starmer and co are in power. No nationalisation Please excuse the ads if you are not a subscriber to YouTube. Already plans are laid down to renationalise the railways. Whilst campaigning there were constant promises not to raise taxes. not to increase national insurance and not to increase VAT. See above at approximately 2 minutes. Can we suppose that adding VAT to school fees if taken literally not a VAT increase? You can fool, some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Can't describe "Working Class" In various promises and manifestos Kier Starmer has promised not to do anything that has a negative effect on the "Working Class". However wehen press on what his definition of "Working Class" is (see above video) he is left stammering, stuttering and at a loss for words. His weak definition of "anybody that works for their living" would of course include people such as James Dyson or Jim Ratcliffe. And they certainly work. At 4:30 on the above video taken at the nfs 23 conference. our PM states: that "losing a farm is not like losing any other business it can't come back". But slam them with inheritance tax which many will not be able to afford without selling out seems to show eithercomplete incompetency or dishonesty. Rishi Sunak pointed out that: Capital gains tax is up, inheritance tax is up, energy tax is up, business rates are up and first time buyer stamp duty is going up. Seriously: how can anybody on the labour front bench sleep at night? Probably snuggly in their donated togs.
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London: 25. December 2024: -pw- |
Source: WessexTimes, Daily Telegraph, BBC, X |
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect WessexTimes editorial stance. |
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