It is being reported that Andy Burnham has invited the Conservative's and Lib Dems to unite to look into ways of improving social care. Surprise Surprise Reform were not invited. Strange that Reform are the most likely challengers to the labour party, easily beating the lib Dems in major polls.

Just a stunt apparently only 18 hours notice and Kemmi' is having some kind of medical appointment so can't make it, neither Reform or Restore invited, so don't hold your breath just Andy' Zak' and ED' left to come up with something to save the NHS social care .

Andy the king' of the north will quickly learn that two pound bus fares, are not the hard bit of governance, it will be unsurprising to watch the extremist left of the party veto' any "£323 billion" welfare reforms, or any type of meaningful border security deterrent.

The new unelected PM needs to tell the country fast how following the manifesto' he is going to change the Big Issues' not end up selling them🤔

He is already hinting a tax will have to be introduced on easing social reform. First of many i presume same old song sheet Tax Tax Tax.

I believe the only solution to addressing the issues of the extensive social welfare state is to implement higher taxes. People are not contributing their fair share.

2 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

It is being reported that Andy Burnham has invited the Conservative's and Lib Dems to unite to look into ways of improving social care. Surprise Surprise Reform were not invited. Strange that Reform are the most likely challengers to the labour party, easily beating the lib Dems in major polls.

Perhaps its not based on polls and personal expectations of the election results based on biased opinions but simply an allocation based on actual seats in parliament as they are now and Reform is but a small part of that?

19 minutes ago, Mr Awesome said:

I believe the only solution to addressing the issues of the extensive social welfare state is to implement higher taxes. People are not contributing their fair share.

Hi Nick, what's with the new handle?😉

On 7/29/2026 at 10:54 AM, sammieuk1 said:

Just a stunt apparently only 18 hours notice and Kemmi' is having some kind of medical appointment so can't make it, neither Reform or Restore invited, so don't hold your breath just Andy' Zak' and ED' left to come up with something to save the NHS social care .

Call me pessimistic but I think that it will take more than just the one meeting to come up with a plan to fix social care, so there should be plenty of opportunities for Kemi to air her views on the issue.

Wrt Nigel and Rupert's attendance; yes, an invite should probably have been issued. On the other hand, if the only thing that either has to offer is repetition of the phrase, 'Stop the boats' over and over again, then there is little point in either of them being there.

Ray at least the there saying what they will do if they win. These major Governments are doing nothing but give the French millions to watch them stand and watch the boats leaving there waters, which can spent on better things to improve the Country. The three major concerns UK residents are more interested in is Mass immigration into the Country, lawlessness, and the cost of living. Labour and the Conservatives have done nothing to help instead they blame each other. All labour do is Tax us. They have just reinstated Diane Abbot back into the fold my God.

Edited July 31Jul 31 by BarraMarra

No fan of the Scottish Nationalists, but has the SNP been invited, or for that matter the Northern Irish and the Viet Taff? I know they're devolved but is it not going to be a UK wide problem and solution with implications for them?

Edited July 31Jul 31 by JAG

3 minutes ago, JAG said:

No fan of the Scottish Nationalists, but has the SNP been invited, or for that matter the Northern Irish and the Viet Taff? I know they're devolved but is it not going to be a UK wide problem and solution?

The 4 regions of the UK have devolved NHS funding, since 1999, I believe.

7 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

Ray at least the there saying what they will do if they win. These major Governments are doing nothing but give the French millions to watch them stand and watch the boats leaving there waters, which can spent on better things to improve the Country. The three major concerns UK residents are more interested in is Mass immigration into the Country, lawlessness, and the cost of living. Labour and the Conservatives have done nothing to help instead they blame each other. All labour do is Tax us. They have just reinstated Diane Abbot back into the fold my God.

No Barra, like all parties when they are in opposition Reform have a wishlist of strap lines which are mainly uncosted and quite probably unachievable.

I don't think that people are concerned about mass immigration, they are concerned about illegal immigration. Reform will 'solve' this problem by leaving the ECHR. Forgive me if I'm skeptical about this having the desired effect.

Lawlessness is over stating the problem. Yes, crime is a problem, but civil war has not broken out and the army isn't needed on the streets to keep order. Most people are still law abiding.

The CoL is a major problem. Many things such as COVID, the effects of the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and the US levying tariffs are outside of the government's control, however, the British electorate has to take some of the blame. Firstly, there are unrealistic expectations: The UK public wants European style public welfare provision at US taxation levels. No doubt efficiencies can be found, but there has to be realism. Public services cost money. Secondly, Brexit. I know that some people don't want to hear it but it have caused economic damage to the country. It has also had an effect on the labour market and, by extension, legal immigration. Many jobs, which were previously filled by EU nationals who had little intention of remaining in the UK permanently, now have to be filled by immigrants from further afield who require greater assurance and security before migrating to the UK.

On 7/29/2026 at 3:09 PM, BarraMarra said:

It is being reported that Andy Burnham has invited the Conservative's and Lib Dems to unite to look into ways of improving social care. Surprise Surprise Reform were not invited. Strange that Reform are the most likely challengers to the labour party, easily beating the lib Dems in major polls.

Count Binface was not invited either which is a smack in the face of democracy.

Burnham invited the leaders of the Tories and Lib Dems. Farage isn't even an MP so couldn't be invited. He resigned for his own selfish reasons, remember? And even if he could be invited he shouldn't be invited - he is not a serious politician, his party is not a serious political party, he has no interest in any issues that are not boats or cryptocurrency or otherwise related to the rich.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/reform-mps-complain-that-farage-was-not-invited-to-social-care-reform-talks-but-5HjdfHj_2/

And Jenrick making a fool of himself too:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/30/gb-news-robert-jenrick-reform-uk-social-care

Edited July 31Jul 31 by josephbloggs

Your entitled to your opinion josephbloggs many in the UK don't subscribe to your opinion.

It might have something to do with the actual numbers of elected MPs.

And of course while the Tory leader is absent due to a medical treatment, something she has no control over, the Reform leader is absent of his own volition.

On 7/29/2026 at 4:45 PM, BarraMarra said:

He is already hinting a tax will have to be introduced on easing social reform. First of many i presume same old song sheet Tax Tax Tax.

Millions of families are already paying for the failure of social care, the NHS is already paying for the failings of social care.

Social care needs reform, it’s both the necessary and right thing to do.

So it costs money to look after the old and infirm.

Well at least people would be getting something for the taxes they pay.

8 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

Your entitled to your opinion josephbloggs many in the UK don't subscribe to your opinion.

Hallelujah, thank you BarraMarra, finally you accept that people are allowed to post different opinions than yours. Progress indeed.