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These 338 comments are related to an article called:

Sir Keir Starmer !

Page 2 of 14

posted 4 weeks ago

comment by The artist formally known as ‘Pranks’ (U22336)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 1 hour, 48 minutes ago
comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 47 minutes ago
I think the Labour Party needs to publicly sort out the confusion between:

(a) on the one hand, the ‘need’ to remove the winter fuel subsidy, and penalising all pensioners not on pension credit, and,
(b) promising to increase the state pension next year ‘over and above the level of the winter fuel subsidy’, presumably for the benefit of all pensioners - i.e. not means tested.

The obvious question is Why? … Why seemingly take with one hand and give back with the other?

One logical answer is ‘political dogma’ … unless the Labour Party can explain otherwise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

They plan to pay for the increased pensions next year by killing off huge swathes of them this winter. Its in the manifesto.

Seriously though, while the policy makes sense you can see the headlines all winter long if its a cold one and old folk are freezing to death.

And some of those freezing pensioners will be bemoaning that a train driver gets a 15% pay rise to £69k while they're having to pisss their pants just for warmth
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Different unions donated to something like 40% of the campaigns for Labour candidates in the last election.

No different to the tories with their lovely Covid contracts to their donors/pals, they were always going to bend over for unions.

The thing is they will all be at it now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Edited.

posted 4 weeks ago

comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 2 hours, 20 minutes ago
comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 47 minutes ago
I think the Labour Party needs to publicly sort out the confusion between:

(a) on the one hand, the ‘need’ to remove the winter fuel subsidy, and penalising all pensioners not on pension credit, and,
(b) promising to increase the state pension next year ‘over and above the level of the winter fuel subsidy’, presumably for the benefit of all pensioners - i.e. not means tested.

The obvious question is Why? … Why seemingly take with one hand and give back with the other?

One logical answer is ‘political dogma’ … unless the Labour Party can explain otherwise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

They plan to pay for the increased pensions next year by killing off huge swathes of them this winter. Its in the manifesto.

Seriously though, while the policy makes sense you can see the headlines all winter long if its a cold one and old folk are freezing to death.

And some of those freezing pensioners will be bemoaning that a train driver gets a 15% pay rise to £69k while they're having to pisss their pants just for warmth
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The most experienced, top train drivers might earn £69k. But it’s the equivalent of arguing that “teachers earn £100k” because some heads do.

London Underground, Eurostar and tube drivers can all expect to see a starting annual salary from £24,000 for a 35 to 40-hour week.

According to Reed, train drivers across the UK are now on an average of £48,500 per year.

A reminder that that’s for performing a job which entails assuming full responsibility for propelling hundreds of people at a time across the country often at speeds well in excess of 100mph.

posted 4 weeks ago

Doesn’t seem to be too much mention of the increase of the fuel price cap. This is doubling down on the removal of the allowance, and how can they justify doing it just as people are about to start putting the heating on?

Ofgem are supposed to be looking after the rights of consumers, but they’re clearly looking after the interests of the power companies. It’s scandalous.

comment by Silver (U6112)

posted 4 weeks ago

A decent debate whether salary should reflect responsibility or skill?

Either way, what added experience should give an experienced train driver almost 3x that of a starter assuming they drive the train with the same responsibility and skill?

I mean, you get in a taxi and you don't much care if the guy has been driving 1 year or 40 years and, in my experience, has no bearing on whether you feel safe or not or are bored to death or not.

posted 4 weeks ago

comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 2 minutes ago
A decent debate whether salary should reflect responsibility or skill?

Either way, what added experience should give an experienced train driver almost 3x that of a starter assuming they drive the train with the same responsibility and skill?

I mean, you get in a taxi and you don't much care if the guy has been driving 1 year or 40 years and, in my experience, has no bearing on whether you feel safe or not or are bored to death or not.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
An experienced taxi driver that's done the 'Knowledge' will always get you to your destination quicker than some oik in an Uber who's totally reliant on his satnav.

He or she will also be fluent in English, which is always good if you have a medical emergency.

posted 4 weeks ago

comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
A decent debate whether salary should reflect responsibility or skill?

Either way, what added experience should give an experienced train driver almost 3x that of a starter assuming they drive the train with the same responsibility and skill?

I mean, you get in a taxi and you don't much care if the guy has been driving 1 year or 40 years and, in my experience, has no bearing on whether you feel safe or not or are bored to death or not.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That isn’t how it works though.

There isn’t simply one grade of driver who, once qualified, can drive any traction, on any line, for any company, on any shift pattern, anywhere in the country.

With experience *can* come expertise, trustworthiness, and loyalty rewards which can be reflected in salaries. But some more experienced drivers will earn much more than others.

It’s also worth noting that often horribly antisocial shift patterns and overtime are all built into drivers’ salaries. The headline figures you’ll see in the papers all include allowances for both shiiiiit schedules and additional hours.

posted 4 weeks ago

comment by Terminator1 (U1863)
posted 1 hour, 20 minutes ago
Doesn’t seem to be too much mention of the increase of the fuel price cap. This is doubling down on the removal of the allowance, and how can they justify doing it just as people are about to start putting the heating on?

Ofgem are supposed to be looking after the rights of consumers, but they’re clearly looking after the interests of the power companies. It’s scandalous.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Been going on for years and will continue sadly.

posted 4 weeks ago

comment by rosso says the time has come to unlock the unlimited Pote-ntial of the Fernçalvenoo triumvirate (U17054)
posted 3 hours, 40 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 2 hours, 20 minutes ago
comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 47 minutes ago
I think the Labour Party needs to publicly sort out the confusion between:

(a) on the one hand, the ‘need’ to remove the winter fuel subsidy, and penalising all pensioners not on pension credit, and,
(b) promising to increase the state pension next year ‘over and above the level of the winter fuel subsidy’, presumably for the benefit of all pensioners - i.e. not means tested.

The obvious question is Why? … Why seemingly take with one hand and give back with the other?

One logical answer is ‘political dogma’ … unless the Labour Party can explain otherwise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

They plan to pay for the increased pensions next year by killing off huge swathes of them this winter. Its in the manifesto.

Seriously though, while the policy makes sense you can see the headlines all winter long if its a cold one and old folk are freezing to death.

And some of those freezing pensioners will be bemoaning that a train driver gets a 15% pay rise to £69k while they're having to pisss their pants just for warmth
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The most experienced, top train drivers might earn £69k. But it’s the equivalent of arguing that “teachers earn £100k” because some heads do.

London Underground, Eurostar and tube drivers can all expect to see a starting annual salary from £24,000 for a 35 to 40-hour week.

According to Reed, train drivers across the UK are now on an average of £48,500 per year.

A reminder that that’s for performing a job which entails assuming full responsibility for propelling hundreds of people at a time across the country often at speeds well in excess of 100mph.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reed are rubbish these days Glassdoor preferred in the corporates I have worked at even though it costs a small fortune annually. Reed is so bad these days you can get the service for free

The average salary for Train Driver is £57,840 per year in the United Kingdom. The average additional cash compensation for a Train Driver in the United Kingdom is £2,802, with a range from £1,125 - £6,976

posted 4 weeks ago

comment by The artist formally known as ‘Pranks’ (U22336)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by rosso says the time has come to unlock the unlimited Pote-ntial of the Fernçalvenoo triumvirate (U17054)
posted 3 hours, 40 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 2 hours, 20 minutes ago
comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 47 minutes ago
I think the Labour Party needs to publicly sort out the confusion between:

(a) on the one hand, the ‘need’ to remove the winter fuel subsidy, and penalising all pensioners not on pension credit, and,
(b) promising to increase the state pension next year ‘over and above the level of the winter fuel subsidy’, presumably for the benefit of all pensioners - i.e. not means tested.

The obvious question is Why? … Why seemingly take with one hand and give back with the other?

One logical answer is ‘political dogma’ … unless the Labour Party can explain otherwise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

They plan to pay for the increased pensions next year by killing off huge swathes of them this winter. Its in the manifesto.

Seriously though, while the policy makes sense you can see the headlines all winter long if its a cold one and old folk are freezing to death.

And some of those freezing pensioners will be bemoaning that a train driver gets a 15% pay rise to £69k while they're having to pisss their pants just for warmth
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The most experienced, top train drivers might earn £69k. But it’s the equivalent of arguing that “teachers earn £100k” because some heads do.

London Underground, Eurostar and tube drivers can all expect to see a starting annual salary from £24,000 for a 35 to 40-hour week.

According to Reed, train drivers across the UK are now on an average of £48,500 per year.

A reminder that that’s for performing a job which entails assuming full responsibility for propelling hundreds of people at a time across the country often at speeds well in excess of 100mph.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reed are rubbish these daysGlassdoor preferred in the corporates I have worked at even though it costs a small fortune annually. Reed is so bad these days you can get the service for free

The average salary for Train Driver is £57,840 per year in the United Kingdom. The average additional cash compensation for a Train Driver in the United Kingdom is £2,802, with a range from £1,125 - £6,976
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That data is nonsense. The mean and median salaries are nowhere near £57,840.

posted 4 weeks ago

comment by rosso says the time has come to unlock the unlimited Pote-ntial of the Fernçalvenoo triumvirate (U17054)
posted 30 minutes ago
comment by The artist formally known as ‘Pranks’ (U22336)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by rosso says the time has come to unlock the unlimited Pote-ntial of the Fernçalvenoo triumvirate (U17054)
posted 3 hours, 40 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 2 hours, 20 minutes ago
comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 47 minutes ago
I think the Labour Party needs to publicly sort out the confusion between:

(a) on the one hand, the ‘need’ to remove the winter fuel subsidy, and penalising all pensioners not on pension credit, and,
(b) promising to increase the state pension next year ‘over and above the level of the winter fuel subsidy’, presumably for the benefit of all pensioners - i.e. not means tested.

The obvious question is Why? … Why seemingly take with one hand and give back with the other?

One logical answer is ‘political dogma’ … unless the Labour Party can explain otherwise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

They plan to pay for the increased pensions next year by killing off huge swathes of them this winter. Its in the manifesto.

Seriously though, while the policy makes sense you can see the headlines all winter long if its a cold one and old folk are freezing to death.

And some of those freezing pensioners will be bemoaning that a train driver gets a 15% pay rise to £69k while they're having to pisss their pants just for warmth
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The most experienced, top train drivers might earn £69k. But it’s the equivalent of arguing that “teachers earn £100k” because some heads do.

London Underground, Eurostar and tube drivers can all expect to see a starting annual salary from £24,000 for a 35 to 40-hour week.

According to Reed, train drivers across the UK are now on an average of £48,500 per year.

A reminder that that’s for performing a job which entails assuming full responsibility for propelling hundreds of people at a time across the country often at speeds well in excess of 100mph.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reed are rubbish these daysGlassdoor preferred in the corporates I have worked at even though it costs a small fortune annually. Reed is so bad these days you can get the service for free

The average salary for Train Driver is £57,840 per year in the United Kingdom. The average additional cash compensation for a Train Driver in the United Kingdom is £2,802, with a range from £1,125 - £6,976
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That data is nonsense. The mean and median salaries are nowhere near £57,840.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

posted 4 weeks ago

We went from absolute shiiiiite to absolute shiiiite with red ties. Joy.

posted 4 weeks ago

Talking of trains,when is Britain going to go high speed?
it is years behind Spain,France, Germainy and others.To go from Malaga to Madrid,20 trains a day, the price varies but some days you can get very cheap tickets ranging from 7euros ! ! ( think about that)up to about 80 euros return ,the journey takes about 2hrs50 mins,and you attain speeds of up to 300 Kms an hour and the distance is about 440 kms !

Come on Britain ffs !

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

comment by H von H. (U16981)
posted 3 hours, 32 minutes ago
Talking of trains,when is Britain going to go high speed?
it is years behind Spain,France, Germainy and others.To go from Malaga to Madrid,20 trains a day, the price varies but some days you can get very cheap tickets ranging from 7euros ! ! ( think about that)up to about 80 euros return ,the journey takes about 2hrs50 mins,and you attain speeds of up to 300 Kms an hour and the distance is about 440 kms !

Come on Britain ffs !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Britain absolutely fecked their train network, it's incredible really. Disgustingly over priced and not even particularly reliable.

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

comment by H von H. (U16981)
posted 9 hours, 46 minutes ago
Talking of trains,when is Britain going to go high speed?
it is years behind Spain,France, Germainy and others.To go from Malaga to Madrid,20 trains a day, the price varies but some days you can get very cheap tickets ranging from 7euros ! ! ( think about that)up to about 80 euros return ,the journey takes about 2hrs50 mins,and you attain speeds of up to 300 Kms an hour and the distance is about 440 kms !

Come on Britain ffs !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don’t think we need high speed rail. Those countries are massive compared to us so it’s not really a valid comparison, as the distances between stops will be far shorter here than those you mention. We just need to make things more efficient, improve the existing network, have bigger capacity.

I’m not sure most people have an issue with how long each journey takes. The biggest problem is whether the journey actually happens and if they have to stand up the whole way, despite paying full fare.

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

comment by H von H. (U16981)
posted 11 hours, 49 minutes ago
Talking of trains,when is Britain going to go high speed?
it is years behind Spain,France, Germainy and others.To go from Malaga to Madrid,20 trains a day, the price varies but some days you can get very cheap tickets ranging from 7euros ! ! ( think about that)up to about 80 euros return ,the journey takes about 2hrs50 mins,and you attain speeds of up to 300 Kms an hour and the distance is about 440 kms !

Come on Britain ffs !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunak killed off any plans to take British trains into the 21st Century when he scrapped HS2 beyond Birmingham.

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 7 seconds ago
comment by H von H. (U16981)
posted 11 hours, 49 minutes ago
Talking of trains,when is Britain going to go high speed?
it is years behind Spain,France, Germainy and others.To go from Malaga to Madrid,20 trains a day, the price varies but some days you can get very cheap tickets ranging from 7euros ! ! ( think about that)up to about 80 euros return ,the journey takes about 2hrs50 mins,and you attain speeds of up to 300 Kms an hour and the distance is about 440 kms !

Come on Britain ffs !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunak killed off any plans to take British trains into the 21st Century when he scrapped HS2 beyond Birmingham.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The whole thing was just a vanity and legacy project anyway.

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

About 12/13 years ago, I took the Talgo from Madrid to Seville.

300kph, smooth as silk, money back guarantee that it wouldn't be more than 5 minutes late and cost a fraction of the airfare.

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 20 hours, 57 minutes ago
I think the Labour Party needs to publicly sort out the confusion between:

(a) on the one hand, the ‘need’ to remove the winter fuel subsidy, and penalising all pensioners not on pension credit, and,
(b) promising to increase the state pension next year ‘over and above the level of the winter fuel subsidy’, presumably for the benefit of all pensioners - i.e. not means tested.

The obvious question is Why? … Why seemingly take with one hand and give back with the other?

One logical answer is ‘political dogma’ … unless the Labour Party can explain otherwise.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not familiar with this particular case, but to my mind, a subsidy is a type of support provided when ordinary means are lacking - e.g. when there are sudden price surges that ordinary people won't normally have made prior allowance for.

I don't conceive it as something that should generally considered permanent across the board, because that seems to carry the implicit recognition that they're all insufficient.

Adding the amount to the general pension is a recognition of that fact, and also means it's something that can't be taken away without actually lowering pensions.

Adding the subsidy amount to the general pension means it's no longer a provisional measure, whilst preserving it for those on the lowest pensions recognises that even with that added sum, there will still be people who require some degree of additional support.

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

On the trains thing, I thought the UK's rail services had been privatised, so how is it still the government that sets train drivers' wages?

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

comment by it'sonlyagame - in Springfield they're eating the dogs (U6426)
posted 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
On the trains thing, I thought the UK's rail services had been privatised, so how is it still the government that sets train drivers' wages?


Sort of Centrist IOAG, by the way mate,any idea of what the rail drivers earn in España ?I'm pretty sure that it's a lot less than in GB !

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

comment by Glen Bulb (U1449)
posted 1 day ago
comment by WeekendOffender (U22920)
posted 9 minutes ago
He's started putting pen to paper on his new autobiography....

"I, Keir"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He’s a flat pack bully
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He most definitely is! Suspended 7 Labour MP’s for voting against the cap on child benefit, 53 Labour MP’s abstained from the vote on the winter fuel payment because of the fear they could be suspended, god knows how many of his MP’s voted for it but actually don’t agree with it.
He won’t rule out stopping the single persons council tax discount.
The man is a cvnt! He refused to answer the question of what he classes as working class, because he doesn’t know!
Even Unite one of his biggest donors aint happy with him.


posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

comment by RED666…Doing the Right thing! 🇬🇧 (U6562)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glen Bulb (U1449)
posted 1 day ago
comment by WeekendOffender (U22920)
posted 9 minutes ago
He's started putting pen to paper on his new autobiography....

"I, Keir"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He’s a flat pack bully
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He most definitely is! Suspended 7 Labour MP’s for voting against the cap on child benefit, 53 Labour MP’s abstained from the vote on the winter fuel payment because of the fear they could be suspended, god knows how many of his MP’s voted for it but actually don’t agree with it.
He won’t rule out stopping the single persons council tax discount.
The man is a cvnt! He refused to answer the question of what he classes as working class, because he doesn’t know!
Even Unite one of his biggest donors aint happy with him.



----------------------------------------------------------------------
Seems that he's showing his true colours ! but you're stuck with him now .

comment by Silver (U6112)

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

Either way train driver salaries are decent for what is officially an unskilled job.

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

I like him. I think he will do a good job

posted 3 weeks, 6 days ago

comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 35 minutes ago
I like him. I think he will do a good job
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Just remind us 52 where do you live?

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