A Useful Reminder Of What Labour Do In Power?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-66852048

 

[jno]

what, because Labour were in power in Birmingham?

Which party ran bankrupt Thurrock - perhaps you can point me to your post on the subject?

[tomus42]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jun/15/thurrock-council-hid-losses-gambled-millions-risky-investments

[ToraToraTora]

Foo you guys😂

[ToraToraTora]

There are 100s of anti Tory stories every week, thanks for verifying that Labour are just as bad! PMSL!

[tomus42]

What on earth are you on about Tora? I think you are letting gully and Co get to you.

[jno]

hundreds of anti-Tory stories every week? I'll settle for a mere 99 links to back up that claim; 98 if you're really pressed for time...

[Gromit]

The budget problems facing local authorities are felt across political parties. Conservative, Labour and NOC councils are suffering because they are being under funded.

The Tories deliberately under fund Labour cities and towns, but Tory ones also suffer. 

They need to go. A clear out is needed. It has been a mess for 8 years, and a government that can function properly needs to replace them.

[ichkeria]

I think it is obvious to most people that, as Gromit says, as change is needed and what's more is coming.

If Labour muck it up, you can always vote the Tories back in next time :-)

 

[naomi24]

//If Labour muck it up//

 

Given Mr Starmer's record on changing his mind, coupled with his latest two-faced shenanigans, I very much doubt Labour will be given the opportunity to muck it up.   All those Labour voters who voted for Boris and Brexit (they didn't vote 'Conservative' per se) must be at their wits end.

[Hymie]

Yes, you wouldn’t catch Sunak changing his mind on something as important as environmental targets – doh.

[naomi24]

He doesn't need to be 'caught', hymie.  Unlike Starmer, he's not trying to dress his plan up as anything other than what it is.

[rowanwitch]

Birmingham has been caught up in too many high cost projects, add in the effects of the equal pay compensation  this was inevitable.   The expected  increase in income arising from overseas investment in huge prestige headquarters buildings has been impacted first by covid,which slowed construction so drastically and now by the workforce preferring hybrid working making huge office buildings less desirable. So they point skyward like the raised tusks of white elephants,  not providing the income that had been built into forward plans.  Hopefully some can be partially converted to apartments as the city is still experiencing reasonable growth in house building and take up.

However the city had a number of high rise blocks that needed major works in the fall out from the Grenfell tragedy,most of not  all being retrofitted with sprinkler systems and new higher spec fire doors), and there are still some with cladding to be changed. ( this work meant the long overdue upgrade to kitchens and bathrooms  and the addition of energy saving improvements was cancelled) 

I can't believe other cities will not be going down the same route and expect more will hit the news over the next year or so.

 

[Bobbisox1]

I seriously don't think Birmingham will be the last Labour council to declare bankruptcy, the one we have here don't do their accounts properly either, we have one swimming pool and even that's under threat yet Council taxes increase alarmingly , at one point soon loon decided the best way to cut the council grass was to do the middle bit only , leaving a high fringe around the outside to save money !!!!
then they bleat on about it not being their fault ( never is) it's central government....boo bloody hoo 

[Bobbisox1]

// some loon//

[nicebloke1]

Leaving grass high around the fringes is being done in many parts of the UK, and its nothing at all to do with cost of cutting. 

[Peter Pedant]

I think they cdnt run a city rather than they were of one party you didnt like

foo to you!

[youngmafbog]

// councils are suffering because they are being under funded.//

I disagree.  A small number are struggling many are not and looking at those going bankrupt (aof all colours) it is due to poor decision making and trying to dabble in finance instead of getting on and delivering core services.

If Coucils are to continue (I would rather they didnt personally) then the Government needs to put in place some rules on what they can and cannot do.

[Gromit]

// 

But the underlying problems faced by [Birmingham] council, which include years of falling grants from central government, limited ability to raise council taxes and high inflation in the past two years, are also being felt by dozens of others.

According to a recent estimate by the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities, a collection of 47 urban councils, at least 26 English councils are at risk of going bankrupt in the next two years.

Several large Conservative-controlled authorities are under pressure, including Kent county council, which auditors say needs to save £86m in the next financial year, and Gove’s own local authority in Surrey Heath, which has borrowed more than 13 times its annual income. //

[Ryzen]

Birmingham City council sold the National Exhibition Centre for £307 million.....three years later the buyers sold it for £800 million. :-)...is it any wonder??