Does anyone still support this Labour government?

[PutTheCakeDOWN]

I know NO ONE in real life who still sticks up for them (apart from my mother, and she would support Labour even if KS owned up to creating Covid). Apart from that, all quiet on the western front.

I haven’t seen any support on here, or SM for weeks now.

Is it my algorithm bubble, or are people genuinely disappointed with them? I don’t think it can be the algorithms though, as until a few weeks ago there were still words of support popping up.

For full disclosure I think this government is a total shitshow intent on dismantling British culture, and taxing the private sector to death in order to pay for the public sector. With no long term plan once the private sector is squeezed totally dry. I am BEYOND disappointed with them.

I’m disappointed in the u turns but yes I support the majority of their policies and can’t think that any of the other parties could do better

For me the huge, huge disappointment is that they don't understand how an economy works and that we live in a global one. As a country you need to do everything you can to attract and retain the wealth builders, because even if they only paid 20% tax on their billions, that's a lot more £notes than the tax raised on a standard worker like me, and hence pays for my NHS and my schools.

Now, I, like many of us, would love a utopia where those who build businesses and invest in jobs also volunteer to pay 50%+ tax. But whilst there are Monacos and Dubais in this world, that's not rational behaviour on their part.

Plus, those people use our public services far less than those who pay less tax. They don't use state schools. They often don't use NHS GPs or hospitals. And yet still this government doesn't get it that they should be encouraged to stay in Britain and supply huge percentages of our VAT and whatever huge £notes, even if lower percentages, of income tax and capital gains tax will stop them fucking off to lower tax jurisdictions.

And before someone tells me that Scandi countries have higher tax rates, we first need to reassure people that we are capable of providing decent public services and not frittering the extra tax away on quangos and benefits for anxiety.

Yes I definitely am. They need a bit of time.

I have no skin in the game as I’m not from a farming background.

If a person bought a flat to live in the 90s for 50k in London but due to the vast growth in population outstripping available houses that flat is now worth £1000000 how does that make the man or woman wealthy? If houses prices had remained static at 50k they wouldn’t be affected in any way as it’s just a home they live in.

It’s the same with farm land. It would be beneficial for farmers for the land to be worth £50 as no inheritance tax would be due. My understanding of the majority of farmers is that they want to farm and they don’t make much in the way of income.

If the gov was genuinely concerned about
a) climate change
b) carbon

they would encourage people to buy food locally and when it is in season. Less miles and better for the environment. Less processed food would improve health too (which is a good thing surely). Maybe tax processed food from multi national corps that has been brought miles in trucks and subsidise natural produce grown in the local area?

Makes you wonder why they don’t do this if they genuinely care about the planet.

My family are dairy farmers currently milking 400 cows. The farm supports 3 families plus 5 farm workers (3 in permanent cottages, one in a caravan). Most of the farmers I know, don't own their farms individually - generally partnerships/family so actually it's not a case of an "individual" footing that cost. In our case the farm is split between families - the land as a capital asset and the business in trust.

You said you're a tenant farmer - why is it better that one family have so much control over all those farms? What is your alternative?

SFI being closed to new applications is completely different to it being removed. If you are already in receipt, then nothing will change. If you weren't then also, nothing will change for you as you never had it.

Point me to a credible source which tells you that wood burning stoves are going to be banned? There is nothing I can find that says this other than some scaremongering headlines where the substance of the article gives nothing further.

Trail hunting isn't a thing in this area. There was a boxing day hunt and they'll have been a few spectators but it is certainly isn't a big part of this large, farming community and it certainly gives very little of value.

What part of the animal welfare reform do you disagree with specially? I have read the the entire section on farmed animals and I fail to understand why any of those are bad things.

You can be as condescending as you like about our circumstances but you're wrong. Just because I disagree and offer a different perspective, it doesn't mean it's not valid!

I was pleasantly surprised with the welfare reforms they set out, and the review of what qualifies as mental health, but thoroughly disheartened when they dropped those ideas and backpedaled. I’m sick of working people being made to pay for those who are too lazy or inept to work (obviously don’t mind supporting those who need it).

Absolute shower of clowns six form politics without any understanding of how to attract world wide contracts and wealth builders.

Because the big corporations won't allow it - they present huge legal challenges which costs the government millions. Have a listen to the Chris Van Tullekin book Ultra Processed People which goes into this a bit.

Maybe also remember back to when governments have put in place things like the sugar tax. The furore around nanny state and the likes of Liz Truss spouting on about freedom of choice when actually there is no free choice with these type of products - they're designed to make you want more so that you buy more.

Threatening to ban log burners.

Where?

...and you're sure you're not a Tory...
...not even a teensy bit?

What part of the animal welfare reform do you disagree with specially?

None of it I think it’s all great.
The bit I have issue with is putting expensive legislation on British farmers (who are already leading the world in the animal welfare stakes) to then accept chicken from Vietnam to come in and massively undercut us.

If they’re bothered about animal cruelty they need to not just outsource it to other countries for a cheap price.

Historically mnet has skewed to the left. Much of the change towards the ex tory/ reform/ maga politics appears to have aligned with both farms coming into being.

In my opinion as a result of my experience, you can spot these through the posters quoting right oriented headlines with no depth to the posts, insulting Labour government members with inane comments and use of the gotcha ie you said x thats a disgusting thing to say, you are a horrible poster and so I'm better than you and should be listened to. I find genuine posters can back their opinion with evidence when needed.

It used to skew left when l first started using it 20 years ago.

Now it seems to be the Reform and Conservative voters club.

The reason I don't like this government?
I don't think the prime minister is a strong leader, he comes across as an undecided, flip flop guy who couldn't put a tent up. And there's not a single member of the party who I can think would do a better job.

Seriously, ask yourself if Keir could do any basic car maintenance or general DIY. That to me speaks volumes. The thought of him using a cement mixer is laughable

Oh, FFS. I can tell OP is “not a political expert,” as she’s said. I’ve read three articles on the Rwanda plan and knew more than OP did and yet she’s espousing its removal as one of her issues with the current government. You know, the plan that wasted over £200 million for a facility that could house just 200 people. For the year 2023, that means you could send 0.7% of small boat arrivals to Rwanda, and since small boats only account for 5% of immigration... And do you even know who is on the boats (not that you care)? The largest portion of people, 17%, are from Eritrea - a country with a totalitarian dictatorship that has never held national or presidential elections.

Source for numbers:
https://news.sky.com/story/rwanda-scheme-how-many-asylum-seekers-does-the-uk-remove-and-how-much-of-an-impact-will-the-policy-have-13117908

Source on upheaval in Eritrea:
Wikipedia

OP, do you actually have any idea what you’re talking about? You sound like you’ve very easily fallen for all this absolute BS about small boats, and if you’ve done that, it indicates to me you’ll fall for anything. Have you looked at the actual numbers? Small boats are about two pence compared to the £1000 represented by the 890,000 immigrants that have entered the UK from July 2024 to July 2025 by completely legal methods. But 693,000 people actually LEFT the UK; we need immigrants to fill jobs! As for small boats, 41,000 people came on them, and guess what. The UK deported or returned 36,000 people. You’re talking about just 4,000 people. That’s ALL. And yet you’ve fallen for the propaganda about how these small boats are endless and innumerable and apparently that they’re “dismantling British culture”?!? And here’s my source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70989jrdweo.amp

And someone already pointed out that they DID NOT cancel the SFI scheme; it was closed to new applications abruptly, and there is a set period to apply every year. It was just the abruptness that concerned farmers, but the issue was resolved in just two months (by May 2025). That’s not even close to the same thing, even if you claim it is. I mean, that’s how it works. If you accept benefits to survive, then you’re at the whim of the government. And boy, do farmers get a lot of grants - SFI, Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship, and everything else managed by the Rural Payments Agency.
Proof the SFI situation you mention was reversed, from farmers, not press:
https://www.edie.net/uk-government-relaunches-sustainable-farming-incentive-after-farmers-threaten-legal-action/?amp=true

And more about how over £400 million was given out to farmers in just December alone:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-than-400m-paid-out-for-sustainable-food-production

Nor have they “tried” to ban log-burning stoves; they’re trying to cut down on environmental pollutants, which means that no, you can’t have old-fashioned wood burners that spew particulates. You will have to have adjustments made to it. But we already have these laws! They’re just being strengthened to match EU pollution targets. Not to mention that nothing has HAPPENED. It’s being discussed. People “could” (might, might not, might never) be affected.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/01/wood-burning-stoves-to-face-partial-ban-in-labours-updated-environment-plan

Oh, and let’s talk briefly about IHT. It is NOT a new tax. It’s lifting “tax relief” that’s been in place since the 1990s. The relief was never meant to be permanent. The fact that farmers acted like it was sounds entitled AF. Why exactly do you think farmers should be exempt from a tax that’s paid by everyone else? They’re still only paying 20% when everyone else has to pay 40%! Plenty of people contribute to society, like nurses or doctors, and they don’t have some magical fix that renders £2.5 million of their estate free from inheritance tax. And when the limit for farmers was raised from £1 million to £2.5 million, the head of the Farmers’ Union said it was a “huge relief.” Consider that only 462 farms over £1 million were inherited in 2021. There are apparently only 117 farms worth more than £2.5 million in the whole UK, and for couples, the exemption doubles! And farmers get a DECADE to pay that tax bill, interest-free, versus the rest of the UK who have to pay immediately. So that’s who will be affected: less than 100 farms, and they get repayment terms no one else is entitled to.

The article where FMU says the £2.5 million is a relief:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/24/u-turn-inheritance-tax-farmers-snuck-out-avoid-scrutiny-victoria-atkins

Article that quotes the amount of farms worth over £1 million and £2.5 million and any other facts I used on IHT:
https://www.ukpropertyaccountants.co.uk/farm-inheritance-tax-how-many-farms-will-be-affected/

I’m struggling to find anything you’ve been straight forward or correct about, and you threw in some disgusting “racism dressed up as cultural protection” shite as a nice extra for pudding.

You don’t need to keep saying you’re not a Tory, as it doesn’t matter since you already believe their propaganda. It’s very, VERY clear that you’ll be voting Reform.

What sort of test is using a cement mixer?

He’s a lawyer.

Since when has a pm had to mend a car or do DIY as a test?

l prefer an educated pm.

I prefer a competent one.

I just think it says a lot about a person

Not really. There are few here who are a vocal minority (polls will back that) who post on MN prolifically. Generally causing offence and upset to people who are seeing actual real life consequences of this government’s actions. Easy to think they are amazing if you’re in receipt of welfare or on a public sector final salary pension.

In the real world, schools are struggling as a direct result of policy and reform. Ofsted is one example. Thousands of children harmed by outreach and bursary cutbacks. Children who were failed by state having to move back into state. The youth unemployment crisis. The graduate hiring jobs crisis. The freeze in private sector hiring and pay rises alongside poor job stability. We have reduced inflation because no-one is spending. A sure fire sign of a recession incoming. The private sector, in particular for the younger generation has been a bin fire for months. Since the first Labour budget to be precise. So no, I don’t know anyone who supports them.

Schools are struggling as a result of the previous government.

And as for bursaries and fee hikes. That affects about 4% of children. All kids should go to state schools. Problem solved.

Which PMs in the last 20-30 years do you think would have been good at car maintenance or DIY? Because I can't really think of any, based on superficial assumptions that I don't care about anyway, but since you do...?

Edited to say @CalmShaker

I don’t agree with you. I am a teacher and I see first hand the damage that the lack of outreach is now doing to children who needed it. I teach in state and my children go to state. I have my own actual lived experiences of where I think things have gone wrong. Thanks anyway.

I’m a teacher.

So am I. I work in a highly deprived school that children had out reach from.

Yet you don’t get to speak for all of them.