Labour isn't working - Thread 24

[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/5454130-labour-isnt-working-thread-23?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

And finally the BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg5mr0gdnmeo

The BBC understands the activist's messages had not been brought to attention of the prime minister until they were highlighted in recent days - and the government considers them to be abhorrent.

How on earth could they have not been brought to his attention? He’s either an idiot or a liar. And surrounded by idiots or liars.

Yep. It’s the same excuse every time.

It’s all very unconvincing, isn’t it.

If this has been a “top priority” for 18 months Starmer must have known. No government would pursue a “top priority” without researching it and not keep the PM properly informed, including the political pitfalls.

My money’s on the usual Starmer bullshit and opportunistic boast. But he’s fallen flat on his face again.

His wife and kids are Jewish what a total idiot he’s got to go making massive blunders like this every bloody day idiot

I do find it weird that he seems to be prioritising his rabid back benchers over the safety of his own family. I understand trying so hard to be impartial that you tip over the other way - but not this much. How could his wife ever forgive him?

Maybe it is a lavender marriage although why anyone wd want even a normal marriage with the nasel breathing traitor I have no idea

When Keir Starmer Defended Acid House Raves: The "Burglar" Comeback. 1989 on Kilroy - YouTube

A young Left Wing anti establishment Lawyer, we should of known.

Can you imagine if you asked the audience, 'can you see a future Prime Minister here'. I think it would have brought a mixture of 'horror' and hysterical laughter from Robert Kilroy Silk (who himself was a highly educated ex Labour MP ) Who could now be seen as the Grandfather of Brexit along with Jimmy Goldsmith. All in all a very interesting take on Starmer and his lack of anything really.

Robert Kilroy Silk - you are having a laugh!

Keep going people

Hairdressers are following pub landlords in banning Labour MPs in a backlash against high taxes.
Barbers and salons are joining more than 1,000 pubs which have barred Sir Keir Starmer’s MPs over Rachel Reeves’ Budget.

In recent weeks stickers reading “No Labour MPs” have been appearing on windows and doors by owners furious at a rise in business rates.

Goodness he’s made a right mess hasn’t he. Huge failings by multiple governments and our security services/Home Office. I don’t know what’s more scary at this point. What has happened or the same old names on here tying themselves into pretzels to deflect from the seriousness of it because it makes Keir look bad. He came back on his watch and his advisors went out of their way to post about it on his watch. It doesn’t really matter what previous governments did as such, people will see the optics of what the current PM has done; that’s part of being in government, you are accountable. Can’t really put people in prison for hurty words and then justify that.

😂If we could get the trades on board they'd all be crossing the floor just to get their boilers, leaky roofs and consumer boards fixed.

Wow, has no one posted today?

I spent the day with a friend who is one of the friends group that we lost in the terror attack. We don't really talk about it. In fact, today was one of the first times it got mentioned.

It came up because we were both saying that basically they always say lessons will be learned, but they never are. And now the arrival of a man who praises terrorism is supposed to be good news.... it makes you want to move and start again. Neither of us are going to, she's mid 50s, I'm 49.

she was also talking about all the things you can't say and the assumptions that people will make about what you think.

The powers that we have done a very good job of silencing us on all kinds of issues I think. There's very much an approved line of thinking.

We did have a nice day, by the way - it was just one thing that came up but we moved on very quickly.

she's expecting an economic improvement early in the year. I think that's optimistic.

FFS i've just seen the letter that Yvette Cooper has written

It's going to turn out that it's nobody's job to check anyone's background, isn't it?

I got home from my sisters farm about an hour a go with the kids and Neice in tow Mum decided to stay with Sister until the New Year. Hence, why I have not posted today. I think the whole Alaa Abdel Fatah attaining Citizenship and denial of tweets by all concerned such as both the Labour and Conservative Parties is a disgrace. Therefore, I think the information was deliberately 'leaked' this week, while the general public are not looking, in the hope the story will disappear.

I am beginning to believe I am getting older at 52, especially as my sister who is 56 told me that she is now the oldest member of 'teaching' staff at her school. This, since the previous oldest member of teaching staff retired from 'teaching' at 59 at Christmas . This is an example how when you get into your middle 50's you start to become a bit expendable. Sister has been teaching for 28 years and 'feels' ancient , this is totally different from I went to school when we appeared to have 'many' teachers in their mid 60's. My mother who is now '82' taught time until she was 64, full time until 61 . This, despite being 'economically' very well off because she loved it. Sister, is now feeling completely, fed up and out of 'touch' with younger members of staff, their attitudes, lack of subject knowledge and inability to take criticisms, to make them better teachers. She, says their seems to be a opinion currently that after your middle 50's in teaching your 'agency' is reduced, because you have limited capacity to engage with 14 year old's. Hence, it seems the powers that be even at a Grammar School favor 29 year old's who have limited 'subject' knowledge over established professionals. Purely, on the basis of engagement and apply crisis management better with pupils. In short this means accepting the pupil's issues are not their own fault, but circumstantial. Thus, disciplining them is not how it used to be, but done in a child friendly way, with reflection exercises as to why they did not do the homework.

Teaching is a different beast now. If you’re older and expensive you are often managed out for budget reasons. ECTs now are coming into a toxic profession. It’s beyond being advised how to be a better teacher now. It’s toxic micromanagement of an excessive workload. See Ofsted reform. Behaviour is shocking in many schools now. That’s because there are no real consequences as Ofsted judge you on suspensions. The excuses to come out as to why. Circumstance, SEND etc. It is covered up in the school system. Quite what will happen when these children are out threatening to stab people in public when they are older is anyone’s guess. Nothing happens in many schools.

As a new graduate you wouldn’t stay in teaching which is why attrition is highest in its first 5 years.

@redange if Starmer had kept quiet, then nobody would know. Which leads me to wonder why he said anything. I feel like there must be a reason. I do flip-flop between cock up and conspiracy, but I'm afraid on this occasion I do lean towards conspiracy.

I'm turning 50 next year and it's weirding me out. Turning 40 was exciting. I don't know why 50 isn't exciting 😂 I don't feel old, but I find that other people perceive 50 as old. Well, some do, and I particularly dislike the stereotype that does the rounds on here. You'd think we were all falling apart at this age if you take MN seriously.

@Legolava I have so much respect for teachers. Initially that was because I knew I would never be able to work with kids. Now it's also about the endless bureaucracy and ridiculous demands they seem to be facing.

I think far too much is asked of them, and I would've said that 20 years ago!

Legolava · Today 21:18
Teaching is a different beast now. If you’re older and expensive you are often managed out for budget reasons. ECTs now are coming into a toxic profession. It’s beyond being advised how to be a better teacher now. It’s toxic micromanagement of an excessive workload. See Ofsted reform. Behaviour is shocking in many schools now. That’s because there are no real consequences as Ofsted judge you on suspensions. The excuses to come out as to why. Circumstance, SEND etc. It is covered up in the school system. Quite what will happen when these children are out threatening to stab people in public when they are older is anyone’s guess. Nothing happens in many schools.
As a new graduate you wouldn’t stay in teaching which is why attrition is highest in its first 5 years.

My sister was hugely academic as a child and could have gone into a number of other academic or entrepreneurial fields . However, mother encouraged her into teaching after Cambridge because even though it was not 'perfect' was still a worthy profession in 1997 especially as sister Degree was in Chemistry and there being a genuine lack of quality Science Teachers then as well as today. Sister, was driven in to teaching despite having potential opportunities in 'research' and from the point she helped me pass the 11+ i think she thought she was a fit for teaching. She, was lucky in a way that she did not need a 'huge' salary due to father's ability to support us financially and marriage to a 'wealthy' Farmers son. Over, 28 years of teaching she has taught in 6 state schools around Lincolnshire 3 Grammars 2 'Comprehensives' and 1 Secondary Modern. This is relevant because the standard of behavior has deteriorated so much that the 'ivory' tower Girls Grammar pupils behavior is similar to the Comprehensives of 15 years ago. Sister, says she would be frightened to teach in the Secondary Modern school today, that 25 years was a 'decent' caring school where pupils showed respect. This, highlights that schools today that are considered to be 'socially' selective and exemplary in discipline are only offering parents and pupils mainstream structures from 1985 !

If Sister was graduating now teaching would not be a career choice at the top of her options. As it stands today she has a left/right foot in two of the three worst work place environments to be Teaching and Farming. The, third being Retail or the Catering Industry in particular, Pubs and family owned Restaurants where the future is bleak.

What I want to know is who are these teachers Labour asked when launching their survey, regarding support with abolishing the two child cap. I work in a very deprived school statistically and none of my colleagues nor I do. We see where the money goes. In fact I don’t know anyone who works in our situation that does. It’s feel good politics, it will do nothing to help these children. More gaslighting and manipulation.

Has the Percentage of FSM gone up, I have just looked at sisters school which at 8% was quite a bit higher than it used to be. One of the schools she has taught at is around 57% . However, didn't Ofsted change the FSM designation from current to anytime within six years. This, would explain why a school I thought was around 4% FSM is now around 8% !

Estyn the Welsh education inspectors visited a school that got the top award in Wales last school year. It has an excellent sen department. Fantastic GCSE and a level results. Parents love it. It's oversubscribed. They basically tore it apart at the teacher, head of department and head level.

The parents are absolutely bloody furious.

I did a quick Google about changes to FSM criteria, and found that in September 2026 the eligibility criteria are being significantly widened to include all children in families receiving Universal Credit. Although it looks like the pupil premium will still keep the £7,400 per year income cap for eligibility.

What's interesting is that currently FSM / pupil premium eligibiluty (which currently have the same income threshold) are used for giving priority for school admissions, and also for University widening participation.

So the question is: will the new FSM children be eligible for these perks? At 40% of all children, that will push a lot of other kids diwn the queue for their preferred schools and university. Or will those advantages be pegged to pupil premium, reflecting the current proportion (25%).

What do we think Labour's philosophy will be? Do we think they've even thought about it, or realised there will be consequences?

@strawberrybubblegum I don't know what else anyone will be entitled to, in fact, I thought the criteria had already been expanded recently? Under Johnson, perhaps. I might've got that wrong because I don't take much of an interest in that particular subject.

But the expansion of FSM to anyone on UC was mentioned on another thread as being a very good thing. Again, I didn't comment because it's not something I know anything about.

@justasking111 you've got to wonder what these inspectors are up to if the school is so oversubscribed.

So that means that families getting up to '£3000' a month on Universal Credit will qualify for Free School Meals. This, is mad and completely unfair on many people. Years ago before Benefits and other UC Payments etc . Free School Meals use to be on Household Income 'Not Taxable' income or anything else and was around £15'K a year I think ! Really confusing a typical Labour.