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I agree with @James_Cleverly. Stockton North is a shithole. I would go further. The North East is a shithole - Birmingham, Glasgow, Bolton, Leicester, Middlesborough & Bradford you are shitholes too. Maybe the "vast majority" of the UK is a shithole.
I agree with @James_Cleverly. Stockton North is a shithole. I would go further. The North East is a shithole - Birmingham, Glasgow, Bolton, Leicester, Middlesborough & Bradford you are shitholes too. Maybe the "vast majority" of the UK is a shithole.
So let me explain why the UK is suffering from a swarm, a tsunami, a wave of shitholes.
Starting with Stockton North and 6 evidence exhibits
Starting with Stockton North and 6 evidence exhibits
A
2022 the council said that for some of the poorest areas the cost of living crisis had not yet hit home
Areas with poverty associated with food, child & fuel are "very high"
One area is most in need but other areas of the constituency are "significantly more deprived"
2022 the council said that for some of the poorest areas the cost of living crisis had not yet hit home
Areas with poverty associated with food, child & fuel are "very high"
One area is most in need but other areas of the constituency are "significantly more deprived"
B
In the constituency 23% of children were living in poverty in 2019/20 (4,394 children) this was a 2.5% increase from 2015 up by 478 more children
children receiving free school meals went up by 16% 2019-2020 and by 25% 2020-2021
In the constituency 23% of children were living in poverty in 2019/20 (4,394 children) this was a 2.5% increase from 2015 up by 478 more children
children receiving free school meals went up by 16% 2019-2020 and by 25% 2020-2021
C
Library services are being slashed
After all, why would people in a shithole want to read books
Library services are being slashed
After all, why would people in a shithole want to read books
D
Food bank handouts have soared
Between April and September 5,336 food parcels were handed out
This is up from 3,624 in the same period in 2018
Food bank handouts have soared
Between April and September 5,336 food parcels were handed out
This is up from 3,624 in the same period in 2018
E
The council are under significant financial pressures, facing a challenging and uncertain economic environment, with continuing inflationary pressures combined with an increased demand for council services.
The council plans to use reserves to address short term budget gaps.
The council are under significant financial pressures, facing a challenging and uncertain economic environment, with continuing inflationary pressures combined with an increased demand for council services.
The council plans to use reserves to address short term budget gaps.
F
The state of homes in the county is so bad that despite Doctors letters urging the council to rehome them - residents have been denied qualifying for medical priority housing on the basis of an outsourced provider simply rejecting the GP diagnoses.
The state of homes in the county is so bad that despite Doctors letters urging the council to rehome them - residents have been denied qualifying for medical priority housing on the basis of an outsourced provider simply rejecting the GP diagnoses.
So that's my 6 pieces of evidence focusing on Stockton North and why its a shithole.
Just to provide the contextual links for those evidence submissions:
Just to provide the contextual links for those evidence submissions:
So the 6 newspaper articles I used to justify why Stockton North is a shithole are not from Stockton North
I am sorry I lied
See there is a need for Fact Check UK eh @JamesCleverly
Instead I substituted news articles from James Cleverly's constituency
I am sorry I lied
See there is a need for Fact Check UK eh @JamesCleverly
Instead I substituted news articles from James Cleverly's constituency
There's even a video of James Cleverly trying to defend Fact Check UK
https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1196925744544243712
Oh here's James Cleverly dismissing "I, Daniel Blake" the movie as a work of fiction
On the right - is Braintree area food bank
On the right - is Braintree area food bank
So in order to defend calling Stockton North a shithole
James Cleverly has sent his "sources" to
1. Lie about what he said - that he called the MP shit (and not the constituency)
2. Apologise for saying it
He thinks he can style out not just what he said
e.g.
James Cleverly has sent his "sources" to
1. Lie about what he said - that he called the MP shit (and not the constituency)
2. Apologise for saying it
He thinks he can style out not just what he said
e.g.
It is so pathetic it even reduced journalists to laughter
https://twitter.com/SophyRidgeSky/status/1727781720949243988
Now I think it is appalling that James Cleverly called a constituency a shithole but worse that he then lied about what he said & tried to apologise for his lie of what he said
but ultimately that a PM, cabinet & party ARE OK with that
they have practised the cover up
but ultimately that a PM, cabinet & party ARE OK with that
they have practised the cover up
it should be no surprise
after all
you can look at former protective squares that were made
for Dominic Cummings and his "eyesight test drive"
for Priti Patel and her bullying
and of course for Boris Johnson and partygate
after all
you can look at former protective squares that were made
for Dominic Cummings and his "eyesight test drive"
for Priti Patel and her bullying
and of course for Boris Johnson and partygate
I wrote an entire thread specifically on Partygate
where I paid tribute to Liverpool
I honestly did it so I could use the Frog Song from Paul McCartney in a thread
It is a simple message
with a simple question posed in the core of the thread
where I paid tribute to Liverpool
I honestly did it so I could use the Frog Song from Paul McCartney in a thread
It is a simple message
with a simple question posed in the core of the thread
https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1529840880005308416
Margaret Thatcher
"The manner of winning is a matter of honour"
Also Margaret
“Integrity is an old fashioned word. There are even some who will tell you it is an old fashioned thing. But, for a politician, integrity is everything.”
"The manner of winning is a matter of honour"
Also Margaret
“Integrity is an old fashioned word. There are even some who will tell you it is an old fashioned thing. But, for a politician, integrity is everything.”
here are some of the usual tory / right wing apologists showing how well they can build a protective square around James Cleverly
here they are also using it to attack Angela Rayner
I wrote a whole thread on scum in relation to Tories
Where I pleaded with people not to use that term
There were several reasons behind that contained below:
Where I pleaded with people not to use that term
There were several reasons behind that contained below:
https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1560611937351712769
Now you might also ask why did Stockton North lose out not on one round of but two rounds of Levelling Up fund distribution?
Surely if a place is a shithole that would push it to the top of the list in terms of needing attention from a government at the national level right?
Surely if a place is a shithole that would push it to the top of the list in terms of needing attention from a government at the national level right?
why do you think that southern constituencies seemed to benefit more from attention in levelling up rather than northern ones?
here's a hint
here's a hint
after all not everywhere can be as lucky to benefit from the "fairness" shown to Tunbridge Wells
https://twitter.com/NewStatesman/status/1555476253045673987
So why did I pick on the North East, Birmingham, Glasgow, Bolton, Leicester, Middlesborough & Bradford
The answer was simple
Firstly, I have an issue with James Cleverly's language
The answer was simple
Firstly, I have an issue with James Cleverly's language
But secondly if he chooses to describe a constituency as this - I want to know - is there a League Table of shitholes and who gets to decide the scoring mechanism?
who decides where is a "shithole" and who decides where is "somewhere awful"
who decides where is a "shithole" and who decides where is "somewhere awful"
https://twitter.com/MirrorPolitics/status/1727995641211547764
If you are looking to see how your constituency does
The Commons Library tool is here
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-d…
The Commons Library tool is here
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-d…
If you are looking for reports overall
Then the link below is also useful
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-brief…
Then the link below is also useful
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-brief…
Here is James in 2015
"We remain committed to ending child poverty by 2020."
A reminder:
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN07…
"We remain committed to ending child poverty by 2020."
A reminder:
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN07…
So I want to move away from a focus on James
I want to focus on Brandon and Liz
For a simple reason
But first I want to go to Jeremy Hunt
I want to focus on Brandon and Liz
For a simple reason
But first I want to go to Jeremy Hunt
https://twitter.com/TheNewsAgents/status/1727773937918951714
the full you tube link at
So to put Jeremy Hunt of 2022 alongside the Jeremy Hunt of 2023
In 2023
He *attacks* the journalist
Which is fascinating
In 2023
He *attacks* the journalist
Which is fascinating
Oh here's Margaret Thatcher on the 4th estate
The fascinating one from the New Statesman interview is also the lie from Jeremy Hunt of how he defends austerity as "getting the economy back on its feet"
A reminder
Gordon Brown had already got the economy back on its feet
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2012/08/facts-…
A reminder
Gordon Brown had already got the economy back on its feet
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2012/08/facts-…
Here is the reality of what George Osborne, David Cameron did by their AUSTERITY CHOICES
*CHOICES*
Not necessity
Not economic necessity
A political choice
*CHOICES*
Not necessity
Not economic necessity
A political choice
So to come back again to Jeremy Hunt and smearing a journalist as being left wing for asking what effect austerity 2.0 will wreak
26/4/2009 @David_Cameron
“we will have to take some incredibly tough decisions on taxation, spending & borrowing –things that really affect people's lives”
22/11/2023 @Jeremy_Hunt to @itvpeston
We will have to take “difficult decisions” on public services in order to cut taxes
“we will have to take some incredibly tough decisions on taxation, spending & borrowing –things that really affect people's lives”
22/11/2023 @Jeremy_Hunt to @itvpeston
We will have to take “difficult decisions” on public services in order to cut taxes
It's worth a reminder of course
That the mother AND aunt of David Cameron were so concerned about the austerity cuts to local children's services that they signed a petition
What did David do?
He tried to smear the local council so badly that its *CONSERVATIVE* leader hit back
That the mother AND aunt of David Cameron were so concerned about the austerity cuts to local children's services that they signed a petition
What did David do?
He tried to smear the local council so badly that its *CONSERVATIVE* leader hit back
Here's a local Oxford paper covering David's letter and the council response
oxfordmail.co.uk/news/13948252.…
oxfordmail.co.uk/news/13948252.…
So
What are these "difficult decisions"
Who will suffer them?
Where will the cuts land?
When will they start landing?
Why will some areas suffer more than others?
What are these "difficult decisions"
Who will suffer them?
Where will the cuts land?
When will they start landing?
Why will some areas suffer more than others?
So now we come to Liz and Brandon
And a simple question
How did austerity 1.0 affect you?
How do you think austerity 2.0 will affect you?
And a simple question
How did austerity 1.0 affect you?
How do you think austerity 2.0 will affect you?
So it's a simple question
For the cuts that are going to fall
Where are they going to cut?
Who is going to suffer?
For the cuts that are going to fall
Where are they going to cut?
Who is going to suffer?
Here is Brandon Lewis' answer vs Liz Truss'
At least Brandon didn't laugh in the face of the question and claim 1) not to understand the question and 2) simultaneously claim it is not a good question
At least Brandon didn't laugh in the face of the question and claim 1) not to understand the question and 2) simultaneously claim it is not a good question
For Liz Truss I took her response to Eddie Mair and actually went through her local constituency area and tried to examine all the impacts of austerity
See if you can do the same for your constituency
See if you can do the same for your constituency
https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1202012607928061952
I am not interested in pitting constituency / region or nation against each otehr
e.g. look at the Welsh NHS or English NHS or Scottish NHS
parts of the UK face historic legacies of their systems and also of geography & population demographics that give them specific issues
e.g. look at the Welsh NHS or English NHS or Scottish NHS
parts of the UK face historic legacies of their systems and also of geography & population demographics that give them specific issues
e.g. here is Full Fact (not Fact Check UK)
NHS England is 10 x worse from 2010 onwards
NHS Wales is 3 x worse from 2010 onwards
that says more about the UK government
than it does about the Welsh one
NHS England is 10 x worse from 2010 onwards
NHS Wales is 3 x worse from 2010 onwards
that says more about the UK government
than it does about the Welsh one
https://twitter.com/lee_georgina/status/1615776841716977666
https://twitter.com/lee_georgina/status/1618211341340409857
Given how threadbare council reserves are and things are stretched
What happens if
1) things don't go to plan
or
2) a disaster happens
Just ask yourself that
(Sorry my bad - question 1 assumes there is a plan)
e.g.
What happens if
1) things don't go to plan
or
2) a disaster happens
Just ask yourself that
(Sorry my bad - question 1 assumes there is a plan)
e.g.
Don't blame asylum seekers
Don't blame refugees
Don't blame foreign students
Don't blame worker visas
Don't blame EU FOM
OWN austerity + brexit + covid + Truss + Sunak
OWN YOUR CHOICES
Don't blame refugees
Don't blame foreign students
Don't blame worker visas
Don't blame EU FOM
OWN austerity + brexit + covid + Truss + Sunak
OWN YOUR CHOICES
Austerity was a choice
Brexit was a choice
Letting covid rip was a choice
Putting Liz Truss as Prime Minister was a choice
Putting Sunak as Prime Minister was a choice
OWN THESE CHOICES
Brexit was a choice
Letting covid rip was a choice
Putting Liz Truss as Prime Minister was a choice
Putting Sunak as Prime Minister was a choice
OWN THESE CHOICES
At the last perhaps
That is why Conservative MPs are terrified
That the usual deflections, diversions, dodges and campaign tricks work
You have to *CHOOSE* to fall for them
Don't prove their contempt for you correct
That is why Conservative MPs are terrified
That the usual deflections, diversions, dodges and campaign tricks work
You have to *CHOOSE* to fall for them
Don't prove their contempt for you correct
So to wrap up
This thread was inspired by a SIMPLE question from @ACunninghamMP to @10DowningStreet @RishiSunak at PMQs
This thread was inspired by a SIMPLE question from @ACunninghamMP to @10DowningStreet @RishiSunak at PMQs
https://twitter.com/ACunninghamMP/status/1727349634971107623
I apologise for the sneaky introduction
if you liked the "style" this thread was written in
then I would introduce you to
this thread
where I defend Boris Johnson from charges of racism
if you liked the "style" this thread was written in
then I would introduce you to
this thread
where I defend Boris Johnson from charges of racism
https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1414542431106777090
this thread
where I explain why we should leave the ECHR
where I explain why we should leave the ECHR
https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1539908580161241089
this thread
where I celebrate the victory of brexit
where I celebrate the victory of brexit
https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1620355098017951744
and this thread where I explain the gift of Donald J Trump
https://twitter.com/PandaScottish/status/1696130266203361402
I forgot to include them
Here are two graphics which explain why I chose the North East and Birmingham, Glasgow, Bolton, Leicester, Middlesborough & Bradford as places at the start of my thread.
Here are two graphics which explain why I chose the North East and Birmingham, Glasgow, Bolton, Leicester, Middlesborough & Bradford as places at the start of my thread.
@threadreaderapp unroll please
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