Labour isn't working - Thread 20

[TheNuthatch]

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

We are bracing for the budget. 😬

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

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5443813-labour-isnt-working-thread-19?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

It's just like the school VAT.

"Paying for your DC's education yourself, which we pay for everyone else in the country?

Don't want to disrupt your child's education / have already failed to have their needs met in state school?"

Great! We've got you by the short and curlies 👺

Extra tax, please! We'll give it to people whose education we're already paying for pocket it " 🙄

And to those leaving add those retiring early, cutting hours, reducing tax exposure, liquidating assets etc.

All negative tax receipts.

Yougov polling on the economy puts numbers to the general feeling that everyone has lost faith in our economic outlook.

Percent of people who think things are in a very good state 0, fairly good state 4, neither good nor bad 15, a fairly bad state 44 and a very bad state 35.

Asked, how well or badly do you think the Government are doing at managing the economy in general?

Very well 1, Fairly well 15, Fairly badly 38, very badly 39.

Anyway there's a treasure trove of polling stuff here:

A snapshot of public opinion ahead of the 2025 Budget | YouGov share.google/4ROVDE1kjGj6AIR42

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing last-minute pressure from Labour MPs in London and the south-east to scale back the scope of a “mansion tax” amid warnings that a possible £1.5mn threshold for the levy would be too low.

Labour MPs have warned Reeves that a council tax surcharge on the most expensive homes could hit the party’s support, especially in the capital. They want the threshold to be set at a higher level, potentially at up to £2mn.

We know how this will play out - the threshold will never be adjusted upwards for inflation, while the annual levy increases over time to keep pace with government spending and maintain ‘fairness’…

Yes great post @Legolava

FT

Rachel Reeves is about to rip up her Budget and plunge the markets and the Labour government into turmoil. But before she does that, Britain’s chancellor of the exchequer is in need of sustenance. “Bring me sugary cakes,” she says. “That way I’ll be more jolly in the interview.”

Sitting in her Treasury office on Wednesday November 12, Reeves is in the eye of a political storm, with the fate of the British economy and that of Sir Keir Starmer’s government in her hands. A slice of lemon cake seems to perk her up….

Full article to follow

Welcome 👋
Thank you 😊

Great post 👏

Yes the laffer curve. Increase taxes past a certain point and tax revenue goes down because people change their behavior.

I do wonder about Sweden and Denmark because they have higher tax rates than us - around 55% I think - and they seem to be doing fine. Although the taxes are much flatter and the 55% kicks in at much lower levels than the top rate of tax in the UK so a much larger proportion of the country is paying the top rate than in the UK.

google is telling me that Denmark's economy grew by an estimated 5.49% in 2023-2024, compared to Sweden's 4.21% in the same period.

OBVIOUSLY not suggesting we copy Denmark and Sweden but just curious how they have such high growth with such high taxes

‘Despite the imminent U-turn, conveyed to the official Budget forecaster later that day, Reeves has agreed to talk to the FT about her approach to the job and why she believes she has the determination to see it through. “Chop, chop,” she says. “I haven’t got much time.”

Incompetent, bossy and arrogant - a nice combo!

Thanks for the link. It's not just us on this thread then.

When we asked those who say the economy is in a bad state to say why they think that is, "the impact of decisions made by the current Labour government" tops the list at 64% -

So most people don't believe the excuses either.

FT excerpt

To understand Rachel Reeves, you need to see her when the world is not looking. It is August 1 2025 and Britain’s chancellor is clowning around with colleagues filming her at the remote St Fergus North Sea gas terminal in Scotland, high-fiving her young team as she attempts to master the obligatory politico “walk and talk” video without tripping over any industrial pipework. A few minutes later, inside the terminal, a very different side of Reeves emerges. At a genteel “meet and greet” over sandwiches and tea with local business leaders, the chancellor is robustly challenged — she believes rudely — over her punitive taxes on North Sea drilling. Suddenly the mood changes. “Talk to me with respect,” Reeves says, glaring at her interlocutor. Eyes shift nervously towards the floor. “I’m the chancellor of the exchequer.”

There are no cameras to record the extraordinary exchange. Is everything all right? Surprisingly, Reeves seems to have enjoyed the moment. “He wouldn’t have spoken like that to George Osborne or Gordon Brown,” says Britain’s first female holder of the 800-year-old office, referring to two of her predecessors. “He deserved it,” she guffaws, heading out to the waiting car. Reeves demands respect — and she believes that with her Budget, in spite of everything, she will earn it.

God, I despise this person…

Had lunch with a friend yesterday. She is one of the most awful of things- a Landlord, quelle horreur. Her flat is in London. It is worth over 2 million. She pointed out that any increase in tax on 'mansions' (2 bed flat) will just be filtered through to tenants. Obviously.

But she's another who is selling up and moving. She has her flat and the one bed flat she lives in in my village above a clothes shop. She retired in her mid-50s due to ill health and the rental in London represents both her pension that she put into property instead and allows her to also be a net contributer. She's selling everything and moving to Munich.

I just keep hearing the same stories everywhere I go. My 'circle' for want of a better word is filled with middle-aged professionals who have saved and own their own properties, have put their kids in private schools and who contribute to the state via their taxes. At least once a week I am hearing someone say they have had enough and they are leaving.

Urgh. Horrible.

Same here Mantle…

I missed all the fun yesterday!

Welcome @Insanityisnotastrategy

Today’s TRIM looks good as usual, will listen later.

Every time I listen I think it’s a shame Wallace stepped back on higher level roles. Speaking well on what’s going on with the legal situation emerging with last actions in the forces.

It’s a bit under the radar but I heard a really good piece on the general and the journalist podcast explaining the problem.

Its starting to get attention with this headline in Telegraph

SAS soldiers threaten legal action over Labour’s Troubles Bill

New laws could see former soldiers hounded through courts over alleged crimes, say veterans

Aw those poor champagne socialists who bang on about being happy to pay more tax, well now here is their chance!

@MantleStatue same here this week
friends to Dubai 40/50 years
friend to Mauritius maybe Dubai 28/30 years
son Aus 22 years
all really bloody decent people lawyers business owner and graduate

Sums up majority of Labour cabinet tbf. You could equally apply that to Bigot/Rayner/Lammy etc

I missed quite a lot yesterday evening it seems.

There’s some stuff in the Times about the Labour Party delaying the release of some trans guidance. Is it ridiculous that I had no idea Bridget Phillipson was the Minister for Women and Equalities? As well as the Education Secretary?

No because she does fuck all for Women (arguable neither for children or education) and stiol believes a woman can have a penis!
The fact that Minister for Women is overseeing the closure of single sex ie girls', schools is abhorrent.

That idiot Reeves doesn’t need determination she needs aptitude and experience sadly lacking

Someone who tells others to show them respect is usually owed none.

Did I read it right that the estimated flight of people was 75000 abroad and now figure's are actually 252000 ? I can belive but jeez all good contributors not takers quite depressing