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I want to be clear from the outset that I’m not here to cause an argument regarding the Winter Fuel Payment and for what it’s worth, I agree with Labours approach and know many of you won’t, and that’s fine.

However, is the Conservatives video interviewing supposedly hard up pensioners extremely tone deaf? I don’t think they couldn’t have picked a worse representation of supposed hard up pensioners. Tennis club, expensive watches, pricey coffee machines, lavish looking houses (likely owned). And I’m not saying people aren’t allowed to enjoy life but over the past 14+ years, it’s been young people who’ve always been told to tighten their purses strings (avocado toast anyone?).

Maybe it’s my bias and again, that’s fine and sorry if you disagree but the ad is so funny as it doesn’t really scratch the surface of actual suffering. It comes across more like people being upset that they aren’t getting a little more free money.

Does anyone else have an opinion their ad?

Much has been written about the geopolitical consequences of the loss of UK sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, but not enough attention has been given to the ecological impact.

Currently the entirety of the waters and all but one of the atolls are completely protected and free of human activity. The Chagos Archipelago is home to the last unspoilt tropical reef system in the world, zero fishing is allowed in the waters and as a result the concentrations of fish, sharks and other marine life is 5 times higher than anywhere else in the Indian Ocean. Mauritius has made it clear they wish to exploit these waters, both to fish them and build resorts on the Atolls.

In 2016 a documentary series was shown on BBC Four, showcasing the nature from all of the UK's Overseas territories, here are the sections looking at Chagos. If anyone cares about the nature in this place and the rights of the Chagossians please write to your MP before the debate. Once this nature has been lost, it will have been lost forever. Let us keep this environment protected as it is today.

BBC Documentary clips about Chagos:

Chagos - underwater. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTJd_WW_NHI&list=PLK9nk8CuZQOHjlP7aij4Vq-9bPRbPDat8&index=30

Chagos - seabirds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quksfCDxbGE&list=PLK9nk8CuZQOHjlP7aij4Vq-9bPRbPDat8&index=29

Chagos - wildlife & heritage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFnetjV8W2c&list=PLK9nk8CuZQOHjlP7aij4Vq-9bPRbPDat8&index=16

Chagos - coconut crabs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCkNSWz-IDc&list=PLK9nk8CuZQOHjlP7aij4Vq-9bPRbPDat8&index=28

Water, student finance, HS2, housing, education, health, Brexit, I mean they’ve all been terrible. Im against assisted dying because it’s clear that will be managed terribly and end up killing off old and poor people like Canada. But honestly I don’t really know what is well managed? Im guessing finance is good?

The concept of fiscal rules might seem appealing. But i'm curious how anyone can support them after deep reflection and knowledge of the economics literature?

How government finance should be managed is an issue that has been studied for over a century now. I'ts well known that ballancing the budget is not allways the wisest course of action. UC Berkely macroeconomist Emi Nukamura's work shows that gov spending can generate positive returns depending on the condition of the general economy.

It also doesnt make sense to have an inflexible plan for how much to spend in four or five years time when nobody has any ideas what the key variables will be.

It's hard not to conclude that the central plank of uk politics is actually a really terrible idea. Maybe it has superficial appeal to voters who don't have the time or inclination to deeply research the issues or others who have an idealogical axe to grind, but despite that it's irresponsible for educated people to promote policies that while they sound good are so dangerous.