Labour isn't working - Thread 5

[TheNuthatch]

A chat thread for those who don't like this Labour government. Labour isn't working!

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.

Previous thread
www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5356291-labour-isnt-working-thread-4?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

I'd love to see the Cons rise from the ashes. Give it time! I have faith.

I was feeling annoyed by the Ricky Jones trial and agreed to meet a friend but it meant a trip into my local city centre. It's been depressing for a few years with the boarded up shops getting ever larger and graffiti. But seemed to be more litter and homeless this time.

But yesterday one thing shocked me - the number of security guards in shop doorways, or wandering around shops looming over customers. Even in the shopping centre, there was a big presence mingling with the crowds. Since when did we have so much security? Obviously it is shoplifting, but this felt like a huge shift from last summer when I was last in town. I could not wait to leave. What next - armed guards!

@Liker It's the same here. Our local Boots has almost completely empty shelves. The staff blame shoplifting for the lack of stock. The security guard makes me feel uncomfortable as he follows you down each aisle.

Our Tesco has the higher value alcoholic drinks behind an enormous security wall of glass complete with some kind of digital pad. It's only recently installed and I don't drink much so I haven't had much to do with it, but it will be mayhem at Christmas!

But it is a visual marker of decline in an area that has the kind of local facebook usually filled with nothing more high octane than concern about lost cats and shout outs for trade recommendations. But clearly there has been enough losses to justify this beast of an installation.

Anyway, they are going to have to start putting the mince behind that security wall £7.20 for the usual pack today! I don't know why it's this that gets under my skin, it's not the first time I've brought it up but, wtf, this was cheap staple. Apparently food inflation will be running at 6% by December. So more incoming.

Apparently food inflation will be running at 6% by December.

All the reports I’ve read say 4%. I daresay it would be lower if the supermarkets didn’t feel the need to have profits of billions. Tescos latest announcement was £3 billion.

No, food inflation is already running at almost 4.5% and it is set to increase, with expectations of 6% by Christmas.

You'd think you'd at least do a quick Google before you swoop in and attempt to correct my post @Blossomtoes

@BIossomtoes Some are saying 6% by Xmas. Although 4-5% is bad enough when all bills are so high.
https://news.sky.com/story/budget-christmas-food-price-shock-looms-chancellor-warned-13403915

@ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera The price of food now is shocking, yes beef is horrendously expensive. Over £7 for 5% mince. I dread to think how poorer families are coping. My food shopping is now at around £200 per week (plus top ups). No nappies, alcohol, pet food included in that. We eat healthy, cook from scratch, meal plan etc.

So how much profit do you think a listed company with a market capitalisation of £70billiion should aim for when interest rates are at this level?

Instant Access bank accounts return 5% with no risk. £3 billion profit (which will either be invested in the company making it - and hence the shares - more valuable or given to the shareholdres as dividends) on a £70 billion capitalisation is 4.3%.

Shareholders are getting 0.7% less return than a no-risk bank account. Doesn't seem that greedy to me.

Instant Access bank accounts return 5% with no risk

Which ones please? My Marcus account interest rate has just gone down again!

Yes, totally agree @TheNuthatch, people are already feeling the squeeze. Barely a day goes by on MN lately when a thread isn't running about money anxieties - it hasn't been like this since the last round of cost of living crisis.

Another problem is that if large British companies stop making profits that the markets deem reasonable, investors will not put money into them, or into Britain. Companies will pull out of Britain and jobs will be lost, leading to a lower tax take and less money to be spent on the country.

Chase easy access is 4.75% @PandoraSocks

Their profit margin is in very low single figures. They make their profit from the huge amount of food etc they sell, not from massive profit margins.

Thanks!

We like and encourage seeing other people make their money grow over here, @PandoraSocks .. not something Labour encourage

My apologies to all. I genuinely thought I’d posted on a different thread. I won’t intrude again.

I just spotted this when I was looking for the inflation article. TW: details of CSA in the article.

It seems at least part of the government's strategy to halve VAWG, as they have promised, is to not include children. So discount the 'G'. Girls who have been groomed and abused will not be included in the figures.
https://news.sky.com/story/child-sexual-exploitation-victims-not-in-scope-of-violence-against-women-and-girls-strategy-13411617

If ever you want to moan about Starmer, you know where we are :-)

I keep trying to write something about this VAWG policy but I just can’t. I’m assuming

I can only assume SA/exploitation is too difficult to deal with and so it’s not being included.

This Labour government never fail to disappoint do they?

I’m so flummoxed my previous post didn’t make sense! 🙄

It did make sense, I understand what you're saying. Its also hard to read that young woman's story isn't it.

It's difficult to think of a reason without jumping to the conclusion that it's an easy way to get the figures down. I hope I'm wrong. After the rape gangs scandal, I hate little faith.

I can't believe that they have the bloody cheek to mitigate this ridiculous failure of this strategy by suggesting that the grooming gang enquiry covers some of the overlap when they dragged their shameless, hypocritical heels on it and waited until Baroness Casey held their feet to the fire. Useless fuckers.

Sorry to drop something horrific on a Saturday evening.

I hope you're all enjoying some warm weather this weekend.

I'm off out tonight....clubbing 😬
Wish me luck ladies, it's been a while 🤣🤣🕺

Have fun!! I wish you an abundance of energy and a hangover free morning😁

Fab! Hope you had an ace time 🙌

Thanks all.
Had a great time, lots of laughing and dancing, good for the soul. Gosh I felt old though 😂.