Labour isn't working - Thread 23

[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/5450671-labour-isnt-working-thread-22?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

And an excellent article from Hannah Barnes that refers to a meeting about the PB trial that took place earlier this week.

This could yet end up being Streeting's Achille's heel; I hear there were a number of very unhappy Labour MPs and peers making their views known, as well as those from other parties.

https://archive.ph/wsjlL

ETA: Great to see Baroness Falkner coming out fighting; she was very badly treated by this government, especially by WESC.

The DT has been great at scoops recently of course, so hopefully this story has legs.

Doubtless, Rayner still has some skeletons, which could happily surface later, too.

I find it very unlikely that any Labour MPs, let alone ministers, would cross the floor. That seems to be internet nonsense.

As for Streeting and Rayner, it’s possible - Labour has a habit of foolish alliances in an attempt to hold the party together - but does anyone really care? Neither are going to make anything better. They’ll just go down together like Starmer and Reeves.

FWIW, I suspect that Streeting can see that Rayner would poison his cultivated brand of all-things-to-all-people inoffensiveness anyway. And he still needs to hold his seat on a wafer thin majority.

Morning all.

I’m finding this thread heartening, that there’s other, sensible-minded people like me in the world whilst there’s so much nonsense coming from our government. However, thought I’d share a conversation I had this week and see what you guys think.

I work in a school (one of those terrible indie ones which makes me spawn of the devil to some people) and chatting to our politics teacher. He’s right leaning and doesn’t hold love for the government. I was telling him how much I respect Kemi and hope she’s our next PM and he shook his head and said she’s still massively unpopular. I asked him why this would be and he puts it down to the fact she’s making good speeches but isn’t getting out to speak to ordinary people so the voters distrust her.

I thought it was old “silver -tongue” Farage that was keeping her from popularity but the politics teacher thinks she’s just not gelling with ordinary people.

I really want this government to go but not to be replaced with Reform.

Anyway, thought I’d share as this has left me feeling pretty fed up, TBH.

I asked him why this would be and he puts it down to the fact she’s making good speeches but isn’t getting out to speak to ordinary people so the voters distrust her.

He can't have seen her Facebook page or reels then, as she seems to be out and about a fair bit. I'm not sure I trust his judgment.

Your politics teacher sounds, er, creative in his analysis.

Kemi is connecting with me, and I'm ordinary.
I think the media give Farage more coverage as controversy = clicks.

I think she is connecting with people and he can’t know this. Look at her approval ratings which have shot up, it may well go above all the other male politicians.

Like @SpaceRaccoonI’m an ordinary voter and she’s connecting.

Hmm. I don't agree with him, and as others on this thread can attest, I haven't always been a fan of Kemi. Your colleague may have been right 6 months ago, but not now. It has taken me a long time to warm to Kemi. I cancelled my membership in a strop when she became leader.😂
Things have changed though, particularly since the summer. Her polling has improved, and her PMQs are night and day compared to the early days. Her conference speech was a turning point imo, and I think she'll go from strength to strength now that she's focusing on the economy.

I don't know who is correct about Kemi connecting, but how could anyone know really 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don't pay attention to politician activities much, but I thought it was good that Kemi went to meet people in Epping and also that she met with people from Turning Point after Charlie Kirk was murdered. They've set up a petition about keeping jury trials as well.

I think Epping is a really good example of how this Labour government operate. At the time it kicked off, it was considered a really big deal. Now, not so much. I think this government will be as intransigent as possible in the hope it will get things through and gaslight as much as possible in the hope that people will lose the will to do anything about it. that kind of steamrollering does work, many people do lose the will to do anything about it.

Someone mentioned Kemi's interview on Triggernometry. I remember thinking at the time that she had a sort of caretaker role for whenever the party could finish rehab but that she didn't have a chance of getting into power

Now I think with the right strategy, they could come back sooner, off the back of the unhappiness with the current government.

But I don't think we'll get an election before it's due and Reform will still be massively ahead. So maybe in 10 years the Tories could come back.

I have always been a fan of Kemi Badenoch, she is possibly along with Katie Lam, Joy Morrissey and Esther Mcvey along the best the Conservatives have. However, due to circumstances out of Kemi's control, I cannot see the Conservatives gaining any more ground or popularity than 20% maximum at the polls . I also think this is 'Soft' because a lot of these voters know that they can't vote Conservative in their area, if that means Labour, Greens or Lib Democrats get in power. The three parties are all the 'enemy' to the United Kingdom and posters must realize, there is no hope if a 'Left Wing Coalition' is allowed to form a Government.

Anyway, everybody whether a fan of Nigel Farage or not can see that he is the most confident and sure Politician in Press Conferences. He, is a natural orator and a man who exudes a belief in what he is saying. This, opposed to hearing Starmer or Reeves who appear when talking to be 'petrified' and very unsure and not aware of policy ideas.

Another thing though concerning, because this young woman considers herself to be on the right of Politics: Reem Ibrahim has just suggested that pensioners who are 'millionaires' should not receive the State Pension firstly quoting 'Alan Sugar' as a Millionaire . She is totally ignorant, when queried what a 'millionaire' actually was she said someone who had a 'property' or assets of 1 Million pounds. What is particular concerning, is her lack of 'critical' thinking skills for someone with a First from Oxford who claims to be on the right politically and is in a position at the Institute of Financial Affairs and a researcher for the Adam Smith Institute.

If this is what 23 year old right wingers think, no wonder the Zak Polensky, cuts through to a radically left Wing age Demographic.

Another thing though concerning, because this young woman considers herself to be on the right of Politics: Reem Ibrahim has just suggested that pensioners who are 'millionaires' should not receive the State Pension firstly quoting 'Alan Sugar' as a Millionaire . She is totally ignorant, when queried what a 'millionaire' actually was she said someone who had a 'property' or assets of 1 Million pounds

Yes that's worrying. It's easily enough done to have a property paid off, a private pension and some savings between two people that would probably be worth a million quid on paper but you'd still be facing a pretty miserable retirement on your private pension alone. Hardly Alan Sugar territory.

Anyway, everybody whether a fan of Nigel Farage or not can see that he is the most confident and sure Politician in Press Conferences. He, is a natural orator and a man who exudes a belief in what he is saying. This, opposed to hearing Starmer or Reeves who appear when talking to be 'petrified' and very unsure and not aware of policy ideas.

I think Kemi is as good, personally. I'm no fan of Farage though. I get the sense that Kemi says what she actually thinks whereas Farage says what he thinks people want to hear (as per the populist he is).

Need to get off the Internet this afternoon

The same group who dumped shit (i'm really hoping it wasn't actual shit) at the Ritz have now thrown food at the crown jewels case.

FFS don't they do a proper bag check at the Tower of London? Was one of the security guards in on it?

This stuff pisses me off

They'll be the new group to really hope you don't bump into when you go into London.

I remember seeing the "just stop oil" muppets outside the theatre and my friend was puzzled by how ragey I was

Now wondering who sponsors the latest agents of chaos...

I'm guessing here but would imagine the majority of posters here, are between 50-60, I am 52 . This, being said that all of 'us' 25- 30 years ago would have had different mind sets to that of Reem Ibrahim. This highlights how far the Economics of the United Kingdom has fallen, where the State Pension which is/should be a non contestable 'right' is being questioned.

This being the consequence of population growth of around 56 Million in 1997 and now 'officially' 68 Million with a continued and significant drop in GDP per Capita. The inevitability of a drop in Per Capita GDP, meaning firstly State Pension Age being lifted continually. Secondly, we have ill-informed 'youngsters' being brainwashed into believing State pension Payments are the same as getting Job seekers Allowance.

Bad Syntax.

Population growth from 56 Million in 1997, to officially 68 Million in 2025 though population more likely to be circa 72-75 Million.

I feel that the Conservatives' media team is closer to that of Aldi than Labour! 🤣🤣

Crumbs, the Times is full of stories about how awful the government are:

• Labour has abandoned women and feminism, former EHRC chief claims;
• “Frustrated” Tony Blair plotting overhaul to “save Labour”;
• Rachel Reeves caught in sexism row over chess championship title;
• David Lammy “opens a can of worms” over EU customs union; and
• Labour’s plan for unlimited unfair dismissal payouts will deter hiring”.

There is a thing about Keir Starmer planning to lift 500,000 children out of poverty by 2030 but it’s really far down the page.

Heartbreaking to realise that Starmer doesn’t even understand his own Labour policy for oil and gas taxation that’s destroying our local economy (estimates I’ve heard are 1000 jobs a month).

This is all over my linkedin feed, he thinks the current Energy Profits Levy is a windfall tax that only kicks in above a certain profit level when it’s actually a 78% tax on all profits. Labour is killing jobs and reducing tax as our industry dies (78% of zero is still zero).

www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/302f010114c1fd4f

High-tax activists have vandalised the Crown Jewels with apple crumble and custard in a protest at the Tower of London.

Four individuals were arrested after officers rushed to the Tower following reports of an incident shortly before 10am.

Officers found that food products had been thrown on display case containing the State Crown, one of the most precious and prestigious of the Crown Jewels.
A group calling itself Take Back Power is understood to have staged the attack.

Utter morons.

A few thoughts….

I have also been a Kemi fan since she was a minister standing up for women’s rights. I would like her to be PM, but even if she never is, she is already doing our politics and society good by sticking by reality. She sticks with unpopular things if she thinks they are right; she remains rational; I don’t think she purposely gaslights or manipulates. Sometimes it makes her seem like a plodder compared to others who are more nimble, but these things are important to me.

I can remember being young and wanting more resources NOW. I had children to provide for, etc. Like everyone else I had to grind and save over time to get to a better place. It’s always been thus. The current problem is the lack of a supply of housing. Sorting this would fix many other things. When you are young you are motivated to work hard to get the mortgsge, pay the mortgage to keep the house etc. With no realistic housing ladder, the young aren’t bought into the system. No one wants to up end the whole system when they have bought into it. Once you can’t get on the housing ladder or move up it, you care a lot less about stability. In fact instability may create an opportunity for you.

I agree Kemi sticks to what she believes in. I think initially taking time was seen as more of a negative but now I think she is nimble. At PMQs she makes Starmer look incredibly sluggish and just repeating lines.

Ik Reform have a big lead but I think she’s best placed to try and do something about that out of everyone.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/13/hungary-fined-over-treatment-of-asylum-seekers-in-unprecedented-breach-of-eu-law

EU lobbing out fines to Hungary

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/05/elon-musk-x-fined-eu-first-clash-under-new-digital-laws

EU fining X

Meta is hit with £664million EU fine for breaches over 'abusive' Facebook Marketplace practices mol.im/a/14086103 via https://dailym.ai/android

EU FINES META