Page 18 | To think Labour is not the party of the working people.

pinkpalmleaves · 2026-03-24T17:57:00+00:00

I voted for Labour as I believed their election pledge of being a party for the working people but genuinely I can’t think of one thing, since they’ve been in power, that they’ve done to help me (a single working mother on around £42k a year)! I get zero help from UC, these mystical breakfast clubs don’t exist, people aren’t employing people due to their ridiculous NI implications, they aren’t building affordable housing, energy prices are insanely high and all they talk about is grants (which won’t affect me as I live in a flat)! Genuinely I can’t think of one thing that they’ve done to help working people in the middle. Why are Labour sticking their heads in the sand? Why do they refuse to help the squeezed working class? They are stopping this economy from thriving - as nobody can afford to spend anything extra (treats, holidays, meals out etc etc)!

Kirbert2 · 24/03/2026 21:32

EasternStandard · 24/03/2026 21:30

If you’re a fan of Starmer still it’s a shrinking group.

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Not his biggest fan either but I dislike Kemi more.

TheNuthatch · 24/03/2026 21:31

BudsBeginingSpringinSight · 24/03/2026 21:28

@TulipsDaffsAndSunshine the most recent time I saw pmqs I was shocked by Keirs behaviour ! .he sounded atrocious when talking to her.

Yep. Starmer thinks he's above accountability. He doesn't like being taken to task by a woman.

EasternStandard · 24/03/2026 21:30

Kirbert2 · 24/03/2026 21:29

Yep.

Not a fan of Kemi at all.

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If you’re a fan of Starmer still it’s a shrinking group.

Julen7 · 24/03/2026 21:30

Coffeeandbooks88 · 24/03/2026 21:27

Introducing things like the rape clause into the third child exemption made me feel very uncomfortable for example. You might not get any help benefits wise but didn't you feel that was wrong?

So you are basically jealous? You have a partner I presume to spread the load whereas she doesn't? She might get the rent help but there won't be much UC left for any other bills.

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There is a difference between feeling jealous and feeling something is fundamentally unjust.

Kirbert2 · 24/03/2026 21:29

TulipsDaffsAndSunshine · 24/03/2026 21:25

Kemi is horrendous. Like a mean prefect in a girl’s school. Vile woman.

Yep.

Not a fan of Kemi at all.

BudsBeginingSpringinSight · 24/03/2026 21:28

@TulipsDaffsAndSunshine the most recent time I saw pmqs I was shocked by Keirs behaviour ! .he sounded atrocious when talking to her.

TheNuthatch · 24/03/2026 21:28

TulipsDaffsAndSunshine · 24/03/2026 21:25

Kemi is horrendous. Like a mean prefect in a girl’s school. Vile woman.

She's doing brilliantly.

TulipsDaffsAndSunshine · 24/03/2026 21:28

BIossomtoes · 24/03/2026 20:52

Same.

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Same. I’d have to hold my nose though.

Coffeeandbooks88 · 24/03/2026 21:27

pinkpalmleaves · 24/03/2026 21:21

@Coffeeandbooks88trust me!!!! I’m a working single mother who gets nothing but know lots of single mothers that get exactly the same salary as I do via benefits top ups etc. they woo minimum hours and don’t want to get pay rises or promotions as they lose their housing benefit and 85% childcare! We have the same monthly income, yet I have to pay 85% wraparound care, I actually live in the same block of flats as a single mum friend - s
her flat is social housing she gets majority of it paid. I on the other hand have to pay £1500 a month! Make it make sense!!!!

Introducing things like the rape clause into the third child exemption made me feel very uncomfortable for example. You might not get any help benefits wise but didn't you feel that was wrong?

So you are basically jealous? You have a partner I presume to spread the load whereas she doesn't? She might get the rent help but there won't be much UC left for any other bills.

BudsBeginingSpringinSight · 24/03/2026 21:27

@pinkpalmleaves I'm a swing voter and in my life I have voted labour more than other parties but I've shifted over the years and the jeremey Corbyn era deeply shocked me.
I like kemi as well I think she's quite refreshing.

dinbin · 24/03/2026 21:26

pinkpalmleaves · 24/03/2026 21:19

@dinbinwe know the reform vote is an anti immigrant vote!

But aren’t a lot of the Reform party now Tories who have deflected & who didn’t “fix” immigration?

runningpram · 24/03/2026 21:26

pinkpalmleaves · 24/03/2026 21:21

@Coffeeandbooks88trust me!!!! I’m a working single mother who gets nothing but know lots of single mothers that get exactly the same salary as I do via benefits top ups etc. they woo minimum hours and don’t want to get pay rises or promotions as they lose their housing benefit and 85% childcare! We have the same monthly income, yet I have to pay 85% wraparound care, I actually live in the same block of flats as a single mum friend - s
her flat is social housing she gets majority of it paid. I on the other hand have to pay £1500 a month! Make it make sense!!!!

And benefits aren’t taxed -
except for JSA! Again something else to hammer
working people with. With the end of the two child limit the benefits bill is going to be insane!

EasternStandard · 24/03/2026 21:26

TulipsDaffsAndSunshine · 24/03/2026 21:25

Kemi is horrendous. Like a mean prefect in a girl’s school. Vile woman.

Not at all. She makes Starmer bristle in retaliation though, and some on here.

Original poster

pinkpalmleaves · 24/03/2026 21:25

@BlackRowanI answered your question. What is Labour doing to help working people?

OP posts:

TulipsDaffsAndSunshine · 24/03/2026 21:25

Kemi is horrendous. Like a mean prefect in a girl’s school. Vile woman.

BlackRowan · 24/03/2026 21:24

pinkpalmleaves · 24/03/2026 21:18

@BlackRowanactual working people! The majority Labour don’t seem to be helping!!

Who are “actual working people”???? You think no one but you is working?

dinbin · 24/03/2026 21:24

Low interest rates masked a lot of it as lending was cheap. Asset inflation meant many did get richer despite wage stagnation. Lack of investment isn’t noticeable immediately. I hadn’t long finished uni so was impacted by the crash.
Likewise I had started earning more & had young dc when the tax bands were frozen so noticed it fairly quickly. For many I think it’s only when other costs have risen that they have started to feel it.

PandoraSocks · 24/03/2026 21:23

Kirbert2 · 24/03/2026 20:48

For me, it will be anyone but Reform.

I would even consider voting Tory tactically if it meant the possibility of keeping Reform out.

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Same here.

Original poster

pinkpalmleaves · 24/03/2026 21:23

@BudsBeginingSpringinSightthank you! I used to be centre left! This Labour government and the Pro Palestine movement have shifted me to centre right! Can’t stand the insanity of it anymore!

OP posts:

Original poster

pinkpalmleaves · 24/03/2026 21:21

@Coffeeandbooks88trust me!!!! I’m a working single mother who gets nothing but know lots of single mothers that get exactly the same salary as I do via benefits top ups etc. they woo minimum hours and don’t want to get pay rises or promotions as they lose their housing benefit and 85% childcare! We have the same monthly income, yet I have to pay 85% wraparound care, I actually live in the same block of flats as a single mum friend - s
her flat is social housing she gets majority of it paid. I on the other hand have to pay £1500 a month! Make it make sense!!!!

OP posts:

BudsBeginingSpringinSight · 24/03/2026 21:21

Op I couldn't agree more and agree with most of your posts.
The utter insanity of shrinking growth and crippling business and they are so fucking arrogant !
I think the current labour party are the definition of madness .

runningpram · 24/03/2026 21:21

Coffeeandbooks88 · 24/03/2026 21:18

You don't get £400 each for a child on UC.

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Ok you get £339 each child born before
2017 and that’s assuming no adhd, asd etc.

TheNuthatch · 24/03/2026 21:20

Coffeeandbooks88 · 24/03/2026 21:17

The Tories did tremendous damage. It says something when even Conservative voters such as myself and DH became very uncomfortable with their policies and votes differently for the first time ever. Don't even try to claim Labour have been worse.

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The last conservative government lost the election.
I do claim that Labour have been worse, much worse. I find it incredible that a conservative voter would attempt to defend this government.

Original poster

pinkpalmleaves · 24/03/2026 21:19

@dinbinwe know the reform vote is an anti immigrant vote!

OP posts:

Coffeeandbooks88 · 24/03/2026 21:18

runningpram · 24/03/2026 21:13

I have been looking at what i would get if i lost my job after decades paying in -c£350
for just six months and child benefit. No help with energy bills. I would still be on the hook to pay back the child benefit I was paid when my income was higher in my tax return.
Were I single mum with 4 kids some of them born before 2017 - i would get c £400 each c 400 for myself. Potentially hundreds more if one or more of the kids has Adhd/autism. DLA is not
covered by the benefitscap and help with housing costs on a LA flat. In addition possibly my kids could potentially inherit the tenancy. That is compared to a loan on the interest of my mortgage if I have worked and scrimped to buy a house so I can hope to keep a roof over my head.
Plus if i work 16 hours i get to keep my benefits and child maintenance does not affect them either.
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.

You don't get £400 each for a child on UC.