Labour isn't Working - Thread 36

[Nuthatch26]

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.

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https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5544016-labour-isnt-working-thread-35?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

So good he’s out soon. His ego knows no bounds so he’ll think he can waltz into any job.

Makes as much sense as Blair becoming a Middle East peace envoy! Maybe ironic job roles are ex Labour PMs' forte!

TBH, I can’t see any job or role for Starmer. He’s in the same bracket as Liz Truss.

Who would want that man in charge of anything important? And who would listen to his speeches or read a book by him? (Other than the Insomnia Sufferers Benevolent Society.)

The same will be true of Reeves shortly. Perhaps the three of them could start a podcast. Its name would have to be some play on the word ‘useless’.

And they can keep a seat for Burnham.

I think he's in serious trouble. The £5m was bad enough, but it's all unraveling. If I was a Reform supporter, I'd be furious (see Jenrick, above), as this could lead to the party company folding. I don't know what would happen next, I can't see Restore filling the void, but I don't know if the more moderate Reform voters would vote Tory instead.

However, the Greens don't have widespread appeal. PR would suit them best, as they have concentrated support in pockets, which means that FPTP won't help them get loads of seats (thank the Lord!). I don't think they'd have the numbers to shore up a lefty coalition.

I can't help but think that our political parties and system are FUBAR right now. What a sad state of affairs.

It really baffles me how many bloody barristers have such boring and uninspiring voices. I pity the judges who have to listen to them droning on!

@NoWordForFluffy

I don't know if the more moderate Reform voters would vote Tory instead.

Kemi is already saying the right things so if she continues on the same vein, I think a lot of Reform voters (most of whom were previously Tory voters anyway) could pretty easily return to the fold, but she needs to keep along the same lines. Who else would Reform voters turn to? They're hardly likely to vote Labour, Libdems nor Green are they? Restore is probably the only viable alternative besides the Tories, but despite Lowe being excellent and saying a lot of the right things, the party isn't really large enough yet to make much of a dent, but 2/3 years is a long time in politics.

Maybe that’s why he held on for so long. He’s a bit of a toxic career burner.

I'm not sure Restore would do hugely well outside of small areas, much like the Greens.

And you're right, where else would Reform voters put their cross? Unless they all had a fit of pique and didn't vote at all.

I do think that Labour will suffer the 'anyone but Labour' voting pattern, as I can't see Burnham turning it around, unless he does go rogue and reverse a load of stuff he's said he won't! Though with 🩴 Andy, who knows what he'll do.

I'm ignoring the political chatter except to say my opinion on NATO is not high but they really don't deserve Starmer.

I'm not convinced that Farage losing his seat will end his career, or his influence. It may even have the opposite effect if he can spin it as him being taken out by the establishment.

In other news I watched myriad videos on the tall ships sailing into New York harbour over forty nations took part. It was incredible to see so many classic yachts sailing gracefully along.

When the red arrows crossed the skies I admit to getting a lump in my throat. They practice here before events in the summer. Have many fans out watching from our local base.

I admit to waving at any passing over.

The field is open for Kemi to adopt some Disraeli like politics and steal some policies like exempting overtime payments from income tax. If she could hit the strivers with a tax break like that whilst incentivising hard work she could get them I reckon.

Exempting overtime and/or bonuses from income tax is a stupid idea and needs to be consigned to the bin where it belongs. All that will happen is that employers will change contracts to lower "normal" hours and lower "base" salaries and provide for more overtime and/or bonuses. There's no way it will be only for genuine occasional overtime or unexpected bonuses as intended. Human nature/behaviour will bastardise it. It'd be like going back to the 90s when the likes of City workers were paid huge bonuses in wine, gold, etc as (at that time) such assets were exempt from NIC.

I thought everyone wanted the tax system to be simplified? Making parts of an employee's remuneration package tax exempt will keep the tax lawyers/barristers and courts busy for a decade as HMRC try to stop the abuse that it will undoubtedly cause through tax tribunals and court cases to establish new case law, and WILL ultimately lead to such tax exemption being scrapped in 10-20 years time once it's proved not to work as intended.

The only winners will be tax lawyers/barristers.

The reform proposal is capped at people earning under £75k pa and working over 40 hours a week. That does look to avoid a fair bit of that to me - and bankers!

I take your post about all changes having unintended consequences though.

I would argue most people want simplified, fair + proportionate and part of a system where working always pays more that benefits.

Yes, it has occurred to me that - such is the level of hatred with Labour - a significant element of Farage’s voter base will be willing to look the other way of his ‘indiscretions’.

To draw a parallel with Trumps MAGA core.

The last thing we need is more tinkering with the tax system, it is far too complicated as it is. Our dear pal Rachel has already sowed confusion with proposed changes to ISAs, with some people already thinking all cash in S&S ISAs will be taxed, when it is in fact just the interest on that cash. It is a stupid idea, just more complications for providers and investors.

Just increase the bloody personal allowance; it has never made sense to me that workers on minimum wage pay tax and NI and then need to top up their income with tax credits or UC. Just allow people to keep more of their money to begin with!

(And yes increasing the pa will benefit the ‘rich’ too, I don’t care!)

Reeves…. If the Halifax weren’t being scrapped, she could become the next Howard.

Howard could meanwhile become the next chancellor - doubtless he would be more competent and relatable than Reeves.

Well, if many of us have learned, or been reminded of one thing, from the sorry mess of the last two years, it’s this.

SOCIALISM DOES NOT WORK.

🤣🤣 brilliant idea.

Migrant workers are still bringing in family members at a ratio as high as 15 for every worker despite new restrictions, according to Home Office figures.

Just 12 health and care workers from Cameroon sponsored a total of 180 family members to join them in Britain in the year to March, in statistics branded “shocking” by the Conservatives.

Ghanaian health and care workers brought on average more than eight family members, known as dependants, in the same period, as 2,131 joined only 257 workers.
Bangladeshis brought on average more than five dependants (139 workers joined by 747 family members), and Indians more than four (2,395 joined by 10,504).

The Home Office barred care workers from bringing family members in March 2024, and last year it extended the ban to all migrant workers unless they had a job at degree level or above.
However, those who were already here before the restrictions were introduced can still bring dependants to the UK.

https://www.thetimes.com/article/3da527cb-314a-4b80-ac00-b753fea10b85?shareToken=511a72024ef1d76bdd7799b896d1865f

@Nuthatch26 you’ve got to wonder if whoever created those rules (civil servants?) is actually playing a practical joke…except it’s not funny. ☹️

Who originally wrote those rules?! Crazy.

Also, this just popped up on my reels...one for all you wannabe 'flag shaggers' out there!

www.facebook.com/share/r/18TJz8hYuR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

How about that then a Brilliant Performance when your consider what was thrown at England last night. Man of the Match In our house DD2 year 9 14 who got herself up at 7.30 school uniform on and got the bus to school. The rest of us completely zonked out in bed. DD2 telling us DD1 DS DH and me to shut up and be quiet at 3AM. DD1 who has finished GCSEs telling DH not to swear because DS will use it at school. DH screaming it is not a F* penalty when Kane touched the Mexican in the box . DH screaming Ref you are a F cheat when they found 11 minutes injury time from somewhere. Afterwards telling DS that is a game of football! DS only two weeks left in the state system repeating year 10 at Independent thank goodness. By the way Bellingham outstanding Gordon best I have seen him play and Kane never misses does he

Norway will be a Premier League Game and very difficult, but we should have the edge across the teams take out Haalland Odegaard and Bobb and we should win !