2 Tory Councils On Brink Of Bankruptcy

[Delbow]

Slough, Croydon (both Labour) and Northamptonshire (Tory) already bankrupt. West Sussex and Somerset (both Tory) been teetering on the brink for years, as has Sheffield. Now two more are on the verge of declaring bankruptcy - Kent and Hampshire

 

Clearly this isn't about one political party being more or less competent with local government finances than any other, it's about a shocking withdrawal of funding by central government putting essential services such as schools, waste collection and social care at risk while wasting money on projects like HS2 and Test and Trace. 

 

Already, millions are not receiving the social care support they need and are statutorily entitled to, which has a direct negative effect on the NHS (also on the brink) because they often need social care packages in place to discharge people.

 

The UK has gone from a functioning society to a failing state in 12 years.

[Pyrotequila]

With the rise of working from home and better Internet connectivity, is HS2 still looking like a worthwhile investment? 
Does anyone really need to get to London super quick if everything can be done online?

[cressida]

Is the government paying direct for the migrants in hotels or are the councils having to find the money,  does anyone know how much,  if any,  funding they receive?

[L00b]

43 minutes ago, Pyrotequila said:

With the rise of working from home and better Internet connectivity, is HS2 still looking like a worthwhile investment? 
Does anyone really need to get to London super quick if everything can be done online?

You can’t take a plane online and, at the rate regional airports are closing and airlines are surrendering slots, London airports are becoming sole national hubs again, for more and more destinations.

 

The fundamental problem with HS2, as with many other infrastructural projects under way or still in plans only at this time (nuclear, airports, motorways <…>), is that Thatcher’s model of “privatise it all and shareholders will take care of it” never came through.

 

It was all only ever about profit-taking, with just enough investment to keep public ownership-era infrastructures together and/or toe regulatory compliance (think EU-based environmental minimas…and we all know what’s happening with those now), and successive governments -of either political side- let them.
 

That’s not a rant against privatisation per se, note; but a rant against governments’ lackadaisical, cap-doffing approach to it.

 

HS2 is still needed now, conjecturally for Keynesian purposes. But it’s been needed for decades beforehand. Sunak may yet can it instead, to fill a “fiscal black hole” which doesn’t exist, but which too many have been convinced needs filling.

Edited November 15, 2022 by L00b

[HeHasRisen]

2 minutes ago, L00b said:

You can’t take a plane online and, at the rate regional airports are closing 

 

 

What...one in the last 14 years?

 

Unless another closed between SZD and DSA and I have forgotten about it?

Edited November 15, 2022 by HeHasRisen

[Axe]

18 minutes ago, cressida said:

Is the government paying direct for the migrants in hotels or are the councils having to find the money,  does anyone know how much,  if any,  funding they receive?

The government pay directly to fund the cost of migrants staying in hotels.

 

Both Labour and Conservative run councils are guilty of wasting too much money which is the reason why so many are facing possible bankruptcy. 

[Delbow]

7 minutes ago, Axe said:

 

 

Both Labour and Conservative run councils are guilty of wasting too much money which is the reason why so many are facing possible bankruptcy. 

Really? Nothing to do with 50-60% cuts in government funding since 2010?

[cressida]

30 minutes ago, Axe said:

The government pay directly to fund the cost of migrants staying in hotels.

 

 

Thanks for the info.

[Axe]

39 minutes ago, Delbow said:

Really? Nothing to do with 50-60% cuts in government funding since 2010?

Where have you got the figure of 50 - 60% cuts in government funding since 2010 from?

[hackey lad]

2 hours ago, Pyrotequila said:

With the rise of working from home and better Internet connectivity, is HS2 still looking like a worthwhile investment? 
Does anyone really need to get to London super quick if everything can be done online?

No