Labour isn't working - Thread 12

[TheNuthatch]

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

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

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5419335-labour-isnt-working-thread-11?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Reform aren’t credible whatsoever. There’s nothing behind their bluster. They’d be as useful as a chocolate teapot in any gvt role, but they’d be as dangerous to the UK as Donald Trump is to the US.

The Conservatives really need to become more of a threat, because right now looking at Labour or Reform, makes me feel sick.

I totally understand why the disenfranchised are turning to Reform. It doesn’t take Einstein to see that. However they aren’t the answer and as soon as they show their true colours, the better for us all.

It's not a good look at all is it?
I seem to find myself in a voters no mans land at the moment. I want ot vote conservative, but know it will be a wasted vote and I'll probably end up voting reform simply to keep labour out.

There is an argument that Reform actually become more viable, as they refine policy and become more ‘professional’, for want of a better word.

I suppose my point is more about their ability to pull Labour out of shape.

I maintain that there remains a significant amount of collective scar tissue still attached to the Tories.

Would I vote Reform to see off Labour? Yes, all day and twice on a Sunday.

This is my line of thinking too.

Which is precisely what many ‘new’ Labour voters did during July last year.

Talk about buyer’s remorse…

Lord I have no idea how I will vote next time. Lib Dem’s greens and labour no way, never. Tories have disappointed me. Reform I can’t stomach as a person with an IDLTR visa who has been here 25 years. I’m lost.

Reform's plan for those who currently hold IDLTR is hideous. I am sorry for how it must make you feel.
Back to lurking.

Thing is, I know it's a shite decision, but the thought of another term with Labour in power makes me want to vomit. The conservatives have really got to pull things round for the population to give them another bite at the cherry. I'm not going to waste a vote when I know in my ward at least, it's a two horse race between labour and reform. So I'll place my X next to reform and hope for the best. I won't have buyers remorse, because I haven't bought in to reforms ideology I just don't want another labour government

Exactly

Tories can't even spell Britain so I really don't think they can run seriously for GE

It's funny how the cultists were encouraging everyone to vote tactically to get Tories out but can't get their heads around anyone doing that to Labour.

It probably will happen to Labour. I’m glad Kemi is getting positive headlines after today, but I can see Reform has a long lead.

Like many my main concern will be getting Labour out.

still a long time to see what’s happening in your local area and at the central level - if their vote share stays that high, they have a snowball effect of looking like winners.

reform are already being treated as the main opposition…

I won’t vote Labour ever again after their first year and the thoughtless things they’ve done.

one family member votes for any small party for the candidate he likes to make sure they get their deposit back 😂

I'm sorry to hear so many so angry with the tories. I'm still very happy with today, and this conference.

I don't think today's speech was about the next general election. For me it was about combating the upcoming budget, which is likely to include some form of property tax. It was also designed to give the tories something positive to sell for the May elections imo.

I rarely vote Tory because it's pointless where I live. I vote tactically every time. Even Boris couldn't win here.
Who I vote for, and who I support are different.

She'll be doing it on purpose, not mentioning Farage or Reform. She's seen Labour's mistake and avoided that.

And she's gone for a hated tax, the Stamp Duty which also plays to the national
obsession with house ownership. She's using people's need to keep their home safe.

It works.

Yep

I'm very glad to see Kemi getting some positive reactions today. I can understand people who say 'well why didn't the Conservatives do x,y, and z when they were in power', but I think it's only fair to say that Kemi wasn't PM and the party was stacked full of what I call 'yellow Tories', basically MPs and even cabinet members who would be more at home in the LibDems.

I know for a fact that she was regularly thwarted not only by her civil servants but also by fellow cabinet members when she tried to get policies through (the story of her meeting with Keira Bell is one example).

To me, Kemi is a real Conservative and I think she has the talent and the guts to turn things around in the party. I do wish she was able to kick out a few MPs, councillors, and London Assembly members though (Andrew Boff springs to mind!). I can already see the rumblings of those who really should find a political home elsewhere talking about becoming a 'broad church' again, or holding the 'centre ground'.

The fact is the ground has moved so far to the left that the 'centre ground' is still well to the left of grass roots conservatism.

I don't want soundbites and knee-jerk reactions, I want a grown up in charge who takes the time to really gather the evidence and work through the consequences of any new policy.

It's a long time to the next election, (barring major upset, and that can't be ruled out with this bunch of charlatans who are pretending to run the country) and I really hope the party stick with Kemi and let her rebuild. This is especially important with candidate selection; there has been a massive failure there in the last couple of decades.
If they try and get rid of her that will be the last straw for me.

Other than spending too much public money, which was largely because of Covid - and there were a lot of people urging even more money being spent in the pandemic and aftermath, what did the Tories get so wrong?

I understand the anger at partygate (not that the truth of it adds up to much) and Truss’s implementation of her economic plan was an embarrassment, although its lasting effect was pretty much nil. But if you take away the pandemic pressures there was generally sound government.

Sunak and Hunt steered a good path. I wish they were in charge now.

The scandals over Zahawi and backbenchers’ antics over 10 years were no worse than Labour’s managed in 15 months.

We’re in a worse position economically now because of Labour than we ever were under the Tories.

The reality is that Labour ran a lie machine that pretended there was corruption and profligacy that didn’t exist. I hope the Tories recover and find the nerve to face down the lies in due course.

This is shocking:

https://order-order.com/2025/10/08/in-full-all-starmers-meetings-scandals-and-kow-tows-to-communist-china/

I was also interested to see the (un)popular reaction to Labour after their conference. Despite the cheerleading in the media and on SM, the great majority of voters see Labour as inherently useless and dishonest.

However dismal things might look for the Tories now, us conservatives can always take heart from the certainty that after the next election there will be no more Labour Party. It’s over for them. No way back.

I do worry that Kemi lacks the killer instinct, coupled with the shortage of depth/breadth in her ‘squad’. I also struggle with the notion that there is any centre ground in UK politics, currently.

For me, the Conservatives have always been the party of fiscal responsibility (not always the case of course), and being mercenary, have best represented my interests. If they maintain a laser focus on the economy, they might be able to regain some share, but they remain anathema to many,
that’s clear.

I was far better off 2 years ago than I am now, we had lower inflation, lower taxes, less debt. The government we had was less corrupt than the one we have now. Even the disabled and low paid weren't suffering as they have and will under Labour.

Absolutely nothing has improved since Labour came to office. Their promises of how much better they would be was a massive pack of lies.

Unfortunately for Sunak, most people had bought into the lies and believed Starmer and Reeves.

I don't think tory MPs helped themselves though. They seemed ungovernable by the time Sunak took over.

Yes interesting post, agree with all of you really from many angles. I don’t think they will, not after the headlines are saying how well she did. I prefer her approach, calm and considered with answers on what to do.

I think Kemi has bought herself some time. At least until May.