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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Labour Voters. Honest question

484 replies

Tryingtodobetter82 · 29/12/2025 23:46

I’m not looking to start an argument on this subject. I know it’s a very heated and emotive topic.

I have strong views on political issues. What with algorithms and biased news organisations, it’s very easy to end up only seeing information that confirms what we already believe. Because of that, you don’t often hear the other side of the political divide.

I’m honestly curious whether those who voted Labour at the last General Election, for reference I did not, would vote the same way if there were an early GE in January, purely hypothetical of course.

If so, I’d really appreciate you sharing what you feel they’ve done right so far in their term. I’m asking as I genuinely want to understand different perspectives.

YABU - I would vote labour again
YANBU - I wouldn’t vote for them again (or ever have)

OP posts:
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15
DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 30/12/2025 15:52

jen337 · 30/12/2025 15:43

So is your argument, what Labour are doing is bad, we’re should’ve let the Cons continue do bad things instead? Do you really imagine they were on the verge of magically turning things around? Labour are 100% the least worst option out there.

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Do you think Labour is “magically” going to turn things round? Or even “unmagically”?

They got in off the back of an exhausted Tory government. And quite right too. But Labour’s proved too stupid, dishonest and craven to govern, even in 18 months.

Labour’s best legacy now is making the right come to its senses.

In government, Labour’s failed even the smallest tests.

MandingoAteMyBaby · 30/12/2025 15:50

peacefulpeach · 30/12/2025 15:45

Have a read of this. I’d not actually seen this until half an hour ago, but it summarises my thoughts on catastrophic Ed. The only difference is that this is an old article - written before Ed M got put in charge of climate change (or summat). Terrible. Terrible. Terrible.

https://medium.com/@craig_walmsley/this-is-all-ed-milibands-fault-f221341eb108

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Did you take that at face value, and are you insane enough to believe that the actions of those who directly caused Brexit, funded it and campaigned for it, are not to blame - because Milliband didn’t do something else ?

BoredZelda · 30/12/2025 15:48

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:43

It’s because Labour’s definition of working class is someone who doesn’t work with a few exceptions for working for organisations with big trade unions, where as most people’s definition would be those who make their living from working.

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This is utter bunkum.

BoredZelda · 30/12/2025 15:47

I would probably vote Labour if there were an election, largely to keep Reform/Conservative out of Government. As has been said, they have done some good stuff. But they have made some pretty big political errors, entirely unforced. I really want to give Starmer and Reeves credit but they seem not to be particularly politically savvy or are being badly advised.

I would naturally go to lib-dem, but I have to say, Greens are looking more of a good option.

peacefulpeach · 30/12/2025 15:45

ilovesooty · 30/12/2025 14:40

Why?

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Have a read of this. I’d not actually seen this until half an hour ago, but it summarises my thoughts on catastrophic Ed. The only difference is that this is an old article - written before Ed M got put in charge of climate change (or summat). Terrible. Terrible. Terrible.

https://medium.com/@craig_walmsley/this-is-all-ed-milibands-fault-f221341eb108

jen337 · 30/12/2025 15:43

Dgll · 30/12/2025 15:23

Read my second sentence and you will see that I did describe the Conservatives as 'utterly crap'.

That doesn't stop Labour from being even more of disaster. Making a bad situation worse by implementing policies that close down businesses, cause redundancies and increase unemployment does not make me feel like things are now heading in the right direction.

Show quote history

So is your argument, what Labour are doing is bad, we’re should’ve let the Cons continue do bad things instead? Do you really imagine they were on the verge of magically turning things around? Labour are 100% the least worst option out there.

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:43

Betty1625 · 30/12/2025 15:35

I feel im as common and working class as they get, but labour does nothing for people like me

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It’s because Labour’s definition of working class is someone who doesn’t work with a few exceptions for working for organisations with big trade unions, where as most people’s definition would be those who make their living from working.

Betty1625 · 30/12/2025 15:35

ClawsandEffect · 30/12/2025 00:16

The thing is, the people you're talking to (Labour voters) are never going to consider voting Tory regardless because the Tories always screw over the working class/common people (not common as an insult, meaning the average person).

So no matter how good / bad Labour is, to most Labour voters, they are the least worst alternative.

I might consider voting Your Party, Green or at a push, Lib Dem. But never, ever Tory. I'm an older person and I've seen several times how they target the poor and the working class.

I feel im as common and working class as they get, but labour does nothing for people like me

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:33

jen337 · 30/12/2025 15:26

Explain to me why I should believe anything from the Cons with their track record of utterly shambolic government, or reform without any coherent policy to speak of? “Nige says it’ll be fine”. Can’t even name another one of their politicians, apart from the grifter in chief, anything you do hear reeks of incompetence and venality, and they’re going to run the country? Hope you’re getting paid for all the campaigning you’re doing on this thread.

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Don’t you think it’s telling that you can’t think of a single example of anyone not on benefits better off under Labour ?
Don’t you think that it’s telling that instead of recognising facts, you accuse people of being paid because they keep pointing out these facts.
Quite simply, this Government is indefensible. That is why you’re struggling so much.

Btowngirl · 30/12/2025 15:32

ClawsandEffect · 30/12/2025 00:16

The thing is, the people you're talking to (Labour voters) are never going to consider voting Tory regardless because the Tories always screw over the working class/common people (not common as an insult, meaning the average person).

So no matter how good / bad Labour is, to most Labour voters, they are the least worst alternative.

I might consider voting Your Party, Green or at a push, Lib Dem. But never, ever Tory. I'm an older person and I've seen several times how they target the poor and the working class.

I agree with this. I voted green in the past but Labour at the last GE as felt it needed to be more strategic than just who I’d like to vote for. I will 100% vote for them again if it counts towards keeping (mainly) reform out. I’ll never vote tory, I grew up in a council estate in the 90’s with a v hardworking single mum & 3 siblings. Despite being a higher earner now, I’ll never forget where I came from and the bone some people need throwing, and it’s not going to be thrown by the tories imo.

Dragonscaledaisy · 30/12/2025 15:31

jen337 · 30/12/2025 15:26

Explain to me why I should believe anything from the Cons with their track record of utterly shambolic government, or reform without any coherent policy to speak of? “Nige says it’ll be fine”. Can’t even name another one of their politicians, apart from the grifter in chief, anything you do hear reeks of incompetence and venality, and they’re going to run the country? Hope you’re getting paid for all the campaigning you’re doing on this thread.

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It's the campaigning people are doing elsewhere that is really damaging the Labour party - let's keep that going because it's working very nicely.

jen337 · 30/12/2025 15:26

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:14

Explain to me how anyone not on benefits is better off under Labour.

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Explain to me why I should believe anything from the Cons with their track record of utterly shambolic government, or reform without any coherent policy to speak of? “Nige says it’ll be fine”. Can’t even name another one of their politicians, apart from the grifter in chief, anything you do hear reeks of incompetence and venality, and they’re going to run the country? Hope you’re getting paid for all the campaigning you’re doing on this thread.

EasternStandard · 30/12/2025 15:26

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:21

Labour fabricated the ‘black holes’ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reeves-budget-taxes-labour-obr-b2874497.html

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In the Independent too. Agree with you btw on the state dependency stuff below, although as pp says votes are dropping so hopefully not.

sleepwouldbenice · 30/12/2025 15:25

Dollymylove · 30/12/2025 13:52

So, what has starmer achieved up to now.
In no particular order:
Given billions away to the Chagos Islands
Given our fishing rights away
Fucked over the private school system.
Fucked over private business enterprise
Reneged on his "no tax rise" policies
Fucked over the pensioners and disabled then U turned.
Made working for a living pretty much pointless by giving huge UC rises
Fucked over the farmers.
Gave train drivers a big rise with no conditions attached
Conspired with Merseyside police to cover up the Southport stabbing perpetrators identity.
Jailed those who made their feelings clear over the whole fiasco.
Hasn't smashed the gangs.In fact more and more arriving almost every day.
And finally.... the cherry on the cake (drum roll) made it his top priority as UK premier to allow in aan anti semitic jihad supporter who openly Hates Britain, white people and Jews, and declared how delighted he was to accommodate him Ta-daaaaa!!!!

This list just shows your bias so is completely useless. Even as a non labour voters i agreed with their approach to 2/3 of these. Its not the gotcha list you think it is..

Dgll · 30/12/2025 15:23

jen337 · 30/12/2025 15:15

Why isn’t there any money, suggest you apply some of your criticality to the Cons utter mishandling of the economy. They had 14 years to sort it out and failed miserably.

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Read my second sentence and you will see that I did describe the Conservatives as 'utterly crap'.

That doesn't stop Labour from being even more of disaster. Making a bad situation worse by implementing policies that close down businesses, cause redundancies and increase unemployment does not make me feel like things are now heading in the right direction.

peacefulpeach · 30/12/2025 15:23

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:21

Labour fabricated the ‘black holes’ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reeves-budget-taxes-labour-obr-b2874497.html

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😂 I can’t cope!

peacefulpeach · 30/12/2025 15:23

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:15

Nope, 1390 fewer https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-and-training-statistics-for-the-uk/2025

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Oh god. Here we go again, facts that disprove labours meaningless but oft repeated slogans and soundbites.

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:21

jen337 · 30/12/2025 15:15

Why isn’t there any money, suggest you apply some of your criticality to the Cons utter mishandling of the economy. They had 14 years to sort it out and failed miserably.

Show quote history

Labour fabricated the ‘black holes’ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reeves-budget-taxes-labour-obr-b2874497.html

peacefulpeach · 30/12/2025 15:21

Oldandgreyer · 30/12/2025 15:03

@Maddy70

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/12/28/month-long-gp-waits-soar-under-labour/

More than seven million patients faced waits of four weeks or more between September and November, the worst autumn on record

Stop it with the facts! Labour and Labour supporters don’t deal with facts!

Dragonscaledaisy · 30/12/2025 15:16

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:11

I genuinely think his actions are deliberate rather than incompetence. The motivation seems to be by forcing more people into state reliance they will increase their voting base. I can’t think of other reasons why they’d encourage unemployment, tax small businesses out of existence, increasing private rents, reducing private rental stock, tax education or make not working more appealing than working. I just don’t buy it’s all incompetence, I think it’s by design

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You may be right but the polls suggest support for Labour is at it's lowest level ever so that suggests their strategy to win voters over isn't working.

jen337 · 30/12/2025 15:15

Dgll · 30/12/2025 15:08

I am amazed at how uncritical some people are. I generally vote Conservative but can see how utterly crap they were. Labour seem marginally worse.

Why do people think Starmer is steady ? Is it because he is a boring middle aged man in a suit? He shifts around all over the place.

All the people talking about 'free' stuff presumably don't pay any tax or don't realise where the government gets its money from. If the economy isn't going well there won't be any money to fund all this 'free' stuff.

Why isn’t there any money, suggest you apply some of your criticality to the Cons utter mishandling of the economy. They had 14 years to sort it out and failed miserably.

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:14

jen337 · 30/12/2025 15:07

Aye, right

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Explain to me how anyone not on benefits is better off under Labour.

Shinyandnew1 · 30/12/2025 15:12

Maddy70 · 30/12/2025 00:01

They are up against right wing press so the good news doesn't get out , you so have to look for it they are not as left wing as I would like but they are making good changes and getting the job done. I like having a steady hand rather than a "showman" for a pm . So far (and there are more ..
1000 more GPs
Shortened NHS waiting lists
Ended train strike
Increased minimum wage
Renationalising railways
Banned no fault eviction and gave renters rights
Planning reform
Guaranteed homes for veterans/ Care leavers & domestic abuse survivors
Introduced legislation to smash the people smugglers
6500 more teachers
30 hours free childcare
450,000 kids out of poverty
Introduced breakfast clubs
Largest pay award ever for the armed forces

Have they actually got 6500 teachers?

If you could link to this having happened, that would be great. I thought it was a manifesto promise that they hadn't done?

CainsArm · 30/12/2025 15:11

Dragonscaledaisy · 30/12/2025 14:57

I’m relieved that we have a steady sensible leader now in Starmer

A lying, incompetent buffoon would be a more accurate description of Starmer.

I genuinely think his actions are deliberate rather than incompetence. The motivation seems to be by forcing more people into state reliance they will increase their voting base. I can’t think of other reasons why they’d encourage unemployment, tax small businesses out of existence, increasing private rents, reducing private rental stock, tax education or make not working more appealing than working. I just don’t buy it’s all incompetence, I think it’s by design