Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Labour isn't working - Thread 15

1000 replies

TheNuthatch · 26/10/2025 09:59

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/5430868-labour-isnt-working-thread-14?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

OP posts:
Thread gallery
26
Nolletimiere · 28/10/2025 17:04

DancingFerret · 28/10/2025 17:00

This isn't strictly a Labour problem (I'm prepared to be corrected); more about what seems to be a general decline in integrity, and I need to rant. Apologies in advance.

For the first time ever, we're having to make an insurance claim; the main water pipe into our house corroded and sprang a leak. The first we knew of it was when we came down one morning to squidgy floorboards and water surfacing when we stepped on them.

The plumber said the leakage could have been going in for weeks without being noticed as the pipework isn't visible, hence the extent of the damage. It's huge; apart from the sitting and drawing rooms, throughout the ground floor is wood flooring and it all needs to replaced once the drying phase has been completed, skirting boards will also need to be replaced, and the hall, stairs and landing will need to be redecorated.

It's a nightmare - and the contractors are not committing to saying the work will be completed by Christmas. 😬

Given the upheaval, DH has suggested that once the flooring has been reinstated it might be a good time to replace the carpets - at our own expense. I've been out this morning visiting a few carpet retailers with a view to getting quotes. Naturally, there have been discussions about when the work needs to be done, so I explained about the leak and was really taken aback at the "get it all done on the insurance, nudge, nudge, wink, wink" comments I've had from various sales people. One actually told me it was madness not to claim given the amount we must have paid in premiums over the years.

Have I just been unlucky or is this the kind of society we live in these days?

Very sorry to hear that - what a pickle - I do hope you get it sorted, and preferably prior Xmas.

Sadly, I think its become every person for themselves - in your case, contractors are hoping you will not scrutinise their quotes too much, given you can back it off under your cover (excess and premium increase aside).

It’s a transactional world, in summary.

Best wishes.

MantleStatue · 28/10/2025 17:16

yes- best wishes. Thanks

Rivalled · 28/10/2025 17:25

It’s a bad two strikes isn’t it - weak demand and costs rising, with no prospect of significant improvement soon, no wonder firms are cutting back. Even firms doing reasonably well I’ve heard are cutting staff.

@Nolletimiere I’ve certainly had a friend get entire floor including covering claimed for when there’s been a leak because it’s included in the restore. But insurer can ask for other quotes if they’re too high.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 17:42

@DancingFerret Sorry to hear about your leak, what a nightmare. I hope you can get things sorted before Christmas.
There is definitely a growing sense of entitlement, and take what you can get kind of attitude.

OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 28/10/2025 17:46

Oh goodness, @DancingFerret. I deal with some escape of water claims (not my favourite things, it has to be said!) and I know how bad they can be. To be honest, I don't know if it's realistic to even think about getting the works done before Christmas, as drying out could take a fair amount of time, and trades can't be sorted until you have your drying certificate.

What I would say, is that if you have expensive wooden flooring, which would cost a fair bit to replace, but you want it replacing with bog standard boards and carpet, your insurer may go for this, as potentially it would be cheaper (I've seen some wooden flooring quotes recently, and they were not cheap!).

I'd look into doing it legitimately, not by way of some con!

strawberrybubblegum · 28/10/2025 18:00

I hate the loss of integrity within our society too @dancingferret . I find it very striking, within the last 10-15 years. I'm not sure where it's come from, but I think it's linked to the rhetoric about entitlement. It seemed to speed up after covid. It's a huge loss.

strawberrybubblegum · 28/10/2025 18:07

Maybe also the divisive rhetoric we get from politicians these days - and I absolutely blame Labour for that, because they started the trend and are the worst offenders.

If the opposition keep telling you that the government is dishonest (and even calling them scum, as Rayner did) then people are less inclined to believe that our society has integrity, and that it's worth them behaving with integrity themselves

Swiftasthewind · 28/10/2025 18:09

strawberrybubblegum · 28/10/2025 18:00

I hate the loss of integrity within our society too @dancingferret . I find it very striking, within the last 10-15 years. I'm not sure where it's come from, but I think it's linked to the rhetoric about entitlement. It seemed to speed up after covid. It's a huge loss.

Edited

I think a lot of that loss of integrity is to do with 14 years of Tory mismanagement that has essentially taught people it is every person for themselves. If they operate in that manner then why can’t we essentially.

What is disconcerting however is now that Labour are in the seat of power, people aren’t changing. It’s like this is the new default and I don’t know how people can be encouraged to come together as a collective force for good. Labour are trying but nobody is listening.

EasternStandard · 28/10/2025 18:16

Swiftasthewind · 28/10/2025 18:09

I think a lot of that loss of integrity is to do with 14 years of Tory mismanagement that has essentially taught people it is every person for themselves. If they operate in that manner then why can’t we essentially.

What is disconcerting however is now that Labour are in the seat of power, people aren’t changing. It’s like this is the new default and I don’t know how people can be encouraged to come together as a collective force for good. Labour are trying but nobody is listening.

There’s a pro Starmer / Labour thread going which might fit better

NoWordForFluffy · 28/10/2025 18:42

Swiftasthewind · 28/10/2025 18:09

I think a lot of that loss of integrity is to do with 14 years of Tory mismanagement that has essentially taught people it is every person for themselves. If they operate in that manner then why can’t we essentially.

What is disconcerting however is now that Labour are in the seat of power, people aren’t changing. It’s like this is the new default and I don’t know how people can be encouraged to come together as a collective force for good. Labour are trying but nobody is listening.

That last line is as deluded a post as I've seen in a while.

Have you not seen the snouts in the trough from Labour? As well as numerous scandals.

Nolletimiere · 28/10/2025 18:46

Swiftasthewind · 28/10/2025 18:09

I think a lot of that loss of integrity is to do with 14 years of Tory mismanagement that has essentially taught people it is every person for themselves. If they operate in that manner then why can’t we essentially.

What is disconcerting however is now that Labour are in the seat of power, people aren’t changing. It’s like this is the new default and I don’t know how people can be encouraged to come together as a collective force for good. Labour are trying but nobody is listening.

Labour are trying?

They are the most partisan bunch going - chucking cash at their unionised mates from the off, grabbing freebies where they could, cheating on tax etc

They are the most divisive government I can remember, and I’ve seen a few.

So, sorry - I could not disagree with you more.

MantleStatue · 28/10/2025 18:46

strawberrybubblegum · 28/10/2025 18:07

Maybe also the divisive rhetoric we get from politicians these days - and I absolutely blame Labour for that, because they started the trend and are the worst offenders.

If the opposition keep telling you that the government is dishonest (and even calling them scum, as Rayner did) then people are less inclined to believe that our society has integrity, and that it's worth them behaving with integrity themselves

This is true.

As i have said before, we are planning to emigrate to my home country. DH is British. Our dcs are dual citizens. I only have my home citizenship and IDLR here for the past 25 years.

Emigrating is something we would never have considered a few years back. But its death by a thousand cuts with this government. But DH is currently doing our taxes (self employed) and he came up for air this evening and asked if its possible for him to renounce British citizenship completely once we move. I said I assume so. He said that he would never have considered it, but what fundamentally changed his emotional relationship with his home country- where he has lived all his life- is when Rayner called people like us 'scum'.

He's quite a silent person. I am more volatile. When that happened I was furious. He never actually said anything much about it. But it's been festering.

DancingFerret · 28/10/2025 18:59

NoWordForFluffy · 28/10/2025 17:46

Oh goodness, @DancingFerret. I deal with some escape of water claims (not my favourite things, it has to be said!) and I know how bad they can be. To be honest, I don't know if it's realistic to even think about getting the works done before Christmas, as drying out could take a fair amount of time, and trades can't be sorted until you have your drying certificate.

What I would say, is that if you have expensive wooden flooring, which would cost a fair bit to replace, but you want it replacing with bog standard boards and carpet, your insurer may go for this, as potentially it would be cheaper (I've seen some wooden flooring quotes recently, and they were not cheap!).

I'd look into doing it legitimately, not by way of some con!

Thank you, @NoWordForFluffy. We're replacing like-for-like and fortunately have the receipt from when the floor was originally laid back in 2016; inflation has taken its toll and reinstatement is running into thousands on just the cost of the floorboards alone.

The insurers gave us the choice of using our own contractors and submitting the bills to them or letting them project manage the whole thing, whilst giving us the choice of wood, wallpaper, etc. We chose the latter. (I could could come to regret that decision; the very nice and helpful lady appointed to liaise with us has great communication skills, but wants to spell anything vaguely unusual with her own version of the phonetic alphabet, e.g., "C for cat, A for apple, Z for zebra". She means well, I know, but my job involves daily use of the real PA and already I dread hearing her say, "I'll just spell that for you.")

The carpets (as far we know until the boards come up) have escaped damage and we don't think they'll form part of the claim. DH just thought replacing them at our own cost once the insurance work is completed would be a good idea.

NoWordForFluffy · 28/10/2025 19:03

You may find that the carpets are wet from the bottom, but it hasn't made its way to the top. It's probably a good time to have them replaced, while everything is out of the room though. Saves shifting furniture twice.

The cost of the boards doesn't surprise me at all. Our reinstatement quotes are often hideous.

strawberrybubblegum · 28/10/2025 19:06

And then after their rhetoric about the Conservatives, when they got into power themselves Labour displayed far, far worse self-interest, dishonesty, hypocrisy and lies than the Conservatives ever had.

Rayner underpaid £40k of stamp duty; the Homelessness minister evicted her tenants and hiked up the rent for the new ones whilst drafting a policy to prevent landlords from doing exactly that; Starmer tried to prevent the grooming gang inquiry, and Jess Phillips - the Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls - is accused by victims of tried to water it down, certainly giving the impression of protectngg their own interests.

No wonder people now feel no trust in our society.

strawberrybubblegum · 28/10/2025 19:10

MantleStatue · 28/10/2025 18:46

This is true.

As i have said before, we are planning to emigrate to my home country. DH is British. Our dcs are dual citizens. I only have my home citizenship and IDLR here for the past 25 years.

Emigrating is something we would never have considered a few years back. But its death by a thousand cuts with this government. But DH is currently doing our taxes (self employed) and he came up for air this evening and asked if its possible for him to renounce British citizenship completely once we move. I said I assume so. He said that he would never have considered it, but what fundamentally changed his emotional relationship with his home country- where he has lived all his life- is when Rayner called people like us 'scum'.

He's quite a silent person. I am more volatile. When that happened I was furious. He never actually said anything much about it. But it's been festering.

I'm so sorry he feels that way. Don't renounce his citizenship or your DC's: this shower won't last long, and why should they chase him out of his country. Just take refuge for a few years. It will get better once Labour are gone for good.

strawberrybubblegum · 28/10/2025 19:12

And practically speaking - from family experience - if your DC stay in the UK, you may want to come back in later life.

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 19:30

DancingFerret · 28/10/2025 18:59

Thank you, @NoWordForFluffy. We're replacing like-for-like and fortunately have the receipt from when the floor was originally laid back in 2016; inflation has taken its toll and reinstatement is running into thousands on just the cost of the floorboards alone.

The insurers gave us the choice of using our own contractors and submitting the bills to them or letting them project manage the whole thing, whilst giving us the choice of wood, wallpaper, etc. We chose the latter. (I could could come to regret that decision; the very nice and helpful lady appointed to liaise with us has great communication skills, but wants to spell anything vaguely unusual with her own version of the phonetic alphabet, e.g., "C for cat, A for apple, Z for zebra". She means well, I know, but my job involves daily use of the real PA and already I dread hearing her say, "I'll just spell that for you.")

The carpets (as far we know until the boards come up) have escaped damage and we don't think they'll form part of the claim. DH just thought replacing them at our own cost once the insurance work is completed would be a good idea.

That resonated with me. I am also a massive stickler for the phonetic alphabet. I can't stand it when people don't use it properly. Literally makes me twitch and grind my teeth. My dc are fluent, I made sure of it.
Woe betide if any of our staff say P for Peter in my presence 😂

OP posts:
Nolletimiere · 28/10/2025 19:32

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 19:30

That resonated with me. I am also a massive stickler for the phonetic alphabet. I can't stand it when people don't use it properly. Literally makes me twitch and grind my teeth. My dc are fluent, I made sure of it.
Woe betide if any of our staff say P for Peter in my presence 😂

LOL, yes.

A for Aardvark….

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 19:35

Nolletimiere · 28/10/2025 19:32

LOL, yes.

A for Aardvark….

Its the pause between the letter, and then whatever batshittery of a word they've imagined.
Fastest way to wind me up is to say B for.......and then have a little think. 😂😂

OP posts:
MantleStatue · 28/10/2025 19:36

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 19:30

That resonated with me. I am also a massive stickler for the phonetic alphabet. I can't stand it when people don't use it properly. Literally makes me twitch and grind my teeth. My dc are fluent, I made sure of it.
Woe betide if any of our staff say P for Peter in my presence 😂

I was once spelling my name out on the phone to the bank.

I had an absolute blank and said ... 'Um... I..... for ... um... Idiot'.

Apropos tbh.

DancingFerret · 28/10/2025 19:39

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 19:30

That resonated with me. I am also a massive stickler for the phonetic alphabet. I can't stand it when people don't use it properly. Literally makes me twitch and grind my teeth. My dc are fluent, I made sure of it.
Woe betide if any of our staff say P for Peter in my presence 😂

😂😂😂
I give you "Y for yodel." 😬

Nolletimiere · 28/10/2025 19:48

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 19:35

Its the pause between the letter, and then whatever batshittery of a word they've imagined.
Fastest way to wind me up is to say B for.......and then have a little think. 😂😂

Exactly…

Z for xylophone…

Ok, I will stop now.

EmeraldRoulette · 28/10/2025 19:54

I once said "L for llama" because I forgot what it was. The woman on the phone was in hysterics. I literally said "L for.... oh I forgotten what it's for....<pause> how about llama

Woman on phone be like
(Oh yyeees...she didn't even know the phonetic alphabet, that customer....Ooh I KNOW!)

TheNuthatch · 28/10/2025 19:57

You're making me twitch 🤣🤣.

I for idiot is brilliant 😂😂

Dh and I use it all the time, and we don't even say the letter first. We just say bravo, alpha, lima, lima. That's how it's done folks! None of this B for... malarkey please 🙏

OP posts:
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is not accepting new messages.