Importance of Gorton and Denton

It was worse than that - it was the Thatcher era which made unemployment and a life on benefits socially acceptable. As a child my parents' generation and community would bend over backwards for someone hitting hard times but had no time for those choosing idleness - feckless men in particular were condemned socially for not living up to their responsibilities. That was enough to keep all but total losers doing their best for their families.

The wholesale destruction of huge sectors of work in such a short period of time meant no realistic prospect of work in many areas, even for the strivers - many WC communities were left workless and hopeless. (I’m sure some think they should have all have hopped on their bikes). In that climate there is no realistic hope, unemployment/underemployment and dependency became the norm.

The comments often seen here along the lines of “not worth taking the job as its not a lot more than benefits” are the direct inheritance of that era's neo liberal abandoning of the working classes to the market. Ditto the trashing of apprenticeship schemes as a consequence of “deregulation of labour” in that era.

It was worse than that - it was the Thatcher era which made unemployment and a life on benefits socially acceptable. As a child my parents' generation and community would bend over backwards for someone hitting hard times but had no time for those choosing idleness - feckless men in particular were condemned socially for not living up to their responsibilities. That was enough to keep all but total losers doing their best for their families.

The wholesale destruction of huge sectors of work in such a short period of time meant no realistic prospect of work in many areas, even for the strivers - many WC communities were left workless and hopeless. (I’m sure some think they should have all have hopped on their bikes). In that climate there is no realistic hope, unemployment/underemployment and dependency became the norm.

The comments often seen here along the lines of “not worth taking the job as its not a lot more than benefits” are the direct inheritance of that era's neo liberal abandoning of the working classes to the market. Ditto the trashing of apprenticeship schemes as a consequence of “deregulation of labour” in that era.

Unemployment nearly doubled while Thatcher was in power.

Bookies’ odds are usually a more accurate indicator than polls. They’ve got a vested interest in calling it right.

The op has specified she doesn't want to get into the candidates or parties. So most likely people are trying not to mention them.
I'm personally finding this discussion quite Interesting- like I've not seen an election where the reference point is the bookies before? Is that perhaps the significance?
I am waiting for the You Gov poll from Nadhom.Zahawis old company- which might influence people how to tactically vote
or can it be trusted now he's in bed ne if the parties?
What does an absence of polls signify?
So.many questions.

The op has specified she doesn't want to get into the candidates or parties. So most likely people are trying not to mention them.
I'm personally finding this discussion quite Interesting- like I've not seen an election where the reference point is the bookies before? Is that perhaps the significance?
I am waiting for the You Gov poll from Nadhom.Zahawis old company- which might influence people how to tactically vote
or can it be trusted now he's in bed ne if the parties?
What does an absence of polls signify?
So.many questions.

How odd of you to drag up a post from nearly three weeks ago in order to sneer at a poster.

I don't get your point, anyway. Why does patooties need to mention that vile twat's name in her post of 1/2/26? She doesn't mention Hannah Spencer by name either. Or the Tory, whose name I can't remember.

Precisely -note how she doesn’t dare mention Goodwin 😂

Although a Labour campaigner is hardly going to be promoting the message that they think they are going to loss are they?

The Greens and Reform trying to organise a hustings without the Labour candidate was interesting.

Seems they are BOTH trying to make it look like it’s a two horse race. What have they learned recently that’s made them panic about Labour?

I might be wrong - but like I say - this ain’t my first rodeo and the Labour data looks good.

Is this the only election that we have had since the GE? That makes it important.
The 'excitement' about Andy Burnham brought it a lot of attention.
I saw some information on YouTube that Unemployment has increased under every Labour Government since WW2. Is this true?

Is this the only election that we have had since the GE? That makes it important.
The 'excitement' about Andy Burnham brought it a lot of attention.
I saw some information on YouTube that Unemployment has increased under every Labour Government since WW2. Is this true?

Is this the only election that we have had since the GE? That makes it important.
The 'excitement' about Andy Burnham brought it a lot of attention.
I saw some information on YouTube that Unemployment has increased under every Labour Government since WW2. Is this true?

I know. The other poster I mentioned isn't though, I don't think? The change in odds means there are increasing numbers of bets being placed on Labour to win. Something must be driving that.

Anyway, just over a week to go and we'll find out.

I mean it’s from a Labour campaigner.

I mean it’s from a Labour campaigner.

Thanks patooties, really good to learn what is happening on the ground.

The Labour vote is holding up on the doorstep. We have decades of data.

Every time the greens open their mouths they lose votes and they don’t have a decent doorstep game, blue haired posh southern students are not great advocates for a very working class area with a high level of BAME residents. The greens do not have data as they have never bothered to campaign there. Same with reform.

if Angeliki loses then it will not be her fault. I really feel for her - she’s going a great job and is a really credible candidate.

The Labour vote is holding up on the doorstep. We have decades of data.

Every time the greens open their mouths they lose votes and they don’t have a decent doorstep game, blue haired posh southern students are not great advocates for a very working class area with a high level of BAME residents. The greens do not have data as they have never bothered to campaign there. Same with reform.

if Angeliki loses then it will not be her fault. I really feel for her - she’s going a great job and is a really credible candidate.

We are by far not the worst country in Europe for youth unemployment. It is not a Labour created issue.

1. Finland – ~10.2 %

2. Spain – ~10.0 %

3. Sweden – ~9.0 %

4. France – ~7.7 %

5. Latvia – ~7.0 %

6. Lithuania – ~6.6 %

7. Estonia – ~6.3 %

8. Belgium – ~6.4 %

1. Romania – ~6.0 %

10. Italy – ~5.6 %

11. United Kingdom – ~5.2 % (ONS data Q4 2025)

12. Germany – ~3.8 %

Thank you for perfectly illustrating why I asked the question in the way I did.
I asked a genuine question about the machine of politics and how it works.
I did not request a bunfight about the parties or candidates. Such views are readily available as I stated.
I did not need a patronising lecture about the shit show that is Reform. But you gave me one anyway.
Thanks to everyone else who actually read my question and respectfully answered . I appreciate you all sharing your knowledge.