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I do wish Keir Starmer would stop talking about ‘working people’!

(198 Posts)
Witzend Fri 25-Oct-24 16:01:09

Is he himself not a ‘working’ person?? Ditto Rachel Reeves, and every Labour MP?
Working people come in all shapes, sizes and income brackets.

If he means the less well off, the struggling, or the generally disadvantaged, why can’t he say so?

escaped Sun 27-Oct-24 19:04:53

No, she isn't. I meant sadly the likes of JKR might potentially go.
But I do agree. It has to be fair all round.

Wyllow3 Sun 27-Oct-24 18:59:15

JK has said she isn't leaving (just googled, unless I've missed something).
We can't not tax the super rich because some might go.

escaped Sun 27-Oct-24 18:18:06

MissAdventure

Well, they have got to do what suits them, and if it means leaving, well, byebye.

But don't you then say "byebye" to homegrown talent like JK Rowling? An educated, penniless single mum, living on benefits, but who made her huge fortune?
I'm sure if it suits her, like others, she will leave, but what a loss.

Madmeg Sun 27-Oct-24 18:11:16

Like others, I hate wealthy people yacking about " Ordinary Working people" as if they actually know any, assuming they don't regard themselves as being in that category. Do they mean their servants or the binman? I've worked all my life, both employed and self-employed (both at the same time for some years) and even 14 years into retirement am still self-employed a little. I don't think either the Tories or the current Labour lot are including me.

Oh, I inherited the residue of my parents' little terrace, after it was depleted by about 70% in carehome fees, and DH inherited his slightly bigger family home which was in very poor repair. We used most of those inheritances to help our DDs onto the property ladder - so in many people's eyes are pretty well off (and I wouldn't disagree - but nothing like as well off as plenty of others are.

I don't think any of the senior politicians know what an "ordinary working person" is.

MissAdventure Sun 27-Oct-24 17:20:20

Well, they have got to do what suits them, and if it means leaving, well, byebye.

escaped Sun 27-Oct-24 17:18:11

Me neither MissAdventure, but like we've discussed before, they'll just up and leave.

MissAdventure Sun 27-Oct-24 17:17:09

Well, I won't be holding it against him for trying, at least.

escaped Sun 27-Oct-24 17:13:29

I think probably less than 5% of billionaires inherited their billions. The majority are self made people who did it on their own. They are the entrepreneur types, or those in the right place at the right time.

I wonder how many actually blow the money they inherit too?

It's amazing that old money is somehow constantly being refreshed each generation. Try as he might, I can't see KS bringing a stop to that.

fancythat Sun 27-Oct-24 16:59:09

theworriedwell

eazybee

I think billionaires do work extremely hard because they are so invested in their business they cannot let go, and are always looking for new ways to beat the market. They also provide jobs for hundreds to thousands of people. It is their dependents that tend to do little.

Some current billionaires are more than likely the dependents of yesterday who have inherited the billions. Not all of them are self made.

Cant think of a single one off the top of my head.

I agree with eazybee.

MissAdventure Sun 27-Oct-24 16:53:20

What is his definition?

Smileless2012 Sun 27-Oct-24 16:51:53

No one we know understands what he means either M0nica.

If you work and get paid for the work you do you're a working person, regardless of what that work entails, how many hours you work, how much you get paid for it, how many rental properties you own and whether you own shares and/or have investments. That doesn't appear to be KS's definition though.

M0nica Sun 27-Oct-24 16:43:19

Trueloveways

The solution is for the media to stop asking for a definition. All the “working people” that I know understands what it means.

Well, no one I know does. Does it include pensioners/

I have avoided criticising this government until now, to allow for them to settle into power and start governing. However when 4 months in they are still making cloth eared and basic blunders like Starmer's latest comments, then, yes, criticism is called for.

This wasn't a policy issue it was basic PR, and if his Communications team are so incompetent that they let him make a remark like this, they should be sacked.

Allira Sun 27-Oct-24 16:34:32

I just thought it was "I'm working from home on Tuesday"! Or whenever.

Allira Sun 27-Oct-24 16:33:33

Oh, ok.

But they probably work for one employer so would be working people

MissAdventure Sun 27-Oct-24 16:30:14

Someone who works partly at home, and partly in the office.
Of course, there are countless different places they may work, and they may sometimes work from someone else's home, or summerhouse, or....

I think it's expected that most people don't find the concept too difficult, though. wink

Allira Sun 27-Oct-24 16:26:18

hybrid workers?

Excuse my ignorance - what's a hybrid worker please?

MissAdventure Sun 27-Oct-24 16:13:52

But what about the hybrid workers?
What's to become of them??

Doodledog Sun 27-Oct-24 16:12:29

MissAdventure

I find it adequate.

So do I. He means (and Bridget Phillipson reiterated this morning on Kuennsberg) that people will not find their pay packets lighter because of a tax increase. He means people on PAYE.

That is not to say that nobody who has ever worked a day in their life is immune to all taxation - of course not. Pensioners, some of whom have worked very hard, will be treated the same as other groups when it comes to any possible increases tax on interest, on rental income, on inheritance etc, as will those who have a passive income from capital, rents and so on.

The difference, as I interpret it, is that for a change it will not be those going out to work (or working at home, for the hair-splitters grin) who will be expected to carry the rest of the population. We all benefit from the NHS, from education, roads, defence (more than ever), welfare, pensions etc etc. Why should it just be those who work who pay for it?

MissAdventure Sun 27-Oct-24 15:49:16

I find it adequate.

Wyllow3 Sun 27-Oct-24 15:47:38

No, I just think he needs to be clearer rather than "right or wrong".

He's trying to find a descriptive term for a group of the population, but it's obviously not adequate.

Mollygo Sun 27-Oct-24 15:10:15

silverlining48

Regarding the title of this thread didn’t the Tories talk non stop about hardworking families. It used to get on my nerves a bit because they probably didn’t even know any hard working families. Other than staff perhaps. 🤔

They probably did and probably got stick for doing so. Does that make Starmer right?

silverlining48 Sun 27-Oct-24 14:44:43

Regarding the title of this thread didn’t the Tories talk non stop about hardworking families. It used to get on my nerves a bit because they probably didn’t even know any hard working families. Other than staff perhaps. 🤔

Wyllow3 Sun 27-Oct-24 14:05:29

MayBee70

Badenoch is doing a Q&A on Mumsnet which should be interesting.

Mumsnet:
We're pleased to announce a Mumsnet Asks Zoomchat with Tory Leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch MP on Monday 28th October at 10am. Please post your questions below, and Justine will put a selection to Kemi via Zoom.
dont know how to access it, have to wait for reports...

theworriedwell Sun 27-Oct-24 13:54:15

eazybee

I think billionaires do work extremely hard because they are so invested in their business they cannot let go, and are always looking for new ways to beat the market. They also provide jobs for hundreds to thousands of people. It is their dependents that tend to do little.

Some current billionaires are more than likely the dependents of yesterday who have inherited the billions. Not all of them are self made.

eazybee Sun 27-Oct-24 13:52:20

I think billionaires do work extremely hard because they are so invested in their business they cannot let go, and are always looking for new ways to beat the market. They also provide jobs for hundreds to thousands of people. It is their dependents that tend to do little.