It is now going to get very dangerous out on the roads.

[Barry]

I come from Northamptonshire, unfortunately as with all places some are as thick as mince.
I suppose the 3YE-1270 Hazchem plate had fallen off. 

[cromwell]

Dozy sods 
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-58767230

[Barry]

Don't know if this has already been posted, but DVLA have a backlog of 54,000 HGV licence applications.
Those civil servants down there in Swansea need to get a move on.

[Nick]

once again another good post steve , and a lot to discuss and digest there. When i get the time i will try and get back to you on this.

All i will say is to echo cromwell. If burnham is seen by some as a potential leader in wating , then god help labour is all i can say.

Another blairite labour man to the core who is up to his neck in dodgy dealings , failed policies when in power and to most scots and northern english has the strong stink of blair and brown about him.

I think the only people who will approve of burnham is the london champagne socialists , who at this stage as im sure you agree are desperate for anyone to fill the role as the messiah.

If on the off chance labour wake up and give starmer the boot before another GE , i feckin pray burnham gets put in his place as leader. Talk about swapping like for like , or doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.?

I'm wondering if Derek Hatton is in with a shout of Labour leader? They do seem to like no hopers 😉. 

[Thomas]

"(after watching Starmers abysmal performance ), you are only able to conclude the labour party exist now merely as a job opportunity scheme for a professional class of political geek who want to embellish their CV`s prior to lucrative careers advising coporate finance.!"

journalist kevin mcKenna.

[Thomas]

A good post. Yes I am disillusioned.

Insofar as the union goes, obviously it will only last as long as the peoples making up it's constituent parts want it to. The  Westminster establishmentarians are surely only helping to convince others that they are better off out of it. Whether Scotland becomes independent sooner or later is for the Scots themselves to decide of course. Labour centrists think they need to win back the red wall seats and at least a dozen Scottish ones to win. They could well be right about that bit. Yet they seem to think their Blairite road to nothingness is exactly the way to do it, and therein lies their delusion. If they think Starmer and his bland nothingness is going to win over enough of your people to make an impact they are surely kidding themselves. Aren't they?

As for a new party on the left, I agree we need that, but little old me who shies away from publicity is not the one to set it up. To be credible, it needs some recognisable figures we can rally behind. Until that moment myself and my left leaning comrades who still keep in touch are planning to make a decision as to who is the most progressive candidate standing if there is one. In a few places in the country that could still be the Labour candidate. If I lived in John Mcdonnells constituency for example I would still consider him worthy of voting for. But most of us are never now going to get a Labour candidate worth voting for. So we are likely to be voting Green or for some independent socialist type, if they are standing. My disillusion is such that I would probably even vote Lib Dem if the only alternatives were Tory or Labour just to register a vote against both. Labour now deserves oblivion, but of course the centrists are looking at the relative success of the SPD in Germany just now as an inspiration for their longing for centrism to be polpular. It is another straw to clutch at to reinforce their delusion.

I have reached such a stage of disillusion that I am hoping Keir's speech today is a total car crash. I think his days are numbered now that they have stitched up the left by rule changes which make a left wing ciontender virtually impossible. If Starmer does not turn things around for them in the polls, they will ditch him for some other centrist in the hope of choosing  a another Blairite clone in policy terms who is somehow going to be more "electable".

Thing is there are those like Andy Burnham who have carved out an independent name for themselves, who could well enjoy a honeymoon if he were to become an MP and become Labour leader. But I think that would be just a temporary blip on a downward trajectory without substantial moves on policy that can win back the struggling millions. I do not rate the chances of any of this highly.

once again another good post steve , and a lot to discuss and digest there. When i get the time i will try and get back to you on this.

All i will say is to echo cromwell. If burnham is seen by some as a potential leader in wating , then god help labour is all i can say.

Another blairite labour man to the core who is up to his neck in dodgy dealings , failed policies when in power and to most scots and northern english has the strong stink of blair and brown about him.

I think the only people who will approve of burnham is the london champagne socialists , who at this stage as im sure you agree are desperate for anyone to fill the role as the messiah.

If on the off chance labour wake up and give starmer the boot before another GE , i feckin pray burnham gets put in his place as leader. Talk about swapping like for like , or doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.?

[cromwell]

A good post. Yes I am disillusioned.

Insofar as the union goes, obviously it will only last as long as the peoples making up it's constituent parts want it to. The  Westminster establishmentarians are surely only helping to convince others that they are better off out of it. Whether Scotland becomes independent sooner or later is for the Scots themselves to decide of course. Labour centrists think they need to win back the red wall seats and at least a dozen Scottish ones to win. They could well be right about that bit. Yet they seem to think their Blairite road to nothingness is exactly the way to do it, and therein lies their delusion. If they think Starmer and his bland nothingness is going to win over enough of your people to make an impact they are surely kidding themselves. Aren't they?

As for a new party on the left, I agree we need that, but little old me who shies away from publicity is not the one to set it up. To be credible, it needs some recognisable figures we can rally behind. Until that moment myself and my left leaning comrades who still keep in touch are planning to make a decision as to who is the most progressive candidate standing if there is one. In a few places in the country that could still be the Labour candidate. If I lived in John Mcdonnells constituency for example I would still consider him worthy of voting for. But most of us are never now going to get a Labour candidate worth voting for. So we are likely to be voting Green or for some independent socialist type, if they are standing. My disillusion is such that I would probably even vote Lib Dem if the only alternatives were Tory or Labour just to register a vote against both. Labour now deserves oblivion, but of course the centrists are looking at the relative success of the SPD in Germany just now as an inspiration for their longing for centrism to be polpular. It is another straw to clutch at to reinforce their delusion.

I have reached such a stage of disillusion that I am hoping Keir's speech today is a total car crash. I think his days are numbered now that they have stitched up the left by rule changes which make a left wing ciontender virtually impossible. If Starmer does not turn things around for them in the polls, they will ditch him for some other centrist in the hope of choosing  a another Blairite clone in policy terms who is somehow going to be more "electable".

Thing is there are those like Andy Burnham who have carved out an independent name for themselves, who could well enjoy a honeymoon if he were to become an MP and become Labour leader. But I think that would be just a temporary blip on a downward trajectory without substantial moves on policy that can win back the struggling millions. I do not rate the chances of any of this highly.

Don't kid yourself Steve Burnham is a carpetbagger and a tw*t,if you want too see what a bollocks he could make of things come to Manchester the only things he wants to see around here on the roads is bikes not lorries.

If you think he's anything other than another Blair clone then you're deluding yourself.

You have read what he said about your mate Corbyn and Bliar at the conference haven't you?

[srb7677]

Good post steve.

I see angela rayner has made yet another tit of herself trying to explain labours 120 000 membership collapse under keir starmer.

Welsh labour are under massive pressure trying to defend keir starmer after it was pointed out he was lukewarm on devolution.

Scottish labour branch manager sarwar admitted earlier this week labour in scotland are barely functioning and close to collapse.

Meanwhile , the blairites/right of labour down in london are in a total bubble of their own thinking all is well with the world and that they have seen off labours left wing for good , while rehashing blairism is the way forward.

You personally sound more disillusioned than i have heard you in a long time.

Labour are finished steve. I think it time you and like minded english folk started your own left wing socialist type party , accepted the union is on its last legs , and moved forward with the politics you favour in your own nation.

A good post. Yes I am disillusioned.

Insofar as the union goes, obviously it will only last as long as the peoples making up it's constituent parts want it to. The  Westminster establishmentarians are surely only helping to convince others that they are better off out of it. Whether Scotland becomes independent sooner or later is for the Scots themselves to decide of course. Labour centrists think they need to win back the red wall seats and at least a dozen Scottish ones to win. They could well be right about that bit. Yet they seem to think their Blairite road to nothingness is exactly the way to do it, and therein lies their delusion. If they think Starmer and his bland nothingness is going to win over enough of your people to make an impact they are surely kidding themselves. Aren't they?

As for a new party on the left, I agree we need that, but little old me who shies away from publicity is not the one to set it up. To be credible, it needs some recognisable figures we can rally behind. Until that moment myself and my left leaning comrades who still keep in touch are planning to make a decision as to who is the most progressive candidate standing if there is one. In a few places in the country that could still be the Labour candidate. If I lived in John Mcdonnells constituency for example I would still consider him worthy of voting for. But most of us are never now going to get a Labour candidate worth voting for. So we are likely to be voting Green or for some independent socialist type, if they are standing. My disillusion is such that I would probably even vote Lib Dem if the only alternatives were Tory or Labour just to register a vote against both. Labour now deserves oblivion, but of course the centrists are looking at the relative success of the SPD in Germany just now as an inspiration for their longing for centrism to be polpular. It is another straw to clutch at to reinforce their delusion.

I have reached such a stage of disillusion that I am hoping Keir's speech today is a total car crash. I think his days are numbered now that they have stitched up the left by rule changes which make a left wing ciontender virtually impossible. If Starmer does not turn things around for them in the polls, they will ditch him for some other centrist in the hope of choosing  a another Blairite clone in policy terms who is somehow going to be more "electable".

Thing is there are those like Andy Burnham who have carved out an independent name for themselves, who could well enjoy a honeymoon if he were to become an MP and become Labour leader. But I think that would be just a temporary blip on a downward trajectory without substantial moves on policy that can win back the struggling millions. I do not rate the chances of any of this highly.

[Thomas]

There is mass disenchantment out there. Both Boris and Keir are blatant liars not to be trusted. The Tories are trying to be all things to all people without really seeming to know how to deliver and keep their own supporters on board. Whilst Labour has no policies, no vision and has retreated to Blairite spin over substance. The only way Labour can win is if Tory support collapses so profoundly that Labour wins by default, a battle between who loses the most votes. It truly is dismall.

I think the state of both main parties, and the leaderships of both, have never been poorer in my lifetime. Two cheeks of the same arse is the only choice we are going to get.

Good post steve.

I see angela rayner has made yet another tit of herself trying to explain labours 120 000 membership collapse under keir starmer.

Welsh labour are under massive pressure trying to defend keir starmer after it was pointed out he was lukewarm on devolution.

Scottish labour branch manager sarwar admitted earlier this week labour in scotland are barely functioning and close to collapse.

Meanwhile , the blairites/right of labour down in london are in a total bubble of their own thinking all is well with the world and that they have seen off labours left wing for good , while rehashing blairism is the way forward.

You personally sound more disillusioned than i have heard you in a long time.

Labour are finished steve. I think it time you and like minded english folk started your own left wing socialist type party , accepted the union is on its last legs , and moved forward with the politics you favour in your own nation.

[johnofgwent]

I doubt EU (and EFTA) drivers are less skilled than UK drivers. Until recently, they both had to adhere to common standards. Why would the UK break its own rules on skills and competence now? 

In any case, will any drivers come here to work just for a couple of months after being driven out by Brexit...?

I spent several years commuting up and down the A449 from Newport to Ross on Wye..the driving standards of the non UK HGVs were, to be frank, f**king abysmal.

My uncle was sideswiped by a Romanian HGV driver on the M6, spun his Audi round 360 degrees. Never got a penny out of his insurance, that's another issue!!

[cromwell]

I doubt EU (and EFTA) drivers are less skilled than UK drivers. Until recently, they both had to adhere to common standards. Why would the UK break its own rules on skills and competence now? 

In any case, will any drivers come here to work just for a couple of months after being driven out by Brexit...?

Well the Grauniad ran a story back in 2016 how Latvian drivers here being paid 1.20 euros an hour which as Nick said drove wages down here.

Now you wonder why panic buying is promoted by businesses who long for a return to the eu.
Low wages for the plebs pay for them in millions.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/02/industrial-failure-uk-lorry-trade-truck-driver-squalor-low-pay-no-unions

[srb7677]

While there is no adequate opposition then the Conservatives are within their rights to try to be all to all.

There is mass disenchantment out there. Both Boris and Keir are blatant liars not to be trusted. The Tories are trying to be all things to all people without really seeming to know how to deliver and keep their own supporters on board. Whilst Labour has no policies, no vision and has retreated to Blairite spin over substance. The only way Labour can win is if Tory support collapses so profoundly that Labour wins by default, a battle between who loses the most votes. It truly is dismall.

I think the state of both main parties, and the leaderships of both, have never been poorer in my lifetime. Two cheeks of the same arse is the only choice we are going to get.

[T00ts]

Ah, well, if the mods will forgive me for going off at a tangent...

The Tories don't seem to have many principles other than the main one of staying in power. So they are happy to buy off the common man and woman in any way they can.

On the other hand, the Labour party seems to see the man in the street as a thoroughly decent chap or chapess of course, but a bit dim and that government should be best left to their betters

While there is no adequate opposition then the Conservatives are within their rights to try to be all to all.

[Borchester]

Imagine that , the tories on the side of the common people while labour are backing big business and cheap undercutting labour from the EU?

The world has gone mad..

Ah, well, if the mods will forgive me for going off at a tangent...

The Tories don't seem to have many principles other than the main one of staying in power. So they are happy to buy off the common man and woman in any way they can.

On the other hand, the Labour party seems to see the man in the street as a thoroughly decent chap or chapess of course, but a bit dim and that government should be best left to their betters

[Thomas]

It was allowing Less skilled, cheap EU drivers to do the work that has driven down wages and caused this mess. Maybe now this situation will get them back up.

A uk driver years ago had to spend 2 grand and take a month or so course to pass his hgv , while a pole for example could feck off back to poland , do a 7 day crash course for the equivalent of £100 to get his , and then jump back over to the uk to earn the same as the guy who paid 2 grand.

Hardly a great starting point or level playing field.

Anyway i hear the uk government arent seriously considering issuing short term visas now , and are considering using the army as a short term soultion to calm the fevered imagination of hysterical remainers.

Imagine that , the tories on the side of the common people while labour are backing big business and cheap undercutting labour from the EU?

The world has gone mad..