True
But we canāt escape the reality that when the state pension was introduced the average life expectancy was about 65. If was only ever designed to last someone on average a few years. Today life expectancy is about 85, and people are still wanting to retire at 65, and have a state pension that pays out for twenty years.
We need to have a proper conversation about what we are meant to do about this.
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Well thereās many believe theyve been trying to kill us off early
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Some of them kept the receiptsā¦
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Itās not about City, it is about the UK econonmy and the threat of withdrawal of billions of Sterling. Itās what happens when you allow yourself to be blackmailed decades ago. And now he has it on his plate.
I literally, do not comprehend, why or how anyone can think this is about City at all. That is illogical.
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And this is why state actors should never be allowed to be involved in sports teams. Btw @Magnus it was a rhetorical question. I know what heās about, especially given his background as the mayor of Manchester.
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I very much agree.
One big problem with Manchester (the city) is of course that it is an economic hub , and strategically the UK (not just the old mayor) ideally wants to protect it from economic downturns that would affect the entire country with butterfly effects.
But of course, much of the investment in Greater Manchester comes from certain regimes, as we see. So it is akward for the state already struggling with financing policy etc.
It is a strategic problem. But one that should never be there in the first place, but again, that decision was made decades ago. Not a position I envy really. Perhaps karma, but it is problematic for sure if the UAE goes financially nuclear on the UK. Because the UK is sort of in a bind (I mean, look above what you discuss; poverty and pensions and more; withdrawal of big, big money from the UK economy will not make more funds for that easier to finance and so on).
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In any case, I hope that the fallout of this City debacle strenghtens regulations and indeed, makes the UK understand that allowing states with so-so (mildly stating) human rights, to use English football for Sportswashing is fundamentally dangerous.
I hope this highlights the danger, the bind, the blackmail possibility;of allowing this into sports. Itās Russian Roulette and limits political movement on (!!!) state level, not just sports level.
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My best comparison is (my opinion is harsh): He is just a kinder and more naive George Galloway. Exceptionally more likeable than Galloway obviously, but just as dense when it comes to foreign policy. Teddy Bear Tankieā¦
I mean, as a minor example, this is the adult who in all seriousness openly talks about convincing Vladimir Putin to give up nuclear weapons and ābuild a relationship with himā before the war is even ended (which is extremely ignorant as well as morally corrupt). That is a level of idiocy and naivity that is just not allowed. You are not allowed that level of ignorance and at the same time be in a position of power. Just notā¦
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I think itās important to remember the billions Abu Dhabi have pumped into the surrounding areas of Manchester are no different to the billions they pumped into City, i.e it was just another layer of their sports-washing and an attempt to deflect from the fact they are a shower of fucking disgusting, human-rights abusing scum.
One shouldnāt mitigate against the other, although I accept politicians will see it differently.
And if it turns out Burnham has been complicit in any dodgy dealings all the better.
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If anyone is interested, this is the trade picture between the UK and UAE:
It looks like there are also groups that aināt happy with it:
I suppose the question is how much of a hit would it be if UAE wanted to punish the UK or if the UK told them to bugger off. It would be significant, but nowhere near the hit of leaving the EU.
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I think , if, over the last 15-20 , successive governments hadnāt made such a balls up of the welfare system, the UAE and their investment, would not be such of a political issue.
AI is now making the system even more exploitable, producing fake authentic looking documents, that allow people to open bank accounts online and then have money from the dwp paid into them.
Personal independence payments, a system that relies upon paper based information and a short telephone call, rather than actual medical diagnosis.
The system is impossible for someone genuine like myself and a few others that i know, being asked to explain how your condition affects you, one adapts and treats every they do as normal. Meanwhile a lot of people scamming the system can just google about anxiety and depression or just use AI. Bish bash bosh.. decision is granted.
Sort that system out and UAE is less of a problem politically.
Iād be extremely surprised if heās not up to his neck in it.
But heās reduced bus fares so heās a squeaky clean all round good bloke 
There are economic trends - loss of empire, debt from second world war, globalization and deindustrialization that meant the financial service sector became not only increasingly important, but increasingly looking outwards for money to fuel it. It feels where we are with this much foreign money and influence has been slow moving train for decades.
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I donāt disagree with you at all. We shouldnāt be just relying on people in power to come up with magical fixes, we need to be self aware and look at our own responsibility to be better human beings.
I just wanted to share what i experience and what i see as a major problem. I donāt have the cognitive ability or capacity to get into a fully detailed discussion.. i do understand what you are saying about war debt and industry, a lot of business leaving due to brexit and the higher taxes that have followed. Weāve probably spent so much time arguing and failing politically that we have not noticed the huge iceberg in front of us. ā¦ or just ignored it.
Not sure of the figure itās cost specific to the government, ie costs not shouldered by Joe Public and actually out of government coffers.
But, at a rough estimate based on the massive fuel hikes at the pump, they mustāve raked in a couple of billion additional VAT Ā£ās.
Not that theyāre ever quick to point out small point like this
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Baddenoch.
āNobody will ever pay inhertitence tax on their family homeā
Now picturing seething anti boomers 
Almost no one does already. Only the top 5% of wealthiest families do so now, raising around Ā£9bn currently and I think forecast to raise around Ā£15bn in 2031. According to the Guardian this measure would cost the government about Ā£6bn, surely there are better ways for the government to spend that money?
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I live in leafy north Merseyside. House prices around here average nearly Ā£500,000. Mine is worth a bit more. Just a modest 1930s semi mind you.. Nothing special. Itās just the area. Add any savings and private pensions to that and you are well into the territory of inheritance taxā¦
This seems particularly unfairā¦ I was never in any company pension schemes so made contributions over 40 years to a private pension. That will be hit by inheritance tax from next yearā¦
From 6 April 2027 unused pension funds (as well as some death benefits) will become part of your estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes following an announcement in the Autumn 2024 Budget.
Major inheritance tax change is six months away - should you be acting? | Money News | Sky News https://share.google/MvKueoD5numiWTeo0
Iām not an expert on tax or anything but i believe you have a combined allowance of Ā£500k (Ā£325k + Ā£175k for residential property) which if you are in a relationship can be transferred to a wife/ civil partner, who would have same - giving you both Ā£1m before IHT hits your assets.
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