Starmer's vision quest

[Psamathe]

I do find it increasingly frustrating the way Labour are continually blaming the previous Conservative Government for everything bad. Really has become "If it's good it's our doing, if it's bad it's those previous Conservatives".

On TV last night they plotted the number of asylum hotels in use and whilst it peaked in the Conservative time, it also dropped a lot after that peak in the Conservative time and under Labour it's bee virtually stable.

And reports today
Number of asylum seekers housed in hotels rises 8% on a year ago, shows data. Can they blame the Conservatives for that and keep a straight face? We were assured smashing the gangs would stop the boats but doesn't seem to have helped much.

nb I'm not against the asylum hotels, we have to provide refugee asylum seekers somewhere to live. Plus those kicking-up a fuss are giving daft reasons eg "we don't know who they are" yet if I moved to the area they wouldn't know who I an either so would they be protesting outside my house.

 

[monkers]

I do find it increasingly frustrating the way Labour are continually blaming the previous Conservative Government for everything bad. Really has become "If it's good it's our doing, if it's bad it's those previous Conservatives".

On TV last night they plotted the number of asylum hotels in use and whilst it peaked in the Conservative time, it also dropped a lot after that peak in the Conservative time and under Labour it's bee virtually stable.

And reports today
Number of asylum seekers housed in hotels rises 8% on a year ago, shows data. Can they blame the Conservatives for that and keep a straight face? We were assured smashing the gangs would stop the boats but doesn't seem to have helped much.

nb I'm not against the asylum hotels, we have to provide refugee asylum seekers somewhere to live. Plus those kicking-up a fuss are giving daft reasons eg "we don't know who they are" yet if I moved to the area they wouldn't know who I an either so would they be protesting outside my house.

From the link ...

Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, said: “The action we have taken in the last 12 months – increasing returns of failed asylum seekers by over 30%, cutting asylum costs by 11%, reducing the backlog by 18% and our forthcoming plans to overhaul the failing asylum appeal system – are crucial steps to restoring order, and putting an end to the chaotic use of asylum hotels that we inherited from the previous government.”

If true, I wonder why they didn't make that the headline?

 

[CXRAndy]

You, my little buddy, are the proverbial Stopped Clock.

There seems to be lots of broken clocks


View: https://x.com/JamesMelville/status/1958430987005673753?t=lnodNb4ooWd6YazdEwJPeg&s=19

 

[Psamathe]

Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, said: “The action we have taken in the last 12 months – increasing returns of failed asylum seekers by over 30%, cutting asylum costs by 11%, reducing the backlog by 18% and our forthcoming plans to overhaul the failing asylum appeal system – are crucial steps to restoring order, and putting an end to the chaotic use of asylum hotels that we inherited from the previous government.”

If true, I wonder why they didn't make that the headline?

Maybe because the headline is reporting real fact of today. Whereas the other aspects are what might happen if Labour do what they hope in the future and it works like they promise - and we were assured smashing the gangs was going to stop the boats and ....

 

[CXRAndy]

Government issues urgent appeal for 5,000 homes to house 20,000 illegal migrants
Home Office turns to property specialists as councils prepare to follow Epping and attempt to stop hotels housing asylum seekers illegal immigrants.

I say to my fellow landlords, tell the government to stick it

 

[Pross]

I do find it increasingly frustrating the way Labour are continually blaming the previous Conservative Government for everything bad. Really has become "If it's good it's our doing, if it's bad it's those previous Conservatives".

On TV last night they plotted the number of asylum hotels in use and whilst it peaked in the Conservative time, it also dropped a lot after that peak in the Conservative time and under Labour it's bee virtually stable.

And reports today
Number of asylum seekers housed in hotels rises 8% on a year ago, shows data. Can they blame the Conservatives for that and keep a straight face? We were assured smashing the gangs would stop the boats but doesn't seem to have helped much.

nb I'm not against the asylum hotels, we have to provide refugee asylum seekers somewhere to live. Plus those kicking-up a fuss are giving daft reasons eg "we don't know who they are" yet if I moved to the area they wouldn't know who I an either so would they be protesting outside my house.

Until numbers being processed is higher than numbers arriving then whoever is in charge will have to find somewhere to house them. In the absence of specialist facilities being built for this that pretty much limits them to using hotels or in housing that would otherwise be going to people of the housing waiting list. No-one seems to want to admit to this for whatever reason. I don't think it is unreasonable to blame the Tories considering they broke the previous system that, whilst not perfect, was doing a better job.

 

[Psamathe]

Until numbers being processed is higher than numbers arriving then whoever is in charge will have to find somewhere to house them. In the absence of specialist facilities being built for this that pretty much limits them to using hotels or in housing that would otherwise be going to people of the housing waiting list. No-one seems to want to admit to this for whatever reason. I don't think it is unreasonable to blame the Tories considering they broke the previous system that, whilst not perfect, was doing a better job.

I agree. My frustration isn't with hotel numbers it's with Labour continually "If it's good it's our doing, if it's bad it's the previous Conservatives doing". Time they took some responsibility for what's happening and stopped trying to blame everybody else.

 

[BoldonLad]

From the link ...

Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, said: “The action we have taken in the last 12 months – increasing returns of failed asylum seekers by over 30%, cutting asylum costs by 11%, reducing the backlog by 18% and our forthcoming plans to overhaul the failing asylum appeal system – are crucial steps to restoring order, and putting an end to the chaotic use of asylum hotels that we inherited from the previous government.”

If true, I wonder why they didn't make that the headline?

I know how much everyone likes a graph 😂

I cannot find figures for the size of "the queue", plenty of figure for "initial decisions", but, to me, the only number which counts is the sum of how many are waiting for a decision, how many are awaiting deportation, having failed to be granted asylum or right to remain.

BBC take https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ce83n80dqllt

 

[monkers]

View attachment 9606


I know how much everyone likes a graph 😂

I cannot find figures for the size of "the queue", plenty of figure for "initial decisions", but, to me, the only number which counts is the sum of how many are waiting for a decision, how many are awaiting deportation, having failed to be granted asylum or right to remain.

My point was, and remains that the headline will cause most people to believe that increased hotel usage is costing more money. What I'm saying is that the 11% claim, if true, justifies the increase in hotel use. The Guardian could have fact checked that claim, and then used that for the headline - costs down by 11%. They chose not to do so, but why?

 

[Psamathe]

My point was, and remains that the headline will cause most people to believe that increased hotel usage is costing more money. What I'm saying is that the 11% claim, if true, justifies the increase in hotel use. The Guardian could have fact checked that claim, and then used that for the headline - costs down by 11%. They chose not to do so, but why?

Because they are reporting data released by the Home Office, not data they may have calculated based on other data ...

 

[secretsqirrel]

I agree. My frustration isn't with hotel numbers it's with Labour continually "If it's good it's our doing, if it's bad it's the previous Conservatives doing". Time they took some responsibility for what's happening and stopped trying to blame everybody else.

Sure they’ve had 13 months. Ample time to turn 14 years of shite around.

I might have mentioned before that you can expect the blaming to go on for the foreseeable future. For as long as the opposition point fingers, they will point them back.

 

[monkers]

Because they are reporting data released by the Home Office, not data they may have calculated based on other data ...

I haven't read the 51 page report, and I probably won't do so, but at a glance it looks like the data is Home Office data from this report ...

https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/home-offices-asylum-accommodation-contracts.pdf

 

[Bromptonaut]

I have a postal vote 🙂

The only person I've ever seen struggle with putting the correct shoes on was a leftie 😄
View attachment 9605

I've gone to work in odd shoes as have at least one colleague. Easily done if you dress in the dark to avoid disturbing a sleeping partner.

DIdn't realise until I looked to check where I was putting my feet getting off a train.

 

[First Aspect]

So you’d rather Reform? Really?

They'd all fall out with each other and we would end up with a hopelessly unqualified prime minister.

Oh, wait...

 

[Psamathe]

I've gone to work in odd shoes as have at least one colleague.

Can't remember when I last wore matching socks. (Don't wear shoes very often).