Is a more left Labour government what people want?

I've just read the list of what's in the kings speech.
God help us.

They need to grow the economy. Not going harder and faster towards a cliff edge.

I don’t think politics is about left vs right anymore, at least not in the traditional sense. Political parties don’t really sit in those camps- some of Reform’s policies could be considered left wing, and some of Labour’s could be considered right wing.

I think this is about the general mood of the country. People are struggling and it doesn’t feel fair. The “hard work pays off” message is simply untrue when it comes to work. There is so much that indicates it’s one rule for the ruling classes and another rule for the rest of us. As an example of this, the water companies are failing but their bosses are reaping bonuses.

Before the internet and social media the masses were unaware of those kinds of things, but now we all can see. People are trying to revolt but in an uncoordinated way.

It’s not an excuse is it? The same media who crucified Rayner and Starmer have ignored much worse offences from Tice and Farage.

Social media pushes the media, more so since partygate. Labour are more likely to use the media as an excuse.

Yes of course in some areas, immigration levels were crazily high but not in the 2 areas i lived in, the South and South West at the time, levels were manageable.

e- border checks started to be re introduced in the early 2000s, but it also cuts both ways, we don't know who left either.... but anecdotally, i do not see EU workers in our local hospitals or in social care anymore... i believe this is reflected nationally.

I live in Cornwall, which voted Brexit, yet has tiny levels of any sort of foreign immigration.

But why are you focusing in on events 20 plus years ago?

We had 14 years of Right Wing Govt, plenty of time to fix the issues you raise but were they? nope, just made far far worse.

Every metric from life expectancy to waiting lists to road mtce to school building programs were wrecked between 2010 and 2024.

It beggars belief that Reform, basically the right wing of the Tory party, is seen as the answer by many but it shouldn't be forgotten that they attract just 25% of the electorate.

Interested in this, why is the left not for working class?

I suspect that Labour's current unpopularity has little to do with people wishing they were "more left." The people who seem most vitriolic towards them (supported by the media) are those who have shifted right.

Or do something to make sure those ' lazy brits' have no choice but to work in those jobs. In the beloved of the Left Norway they make people do work experience after a certain amount of time on benefits. Everyone is expected to contribute. If people don't want immigrants then they need to be doing the jobs, which means disincentivising benefits and making people work. We have an ageing population and can't afford so many working age adults to not be in work. The burden is too high on the rest of us. The 2 child cap I bet won't lift a single child out of poverty. It was performative pandering to Labour backbenchers.

Anyone looking at a vote that’s split five ways across radically different parties and saying ‘the country clearly want…’ is a pompous disingenuous twat.

I think that is a big part of it, along with social media and people being radicalised by right wing propaganda.

@Alexandra2001 In 2010, EU membership and migration didn't figure in the top 10 of peoples concerns.

This is what we're told, but it isn't true. Remember Gordon Brown? He was promising british jobs for british workers because of the outcry about immigration numbers and getting lambasted as a result. Remember bigotgate? Gordon Brown again, ambushed by a lady whose grandson was struggling to find decent paid work because of the number of eastern european tradespeople who came over and worked for less.

Immigration absolutely was a factor in 2010. It is the reason GB lost the election, and by 2015 the topic was so big it gave David Cameron his majority because he offered a referendum on leaving Europe.

I don’t think it’s the media causing it.

Less emigration?

Well media bias for one. Misinformation being spread and and it being normalised. Fear and hate being used to scare people.

I'm not Starmers biggest fan btw. But I also can see he's getting a unfair ride.

If you think Reform have any interest in running the country for the working people, then I can't help you.

@Alexandra2001 oh no !
Remember they famously didn't count anyone in ! So it was only when maternity wards hit crisis meaures and schools suddenly needed to build extra classrooms on play grounds , smaller charities were swamped with cases ,social services couldn't cope many children were in need to help etc meals on wheels pulled to fund other services that the true numbers really came to pass.

It's all been out in the open now and even the private convos when someone said...many more people may come and Blair ignored it.

I’m neither - I’m just above minimum wage and struggling. But that doesn’t mean I want to take things away from others. I recognise that it would do nothing to improve my situation. Do you have any answers to the questions I asked?

Following your logic.

How bad are Labour if people are willing to vote for Reform en masse? What does that say about Labour - that they have driven such numbers to Reform?

You've proved my point. Reform will win because people will want to see if they can actually make things better. But your all kidding yourselves. The only peoples lives they will make better are millionaires and themselves.

Pure speculation, whilst Labour’s faults are apparent, right here, right now.

I want a more left wing labour yes. I want people to pay their fair share of tax to fund the nhs, schools, police, etc I want people to have basic human empathy and respect for all human beings. I want to save our planet for our childrens future. I don't want fear and hate.

But we aren't going to get that, Reform will likely win the next general despite failing councils because the media is now bias to billionaires who run the world.

But they won't make anyones life better, only worse and in 10 years we will all be back to voting labour or tories again and this whole cycle will repeat.

100%.

Many are facing challenges in their daily lives - they don’t have the luxury of worrying about Gaza. The same LW’ers who congratulate Starmer for ‘staying out’ of Iran, are very animated about Gaza - funny that….

Thank you!

Re Gaza, I think it would be reasonable for UK candidates to focus on issues that affect the UK - especially in the recent local elections which were fuck all to do with Gaza.

Under Blair, immigration ran at around 240k net.

Almost all white so called christian european workers (most didn't have children or bring their parents with them) doing jobs we didn't want to do.... a great deal of these people have returned home, hence even greater crisis in social & health care.

In 2010, EU membership and migration didn't figure in the top 10 of peoples concerns.

..until the right started on making sure it did become an issue, Bojo, Farage various media outlets etc.

4 million people, primarily from Africa and SE Asia came to the UK in 3 years under Bojo and Sunak..... they will never return, yet you think Labour were/are the problem.

Funny how more right leaning posters don't mention this huge and permanent change in the UKs culture and population.