Most claimants are indeed not scroungers, just as most people are not rich tax dodgers. Each are in the minority and each are equally unacceptable.
Each are playing the system in their own different ways. I suspect we lose a great deal more to the very rich whose accountants just aim to make them richer and richer.
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Lest we forget what we have just lost ....
(163 Posts)Since Labour took office, Keir Starmer’s government has:
- Scrapped the two-child benefit limit, lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and putting money back into some of the hardest-pressed households in the country.
- Expanded free school meals, cutting costs for families and making sure more children get a proper meal during the school day.
- Expanded funded childcare, reducing one of the biggest monthly costs facing working parents and making it easier for people to stay in work.
- Raised the National Living Wage, increasing pay for millions of low-paid workers.
- Strengthened workers’ rights, giving people greater protection against insecure work and bad employers.
- Introduced statutory sick pay from the first day of illness, so workers are less likely to choose between their health and their wages.
- Ended no-fault evictions, giving renters more security in their homes.
- Brought rail operators back into public ownership, taking key services out of failed private hands and giving the public a stronger stake in how they are run.
- Cut NHS waiting lists from their post-pandemic peak, meaning more patients are being seen sooner.
- Raised the state pension through the triple lock, protecting pensioners’ incomes against rising costs.
- Scrapped the old non-dom tax regime, making some of the wealthiest people in the country pay more fairly.
- Added VAT to private school fees, raising money from those most able to contribute.
- Removed business rates relief from private schools, ending an unjustified tax break.
- Increased neighbourhood policing, putting more officers and PCSOs back into communities.
- Helped bring knife crime down, meaning fewer families face the devastation of serious violence.
- Recorded the lowest homicide rate since the 1970s, a material improvement in public safety.
- Created Great British Energy, giving Britain a publicly owned clean energy company.
- Created the National Wealth Fund, backing investment in industry, infrastructure and clean energy.
- Passed planning reforms aimed at getting homes and major projects built faster.
- Improved relations with the EU, reducing diplomatic hostility and rebuilding practical cooperation.
- Agreed a UK-EU security partnership, strengthening cooperation on defence and European security.
- Signed a long-term partnership with Ukraine, reinforcing Britain’s support against Putin’s invasion.
- Secured new trade agreements, opening up markets for British businesses.
- Helped restore seriousness to government after years of scandal, chaos and decline.
- Revived Sure Start under the guise of Best Start Hubs.
- Stood up to Trump and kept us out of Iran without the US/UK relationship falling apart.
- Restored international faith in the UK
And this is the man who has been hounded out for not being flashy enough and not courting the media.
Jane Thank you for your comment, my problem was with eazybee flippantly referring to benefits as a ‘scroungers charter’, clearly she/he stands by it which is very sad since most claimants are far from scroungers
Yes and I agree with you.
Luckygirl13
And this is the man who has been hounded out for not being flashy enough and not courting the media.
Hounded by his own ministers too. Surprising they don’t realise that they too are responsible.
Ilovecheese
The Labour party as a whole achieved these things. They are not due to Starmer.
23/06/2026 17:19 Luckygirl3
They achieved these under his leadership. We cannot ascribe all good things to the whole party, but all shortcomings to Starmer himself.
One of the problems with Labour was they did not communicate their achievements well. Some things were done after U-turns and that is never a good look.
Starmer inherited an absolute mess - he has left us stronger in many areas. We’d have been involved in a war by now if clowns like Farage or Truss were in power!
I do think the two child benefit cap is an issue - and vouchers would have been better than cash to families ie vouchers that could only be spent on certain things for the child - food, clothes etc. People have to be responsible and not keep producing children they cannot afford and we need to be certain the mo et we pay is used for the child’s needs.
I do think the winter fuel allowance should have gone - the assumption that all pensioners are in need of it is wrong. Look at these heatwaves - many are spending more on trying to be cool ! Labour should have stuck to their guns on this - not backed down. Winters are increasingly milder. Those that really need such benefits should be targeted.
Yes it was MOnica, and I am still joyful about that.
But it was a lot from which to recover.
Unreasonable to expect a complete reversal of fortunes in just 2 years.
All those in receipt of benefits should not be labelled scroungers - that is offensive. There are many people in genuine need of support from a caring society. There are many disabled or out of work for reasons not of their own making. Many people are entitled to benefits AND working! Certainly id like to see a huge reform of the super rich ‘benefits’ and their ability to hide assets and not pay taxes. That includes the Royal Family.
One of the problems with Labour was they did not communicate their achievements well. Some things were done after U-turns and that is never a good look.
Spot on.
StoneofDestiny
One of the problems with Labour was they did not communicate their achievements well. Some things were done after U-turns and that is never a good look.
Starmer inherited an absolute mess - he has left us stronger in many areas. We’d have been involved in a war by now if clowns like Farage or Truss were in power!
I do think the two child benefit cap is an issue - and vouchers would have been better than cash to families ie vouchers that could only be spent on certain things for the child - food, clothes etc. People have to be responsible and not keep producing children they cannot afford and we need to be certain the mo et we pay is used for the child’s needs.
I do think the winter fuel allowance should have gone - the assumption that all pensioners are in need of it is wrong. Look at these heatwaves - many are spending more on trying to be cool ! Labour should have stuck to their guns on this - not backed down. Winters are increasingly milder. Those that really need such benefits should be targeted.
I agree so quoting your post Stone of Destiny. I’m a Labour member I remain surprised and slightly shocked that Starmer introduced then back tracked on WFA and changes to pip and other benefits. I could write the book on benefit fraud (and a chapter on tax fraud). Not all pensioners need WFA obviously.
Not all pensioners need WFA obviously.
Absolutely! A blanket payment regardless of income is daft!
Madgran77
*Not all pensioners need WFA obviously*.
Absolutely! A blanket payment regardless of income is daft!
That is true but the cost of means testing usually goes a long way towards balancing out any savings made by paying it to the few.
Madgran77
*Not all pensioners need WFA obviously*.
Absolutely! A blanket payment regardless of income is daft!
And is your opinion of blanket free school meals the same?
And is your opinion of blanket free school meals
Yes!
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