To think Labour is not the party of the working people.

Labour is the party for public sector NMW workers. At 42k I'm afraid you are already falling into their broader shoulders definition,

No they’re not and SMEs make up a large proportion of the economy. Most business owners who bizarrely bought into their ridiculous lives pre GE regret it.

Why still back them to this extent? Growth is zero, 2024 it was up and then bam your Labour party in.

It’s actually a pittance here for just six months

Or instead of increasing taxes for people who are working, more people should be working to contribute.

You could have stayed. This government has been in power for a year so I doubt it was that that sent you abroad.

It's all very well saying we need the 'working class' and the 'salt of the earth' types to run the country but we also need people who understand economics. It's not enough to be nice and 'with the people' if you don't understand how to grow an economy.

It really annoys me too because its right there in the party name.

A "working person" is someone who's primary source of income is their labour.

As opposed to people who derive income from assets they own (eg property, dividends,shares, a business or farm they own but don't work in, inheritance), or people who don't work & depend on benefits or state pensions etc.

or take them for granted so are focusing on pensioners

which party doesn’t focus on pensioners?!

Just imagine if they actually did something to promote the growth of those companies.

I work for a large employer in our area in hospitality. I work in their head office. They are an optimistic bunch but in reality they are reliant upon folks spending their disposable income, which has diminished under Labour.

If government were to change taxes to encourage growth, they could invest more money into their businesses and employ more people. It’s family run, so not a corporate.

Sadly their profits have taken a battering in 2025 as a direct consequence of Labour’s choices. They were fine before.

This is not party politics. I’m just looking at their numbers.

They can’t magic out growth for the country that voted for Brexit

they are doing really well with large businesses by the way who wanted stability over Tory shitshow

It really feels as though it is a two tier benefit system - insanely generous to some and piteous to others - mainly those who have paid in.
In Germany people who lose their jobs get a significant proportion of their salary for a time but the benefits are less lavish for life style claimants @runningpram

I agree with this model and it would assist and incentivise people into work . I was shocked to find out that even Americans get a higher rate of unemployment benefit than I would be entitled to here in the UK - at least as a single woman with no kids. Over there it would only be paid for a time limited period as well.

I’d prefer that though. 6 months of a decent monthly payment rather than paying people a pittance that will barely cover rent and council tax over a longer period.

Life is tough (or more accurately perhaps, tougher) for everyone thanks to a decade and a half of inflation outstripping stagnant wages, so I do have sympathy OP.

Things like affordable housing, new reservoirs, upgrades to the National Grid etc. are all slow projects- they've been started but they will take several years to complete. NHS waiting lists are slowly falling, albeit from high levels. The economy was growing better than expected before the war in Iran broke out, it's very possible that will all have been knocked back by higher energy prices and disruption to global trade. Again, growth was not at the levels we experienced in the 90s/00s, those levels haven't been seen for years.

I do think things are getting incrementally better, and long neglected issues (like our aging water infrastructure) are finally getting some consideration. I don't expect miracles or the country to turnaround overnight though.

That is my opinion.

Would it also apply to those who cannot be in employment because they are providing full time care to someone else?

They are so going to regret abandoning “working people “.

You see I think that’s labours big issue. People are skint, frustrated and when Labour do things like only help people who are on benefits with the rise is utilities, the ‘just scraping by with no benefits other than CB’ working people look at the pay slip and think that they don’t approve of what it’s being spent on at all. And these people are increasing in numbers.

It looks like Labour have either given up on attracting the votes of workers, or take them for granted so are focusing on pensioners and benefits recipients instead.

If I hear Starmer say breakfast clubs in another speech or during PM questions I won’t be held responsible. It’s all he bloody says.

Yep.

Those who aren't struggling are usually committing benefit fraud like the person OP knows.

The thing is, pinkpalmleaves, even if the government didn't help those on UC, you would still struggle.

The fact is that all our utilities, housing costs etc. are so high now that people who were once doing OK are now not. That is not the fault of benefit claimants. Not many are living in the lap of luxury despite what gets written and said about them. Yes some people play the system. But that is not the fault of the rest.

Eta:I am sorry you are struggling, btw. I know what it's like 💐

Yes of course I do. Although I should point out we are struggling too on UC and wages. The only thing that really gets on my nerves is inevitably we get to disability benefits and clamouring to cut that down.

I think expecting life to be fair is a mug’s game. It isn’t and never will be. During all the years I was a higher tax payer the only thing I looked at on my payslip was the bottom line and I told myself my tax was going only on the things I approved of. I still do that and it makes for far greater peace of mind.