Economics, Politics

Labour budget dilemma

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Labour’s Budget Dilemma

The UK Labour Party is grappling with a significant budgetary challenge. While there is widespread agreement on the need to increase public spending to repair public services, there is no consensus on who should bear the cost. The economy is currently operating at maximum capacity, meaning any increase in spending without corresponding tax hikes would lead to inflation. Higher taxes are not just about raising revenue but are necessary to free up resources. However, this solution is unpopular and risks destroying jobs. It could also reduce consumer spending, particularly in sectors with high productivity growth due to intense competition for labour. Redirecting that labour towards the public sector, which has struggled with low productivity in recent years, is a troubling prospect given the UK’s lacklustre productivity growth.

When people shift from consuming goods and services to investing in assets to protect their gains, other negative consequences emerge. A reduction in consumer spending could create economic “doom loops.” There’s already a pervasive sense that high streets are dying, giving many areas a bleak, stagnant vibe. This is dangerous both economically and politically. Economic stagnation breeds intolerance and reactionary politics, fostering support for far-right movements among disillusioned voters. The ability to spend hard-earned money outside the home is a key factor in personal happiness. The post-COVID surge in spending at shops and pubs highlights this, as people sought to regain a sense of normalcy and joy.

This helps explain why the UK has settled on a tax-to-GDP ratio of 37%, with little appetite for increasing it. Higher taxes come with trade-offs that the public has been unwilling to accept. Taxing the rich won’t solve the core issue of freeing up resources for the public sector, though I wish it would, out of a sense of social justice.

But this leads to a critical question: Are we, as a society, ready to make the sacrifices needed for better public services, even if it means paying more in taxes?

The Path Forward

The solutions lie in raising the inflation target to better reflect economic realities and boosting productivity. The public sector, particularly the NHS, needs real capital investment to become more efficient—better computers, rebuilt hospitals, and modern infrastructure. For example, investing in modern healthcare technology could shorten waiting times and improve patient outcomes. Hospitals built with better infrastructure would also become more energy-efficient, saving long-term operational costs.

Planning reform is a good start, but we need to shift taxes from income to land, among other reforms. A land value tax, for example, could encourage the productive use of land and help tackle the housing crisis. However, these changes will be fiercely opposed by vested interests who benefit from the current system.

Another challenge is reallocating labour in a more efficient economy, which could mean the disappearance of tens of thousands of jobs. These workers would need support while transitioning to new employment, and not just “bullshit jobs” created by overly complicated systems propped up by tax breaks. Simplifying the tax code would provoke fierce resistance from those with a stake in the current system. Redirecting labour will require targeted, specific measures—not broad-brush solutions.

How can we ensure that workers in obsolete or inefficient industries are given the support and retraining they need? This is where government policy must be proactive, not reactive. Without adequate support, we risk creating a new wave of economic and political dissatisfaction.

The Core Problem

So far, the government has shown little interest in tackling the vested interests that resist raising productivity. This leaves higher taxes as the only option, with the accompanying risk of fueling far-right sentiment. If Labour is to succeed in its mission and counter the rise of the far right, it must rethink its approach. Addressing the most problematic aspects of capitalism is necessary—not just as a matter of left-wing idealism but as a pragmatic strategy. The political right has been co-opted by landlords and predatory, reactionary capitalism.

While Labour must act decisively, it also needs to frame its efforts as a step toward a more equitable and functional economy. Yes, reform will be difficult, and opposition from powerful vested interests is inevitable, but change is not only possible—it is essential.

Is it not time for a government that puts the long-term well-being of its people above short-term gains?

Conclusion

The UK faces a crossroads. The budget dilemma Labour grapples with is emblematic of deeper systemic issues—stagnant productivity, growing inequality, and a political landscape susceptible to far-right sentiment. Raising taxes, increasing public spending, and improving services aren’t easy choices, but they are necessary steps toward a more sustainable future.

The challenge is not just about managing the economy—it’s about confronting the vested interests that have for too long blocked meaningful reform. Labour must be bold in its vision, but also pragmatic in how it implements change. Tackling inefficiencies in the public sector, reallocating labor, and modernizing the tax system are all achievable with the right political will.

Ultimately, the public must be persuaded that short-term sacrifices, like higher taxes, are worth the long-term benefits—better public services, more meaningful jobs, and a more just society. Failure to act now will only deepen the cycle of stagnation and discontent, further empowering reactionary forces.

As the UK stands at this pivotal moment, the question becomes: Will we choose progress and shared prosperity, or continue down a path of economic decline and political instability?

Labour has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to steer the country toward a more hopeful future. The time to act is now.

Smite

Smite 2 Alpha Thoughts

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Smite 2 Alpha Thoughts

I have been playing Smite 2 since the earliest closed weekend alpha. Alpha software is still in a very early stage, with decisions being made on core gameplay and features that have yet to be added. The foundation of the game exists, but content is sparse; this stage is all about ensuring that the core mechanics can support the rest of the game. Complaints about the game lacking content at this point misunderstand the nature of development. Comparing an 11-year-old game to a brand-new one being built from the ground up is unrealistic.

The developers are currently focused on porting characters over while updating effects and designs. The emphasis has been on quality-of-life improvements and reworking older designs. The current alpha roster seems to be building a library of abilities that can be used as a basis for further character porting. Although this hasn’t been explicitly stated, it appears to be the case. More complex characters, which require additional time and resources, are being skipped for now, with various features either missing or yet to be added.

While the game mechanics generally make sense, I have some concerns with certain balance choices. It seems that balance has taken a backseat to content porting at this stage. Judging certain aspects of the game is difficult when matchmaking is inconsistent. Minor changes have gradually reshaped the gameplay. For example, the removal of the class system has shifted the focus toward INT (Intelligence) and STR (Strength) as more important factors in determining roles. Characters now deal either physical or magical damage: Physical damage scales with STR, while magical damage scales with INT. However, building INT on physical characters does not convert their damage to magical. For example, Sol deals magical damage but can benefit from STR in a carry role.

Some characters are designed to play multiple roles, gaining bonuses like extra utility when building INT. This approach shows promise in creating a flexible set of role archetypes. I hope the developers are bold enough to expand on this concept with early, middle, and late-game design. One possible idea could be that building STR on magical characters increases attack speed for ranged attacks.

In addition to changes in character design, itemization has also been revamped. The game now uses a recipe-component mechanic, allowing players to switch between build paths without being overly punished. If you make a mistake, the system is far more forgiving.

The two biggest changes, however, are how relics work and the introduction of active items. Relics can now only be selected at the beginning of the game and have long cooldowns. As a result, crowd control has become much stronger and more impactful, though there has already been a reduction in crowd control duration across the board. There is also less choice in terms of relics, with older relics moving to active items. These two changes have significantly altered how the game plays.

Additionally, wards now offer less vision and have shorter timers, meaning junglers face fewer counters than before. Combined with some buggy interactions, this creates a rough experience. At this point, I’m unsure about the direction the developers want to take the game.

Currently, the game feels snowball-heavy, with a focus on bursting down opponents and chasing them. The damage feels unavoidable, and there are few options for recovery when you fall behind. The early game has a punishing focus, with no trade-offs for characters that excel in this stage. Perhaps I’m wrong, but the base strength of characters seems off, and I worry that using this as a baseline could lead to future problems.

It’s also hard to describe the art and graphics; something feels off, as if the characters don’t quite fit into the world. The Conquest map remains unchanged, making the layout feel overly familiar. It’s still very easy to move between the jungle and lanes. While various new objects have been added, they don’t significantly change how the game feels.

Overall, Smite 2 feels like a love letter to the original game—more of a remaster than something entirely new. Even ability sounds have been transferred over. It seems like the developers are playing it safe instead of experimenting with bold new ideas. Despite this being a new engine with a new team building the game from the ground up, Smite 2 still feels like it’s treading familiar ground.

I understand that finding the right balance between innovation and preserving what works is tricky, but with no competition on consoles, Smite remains the only MOBA in town.

So, should you try it? Not yet—unless you can stomach an early-access game that could disappear, like so many live-service games over the years.

Short Story

Short story – Shadow of Written Lies

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Shadow of Written Lies

A small lamp lit up the desk, illuminating a pile of police reports. It was going to be a long night reviewing the reports. The police officer in question had been given a tip from a local private detective. Unknown to his boss, he was focusing on this over his normal night shift duties. He was hidden from view in the records room, behind dusty shelves with a single lamp barely bright enough. A white plastic coffee cup sat nearby, trying to keep himself awake. The light barely showed his rounded brown frame glasses and brown hair slowly turning grey. He said very quietly, not drawing attention to himself, “Let’s start here.” Digging into the pile of papers at the bottom, he found what he wanted. The single-page report read out loud, “Officer report classified and references redacted, destroy this memo and any records around the incident in question.” Looking up in shock, he started to check other bits of paperwork. Most reports were redacted, with rewritten copies marked to replace the originals. Post-it notes with instructions had not been completed. Leaning back on the metal folding chair, he picked up only one untouched. Out of 20 bits of paper, this one had escaped. Officer report May 30th: An emergency services call was made for a police escort from the Church to the dockyards. Hearing gunshots, officers began to attend the scene with a further request made by members of the public. This is inaccurate; known dirty cops had visited an apartment complex instead, trying to collect evidence to frame somebody for gangsters. They opened fire within the building when questioned why they were breaking and entering. This report is updating the public record and providing the facts.

He was stunned. The single bit of paper contained every single bit of juicy detail. Worse still, it was detailed with names. No author and looked like an early draft. A small light in the distance began to appear between the shelving units. He switched off the light and gathered the papers up. The clerk’s help desk was near, and he moved towards it, hiding under it. Footsteps drew closer, torchlight flicking in the dark room. An unfamiliar male voice spoke, “Should be somewhere here, box 960, I can’t see it,” walking over to the help desk. He continued his train of thought, “959, 961 but no 960, wait a minute, this box is empty.” Turning around, he suddenly tripped over a box and landed on the floor. Leaving the help desk after throwing a box under his feet, the police officer quickly made his escape. Paperwork in a folder he had borrowed from the desk he was hiding under. Walking down the white hallways past the coffee machine towards his office. Peeking from behind the green plant, nobody was close by. Stopping at the admin section, he opened the photocopier and made a copy or two. Two folders in hand, he made his way towards the car park. Once inside the car park and checking nobody had followed him, he called the private detective and got into his car to go meet him.

He said, “Why did I agree to this?”

Poem

Digital Desert – A Tribute to Casey

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Digital Desert – A Tribute to Casey

You crafted a wonderful garden. Thank you for taking the time, effort, energy, and love to build this place. From the turmoil that engulfed the world, you created something beautiful. The grass is green, and the flowers are in full bloom. It took vision, time, energy, and love to build this garden. It was your garden which you turned into a community space. You let us into your garden, trusting us to help build something magical. A community garden full of life and wonderful people. A busy gardener can be lonely, failing to see all the growth. Yet here we are, like a colorful garden. Full of life, birds, bees, and more enjoying it. Something is missing, and that is you. We will feel your absence and miss your smile. My biggest regret is not getting to know you more.

It does not feel the same without you here. We will wait like a dog for your return and keep tending this place.

Marvel Snap, Video Games

Deadpool diner

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Deadpool diner

Deadpool Diner is an event within Marvel Snap. The second dinner followed industry trends and added a stamina system to the event. You can bypass it by spending money, which is a rather predatory practice that exploits players. Mobile gaming has been home to some awful, abusive mechanics for a while now. People, in general, have well accepted it, gotten used to it, and allowed it to carry on. Marvel Snap has avoided it until this event, which leaves a sour taste.

The next point is that the event is time-limited to earn a card; you need 500 million points to get it. Given that I have just 200k, I’m quite a way off from earning it. The result is that players are doing whatever they can to earn it. You can’t really blame players if you make a time-limited event and lock a card behind a massive wall. The result is a rather unfun mode within the game.

The last problem is that the mode is very similar to ladder mode. A couple of key differences are that Bubs decrease, but your progress overall does not. Once you reach a certain rank, you don’t derank. The event overall feels like a massive chore to play and is, well, unfun.

So how would I have done this event?

For starters, I would have replaced the existing ladder with it. Next, no stamina system and increased the length of the event to a month. Decrease the costs to earn the new card and add more cards to earn per week. At higher ranks, I would give players decks based on the movie, making it more like a draft preview of what is going to come soon.

What I have learned from this mode is that retreat is a skill I need to get the hang of more. Also, my game knowledge about decks at times is lacking.

Thoughts

James bond some thoughts

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James bond some thoughts

The James Bond film franchise is currently on hiatus, with no new releases in the pipeline. The most recent installment, ‘No Time to Die,’ premiered in 2021, marking the conclusion of Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond. Across its history, there have been a total of 24 Bond movies.

In 2022, Amazon acquired MGM Studios, integrating it with their existing studio. Once a Hollywood powerhouse, MGM was formerly part of the Big Seven studios. Now, it stands alongside the Big Five: Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, and Sony. Interestingly, both Paramount and Warner Bros. face challenges—Paramount’s business is in disarray, while Warner Bros.’ consolidation with Discovery has hit roadblocks.

The Broccoli family has diligently safeguarded control over the Bond franchise. Danjaq holds the copyright for the film series. The first twenty Bond movies are co-owned by Danjaq and MGM, while the remainder belong to Danjaq, MGM, and Columbia Pictures (a Sony subsidiary). Eon Productions, owned by the Broccoli family, meticulously oversees all Bond projects. Their level of control rivals J.K. Rowling’s veto power over the Harry Potter franchise.

Amazon’s involvement introduces an intricate situation. Producing a new James Bond movie isn’t straightforward; it involves navigating a complex web of ownership and approvals. The intricate network across MGM presents both opportunities and challenges. Budgets are tight, and some projects face cancellation. Clearly, Bond is a costly endeavor. So far, Amazon’s impact on MGM extends primarily to the Bond franchise. Additionally, there’s a reality TV show with Bond branding, and its second season is currently in production.

Where could the James Bond Flims go next? Parodies saw Daniel Craig’s version become darker. Each actor brings a different vibe, suiting the era. It could be rebooted back to the 1960s. I’m unsure where it should go. After 25 movies maybe it should just end. Hollywood’s big problem is making everything a franchise.

Labour, Politics

British general election exit poll/results 2024

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British general election exit poll/results 2024

Conservatives: 131

Labour: 410

Liberal Democrats: 61

SNP: 10

Reform UK: 13

Plaid Cymru: 4

Greens: 2

This is a historic event, marking the worst Conservative result in 190 years. Labour is projected to surge from 202 to over 400 seats in a single electoral cycle. Other notable outcomes include the Liberal Democrats achieving their best result in over a century, and the Greens gaining an additional seat. Reform, a new party, secured 13 seats—a commendable performance. While the exit poll aligns with the average range of pre-election polls, there’s a possibility that seat totals are inaccurate, and the final result could be even worse for the Conservatives. We’ll have to wait until all ballots are counted and declared to determine the true winner. A historic event is unfolding tonight.

I wrote that last night before any results were declared.

Final results

Conservatives: 121

Labour: 411

Liberal Democrats: 72

SNP: 9

Reform UK: 4

Plaid Cymru: 4

Greens: 4

Others: 7

The simple narrative here is the Tory pain everybody gains. Voters decided on mass to tactical vote, not just that but clever targeting yielded big results. Both Labour and Liberal Democrats’ voting efficacy caused major upsets to happen. In some cases, Tories got very lucky because voters did not know who to tactical vote for. Liberal Democrats have returned to being 3rd party, they now have a firm base with more gains in sight. Something much bigger is happening under the surface. Fragmenting of the British electorate, multi-party system trapped in first past the post. Splitting apart slowly, old divides have been exposed, producing a swingy landscape. A European-style electorate with first past the post, anti-politics mood that is alive. In some places turning away from mainstream parties, angry and disengaged.

It will take a while to understand it but the trend is clear. This is the worst result in their 190-year history. Rishi sunak was given a losing hand and played it badly. Records have been broken across the board. Voters have decided on humiliation and punishment after 14 years. Why comes down to three words, incompetence, trust and delivery.

Former prime minister Lizz Truss lost her seat. The only other time that has happened, is in 1906 with Arthur Balfour. Her name is likely to become similar to Portillo, a symbol of defeat and a historic night. Micheal Portillo cabinet member lost his safe seat in 1997.

5 former prime minister seats have also changed hands.

Lizz Truss South West Norfolk

Boris Johnson old seats, Uxbridge and South Ruislip also Henley and Thame

Theresa May Maidenhead

David Cameron Witney

Only Lizz Truss decided to stick around, otherwise they would have fallen and joined the history books. Record 11 cabinet members lost their seats, with close calls in other seats. It was an end of a era, big defeat for the Tories. It could have been far worse and could get worse before it gets better.

Labour, Politics, Thoughts

British summer generel election

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British summer general election

As the rain pours outside Number 10 Downing Street, the 2024 election campaign kicks off, with a stark contrast to Keir Starmer’s composed appearance in a pre-recorded message. The choice between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer is a choice between maintaining the status quo or opting for change. Despite calling the election, Sunak appears to have little control over unfolding events. After six long weeks, the campaign is nearing its end. The United Kingdom is in a sorry state, with leaky roofs and shattered windows symbolizing better days gone by. Voters are angry as nothing seems to work anymore, stemming from four key themes: broken trust, incompetence, and instability

Summary of the Past 14 Years

Let’s begin with a concise overview of the current situation. The Conservative Party, often nicknamed the Tories, took office in 2010 under a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. They cut public spending, promising to cut waste rather than frontline services—an ideology-driven choice that would define the next decade and have costly consequences. This approach influenced both the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, where the union won, and the 2015 general election, where the Conservatives won an outright majority. David Cameron’s decision to hold a referendum on Britain’s European Union membership led to his resignation in 2016 after the vote to leave the EU, which shattered his authority overnight.”

Theresa May defeat, despair and deadlock

Theresa May succeeded Cameron with the task of healing the country, uniting the party, and managing the EU exit. The issue of Europe had torn the party apart for decades, with toxic campaigns dividing families and nations. Worse, nobody had a clear idea of what leaving the EU would entail. May’s approach involved dealing with the complexities behind closed doors, setting out red lines in speeches but leaving no room for flexibility. Given the party’s deep divisions, this approach was naive. She needed to reach out and build cross-party support, but Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour firebrand socialist leader, made this even harder. British politics became increasingly partisan. Under political pressure, she triggered the process of leaving the EU, and in 2017, one month after starting Article 50, she gambled by calling a snap election. Her botched campaign saw Labour surge during the final weeks, hoping to secure a majority to strengthen her negotiating hand. The gambit failed, and she lost her slim majority. The next two years saw parliamentary deadlock over any Brexit deal. In July 2019, after failing three times to pass her deal, she resigned in tears, worn out by months of drama.

Boris Johnson: Populist Pressure, Partygate, and Pandemic

Boris Johnson, the charismatic yet controversial figure, succeeded Theresa May, promising to “Get Brexit Done.” His bold, populist approach resonated with many voters frustrated by the prolonged Brexit process. Johnson’s leadership was marked by a mix of flamboyance and controversy. His ability to connect with the electorate secured a decisive victory in the 2019 general election, delivering the largest Conservative majority since Margaret Thatcher.

However, Johnson’s tenure was far from smooth. The COVID-19 pandemic tested his government’s resilience and decision-making skills. While the early handling of the pandemic faced criticism for delays and mixed messaging, the rapid rollout of the vaccine was seen as a significant achievement. Despite these successes, Johnson’s leadership faced severe scrutiny during the “Partygate” scandal, where allegations of lockdown breaches at Downing Street gatherings damaged his reputation and trust with the public. The pressures of governance during unprecedented times, coupled with internal party conflicts and growing dissatisfaction, eventually led to his resignation in July 2022.

Liz Truss: A Turbulent Tenure

Liz Truss’s short-lived tenure as Prime Minister was marked by economic turmoil and political instability. Inheriting a party and country reeling from the pandemic and Brexit’s aftermath, her bold economic policies, particularly the controversial mini-budget, aimed at stimulating growth but instead triggered financial market chaos. The proposed tax cuts, unfunded spending, and regulatory changes led to a sharp increase in borrowing costs and a plunge in the pound’s value.

Truss’s inability to stabilize the economy or garner support from her party and the public resulted in a dramatic loss of confidence. Her leadership faced mounting criticism from within her party, the opposition, and financial experts. After just 44 days in office, Truss resigned, marking one of the shortest premierships in British history. Her brief and turbulent tenure underscored the deep-seated issues within the Conservative Party and the challenges facing any leader in the current political climate.

Rishi Sunak: Stability Amidst Uncertainty

Rishi Sunak’s rise to the premiership came with a promise of stability and competence. Known for his tenure as Chancellor, where he played a pivotal role in navigating the economic challenges of the pandemic, Sunak was seen as a steady hand capable of steering the country through turbulent times. His leadership focused on economic recovery, addressing inflation, and managing the cost-of-living crisis that had gripped the nation.

Sunak’s approach emphasized fiscal responsibility and pragmatic solutions to the pressing issues facing the country. However, his premiership was not without challenges. The lingering effects of Brexit, geopolitical tensions, and the ongoing economic difficulties required careful and strategic governance. Sunak’s ability to deliver on his promises and restore public trust was critical as the country approached the 2024 general election.

Keir Starmer: The Labour Alternative

Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, presented himself as a stark contrast to the Conservative leadership. A former lawyer with a reputation for meticulousness and integrity, Starmer aimed to rebuild Labour’s credibility and appeal to a broad spectrum of voters. His leadership focused on addressing the issues of inequality, public services, and the need for political integrity.

Starmer’s strategy involved distancing Labour from the far-left elements that had defined the party under Jeremy Corbyn and positioning it as a pragmatic and responsible alternative to the Conservatives. His emphasis on rebuilding the NHS, investing in education, and addressing climate change resonated with many voters disillusioned by years of Conservative rule. As the 2024 general election approached, Starmer’s challenge was to unite his party, present a compelling vision for the future, and convince the electorate that Labour was ready to govern.

The State of the Nation

As the 2024 general election loomed, the United Kingdom faced a critical juncture. The past decade had been marked by political upheaval, economic challenges, and societal divisions. Voters were weary of broken promises, incompetence, and instability. The choice between Sunak and Starmer symbolized a broader decision about the country’s direction: continuity or change.

The upcoming election would be pivotal in determining the future path of the UK. It was not just a contest between two leaders but a reflection of the nation’s desire for effective governance, stability, and a hopeful vision for the future. As the campaign drew to a close, the stakes could not be higher, and the outcome would shape the UK for years to come.

Polling and priorities

Dozens of poll trackers, static Labour leads between 10-20%. Poll tracker electionmaps, BBC, Politico, Sky, all show the same thing. Taken from my blog post on 30th of April I said the following.

Polls show that the Labour Party maintains a 14-20% lead over the Conservatives. That trend, started in late 2021, has persisted for the past two years. Source for that claim, politico, BBC, Guardian, Sky news.  With other polling data also indicating negative sentiment toward the Conservative party. Approval of government here from YouGov. Here Ipsos tracking how approvals for various issues. Point is these numbers are not good news, once trust is gone voters don’t listen. No party has recovered while being this far behind on all the important measures. Even if you assume the best-case recovery happens, the Labour lead would still be 4-6%. All these numbers point towards defeat. Yet, we don’t know what sort of defeat is going to happen. Four possible outcomes here, small defeat, big defeat, wipe out and extinction event.

The current situation is dire, large defeat looms and a wipeout looks possible. The best case is 1997 style defeat, the worst case ranges from 100 to 20 seats. Dangerous close if current polling models are correct to a wipeout. Rock solid safe seats now look like they are competitive. Yet to dawn on many Tory Members of Parliament, how screwed they are. Until the last couple of weeks when they rushed to defend their seats. This message has finally seen the message change, almost conceding defeat. Mixed messaging will cause alarm in the party ranks. Polls are static with little to no real movement. The smallest movement in support could see more seats fall.

Now it’s time to look at voters’ priorities Ipsos, YouGov.

Top 5

  1. NHS

  2. Inflation

  3. Economy

  4. Immigration

  5. Housing

Party priorities

Tories

  1. National service

  2. Scrapping national insurance

  3. Scrapping the planned tax rise for pensioners, pensions triple lock plus

  4. Punitive welfare reforms

  5. Cutting something

  6. Rwanda deportation going ahead

  7. Cap on visa numbers

  8. Equality Act changed

  9. Stamp duty cut extended for first time buyers

These bold policies grab the attention of a narrow group. Low trust has shaken even the core bedrock of support. That is a problem, promise a moon on a stick. The second problem is does not match voter’s concerns at all. The third problem is trust, nobody believes you can do it. The fourth problem is priorities aimed at the core base to avoid that disappearing.

Labour 6

  1. Deliver economy stability

  2. Cut NHS waiting times

  3. Launch a new border security command

  4. Setup great British energy

  5. Crackdown on anti-social behaviour

  6. Recruit 6,5000 new teachers

Labour aiming at issues voters care about. The heart of the labour plan is reform, repair, renewal and rebuild. Everything Labour wants to do is simple and easy to understand. Delivery is crucial, especially given the current low levels of trust.

Campaign and strategy

Most people no longer consume news the old way. On average 5 minutes of news content a day. How we consume news has changed, read notifications and headlines. Short-form video clips of the news are normal. You watch a video and look up the story. WhatsApp groups between families sharing these clips. Thus making it difficult to track what gets attention. Focus groups can give you insight, playground too. So disinformation and misinformation can spread fast.

Air war and ground war but Labour has the advantage in both. The party has a media team that understands the platforms. Plus a far bigger activist base to campaign for it. The traditional campaign feels old-fashioned compared to the world now. Even the TV debate format feels old and not fit for purpose. Party loyalty disappears moving towards much higher levels of volatility. Even the manifesto is changing, digital over paper copies.

Tory party has reduced resources, after losing so many councillors, and members. Thus a diminished force, after awful local election results. The timing of the election further reduced its capacity, due to the summer holidays. Rishi declared they could go on holiday but called an election days later. Mad rush for candidates when it called the election, makes it look unprepared.

Labour Party spent months preparing, candidates in place and more ready to go. Prerecorded messages are ready with a different background and suit. Bigger membership is hungry for power, coming off a series of successful campaigns. Fresh data ready to door knock. Activist base that is willing to door knock. With a war chest of donation money to spend.

Tory’s strategy has been appeasing, the “Right” of the party who come back for more and more. Stuck in internal fights, drifting away from matters at hand. Purity above all else with no desire to compromise. Thus, the result squeezed from all directions. Arrogance has fostered a sense of self-indulgence. The party has compliancy winning against Labour and Lib dems for so long. Instead, it has ignored the threat from both, focusing on reform. It has been a total failure, Eurosceptics still demand more even after winning.

The weak leadership is unable to confront their internal opponents. It has been a disaster, turning activist issues into major ones. So the cycle repeats until you’re forced into an impossible position. The focus has been on reform voters, not labour or lib dem switchers. Swing voters are now your base, that is an awkward spot. The self-defeating strategy that Nigel Farage is happy to exploit. His goal is to remake the Tory party in his image. Yet they keep giving him air and he keeps reinventing himself.

Rishi Sunak’s slogan has been sticking to the plan. Most people don’t want to stick to the plan. Keir Starmer’s slogan is change, a similar vibe to what most people think. Rishi has made various mistakes, the biggest one cutting short D-Day 80th. That story is now cut through into people’s minds. Risks reinforce an image problem, graffs are adding up. Mistakes could cost seats as people feel disrespected. Rishi Yorkshire seat has one of the biggest military bases in the UK. A safe seat which has seen Rishi campaign in, showing some concern about it. Yet another scandal around betting on the timing of the election. After 2 weeks both candidates saw themselves dropped. Police suspended one of his security detail for betting on the date within 24 hours.

Campaign tail can be unpredictable, no matter how hard you try to control it. Events can happen that throw you off. That makes the D-day story so remarkable, it is an important event yearly. Downing Street feels like a bunker, deep in panic mode. Initially, the Tories focused on defending at-risk seats while gaining more. Later, they shifted tactics—rallying the core vote and pleading for survival. Now, they’re zeroing in on ultra-safe seats and supporting ministers. Labour is aiming for a massive 200+ seat majority.

Struggling to describe how it feels, the mood for change is real. Voters are frustrated by broken promises, non-functioning services, and a lack of trust. As polling day approaches scepticism about the Labour remain. Despite its faults, Labour continues to be ambitious and grounded in reality.

Challenges ahead

Labour has a risk register of challenges facing it which include.

Potential collapse of Thames Water

Public sector pay negotiations

Overcrowding in prisons

Universities going under

NHS funding shortfall

Failing local councils

Labour will inherit significant, crisis-laden economic challenges on top. Electoral volatility generated by weakening partisan allegiance. How long do voters give the party the benefit of the doubt nobody knows yet. Decade of crises and shocks with weaken UK state limits the future govt. Which is what my introduction hinted at. What economic challenges?

UK faces three problems lack of labour, lack of skills, lack of capital. Heart of the problem is failure to build and invest in the future. Faced with higher borrowing costs it has wasted lower borrowing costs. High inflation has reduced public services spending power. Services already dealing with higher demand and less money. Decade or more of spending cuts finally showing it effects. Aging population means the UK needs a higher birthrate. Cost of public services goes up with an older population too. Failure to build enough housing has reduced that birth rate as people can’t start a family. Older people can’t downsize, higher rents reduce demand. Poor growth for wages, productivity for 14 years. Government has failed to invest; private companies have failed to invest. With labour being so cheap no need for automatic car washes. Which means the UK needs some painful reforms. Public services cut to the bone need a major cash injection to avoid collapse.

Labour has a big task ahead, rebuild, repair, reform and renewal. Needs to be honest about the inherited mess.

Labour manifesto – Change

You can read it here, gives a clue about the direction of travel. Manifesto is the start not the end of the process. The House of Lords can’t block anything in the manifesto. I do have some concerns and worries but some promising signs.

5 missions 

This forms the backdrop to the Labour manifesto.

1) Kickstart economic growth to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 – with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

2) Make Britain a clean energy superpower to cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero.

3) Take back our streets by halving serious violent crime and raising confidence in the police and criminal justice system to its highest levels.

4) Break down barriers to opportunity by reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain.

5) Build an NHS fit for the future that is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

Delivering the change Britain needs will require perseverance. The starting point for delivering these missions is to ensure the foundations of good government are right. Labour will make sure we have strong national security, secure borders, and economic stability. Building on these secure foundations, we have already set out the first steps for change. Today we present further policies in this manifesto, as part of the journey of rebuilding our country.

I have bolded a couple of words here which are important or repeated.

Economic stability

Our fiscal rules are that:

  • The current budget moves into balance, so that day-to-day costs are met by revenues

  • Debt must be falling as a share of the economy by the fifth year of the forecast.

Labour plans to keep fiscal rules and remove investment from the rules. Less rules more guidelines or framework. Debt falling stays due to high interest rates. A restraint on public borrowing comes down to gaming forecasts.

 Labour will strike a balance between prioritising investment and the urgent need to rebuild our public finances. There will be no return to austerity.

Square the circle, falling debt, no spending cuts, no tax increases. Labour assumes that OBR upgrades growth forecasts which reduces debt.  That a risky gamble leaves public services in trouble until the Labour budget. Another explanation is Labour resets the narrative in power. Using the benefit of the doubt to do massive tax increases blaming the Tories. Meaning the party can borrow more to spend on public services. Putting faith in stability will yield growth. The danger here is not being honest with low trust asking for trouble. My worry is reform, and improved forecasts won’t lead to growth quickly enough. Public services need extra cash now not later. There are no plans to increase taxes for working people, ruling out the big taxes. That boxes the party in, leaving tax system in a mess. Tax reform is long undue but unpopular.

Rishi keeps pushing the lie about Labour increasing taxes by £2,000 which is a lie. Members of the public have noticed that and listened. Most people understand taxes have to go up to improve public services. Labour signed up to the current impossible plan of £19 billion cuts to public services. Most people only want to pay £10 more which won’t be enough. The danger here of not being honest breaks trust even more. Voters are not stupid they understand public services are in trouble. Due to how low info and disengaged people are you can understand why people are dodging it. Classic line about making tax system fairer and reforming it.

Kickstart growth

Most important point here is the different approaches to markets. Quite a radical shift compared to what came before. Which means more active government. One word that keeps appearing is partnership.  Planning reform and devolution are two key elements here. Focus on industrial strategy, aligned with other priorities. National Wealth Fund to help boost investment in a couple areas. Mixing private and public investment working together. Getting pension funds to invest in UK and review of the returns is good policy. Roadmap of business taxes, along with replacing business rates system.

The next big point is infrastructure which gets it own section. A strategy and planning reform are in the pipeline. National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority will bring together everybody and deliver. The biggest reform is planning, faster and cheaper.

Transport follows talking about potholes and car insurance. The insurance point is about reducing the rising costs nothing firm on how. Commitment to the transition to electric cars by 2030. Not only that but standardising second hand sales of them. Railways into public ownership, along with Great British Railways. New body to drive up standards. Buses franchise local bus services, lifting the ban on public owned. Powers so more can have unified and integrated transport systems.

Innovation a new body National Data Library, along with safeguarding. R&D institutions to get 10 year budgets. Working with universities, simplify the procurement process overall. Also AI regulation over model and more. The biggest change is co-operative and mutuals sector doubling it in size. Late payments for small businesses and median. Removing barriers and improving access to money. Post office gets banking hubs.  The active state is here, that theme of plans so far but no extra cash yet.

Improving public services is essential to growing our economy across the country. Public service workers have a criticaWhl role to play, but services are suffering from recruitment and retention crises. Labour will act to improve public service workers’ living standards throughout the parliament, and ensure any independent mechanisms have the confidence of all involved.

Vague but dealing with public sector pay issues. Immigration and skill policy, jointed up thinking here to upskill and improve conditions. How they deal with public sector pay will decide how quickly waiting lists can decline.

Conclusion

As the 2024 British summer general election draws to a close, the political landscape reveals a stark contrast between the Conservative and Labour parties. Over the past 14 years, the Conservative Party’s tenure has been marked by a series of tumultuous events and leadership changes, from the austerity measures under David Cameron’s coalition to the Brexit debacles under Theresa May and Boris Johnson, and the economic missteps under Liz Truss. Rishi Sunak’s efforts to restore stability and credibility have been overshadowed by the lasting impacts of his predecessors’ policies and the external challenges facing the nation.

The voters’ frustration is palpable, with the country grappling with high inflation, stagnating economic growth, and public services in disarray. The Conservative Party’s internal conflicts and focus on appeasing its right-wing factions have only exacerbated its decline in popularity. In contrast, the Labour Party, under Keir Starmer, presents a vision of change, addressing key voter concerns such as economic stability, NHS reform, and a renewed focus on education and public safety.

Polling data consistently shows a significant lead for Labour, indicating a strong possibility of a historic victory. However, the challenges awaiting Labour are formidable. The party will inherit a nation in crisis, with economic instability, a strained public sector, and a populace weary of broken promises. Delivering on their ambitious plans will require navigating these immediate crises while rebuilding trust and ensuring long-term growth and stability.

As the UK stands on the brink of potential political transformation, the need for competent governance and effective delivery has never been more critical. The coming months will test Labour’s ability to rise to the occasion and prove that their promises of reform, repair, renewal, and rebuilding can indeed lead the nation towards a brighter future.

Smite

Balancing the Triangle: Rethinking Gods’ Strengths and Weaknesses

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Balancing the Triangle: Rethinking Gods’ Strengths and Weaknesses

Game Feedback: Balancing and Design Considerations

  1. Symptoms vs. Root Cause:
    • A symptom serves as a sign of an underlying issue but isn’t the cause itself.
    • In the game context, free beads are a symptom, not the root cause of gameplay dynamics.
    • Players’ safety improvements in Smite 1 stem from design choices, but the fundamental cause lies elsewhere.
  2. Design Triangle: Damage, Mobility, and Ease of Use:
    • Gods’ balance hinges on three factors: damage, mobility, and ease of use.
    • Currently, gods exhibit excessive strength with minimal weaknesses.
    • This imbalance leads to a race toward overpowering abilities and power creep.
  3. Practical Implementation: Example with Zeus:
    • Zeus, lacking mobility, should excel in high damage output.
    • His sole crowd control (CC) would be a short stun.
    • Design flexibility could allow abilities to adapt based on the player’s role.
  4. Trade-offs and Weaker Corners:
    • Gods shouldn’t excel in all three corners of the triangle.
    • As power increases, trade-offs should emerge (e.g., harder-to-use abilities or lower damage).
  5. Super Mobile Gods and Crowd Control:
    • Highly mobile gods should naturally lack immunity to CC or hard lockdown abilities.
  6. Difficulty in Dodging Abilities:
    • The game currently lacks the feel of a fighting game due to reduced skill shots.
    • Setup options are prevalent, making it easier to land abilities.
  7. Power Curve and Kit Weaknesses:
    • The overall power curve needs adjustment.
    • Some kits require more weaknesses and less strength.
Smite

Smite 2 alpha first impressions

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Smite 2 alpha first impressions

Smite 2’s first-weekend alpha has just finished, and it is in a very early state. It feels like an alpha piece of software, unfinished with barebones features. A fresh foundation to build on, with core mechanics being the most important thing to focus on during this alpha period. Once they are finalized, it’s unlikely they will change due to everything else being built on top of it.

Alpha patch notes can be found here.

Gods can now build any item, with Strength (STR) and Intelligence (INT) replacing physical and magical damage. These two different stats have different effects on scaling their abilities and basic attacks. The only negative aspect is that there are more terms that can confuse players—references to physical and magical damage feel odd with STR/INT floating around. I would prefer if Smite stuck to two terms when it comes to damage. Let me give you an example: magical and physical protections. Which items protect me against strength attacks? I can already envision new players and returning players who don’t follow the patch notes asking that very question for years to come. Having more knowledge to learn means a higher barrier to entry. I’m sure the designers are aware of the KISS principle (Keep it simple, stupid). On a positive note, I appreciate how each type of damage now has a symbol showing its type. Reducing the knowledge required with lifesteal and penetration, thumbs up here—this is a good change overall. Movement changes are also overdue. Displacement CC changes reduce the number of terms in the game, and that is a good thing.

Front End UI:

  • The current UI feels functional and temporary, as confirmed by the patch notes. However, on consoles, it appears rather clunky to navigate and use.
  • The shop experience on consoles is frustrating. Here’s a simple solution: add a virtual cursor that can be controlled by the joysticks. Warframe uses a similar system, and it’s cross-platform.

Gameplay Changes:

  1. Tower Bounties and Health Bars:
    • These small changes could be positive, but there’s concern that most players won’t notice them.
  2. Minions:
    • While a small change, most players will likely notice the adjustments to minotaurs.
  3. Infamy System:
    • The shake-up in how jungle camps work introduces some problems. First, there’s no progress bar. Second, it’s not obvious what’s happening. For average players who don’t read patch notes, there should be clear indicators of changes.
    • On a positive note, the buff descriptions before pickup are a huge improvement.
  4. Interactive Map Objectives:
    • Some objectives (like Warhorn) lack clear explanations. Players need to know what they’re doing and what the objectives do.
    • The change to jungle buff pickup is good.
  5. Stealth Areas:
    • I’m glad stealth areas made it into the game. They add an element of strategy, using the map as a tool.
  6. Gold Fury and Ancient:
    • It’s unclear if the UI shows the bonus given after killing the Gold Fury. Ancient provides another strategy for breaking into a base. Objective control becomes more important.
  7. No More Classes:
    • Removing classes is a positive change, but playstyle tags should be visible during god selection. A sorting system would prevent the overwhelming feeling from the large roster.
  8. God Ability Text:
    • Short and long versions of ability descriptions are perfect. However, accessing them on a controller feels a bit clunky.
  9. Full God Kits:
    • With limited playtime, I appreciate what you’re trying to achieve with full god kits. My concern is ability bloat—adding too much while reducing weaknesses and giving gods too much versatility.
    • Various changes have noticeable gameplay impacts.
  10. Item Changes:
    • The component-based system is a step in the right direction. However, there’s worry about how actives and passives work on controllers.
    • The crafting recipe system isn’t very clear in the current UI. It’s essential to ensure players understand it.
    • The flexibility to choose starters without being forced into a specific option is a positive change.
  11. Wards and purification Beads: Turning these two into free resources I hope will see increased use of wards and make beads easier to balance. My only worry about wards is not being able to replace them, being able to buy new one for gold that resets the cooldown would be good.

Item Slots:

  • Inventory management now allows you to change slots around, which is a welcome improvement.

Consumables, Actives, and Passive Items:

  • Consumables taking up slots makes sense—early game, they’re crucial, but they become less useful late game.
  • However, the controller scheme feels a bit clunky when using these new items. Improving it is challenging due to the limits on button combinations.

Core Combat:

  • At times, hitting basic attacks felt a little off. I’m unsure if this discrepancy was due to the model style in contrast to the conquest art.

Conquest Map Design:

  • I would prefer the jungle to feel more like a maze. Creating difficulty in ganking lanes and deciding to give up farm for a gank feel impactful.
  • Currently, more cartoony style, but I was hoping for something different. Don’t mind this new direction being colourful. While I love the overall look of the game, it doesn’t quite fit the art style of the gods.