Labour isn't working - Thread 21

[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/5445644-labour-isnt-working-thread-20?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Apparently the sure starts saved as much money in reduced admissions to hospitals and early interventions to cover its costs on a year by year basis, and that's before you get medium and long term effects. So money wise, I'd almost guarantee that it was more efficient and I'd be amazed if the support for parents didn't add up to better outcomes for kids over unnecessary childcare.

Good point @Upstartled re the gender woo. Just his economics!

and I think so too re sure start, this policy of putting kids in nursery and not requiring parents to work is enabling bigger families and poorer parenting. I can have a baby, put it in nursery and then have another one, and another etc. Whereas surestart put the emphasis on personal responsibility with support.

It shouldn't be up to us to report people. The system needs tightening up and made a lot more robust with passport tracking and spot checks. HMRC uses AI to trawl social media to see if people's lifestyle doesn't match their reported income. DWP could easily do the same.

Numberwang.

Love it.

It's the DM so there will be an element of sensationalism, but there's no doubt savvy spongers are raking in a small fortune at the expense of taxpayers.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15320447/The-benefits-toy-scheme-costing-taxpayers-321-MILLION-year-Sickfluencers-boost-disability-claims-Apple-watches-wobble-boards-fidget-spinners-people-self-diagnosed-mental-health-conditions.html

I remember seeing a MN poster (in her late 20s) with autism saying that she can't work because it's too hard. She's tried "everything" and even part time work stresses her out too much. Yet she has enough time to spend time on Netflix, Disney plus and doom scroll on her phone.

And she expects us to fund her life on benefits forever.

I'm very sympathetic to those who are physically disabled and cannot physically work as their body doesn't let them

Well, it might be that it is too hard for her to work. If this government had concentrated on building the economy and increasing growth and employment then there would be more money in the treasury to support those in this position back into work. We'll never know now, the worklessness among youngsters is sky high and there are plenty who are chomping at the bit to get a foot in the door. Those who are vulnerable will be left behind.

You can talk for hours about this individual doing this, and this individual doing that but the problem is a systemic failing first and foremost. And then we have more levers to separate the vulnerable from the shirkers .

This is an in-work fund.

The Business Secretary has admitted he does not know what council tax band he is in, just days before the Government is expected to announce a new levy on expensive properties.

Peter Kyle pleaded ignorance when asked about his council tax band on Monday, refusing to entertain whether he could be caught up in Rachel Reeves’s plans to introduce a new surcharge on homes worth more than £2m in bands F, G and H.

“I live in a small one-bedroom flat in Hove,” he said. “I can’t even tell you what band I’m in.”

All together, now - BULLSHIT!

Fuck off does he live in a 1 bed "small" flat! That may be a listed address but does anyone seriously believe him?

I've just checked and his home address "isn't listed"

Exactly - typical Labour minister and their casual relationship with any tax which is property related.

I enjoyed this tweet:

"Reeves is actually playing 4D chess here. The IMF doesn’t have the funds to bail out both the UK and France, so it’s imperative that we bankrupt ourselves first in order to get first dibs. The French pension system is a tough act to follow, but she’s giving it a go!"

https://x.com/peterrhague/status/1992922934059676080

Our local Labour guy bought a house that we actually put an offer in for. So i was naturally curious when it was sold what it went for.

Turns out you can't find out. Because land registry will not make that info public if you have a reason for secrecy you can argue. Everyone in our town knows where he lives- it's the Big House on the outside of the village. So that in itself is not a secret. Just the purchase price. Our offer was just shy £800 k in 2010. He wasn't even the MP then- just the long standing repeated candidate in our formerly blue ribbon seat.

I am surprised to hear that as I thought it was ultimately all in the public domain, via the LR.

Having said that, I know someone who bought an 11m quid house and managed to keep it off the LR, and he is a simple civilian/non PEP etc. Not certain how he did it.

Peter Kyle who was an aid worker and then a special advisor and then an MP. Just the right kind of CV for a business secretary in this government.

I mean, honestly.

Right now, I would accept simply mediocre over the crap we have in government currently.

Yes, a good piece.

Attempting to apply logic and calm rationale with these fools is impossible, however.

Thanks.
That was a good read, she explains it well. I'm genuinely worried about the housing market if Reeves goes through with this. It's already in trouble.

Sorry quoted wrong post. That was to @EmpressoftheMundane

Slight improvement on a trainee solicitor who lied in the house about being a solicitor?

Seems that the budget is being truly leaked, now (legitimately).

• Annual cash ISA limit to be reduced to 12k.
• The ‘mansion tax’ is to kick in at 2 mn and above.

Doubtless, more to follow….

I've been pondering all the trips that Keir Starmer keeps taking. Supposedly he's been on 44 overseas trips while he has been PM. Usually a PM will only go on the overseas trips he / she has to - they are an opportunity for more junior ministers to shine and, if all goes well, impress their senior colleagues. So I am wondering why KS goes on all these trips himself. It's possible that he doesn't think his colleagues are up to the task, he is very controlling and wants to make sure that only he is in the limelight or he rather enjoys overseas trips and it is a nice break from dealing with domestic issues / his MPs (who he finds dull and not very smart).

Which do you think it is? His ministers are going to get cross about this (I know ow that they are already cross with him but perhaps not so much about this specific thing).

Didn't Hoyle do his nut the last time budget announcements were leaked 'officially' prior to the budget?

The wheels have come off and its panic stations from number 11.

What a mess they are. Even the last budget wasn't this chaotic, and Reeves set a very low bar. This has to be her last budget, surely?