Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Sheilbh]

That title is a mess given it is about attitudes not the reality as shaped by policy.

Although in a democracy public attitudes will shape policy and reality - and point to future reality. I'm not sure how permanent it is or the causes but I am optimistic and a bit like the aggregated polling on policy issues the public has never been so "left" on various policy issues which I think is reflected in Labour polling over 50%. And on immigration particularly it shows up in Braverman being one of the least popular politicians in the country.

But I still think the public are ahead of the politicians on this - and I think it'll take a while to feed through because I think a lot of politicians (especially in Labour) were socialised at times when the public were really unhappy with immigration levels/anti-immigration.

Isn't unemployment in the UK at near-historic lows? That's very likely the highest contributor. The whole "their took our jobs!" unpleasantness usually comes to the fore during hard times.

Yeah it's relatively low - apparently 3.7%. But it's about as low as it was during the 2000s when immigration was a huge issue and public opinion was very hostile (it's also still higher than the post-war consensus unemployment rates when unemployment was often below 2%).

[Josquius]

This is another area where its annoying that so many stats continue to be reported on a national level.
In the 2000s especially you had parts of the country with massive negative unemployment, they were crying out for workers... and you also had areas with deep unemployment.
This naturally led people in these poorer areas to see the reports of high immigration and come to the conclusion they were taking their jobs rather than all moving to the opposite side of the country to work in a field they know nothing about.

Also an issue with modern unemployment figures is there are so many zero hour contracts and other tricks that keep the numbers low these days. We've got big shortages in some fields, especially in some places, but its not like jobs are plentiful for most.

I'd like to hope with the modern attitude change people are waking up to the fact they were duped about brexit and immigrants being the cause of all their problems.

[The Larch]

Why is there a shortage of tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables in the UK?

Sales of some fruit and vegetables have been limited by most of the country's largest supermarkets, Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Morrisons.

Starts with B and ends with rexit. 

Kinda disappointed that the BBC doesn't bring the big B until the very last part of their article on this.

[Grey Fox]

I find very interesting that Canada's housing back log is estimated to be 3.6 millions units.

Compared to the UKs (4.3 millions), it is way worse on a per capita basis.

[Sheilbh]

Meanwhile in Australia a boring non-charismatic Labor Party swept an exhausted, culture warring Liberal government out of power and now they're getting this

The West Australian
@westaustralian
BREAKING: Councils will have their development approval powers further stripped away through major planning reforms designed to turbo-charge apartment construction.

[Tamas]

Meanwhile in Australia a boring non-charismatic Labor Party swept an exhausted, culture warring Liberal government out of power and now they're getting this

The West Australian
@westaustralian
BREAKING: Councils will have their development approval powers further stripped away through major planning reforms designed to turbo-charge apartment construction.

This is never going to happen in the UK.

[Sheilbh]

We can dream though

While that Labour campaign didn't cut through and they have very swiftly moved on, the Spectator did some polling - and good lord the British public. I feel like these sort of views just aren't a thing in lots of other countries. I get it with France and the US where the President is head of state too, but I feel like even there Senators, Secretaries or French ministers are tolerated more - but I also feel like their politicians don't pander to this stuff:

Poll: public demand frugal living for MPs
    23 February 2023, 5:17pm

With inflation and strikes gripping the nation, it seems that the public are not in a generous mood when it comes to the perks afforded to our political class. Following Labour's much-hyped 'GPC files', Mr S has done some polling and the results don't make good living for those in Westminster who enjoy a life of largesse.

Given a set of four options, 40 per cent of the public would put the Foreign Secretary up in a basic hotel for a conference overseas for two nights – though thankfully with their own room. Just 14 per cent would select the kind of five-star accommodation which Rishi Sunak stayed in for the G20 summit in Venice. Some 30 per cent would stretch that to four-star while seven per cent would rather they share a room in a basic hotel.

On a long-haul flight only nine per cent would have the Foreign Secretary fly first class, with 28 per cent going for business, 24 per cent premium economy and 30 per cent economy. And it seems that the Prime Minister's pay isn't too popular either. When voters were given the prompt of an MP's salary, the overall median salary chosen by voters for Rishi Sunak was £84,144 – the same as an ordinary member of parliament. Polling of 1,505 of UK adults was done by Stack Data Strategy.

It's not just those in government who would be subject to such Spartan measures. Excluding those who selected 'Don't know', a majority of the public think that civil servants in ministerial departments should provide tea and coffee at their own expense, rising to over two thirds of 2019 Tory voters or 67 per cent. And Labour voters are similarly frugal it seems, with a majority (53 per cent) of those who backed the party last time supporting a parliament based in a business park on the outskirts of a city rather than in the Palace of Westminster, excluding don't knows.

The Palace of Slough Business Park, perhaps?

Would absolutely love to talk with one of the "Premium Economy" voters though - not really sure what the thinking is there

[Valmy]

I find very interesting that Canada's housing back log is estimated to be 3.6 millions units.

Compared to the UKs (4.3 millions), it is way worse on a per capita basis.

How can there not be enough space for people in Canada? You have nothing but space.

[Admiral Yi]

How can there not be enough space for people in Canada? You have nothing but space.

They can only live in places that are close enough to the US to buy our milk.

[Grey Fox]

I find very interesting that Canada's housing back log is estimated to be 3.6 millions units.

Compared to the UKs (4.3 millions), it is way worse on a per capita basis.

How can there not be enough space for people in Canada? You have nothing but space.

That's not the problem. Everyone wants to live in the same 3 places and housing only gets built so fast.

[Josquius]

How about making somewhere other than those 3 places worth living?

You can even put it Canadian-close (200 miles) to one of the places and linked with a nice railway.

And it seems that the Prime Minister's pay isn't too popular either. When voters were given the prompt of an MP's salary, the overall median salary chosen by voters for Rishi Sunak was £84,144 – the same as an ordinary member of parliament.

This I agree with.
The PM should be just first amongst equals. Not a super special semi king.
Also makes a welcome change from pay MPs minimum wage idiocy.

And Labour voters are similarly frugal it seems, with a majority (53 per cent) of those who backed the party last time supporting a parliament based in a business park on the outskirts of a city rather than in the Palace of Westminster, excluding don't knows.

This... Complex.
Business parks need dinamiting but parliament elsewhere? Yes please.

Excluding those who selected 'Don't know', a majority of the public think that civil servants in ministerial departments should provide tea and coffee at their own expense, rising to over two thirds of 2019 Tory voters or 67 per cent.

This on the other hand.... Expected of 2019 tories but the majority of the public?
Isnt this just a poll of who has ever worked in an office?

[garbon]

But surely the PM has extra responsibilities and duties than their 'equals.'

[Josquius]

But surely the PM has extra responsibilities and duties than their 'equals.'

The majority of those other MPs would be more than happy to take the PM job.

[Richard Hakluyt]

That would make becoming PM a huge financial sacrifice for talented people from poorer backgrounds. We could fill the House of Commons easily enough even if we didn't pay them at all; but they would all be rich people.

[Tamas]

I am very much against this populist BS of "omg pay them less". No, pay MPs a lot. Make it a very lucrative career choice, so others than sociopath talentless clowns or insane busybodies choose it. Just make sure to crack down on corruption as well.