Bring back National Service...

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Bring back National Service...

I am a big advocate of levelling up!

Re. Funding, I'd say that's another question that is a whole level of scrutiny we can apply to any policy mentioned. It's incredibly rare that there is a clear and undisputable funding source for any policy.

My general point is that the idea shouldn't be dismissed. I think it could be a great thing for young people.

Rest assured, this stuff happens. Schools now do fantastic trips to Africa and the like (and many other things!), building housing and forging cultural links. The problem is they are only open to the wealthy. I see no issue with opening up and formalising lots of training and community service for all young people. I think many would greatly benefit.

The Northern Ireland Minister, Steve Baker echoing the point I made earlier about the frailty of proposals made in secret conclave. In this instance its negative impact in Northern Ireland.

It’s a Conservative Party policy.

The Government’s policy was set out on Thursday

I don’t like to be pedantic but a Government policy would have been developed by ministers on the advice of officials and collectively agreed. I would have had a say on behalf of NI.

But this proposal was developed by a political adviser or advisers and sprung on candidates, some of whom are relevant ministers.

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Bring back National Service...

Again from The Guardian. You couldn't make this shit up!

It later emerged Baker, who is defending the Labour target of Wycombe, has chosen to go on holiday to Greece rather than stay on the campaign trail – after Sunak had previously told MPs they should go ahead and book time off.

[cyril evans awaydays]

Re: Bring back National Service...

Not often the Daily Mail is my go-to to guage Conservative morale but if this is anything to go by Sunak is ****ed!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13465083/Rishi-Sunak-insists-takes-responsibility-Conservatives-election-campaign-leaked-memo-criticised-MPs-going-holiday-refusing-knock-doors.html

[ninian opinian]

Re: Bring back National Service...

Read this, couldn’t have put it better myself.

The Tories shut down all the sure start centres, libraries, youth clubs, and basically stripped youth services to bankruptcy

And now all those kids are approaching 18, you want them to work for nothing?

Are you mental?

You absolutely deserve your arses kicking

[JamesWales]

Re: Bring back National Service...

Read this, couldn’t have put it better myself.

The Tories shut down all the sure start centres, libraries, youth clubs, and basically stripped youth services to bankruptcy

And now all those kids are approaching 18, you want them to work for nothing?

Are you mental?

You absolutely deserve your arses kicking

Although I don't dispute austerity happened, all those decisions were on local councils watches. They made decisions. Cardiff council have more councillors than before for example. Welsh Govt funded 20mph speed limits instead of youth services, etc etc etc.

If you think anything is gonna change you have another thing coming.

[ninian opinian]

Re: Bring back National Service...

Although I don't dispute austerity happened, all those decisions were on local councils watches. They made decisions. Cardiff council have more councillors than before for example. Welsh Govt funded 20mph speed limits instead of youth services, etc etc etc.

If you think anything is gonna change you have another thing coming.

Yes it’s all the councils fault and every fecker else's except this rotten Tory government.

I’ve got an idea, national service but for people like you and those that appear to think they lived through World War 2.

[JamesWales]

Re: Bring back National Service...

Yes it’s all the councils fault and every fecker else's except this rotten Tory government.

I’ve got an idea, national service but for people like you and those that appear to think they lived through World War 2.

You've just completely ignored the points I've made. Local councils have made spending decisions. The council have not prioritised youth services and the WG am certainly haven't.

So yes, it is partly their fault. Your attitude lets them get away with it.

It's at a local level where this stuff is spent

[ninian opinian]

Re: Bring back National Service...

You've just completely ignored the points I've made. Local councils have made spending decisions. The council have not prioritised youth services and the WG am certainly haven't.

So yes, it is partly their fault. Your attitude lets them get away with it.

It's at a local level where this stuff is spent

My attitude, have you been on the bottle? It’s now my fault and I’ve let them get away with it. You’re as stark raving bonkers as your hero Sunak.

[JamesWales]

Re: Bring back National Service...

My attitude, have you been on the bottle? It’s now my fault and I’ve let them get away with it. You’re as stark raving bonkers as your hero Sunak.

Well yeah. Maybe you should scrutinise what local councils and the WG spend on things and then maybe they would spend it better. They say "look at Westminster" partly to cover their own back. Down fall for it.

Austerity happened because no one would lend the UK or anyone else money without it. It was shit, it went on too long but it had to happen.

Look at canals in Churchill way, additional councillors, bike lanes, 20mph and then ask how many youth services that would fund.

Answer? A shit load.

[ninian opinian]

Re: Bring back National Service...

Well yeah. Maybe you should scrutinise what local councils and the WG spend on things and then maybe they would spend it better. They say "look at Westminster" partly to cover their own back. Down fall for it.

Austerity happened because no one would lend the UK or anyone else money without it. It was shit, it went on too long but it had to happen.

Look at canals in Churchill way, additional councillors, bike lanes, 20mph and then ask how many youth services that would fund.

Answer? A shit load.

Cause your Tory boys haven’t spaffed billions up the wall have they? Austerity was a con and your attitude let them get away with it

[JamesWales]

Re: Bring back National Service...

Cause your Tory boys haven’t spaffed billions up the wall have they? Austerity was a con and your attitude let them get away with it

Zzzz.

Yet again, completely ignoring what I said or any responsibility for those actually responsible for youth services.

So yes, your approach is part of the reason they get away with it.

[jon1959]

Re: Bring back National Service...

You've just completely ignored the points I've made. Local councils have made spending decisions. The council have not prioritised youth services and the WG am certainly haven't.

So yes, it is partly their fault. Your attitude lets them get away with it.

It's at a local level where this stuff is spent

Wales may be slightly different from the rest of the UK - but I doubt it.

Like any Tory red top you can pick out a few spending decisions by Councils at the margin and claim' Gotcha!' but the fact remains that government funding of Councils was cut by over 50% between 2010 (the start of the Cameron-Osbourne Austerity Cult) and 2021, and overall Council budgets were cut in real terms by 26% over that time.

The budget crisis for Councils deepened after 2021 leading to more section 114 notices (effectively saying they are bust) by Councils of both main parties. The only slight relief was the Gove budget announcement at the end of last year claiming a £64bn funding package for this year - a 7.5% increase.

In that time the cost and pressure of core services has risen much higher than inflation. Most Councils have little or no discretionary spending power left. They put the vast majority of their reduced and inadequate budgets into Homelessness and Adult Social Care. They can't afford to do anything else - and they can't do that properly.

Sure the odd pothole gets filled, a planning application is processed or a cycle lane or two is marked out - but that is so marginal to the big picture that to focus on that is pure deflection.

[jon1959]

Re: Bring back National Service...

Services that saw spending reductions between 2010/11 and 2019/20 include:

Cultural and related services (–36.8%)

Planning and development services (–35.7%)

Non-schools education (–31.6%)

Housing services (general fund revenue account only) (–25.7%)

Highways and transport services (–23.6%)

Central services (–16.4%)

Environmental and regulatory services (–10.5%)

https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/l...nd%202020%2F21.

[JamesWales]

Re: Bring back National Service...

Wales may be slightly different from the rest of the UK - but I doubt it.

Like any Tory red top you can pick out a few spending decisions by Councils at the margin and claim' Gotcha!' but the fact remains that government funding of Councils was cut by over 50% between 2010 (the start of the Cameron-Osbourne Austerity Cult) and 2021, and overall Council budgets were cut in real terms by 26% over that time.

The budget crisis for Councils deepened after 2021 leading to more section 114 notices (effectively saying they are bust) by Councils of both main parties. The only slight relief was the Gove budget announcement at the end of last year claiming a £64bn funding package for this year - a 7.5% increase.

In that time the cost and pressure of core services has risen much higher than inflation. Most Councils have little or no discretionary spending power left. They put the vast majority of their reduced and inadequate budgets into Homelessness and Adult Social Care. They can't afford to do anything else - and they can't do that properly.

Sure the odd pothole gets filled, a planning application is processed or a cycle lane or two is marked out - but that is so marginal to the big picture that to focus on that is pure deflection.

There's plenty of money still sloshing around. Not as much as everyone would like but that's been the case since the global financial crisis.

The point is, youth services is determined locally. If they are using money to have extra councillors or bike lanes or uncovering canals or 20mph roads that most don't want, that is worthy of scrutiny. Just saying "bLaMe ThE TOriEs" doesn't cut it. It gets you the services you deserve if you don't scrutinize local and devolved govt too.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Bring back National Service...

There's plenty of money still sloshing around. Not as much as everyone would like but that's been the case since the global financial crisis.

The point is, youth services is determined locally. If they are using money to have extra councillors or bike lanes or uncovering canals or 20mph roads that most don't want, that is worthy of scrutiny. Just saying "bLaMe ThE TOriEs" doesn't cut it. It gets you the services you deserve if you don't scrutinize local and devolved govt too.

Yes it does

It's the Tories who have cut local services to the bone

The local authorities have had to implement huge hacking right the board

The services that local areas get are on the whole determined by the funding from central government

And your lot are responsible for slashing that