This Government

Labour's problem has been that the industrial working classes has been falling in number since the 1920s and thus reducing the reliable Labour vote. The present position is that Labour relies more on unionised public sector workers and part of the middle classes which it cannot afford to alienate. The rise of populist politicians like Mrs T who attract an emotionally driven and patriotic level of support from the same classes also reduces the Labour vote, as does nibbling by parties like the Greens. It's all more complicated than it was early in the 20th century.

My now dead MIL, would be spinning in her grave. Staunch labour woman, who canvassed for the Labour Party when it was a proper Labour Party for the working classes. I think today she would have voted Reform for sure.. I know as I use to tell her off for not being very PC.

Oreo

I can’t argue with any of that Eazybee and I’m one of those who voted for them.
Unless things change over the next couple of years I will be politically homeless.

Join the gang 🤦‍♀️

I can’t argue with any of that Eazybee and I’m one of those who voted for them.
Unless things change over the next couple of years I will be politically homeless.

Not at all. We were just desperate for ANYTHING BUT THE TORIES.
The real problem isn’t Labour it’s Starmer.

No. The real problem is those who voted exactly as you say, anything but the Tories, without looking at the credentials of those they voted for, or those simply did not bother to vote at all.

The same thing will happen should there be a General Election. People will vote for Reform without even setting eyes on their local representative, and then discover they are totally unable to deliver their impractical promises because it is all Farage telling voters what he thinks they want to hear.

Starmer promised endless solutions when he was in opposition, while consistently voting against measures the Tories were trying to introduce to reduce migration. Now he is experiencing just how difficult it is to get his plans through, in his case due to opposition from his own backbenchers.

Those with above average wealth need to more tax too many are squirreling it away in property and pensions instead of spending it in the economy.

Perhaps you might like to advise the unlovely Angela who has acquired an £800,000 apartment in Brighton in addition to her £650,000 constituency home, as well as her grace and favour flat at Admiralty flat. It is at present unclear which is her main home for which she is entitled to claim council tax relief and she is apparently reluctant to say.
All on a salary of £150, 000.
How does she do it?

Not forgetting Rachel Reeves?
Yvette Cooper seems a bit out of her depth as Home Secretary. Always looks tired these days.
Wes Streeting seems quite good…and as for Angela Rayner…. Seems to be over promising and under delivering? 1.5 million houses by the end of this Parliament. The desire to demote the middle classes is getting a momentum.

mum2three

I'm delighted with this thread. So many people on here thought that the Labour party were the answer to all this country's problems. Now you know differently.
I'm not sure what their ultimate aim is, but they are certainly not working for the benefit of this country.

Not at all. We were just desperate for ANYTHING BUT THE TORIES.
The real problem isn’t Labour it’s Starmer.

mum2three

I'm delighted with this thread. So many people on here thought that the Labour party were the answer to all this country's problems. Now you know differently.
I'm not sure what their ultimate aim is, but they are certainly not working for the benefit of this country.

I'm having a memory fail. I don't remember many people on GN thinking that the Labour Party was the answer to all the country's problems. My memory tells me that people voted the best of a bad lot (and sometimes tactically).

The Conservatives won in 1979 because of the sheer and absolute incompetence of the Labour Government led by nice but hopeless James Callaghan.

I think that’s a moot point, Allira. It certainly opened us up to something much worse.

I'm delighted with this thread. So many people on here thought that the Labour party were the answer to all this country's problems. Now you know differently.
I'm not sure what their ultimate aim is, but they are certainly not working for the benefit of this country.

LizzieDrip

ronib

15 per cent NIC …. Who are the greedy bas!!!!! ?

Increased NI tax contributes to public services for the benefit of all UK citizens.

“UK supermarkets are posting substantial profits, with Tesco reporting £2.3 billion in pre-tax profits for the year ending February 2024 and Sainsbury's exceeding £1 billion in annual profits, reflecting both increased sales and strategic price.”

Tesco’s profit represents an increase of 160% on the previous year.

It’s up to you who you think is the greedy bas****!

You really think the increased N.I contributions will improve public services? 🤣🤣🤣

MaizieD

^Labour used to be for the working classes and the Conservatives were for the better off who owned their own homes, drove cars and often employed staff to cook and clean for them.^

Who voted for Thatcher in 1979, then? Because the 'working class' has by far outnumbered the middle class for many years so a lot must have changed sides.... Thatcher who promptly increased 1 million unemployed to 3 million unemployed and destroyed heavy industry...

And who voted for Cameron in 2010, whose chancellor promptly put loads of them out of work?

Since 1945 tories have been in government for 52 years; Labour for 28 (not including the current government. Not a lot of working class solidarity for Labour in that record...

The Conservatives won in 1979 because of the sheer and absolute incompetence of the Labour Government led by nice but hopeless James Callaghan.

LizzieDrip

^Sanctioning people for small errors such as you describe has been going on for long before this government came to power^

Well, of course, MaizieD.

But it’s only an outrage now because we have a Labour government.

I’ve got used to the Labour bashing. It’s boring🥱

But they're not Labour are they, if they're protecting the wealthy and penalising people like the man GrannyGravy mentioned. Just because it has happened with successive governments doesn't make it right and we should be able to trust a Labour government to put right injustices against the poor and vulnerable.

They are frightened of tackling the wealthy who keep them in power so target everyone else.

I am hugely disappointed in them, particularly Reeves.

As a lifelong socialist I am disgusted and disappointed at our Labour government. I did see this coming - the lack of good leadership when Starmer excluded the likes of Corbyn and Abbott. It’s a weak man, a poor leader and manager who cannot work with those who hold disparate views.

Good for the taxman then - presumably the supermarkets pay tax on profits? LizzieD. But just remember that small to medium businesses won’t be raking in that level of profits and many apprenticeships and entry level positions will be cut back. Ok?

ronib

15 per cent NIC …. Who are the greedy bas!!!!! ?

Increased NI tax contributes to public services for the benefit of all UK citizens.

“UK supermarkets are posting substantial profits, with Tesco reporting £2.3 billion in pre-tax profits for the year ending February 2024 and Sainsbury's exceeding £1 billion in annual profits, reflecting both increased sales and strategic price.”

Tesco’s profit represents an increase of 160% on the previous year.

It’s up to you who you think is the greedy bas****!

Babs03

@Mt61 No RR put stamp duty up in April this year, was an almighty rush for house buyers to get things rubber stamped before this date and now the property slump is the worst in ten years people are having to drop house prices ti what they bought it for if they bought it within the past decade.
RR has single-handedly destroyed the property market.

Oh ok babs03 👍🏻

15 per cent NIC …. Who are the greedy bas!!!!! ?

So ronib, you believe that supermarkets are installing more & more self service tills because of the slightly higher NI tax?

Rubbish! It’s because supermarkets are profiteering - they are greedy bas*****.

The aim of that is so they can cut costs probably due to NI hikes , thats down to Reeves

Yes it is the fault of RR - she is making it very expensive for employers to pay national insurance taxes on staff. An extra 15 per cent? ilovecheese unfortunately!

Supermarkets are installing automatic tills, therefore they are making staff redundant. Not the fault of Reeves.

Surely if house prices stabilise that would be a good thing. Property should be for living in not investing in.
Although there is not much sign of it where I live. A two bed terrace should not be costing half a million pounds.

Those with above average wealth need to more tax too many are squirreling it away in property and pensions instead of spending it in the economy. More help does need to be given to below average wealth which means those above average have go pay more.