To think few lives have improved due to Labour’s policies

Absolutely re. regular employment. It makes it so much harder or even impossible for people with disabilities or caring responsibilities to actually work. Because of the idea that you must be available 24/7 (but only offered a shift or two). Impossible to plan childcare, appointments, have any kind of social life. Not knowing if you'll earn enough. Shifts cancelled or changed last minute. It also completely messes with mental health/stress levels, tipping more people over the edge.

I'm a bit confused about your commets re. minimum wage.
In 1999 min wage for that age group was set at £3.60. Not £10. Far short of what they thought was acceptable.
Taking into account inflation, it's actually proportionately better now (although not sure if we include housing costs!)

But I am surprised at the rate. In the mid 00s I earned about £5 an hour, worked 36 hours a week, after tax pay was £160/165 a week. I lived independently of my parents, rented a room, and was saving £35/40 a week. I did budget hard, but also went out drinking once a week amd smoked (roll ups)! It wasn't the most expensive area to rent but certainly not the cheapest. (Friend renting in smart London suburb paid about £100 for a room in an HMO compared to my £60 a week.)
What I'm saying is, it was perfectly possibly to live on less than whatever the recommended minimum was at that age. Perhaps the money I saved, someone else would have used to pay for driving lessons/run a car, or something else. But it was possible. And it is possible now. Providing you actually get full time hours not messed around as you mention!

Hopefully they'll postpone it for a few years until another government can throw it out. Stupid rule.

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-02-18/labour-could-u-turn-on-promise-to-boost-youth-minimum-wage-chancellor-suggests

This - the vast proportion of young people don't need to 'live on' a wage. Most are still living at home and would rather have some part time work at less than NWM rather than no work at all. IME many young people, at least those with a work ethic, are far more pragmatic and would rather work, gain some experience (and hopefully skills) rather than do nothing.
If an employer is also providing training or work experience that will ultimately benefit the person receiving it, and bolster their CV, irrespective of whether or not they are receiving NWM. If an 18 year old can see and appreciate that, why does this hapless Government insist on pricing them out of the market

The most recently published youth unemployment figures show that the UK is an outlier in Europe with the highest youth unemployment.

The increase in employer NICs and minimum wage are two specific changes that will impact employers hiring young people. The NICs change was especially pernicious since not only did the rate increase but the threshold was lowered which brought many part time earners into the mix.

Life is worse for many many people. Don't delude yourself.

I believe I did.

Your last line wasn’t worth the typing but sure look at the economists on the jobs tax and generally what taxing something does.

I think you'd have to demonstrate the causal link.

Or, to use your terminology, 'I don't agree with your take'.

So are the unemployment figures. You can see the impact of Labour’s policies. It’s concerning for young people.

The numbered bits are facts, not my take.

I don’t agree with your take. I think Labour lack business insight and have been somewhat blindsided by the youth unemployment figures.

I will judge labour when it’s the next election. Really tough things have to happen to keep the economy stable, never mind get back to a good place. The last 15 years we are living on more and more debt and it’s unsustainable. Think labour need to be given a proper chance to sort things, which lots of people just don’t want to do.

Reform councillors are finding that fixing the problems isn’t all that easy, despite their rhetoric.

My life hasn’t changed except I now get taxed a bit more, as does DH. We don’t get benefits so that doesn’t help. We haven’t benefited from the promised free breakfast clubs, I’m starting to think that will never happen.

Do you intend to address anything I said?

Basic economics? Yes Labour are doing wonderfully on that score aren't they. Negotiation isn't really their strong point either. Then again spend spend spend doesn't really have much care for that skill. Resident doctors are rubbing their hands that they are planning more strikes. What a great negotiator Streeting is with those basic economical skills 😆 🤣

@EasternStandard
Do you have a young adult dc looking for work? I think people wouldn’t be so blasé if they didn’t feel immune for whatever reason.

I do, yes. Two.

It's certain that economic circumstances have an effect on employment prospects, but the main thing that matters is the now-prevalent idea that businesses have no responsibility or duty to offer regular, predictable employment to anyone. Employees are there to be turned on and off at will. They don't matter - there's always another one who'll show up for ten hours a week at minimum wage, for a few months at least. Just keep 'em turning over, and the shareholders will be happy.

Two things about minimum wage - and why it's failing to help young people get a start in life.

1. It's calculated on the basis that you can live on it if you work full time. But most minimum wage jobs are not contracted as full time postions.
2. When minimum wage was first introduced in 1999, sums were done to figure out how much you needed to live on, if you worked forty hours. The answer was about a tenner per hour, for people 18-20. If that amount had kept pace with inflation, that would be about twenty pounds an hour today. It's in fact less than twelve right now.

I don't know if Labour can change both corporate culture and the basic economics, but I am absolutely sure that neither the Tories or Reform have any intention of doing so.

It's not jealousy. The PP isn't saying, "I want what those rich people have." It's a desire for justice, fairness. I too am focused on the lives of the majority. And it'll be difficult to improve those lives when the money that might do it is being hoarded by a tiny, tiny minority.

And it's not just about the money, actually. It's about the principle of what kind of society one wants to live in. You seem to be saying, "If the lives of the majority were better, I really wouldn't care if things were set up so that the super-rich could get even richer."

I would. And it wouldn't be envy. It'd be that the structural values of such a society would imply that happiness is all very well, but what really matters is wealth.

I can't believe Labour voters are still using the timeline argument. 18 months is actually way longer than we should expect given how many years Labour had in opposition. They should have hit the ground running if they had spent as much time planning and formulating policies rather than finding dirt on the Tories.

We are also waiting on hearing why Streeting, when granting an immediate and generous payrise to junior doctors, didn't stipulate a no more strike action clause.

The trouble is @ExtraOnions they aren't building on the moors, or the mountains, or other inaccessible green spaces. They are building on the very green spaces that ARE more easily accessible to human populations, especially those without the use of a car.

Every application gets objections but it makes no bloody difference, the public are powerless and this impacts on people's quality of life.

Do you have a young adult dc looking for work? I think people wouldn’t be so blasé if they didn’t feel immune for whatever reason.

No, it can't be turned around in just 18months, BUT their policies have made some things an awful lot worse!
For example, the NI payments for each employee have gone up by over £900 a year.
Then the minimum wage from young people was increased... More and more businesses now think that it is more efficient to employ an older person with lots of experience, rather than a young person with no experience and nearly on the same wage.
Both these have had major impact on the unemployment figures, especially the increase in youth unemployment.

It took 10 years to get the country in a better place after the last labour government and then we were hit with covid and the Ukraine invasion.

I work for a charity that does so much for those suffering deprivation. We run youth clubs, teaching youngsters to cook from scratch, we have a dedicated group for LGBT+ youth. We support the lonely community with lots of affordable activities and much much more. Thanks to the raising of the minimum wage and employer's contribution to NI, we've had to cut our support by half as we can't afford the wages. NI is costing us an extra £35,000 a year. So those most in need are back to struggling thanks to Labour.

I’m sorry you’ve lost your job but I’m constantly amazed by people who think the economy and society can be turned around in 18 months. There are no quick fixes, magic wands, or obvious easy trouble-free solutions.