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The National
6 days ago
- Politics
- The National
No plan, no passion. Keir Starmer's Labour is already running on empty
The first was that even after 14 years out of power, the party was woefully unprepared in policy terms for entering government. The second was that even measured against the pitifully low calibre of recent Tory leaders, Keir Starmer just isn't very good at politics. Let's deal with the second of those points first. Prime Ministers Questions is hardly the be-all and end-all when it comes to the public forming their impressions of party leaders. However, it still plays a role in testing a leader's ability to think on their feet and set out a political narrative on behalf of their party. 'Forensic' was the word most commentators reached for in describing Starmer's low-key approach at first. But while that should have been like Kryptonite to the bluster, blether and outright dishonesty of Boris Johnson, it still never really landed. In the end, Starmer profited simply by not being his opponent. READ MORE: Experts debunk Nigel Farage's claim scrapping net zero would save £40bn a year We can skip past Liz Truss, in this at least. Yet even when it came to Rishi Sunak – a man who finished his premiership with even poorer ratings than did Johnson – Starmer's leaden, deaden, flat-footed approach barely made an impact on prevailing trends. Again, he profited simply by not being his opponent. The first point, however, is the one which has played the biggest part in Starmer and his party squandering what little goodwill they might have begun with. For while a prime minister with a tin ear for public opinion can still prosper if they have good advice on tap and a plan that people understand and think will work, it's pretty clear that Starmer entered Downing Street last year without having either of those things. You can question whether the initial blame for this lies with Sue Gray or Morgan McSweeney as his two key chosen lieutenants at the time. Either way, the failure even yet to pull together a compelling narrative about what the Labour Government wants to achieve in office and how it plans to do it, is something where the buck stops with the Prime Minister alone. A government with a plan and a clear story to tell would be able to castigate the Tories for the mess they made of Brexit and the economic disaster they left behind them. It would have a compelling argument about why any genuinely 'tough decisions' were both necessary and in everyone's best long-term interests. And the impact of those decisions would be something which they'd have steeled themselves to ensure fell only on those best able to withstand the impact. Instead of that, it's the elderly, the disabled and the financially marginalised who either have or are about to bear the brunt of Labour's fiscal tightening. Their Brexit mitigations are offered not confidently as a return towards sanity, but almost as an apology wrapped in toxic 'island of strangers' rhetoric. Meanwhile, showpiece pledges such as cutting energy bills simply fall to pieces in the face of bills heading obstinately in the opposite direction. The harsh lesson for Labour is that if you campaign on a pledge of delivering 'change', then change you had better deliver. And so we had the announcement last week that Labour will reverse their cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment – just without any detail on when or how. Starmer has also apparently let it be known in private that he would like to scrap the two-child benefit cap after all. Although, once again, there is no indication of when or how this might come about. Yet there is still no confirmation of when his government's 'Child Poverty Strategy' – originally planned for publication earlier this year – will eventually see the light of day. And even yet, having apparently failed to learn anything from those earlier mistakes, his Government is still considering ending the Personal Independence Payments that so many people rely on. READ MORE: John Curtice gives his verdict as Hamilton by-election looms It's all drift, dither and lack of direction. And while ordinarily, Starmer would continue to profit by simply not being his current Tory opponent, he has been outflanked by Farage claiming from the luxury of opposition that he would reverse the Winter Fuel Payment cut and the two-child cap, while the SNP have already committed to doing so from the position of being in government. In many ways, Starmer seems to be becoming like Gordon Brown in government – surrounded by courtiers pretending to know his mind, all while the man himself remains suspended in a permanent state of indecision. Except, liberated from office, even Brown has managed to say publicly and in his own words that the two-child cap is cruel and needs to go. So with less than a year to go until the Holyrood elections, where is Anas Sarwar in all of this? Speaking truth to power in London? Urging Starmer to 'read his lips'? Telling Scottish voters, with the chutzpah that only he can muster, that they need to vote 'Scottish' Labour in order to protect Scotland from Labour? Before the last election, Labour politicians were on loop claiming that a resurgence of Scottish Labour was necessary in order to secure a Labour government in Westminster. It was a claim which was as dubious politically as it was mathematically. How ironic it is that barely 12 months later, it is now Scottish Labour who are desperate for a resurgence in UK Labour fortunes in order to save their own skins next May.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia looks in good shape for top 8 national seed. Why that matters so much to Bulldogs
Wes Johnson came to Georgia baseball fresh off tutoring Paul Skenes, the pitcher who helped LSU to a national championship before starting in the MLB All-Star game as a rookie. Before that, he was the pitching coach in the big leagues for the Minnesota Twins. Advertisement Yet his Bulldog teams have risen to prominence in Johnson's two seasons as coach for how they bash balls over the fences. He built his team to thrive in the hitters park that is Foley Field. To feed the trees in the outfield as the merchandise says. That's why No. 8 Georgia winning its series on Saturday May 17 against Texas A&M was big — to all but assure the Bulldogs won't have to be on the road in the NCAA Tournament. Instead the 7-4 victory means the Bulldogs (42-14, 18-12 SEC) are in great shape to stay home. 'Yeah, I think we are,' Johnson said about being a top eight national seed. 'You look at our RPI (No. 1), you look at our nonconference schedule, you look at what we've done at home. We won two road series, we didn't lose a home series. Yeah, I think we are but the committee is doing their stuff.' Advertisement Georgia is 29-4 at Foley where dimensions are oh-so-inviting particularly with the right field line just 314 feet and the left field playing shorter at times then its 350 feet down the line. Henry Hunter homered in the sixth Saturday with a blast to right that stayed inside the foul pole. The catcher stood at the plate with his bat in the air and watched it go over the fence for his ninth home run of the season. Johnson studied the numbers at Foley when he got the job in June of 2023. He said teams that won there were hitting almost three homers a game. 'I immediately said well, this ballpark is built for homers,' Johnson said earlier this season. 'It's almost six homers a game in an SEC weekend was getting averaged at times. So it's like, 'You've got to hit homers to win here.' You guys know, our right field is short, center field plays pretty true. Left field even though it's deep, we get the right wind and it plays short. Those are things I looked at. I said we've got to get guys to hit home runs.' Advertisement Oh, he's got them. Even with generational talent Charlie Condon gone after last season. Georgia leads the nation in home runs with 132, but it also entered Saturday having struck out the most in the SEC at 512. Georgia blasted three homers in a 10-6 win Thursday and was mowed down by Justin Lamkin who threw a complete game shutout with 15 strikeouts Friday. Lefties can be Kryptonite for Georgia. Vanderbilt's JD Thompson struck out 14 against Georgia on April 17. Myles Patton shut out Georgia until the fifth Saturday when Slate Alford smashed a two-run homer. The Bulldogs entered the day hitting .256 against-left-handers, which is down from .265 when Johnson gave the players T-shirts that said 'I Love Hitting Left Handed Pitchers.' Advertisement Johnson said Ryan Black has improved against lefties. Robbie Burnett should be back from a hamstring injury in time for the NCAA Regional. Zaborowski, who played for the first time since April 26 after being out with an elbow injury, had two hits Saturday and hit a towering fly ball in the fifth off Patton but it stayed in the ballpark. 'You just get the length back, man, it puts pressure on people,' Johnson said. Seven Georgia players this year have double digit home runs compared to three each of the previous two seasons before Johnson took over. Georgia had just one player with double digit home runs in 2021. This season five have at least 12: Robbie Burnett with 20, Alford with 17, Ryland Zaborowski with 16 each, Kolby Branch with 13, Daniel Jackson with 12. Advertisement The Bulldogs have thrived at home this season. In the SEC, the Bulldogs went 11-4 at home and 7-8 on the road. That's left some analysts to state that playing at home is crucial for Georgia. 'We know they can swing it. A lot of home runs, a lot of power,' former MLB second baseman Todd Walker said on air on the SEC Network earlier this month. 'I think they've got to play home in Athens to really have a shot to get to Omaha. They play great at home.' Former LSU outfielder Jared Mitchell said in late April on the SEC Network: 'When you watch them play, can they get it done anywhere outside of in Athens? I'm not sure. That's a great place to hit. I'm not sure that pitching that they have travels.' Advertisement Hosting isn't an automatic ticket to Omaha. Georgia was a No. 7 national seed last year and didn't make it to Omaha, losing in three games to N.C. State in the Super Regional. Six of the eight teams that hosted Super Regionals last year advanced to Omaha and five of eight in 2023. 'I push these guys every day that playing at home for a super is the most important thing you can do,' said outfielder Nolan McCarthy who transferred from Kentucky which advanced to its first ever College World Series last year after beating Oregon State at home. 'We played Coach Johnson two years ago at LSU and faced Skenes on a Friday night. You know you're not going to win that Super on the road against Skenes.' Advertisement The numbers in SEC games show what playing at home means to Georgia. The Bulldogs averaged 7.7 runs at home and 6.8 on the road and had 9.3 hits at home and 8.5 on the road. Georgia hit 2.3 homers a game at home and 2.5 on the road, but had three more multi-homer games at home. The Bulldogs hit .270 at home and .251 on the road. 'Playing at home in front of Foley is awesome,' catcher Henry Hunter said. 'That's where we want to play. We're going to do everything in our power to make sure that happens for as long as possible.' This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia baseball wants to cook at home in NCAAs on way to CWS in Omaha
Epoch Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Americans' Retirement Readiness Gets a Bad Grade in One Area
By Christy Bieber Kiplinger's Personal Finance Millions of Americans risk not being ready for retirement. Like Kryptonite to Superman or Achilles' heel, one issue is weakening retirees' retirement preparations. That troubling news comes from a retirement readiness study conducted by IRALOGIX, a technology company specializing in IRAs. The The index revealed a national retirement readiness score of only 45.8 out of 100; scores below 50 are in the 'Moderate Risk' zone. In a press release regarding the data, IRALOGIX explained the average score indicates that 'many pre-retirees may face uncertain futures without adequate savings, health care coverage, or financial confidence to sustain themselves through retirement.' So, why are Americans falling so short in retirement readiness, and what can be done about it? Why Most Americans Have Low Retirement Readiness Americans are falling short of the ideal scores in three key areas: Health care readiness Savings and investments Lifestyle and spending However, health care readiness was the worst category, with Americans earning just 6.3 out of a possible 15 points in this category. Key gaps included a lack of understanding of how Medicare works, the absence of a plan for covering health care emergencies, and a lack of preparedness for chronic illness. 'Americans are unprepared for the costs of health care in retirement because people are living much longer lives,' warned Steve Azoury, ChFC® and owner of Azoury Financial. 'The longer you live, the more care you'll likely need. Health care in retirement has become extremely costly, and many Americans don't think about it when they're younger.' Long-Term Care (LTC): The Retirement Achilles' Heel John Gillet, CEO and founder of Gillet Agency in Hollywood, Florida, says many pre-retirees are understandably caught off guard by health care expenses. It's challenging enough to plan for routine spending, he explains, much less for one of the highest costs of all: the potential need for nursing home or home care. The proverbial Achilles' heel of retirement. 'Many Americans are just unprepared for normal living expenses in retirement,' he said. 'Therefore, it's no surprise they haven't given serious consideration to the potentially growing health care expenses they may encounter. The most significant health care expense bomb that's itching to detonate and blow away many retirement dreams is long-term health care.' Related Stories 9/7/2023 2/28/2025 As many as seven in 10 Americans are likely to require long-term care. A Poor Retirement Readiness Raises LTC Risk IRALOGIX also acknowledged that many Americans have saved too little in general, with survey respondents earning just 15.1 of a possible 35 points in the savings and investment category. Many do not understand how to create a sustainable retirement budget or withdrawal strategy, either. These issues only exacerbate the crisis that being unprepared for health care spending could cause, as those with too little savings and no clear budget will have an even harder time covering their medical needs. Retirees can, if necessary, cut many expenses in retirement, from downsizing to a less expensive house to moving to a lower cost-of-living area. But there's no escaping the fact that estimates suggest the typical 65-year-old retiree in 2024 would need $165,000 to cover out-of-pocket expenses not paid for by Medicare during retirement. With health care costs rising faster than inflation, future retirees will need an even larger sum. As the IRALOGIX report shows, not having a plan for this is one of the key factors undermining retirement readiness. How You Can Be More Prepared for the Future Planning for health care simply isn't optional for future retirees. In fact, as you think ahead to retirement expenses, and especially before deciding it's time to retire, it's critical you make sure you can cover these costs. 'In planning for retirement, build a budget that covers what you believe to be all your fixed monthly expenses, including health care expenses,' advised Domenick D'Andrea, an AIF®, CRC®, CPFA® and co-founder of DanDarah Wealth Management. Azoury agreed, stating, 'Just like living expenses will need to be calculated, so do health care costs. As you age, costs will rise, so it's important you factor that in as well.' To estimate your budget, be sure you understand what Medicare covers and excludes, as common care needs like dental costs, hearing aids, and long-term care aren't covered. You should also understand that traditional Medicare comes with 20 percent coinsurance costs for most outpatient care, so you'll need to look into the cost of Medigap plans that supplement traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage Plans that replace it. You should also consider your family's health history and your current health status when estimating what you'll likely need to spend. And don't forget about preparing for nursing home or home care. 'A properly structured long-term care plan can help Americans pay for these unexpected care costs,' according to Gillet. This could include buying long-term care insurance or making a Medicaid plan with an estate planning attorney. Improving your overall retirement readiness can also be helpful. You can do this by identifying a safe withdrawal rate, creating a spending plan, and of course increasing the amount you save and invest. 'Americans who are over the age of 50 can use the catch-up provision and contribute an additional $7,500 into their 401(k),' D'Andrea said. 'Secure 2.0 also allows a super catch-up contribution for people from age 60 to 63 to increase their contribution by $11,250 instead of $7,250.' D'Andrea also said if you can't save more, working longer may be your only option if you aren't fully prepared for health care and other expenses. Ultimately, the more you can invest for retirement, and the clearer you are on your budget, the better your chances of covering health care costs. If you aren't sure your money will stretch far enough, it simply may not be your time to retire. ©2025 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
3 Doors Down's Brad Arnold REVEALS Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis in Emotional Video
/ May 08, 2025, 11:23PM IST 3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold has revealed he's battling stage 4 kidney cancer that has spread to his lungs. The singer announced the diagnosis via an emotional video on Instagram, prompting the cancellation of the band's upcoming tour. Known for hits like 'Kryptonite' and 'Here Without You,' Arnold says he's not afraid—and is asking fans to lift him in prayer. His powerful words and unwavering spirit are now striking a chord beyond the stage.
NBC News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
3 Doors Down singer Brad Arnold diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, cancelling summer tour
Brad Arnold, lead singer of American rock band 3 Doors Down, has been diagnosed with stage four cancer and is cancelling the band's upcoming tour, he announced in an Instagram pos t on Wednesday. "I had been sick a couple of weeks ago and went to the hospital and got checked out, and actually got the diagnosis that I had clear cell renal carcinoma that had metastasized into my lung," the 46-year-old rock vocalist said in a video. "It's stage four, and that's not real good." The band rose to fame in early 2000 when their hit song 'Kryptonite' charted third on the Billboard Hot 100. They were set to tour this summer with fellow '90s/2000s rockers Creed, Nickelback and Daughtry. The 'Here Without You' singer apologized for the cancelled tour, but assured fans he is not fearful of his diagnosis, relying on his strong faith. "We serve a mighty God and he can overcome anything, so I have no fear," Arnold said. "I really, sincerely am not scared of it at all." Scott Stapp, lead singer of Creed, commented on the post, "If anyone has the FAITH and STRENGTH to face this fight, it's YOU brother. You and your family are in my prayers daily." The family of late country rock legend Charlie Daniels posted on Instagram in support of Arnold as well, who they refer to as a "dear friend" of the family. Daniels helped Arnold on his journey with sobriety and "saved his life — Brad's words, not ours," the family said. "Today he shared his cancer diagnosis with the world, and we want to lift Brad up in prayer for healing," the Daniels family wrote. "The best part is that he's done the most important healing already, and that is his spiritual healing and his faith in the power of Jesus." With the rock community standing behind him, Arnold is also looking to his own music as he faces his diagnosis. 'Now, I believe 'ITS NOT MY TIME' is really my song,' Arnold wrote in the caption of his post, referencing a 3 Doors Down track. 'This'll be a battle so we need our prayers warriors! Thank y'all for being the best fans in the world."
