Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think the UK has gone to hell in a handcart?

212 replies

Superlambaanana · 06/04/2024 12:01

I’m just so fed up hearing about powerful people (usually men) getting away with things. It seems to have become the norm for them to do whatever the hell they like with zero consequences beyond a bit of handwringing in the media, which dies down fairly quickly, and never results in anything changing or being overturned. Leaving us ‘little people’ just having to suck it up.

Examples:

P&O sacked 800 workers in 2022. The CEO, Peter Hebblethwaite even admitted it was illegal. Yet nothing was ever done about it and he’s still CEO!

Liz Truss’s honours list. Bit of a roasting in the press for a day or two, but all the Truss supporters still got their honours in the end. Add to that Boris Johnston’s and the very dubious Charlotte Owen, and now Rishi Sunak creating a whole new honours round to make sure some party donors were rewarded in a blatant exercise in corruption.

Prince Andrew. Apparently still thinking of making a return to public life!!!!!! I mean, wtaf?!!!!!!

Michelle Mone. Has she really faced any actual consequences?

Phillip Scofield. Cheats on wife, bullies colleagues and his boyfriend, but achieves victim status because he was coming out of the closet.

Post Office scandal. Yes it’s managed to get some traction, but people will tire of it eventually and I bet that happens long before the sub-post masters get any justice or decent compensation.

Cost of living crisis and energy companies making absolute fortunes at all our expense with no prospect of bills actually coming back down to where they should be - no, instead we should be happy that they aren’t going up just as fast as last year!

Water companies. Borrowing money to give shareholders big payouts instead of actually managing the water and sewage systems to the extent that rivers are now full of faeces.

😩😫😩😫😫😩😫😩😫😫😩

OP posts:
friggingno · 06/04/2024 13:23

Liloona · 06/04/2024 13:17

One half of my family is British and always has been, thanks.

??? Then ask them.

PontiacFirebird · 06/04/2024 13:23

friggingno · 06/04/2024 12:44

I agree OP the level of incompetence + brazen profiteering is totally insane. And it's move on, nothing to see here. Plugging of holes with chewing gum and distracting with non-issues. No long term thoughts, everyone just sitting at the through pigging out, from top to bottom.
In politics, here are no leaders, no long view, nothing.

I travel quite a lot and it's shocking to come back to the UK and compare what we are getting for our taxes, it's a complete joke. Feels like the country is being asset stripped. The col is just carte blanche to seemingly sink the economy and really screw people?

That basically. ^
We have been like boiling frogs. The people in charge have conditioned us to gradually get used to worse and worse conditions, services and lives while they get away with stuffing their trousers with profit and laughing at us.
I hope the next government have some actual balls to sort things out, instead of wimping about in the edges ( which given Starmers demeanour so far seems depressingly likely)

HotelKitchen · 06/04/2024 13:22

I feel embarrassed of our shit public transport. I am fine in London but so much of the country is effectively inaccessible for non-drivers.

If I was PM I would genuinely want my country to work better and have decent public services and transport. Because with good education and health care comes greater ‘productivity’ and less crime etc of nothing else. Why don’t they care more?

Liloona · 06/04/2024 13:20

MissyB1 · 06/04/2024 13:07

As is repeatedly pointed out in these threads it’s not a race to the bottom! We should and could demand higher standards for the behaviour of our politicians and the super rich, why wouldn’t you want that??

It's always been the case that the rich and powerful shit on the poor. This is not a modern phenomenon. If anything these days those in power get bollocked more for it because with the advent of the Internet and people generally becoming more socially aware it's much harder for them to get away with hiding what they get up to.

If you're talking about a fundamental shift of power so that every person regardless of wealth or background is fully equal then good luck with that, because that's not the case for any single country and never has been in all of recorded history.

Superlambaanana · 06/04/2024 13:19

@mitogoshi Even P&O admitted the sackings were illegal and I'm pretty sure people trafficking is illegal regardless of age and consent is required regardless of age so PA may well have acted illegally, it's just these things haven't played out through the courts to a final judgment.

amp.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/24/po-ferries-boss-says-800-staff-were-sacked-because-no-union-would-accepts-its-plans

But I take your point that it's not straightforward. I suppose my main point is why on earth do we put up with it? We handwring for a few days while it's in the press, comment to friends and family about how disgusting it is, then it's on to the next thing and no consequences, learning or overturning of the thing which caused the outrage.

OP posts:
Liloona · 06/04/2024 13:17

friggingno · 06/04/2024 13:13

Well that's great for you but what are you comparing with? It might be an improvement for your family in one generation, but generally speaking the social mobility has slowed down. It's harder to improve your living standards than it was a generation ago.

One half of my family is British and always has been, thanks.

friggingno · 06/04/2024 13:13

Liloona · 06/04/2024 12:58

No I don't agree. I think the majority of people in this country don't know they're born. As the daughter of a refugee it really fucks me off.

Yes there are some corrupt, dickhead politicians but at the end of the day we live in a democracy and you can vote them out.

There are multiple other issues but it doesn't mean this is a shit country to live in.

Well that's great for you but what are you comparing with? It might be an improvement for your family in one generation, but generally speaking the social mobility has slowed down. It's harder to improve your living standards than it was a generation ago.

mitogoshi · 06/04/2024 13:12

The issue with most of the examples is that they aren't exactly illegal, immoral perhaps but not illegal. Eg the P&O case, they were on maritime contracts so not illegal, morally appalling behaviour but not legally wrong. Prince Andrew, again major ick factor but not illegal as was over 16, you would think he'd count his blessings and hide away but , well horrible behaviour but nothing legally can be done.

And so on even the Liz Truss situation, legally speaking she was allowed because writing the laws nobody expected a situation like that!

The problem is that laws are written in a way that deals with expected problems but all of these weren't predicted. Oh and by the way other countries are laughing, not at these things happening but that we were surprised because it happens all the time elsewhere!

Of course with this hindsight we can close some of these loopholes/oversights but honestly? we are no more in hell than other places, it's just we know about it these days. Utopia doesn't exist, instead perhaps it's time we all stop whining and instead start actively taking part in politics

Corinthiana · 06/04/2024 13:11

I personally think we should accept none of it.
Then actively do something about it.

Superlambaanana · 06/04/2024 13:10

@MissyB1
"As is repeatedly pointed out in these threads it’s not a race to the bottom! We should and could demand higher standards for the behaviour of our politicians and the super rich, why wouldn’t you want that??"

Indeed.

To those saying, the UK is better than other places and history was just as bad, are you really saying we should accept blatantly terrible behaviour from people in privileged positions? Surely the reason progress has been made and the UK is better than many other nations is because people didn't just suck it up?!

OP posts:
Pinkpinkpink15 · 06/04/2024 13:09

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

@DiamondArtists

you could show a little respect & restraint.

it was clear what the thread was about, so just scroll past if you're just going to come on & blah at everyone.

ok , we're lucky not to be in Ukraine or Gaza but we're still allowed to have a vent about the country we do live in!

Corinthiana · 06/04/2024 13:07

BeaRF75 · 06/04/2024 13:05

Does nobody ever read any history? You do know that there have always been instances of the type mentioned in the OP, don't you? And much, much worse.
We are a free and liberal democracy, with a safety net to protect the poorest and most disadvantaged in society. Even in 2024, there are still countries in the world who are nowhere near that, so do not take it for granted.
Of course no country is perfect, but we have a much fairer society than we have ever had.

Indeed. The Electoral Commission ensures that our electoral system is one of the fairest and least corrupt in the world.
However, you can't make people vote, or vote in a certain way. That's individual choice.

BringMeTea · 06/04/2024 13:07

100% agree OP. It is not a nice place to live. (just because other places are worse doesn't mean the UK isn't shit hth)

MissyB1 · 06/04/2024 13:07

Liloona · 06/04/2024 12:58

No I don't agree. I think the majority of people in this country don't know they're born. As the daughter of a refugee it really fucks me off.

Yes there are some corrupt, dickhead politicians but at the end of the day we live in a democracy and you can vote them out.

There are multiple other issues but it doesn't mean this is a shit country to live in.

As is repeatedly pointed out in these threads it’s not a race to the bottom! We should and could demand higher standards for the behaviour of our politicians and the super rich, why wouldn’t you want that??

Liloona · 06/04/2024 13:06

Superlambaanana · 06/04/2024 13:03

I don't think the country is shit to live in overall. And there will always be debate about government decisions and grey areas where ethics aren't straightforward.

But what I'm on about is blatant disregard for the law, or other people or established social contracts - basically freely admitting that you have ignored and broken them to your own advantage at the expense of others, riding out a bit of bad press and then ending up quids in or completely getting away with it. Accountability seems to only apply to little people.

That's been the case since the dawn of civilised society. It's nothing new.

Corinthiana · 06/04/2024 13:06

Superlambaanana · 06/04/2024 13:04

Do you really think it would make a difference? The system is too far gone I think.

You think that supporting a candidate of your choice or standing yourself wouldn't result in change?
You think successful, well organised campaigns haven't changed laws and societal norms?
Really?

Superlambaanana · 06/04/2024 13:05

@DiamondArtists I consider whinging on MN to be taking an action! I'm raising awareness on a very popular platform! From my comfortable armchair.

OP posts:
BeaRF75 · 06/04/2024 13:05

Does nobody ever read any history? You do know that there have always been instances of the type mentioned in the OP, don't you? And much, much worse.
We are a free and liberal democracy, with a safety net to protect the poorest and most disadvantaged in society. Even in 2024, there are still countries in the world who are nowhere near that, so do not take it for granted.
Of course no country is perfect, but we have a much fairer society than we have ever had.

Simonjt · 06/04/2024 13:05

Liloona · 06/04/2024 12:58

No I don't agree. I think the majority of people in this country don't know they're born. As the daughter of a refugee it really fucks me off.

Yes there are some corrupt, dickhead politicians but at the end of the day we live in a democracy and you can vote them out.

There are multiple other issues but it doesn't mean this is a shit country to live in.

As someone who spent half their child abroad in actual children starving to death poverty, I have to agree.

Malarandras · 06/04/2024 13:05

What do you mean ‘gone’ to? When was it ever not like this? The past was no better.

Superlambaanana · 06/04/2024 13:04

Corinthiana · 06/04/2024 12:59

You've never been on a protest march? Maybe join in one, maybe be part of a campaign, that's what I did.
Then stand for office, or campaign for somebody you support.
You can be part of change, but you have to be proactive.

Do you really think it would make a difference? The system is too far gone I think.

OP posts:
Corinthiana · 06/04/2024 13:04

Read Barak Obama on "calling it out".
It's not part of a process for change.

Superlambaanana · 06/04/2024 13:03

Liloona · 06/04/2024 12:58

No I don't agree. I think the majority of people in this country don't know they're born. As the daughter of a refugee it really fucks me off.

Yes there are some corrupt, dickhead politicians but at the end of the day we live in a democracy and you can vote them out.

There are multiple other issues but it doesn't mean this is a shit country to live in.

I don't think the country is shit to live in overall. And there will always be debate about government decisions and grey areas where ethics aren't straightforward.

But what I'm on about is blatant disregard for the law, or other people or established social contracts - basically freely admitting that you have ignored and broken them to your own advantage at the expense of others, riding out a bit of bad press and then ending up quids in or completely getting away with it. Accountability seems to only apply to little people.

OP posts:
DiamondArtists · 06/04/2024 13:02

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

0sm0nthus · 06/04/2024 13:02

I can only hope that now we have reached a rock bottom the only way is up 😬

Swipe left for the next trending thread