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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To panic about the dire state of the UK?

999 replies

moveblues · 25/09/2021 20:39

So... all things considered... aren't we up sh-t creek?
-gas and electricity prices
-covid (masks? Pfft completed Covid mate (in England))
-council tax hikes
-inflation
-food shortages
-Brexit
-petrol

Sounds like something out of a dystopian nightmare. I'm worried dear reader, and 'keep calm and carry on' doesn't help.

OP posts:
Coffeepants · 26/09/2021 10:43

Exactly. Almost like it makes the current government acceptable.

Theworldisfullofgs · 26/09/2021 10:44

bendmeoverbackwards if you keep voting the same way you get a government that has no incentive to do things that improve things for the public rather than libe the pockets of their donors.
The Tories are only interested in staying in power (hence populism) rather than the best interests of the country.

Dee1975 · 26/09/2021 10:44

@Newgirls

Yep agree. Rest of world is reporting on it too.

Pls people don’t vote Tory again.

And who should people vote for?
LakieLady · 26/09/2021 10:52

@Underamour

I can say in my locality every bus/train/form of public transport is packed by people who have quietly decided to ditch their cars for the time being
Spare a thought for those of us who live in areas where public transport is next to non-existent, and punitively expensive.

We don't have that option, now that the councils don't have the funds to subsidise rural bus services.

Jaxhog · 26/09/2021 10:53

The 1970s were worse.

Theworldisfullofgs · 26/09/2021 10:58

The 1970s were worse.

Reassuring, it's not as bad as it could be...its only just started.

Theworldisfullofgs · 26/09/2021 10:59

Dee1975

Anyone else.

2bazookas · 26/09/2021 11:04

It's a mess. But we've been in far worse messes before and survived.

In the 70's we had far worse power shortages, the Oil Crisis, rolling blackouts, the three day week, galloping inflation, 17 % mortgage interest, strikes, the Cold War. Then Thatcher, the Miner's Strike, The Falklands War, HIV/Aids, BSE, Tony BLiar and Foot and Mouth.

It will pass. It always does.

marieantoinehairnet · 26/09/2021 11:08

Also, all these shortage stories really do help to disguise the fact covid is swamping schools again.

The cynic in me says that suits our government so they'll let it ride.

Mamamia7962 · 26/09/2021 11:08

Theworldisfullofgs - That photograph looks like the fresh chicken aisle. Last week the Sun had a sensationalist headline saying that fresh meat could run out in a few weeks. Most people took that to mean it would actually happen, so what did they do, they panicked and went out stockpiling meat.

The media have a lot to answer for and some people need to apply some common sense.

wewereliars · 26/09/2021 11:08

From " the easiest trade deal in history " " Sunlit uplands" " we hold all the cards " to " we will survive" courtesy of Brexit and the Tory government of incompetent lying charlatans.

Cheers Brexiters

Dancingonmoonlight · 26/09/2021 11:10

You are overlooking, for example, the thousands of hectares of vineyards owned by British companies, the French farmers who supplied M&S in France etc

M&S is not a good example to use. They are shutting down stores. They are not going to be the saviours of the UK.

On the upside apples grow well in the UK so people can give up wine and drink cider instead Grin

www.google.ie/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/business-58582860.map

Theworldisfullofgs · 26/09/2021 11:10

Mamamia7962

It was chicken. Planning to have roast chicken and use the leftovers during the week. No lamb or beef either. No milk, not much in the way of fruit.

Pumperthepumper · 26/09/2021 11:10

@2bazookas

It's a mess. But we've been in far worse messes before and survived.

In the 70's we had far worse power shortages, the Oil Crisis, rolling blackouts, the three day week, galloping inflation, 17 % mortgage interest, strikes, the Cold War. Then Thatcher, the Miner's Strike, The Falklands War, HIV/Aids, BSE, Tony BLiar and Foot and Mouth.

It will pass. It always does.

Tony Blair wasn’t the 70s. And arguably, while the Falklands is over, we now have attainment gaps we’ve never had before, a record number of people using food banks, poor pensions, housing affordability and stagnated wages, an NHS on its knees and an education system being slowly crippled by lack of money. We have much fewer public services (libraries) and a much higher dependence on capitalism. We have the decline of the high street and associated jobs.

So when you say ‘It will pass, it always does’, how do you square that circle?

MarshmallowSwede · 26/09/2021 11:12

Swedish here.. no. Things are not bad in Sweden. Energy prices are going to rise, but we don’t have people worried about getting food, we don’t have people who are going to face being homeless on the street because they had to choose food or a roof over their head. We don’t have people worried about if they will have a warm house in the winter.

We are in the last stages of our move back to Stockholm and I can’t say how relieved I am. It has come to a point where I would be afraid for my life and the life of my unborn child if I had to stay here. Your government has no clue how to actually run a country that works for everyone. So I’m going back where I come from.. which seems to be the most common retort I get whenever I dare say any criticism about the UK government.

So please stop saying “it’s worse or it’s just as bad in other countries”… no it’s not. You are telling yourselves this because you bought a load of bullshit and are too proud to admit that you bought a load of bullshit and told the person selling you bullshit thank you sir.. then you sent them a gift basket for said bullshit.

You make yourself sound foolish when you say “others have it worse”. No.. Germany. Fine. All of Scandinavia.. fine. Holland. Fine. It’s only you and your screwed up ideas of what is a functioning government and healthy happy citizens means. If this was happening in Sweden there would be help for citizens to make sure no one is hungry, and to make sure no one is without heat. It would not even be acceptable to have someone have to cut down so much in heating considering how cold it gets. This is cruel to even ask someone to do this . I have read a many people worried about heating and food. What is going on?

You don’t have any idea what it means to have a nation that works for everyone. Why do you have homeless people on the street and people living so poorly they are worried about food now? Good god.. do people in the UK not understand that there are so many nations where this is not happening.? You are the only country that is lying to its citizens saying that this is normal and ok. No it’s not. It’s unacceptable.

As long as you keep making excuses then you’re going to sink lower and further away from any sort of functioning society. But maybe this is what your government is wants. None of this hurts them, but it will certainly hurt you.

But you can be sure, that most Northern European nations at least are doing fine. Thriving.. yet here you are with petrol shortage. Good shortage. High energy prices, labour shortages. You don’t even know how bad things are because you are brainwashed into thinking that how you live is acceptable.

I hope you one day wake up and demand that your government do right by its people and make sure it works for everyone. It doesn’t seem to work for most people in the UK. In my opinion, whatever you are doing is not working. It hasn’t worked for a long time.

You don’t have any room to criticise any government considering the appalling way the people of the UK are being treated and live. And it helps no one to keep on “well we have it good compared to this and that land”. I can assure you that you live worse than any Swede, or any Scandinavian. You live worse than the germans. You live worse than the Dutch.

Parts of the UK live in poverty levels like Victorian times. You should be ashamed that you have a government where they think this is ok. And what are they doing to help the citizens in this crisis?

I have not heard a sound from your government about any initiative to help the families and households right now. Mother and baby incentives to ensure pregnant mothers will have enough to eat. Food prices will hit hard for many people. What are you going to do to make sure pregnant women have enough? What are you going to do to make sure that all children will be in warm houses and have enough good food ? Where is this?

Do you wait until darkness comes to gather wood? No.. you get the wood before the sun sets so you can build the fire. Why has there been no plan to make sure citizens get thru the winter? Visas for Lorry drivers? That’s your plan? That’s the only thing you’re doing?

This is undoubtedly a crisis. Therefore crisis action needs to be taken now. What is it with the UK government waiting until the last minute to do anything that is remotely like governing the nation? Will they wait until you have people freeze and hungry?

Meanwhile Boris is asking Brazil and USA for a trade deal ( trade deals should have been done before ink signed on brexit deal- that’s a different story) when he should be looking into the National budget seeing how he can make up the difference in the family pocketbook so that food price hikes don’t pour stress on people. There should be emergency initiatives rolling out now.

And for those saying this is all an over reaction.. you’re part of the problem. And it’s people like you that will hasten the descent of your country into even darker days.

What do you pay taxes for? Your health service is about to collapse, your streets (at least in London ) are filthy. There are homeless people everywhere. Where do the taxes go to?

Now food shortages. No one else is Europe is having shelves bare. And instead of your government doing anything, they are just shrugging and saying ok. We will get more drivers. What about the price of food going up and less being available? People are in real danger of going into winter being cold and having less to eat. And not one initiative, even a temporary initiative until the spring, to ensure food and heat for everyone stays going.

I really pray for you to get your act together.

SeaWitchly · 26/09/2021 11:13

No other Government would have done any better. Just thank your lucky stars that Jeremy Corbyn lost the election, or you'd have had HIM running the show. shock THEN you'd have good reason to panic!!!

OMFG

No-one can be this brain dead, surely.

pontypridd · 26/09/2021 11:13

I only have to look out of my window this morning to feel contentment. It's a beautiful day (so much for the legendary Welsh rain), I've got a wonderful view (despite a colleague ranting about wind turbines, you can barely see them), next month I will jump on a train for a couple of weeks camping in the Alps, I've got some bread rising on the windowsill, Alexa is in the kitchen playing music from Swan Lake, the washing is drying on the line and I'll pop out in a bit to get some gardening done.

Blimey are you aware of how privileged you sound? Do you realise there are millions of people living below the poverty line in this country:

People posting here,worrying, are looking at the bigger picture. I’m alright Jack is what you’re saying. I’m alright with my Alexa and the Alps.

Mamamia7962 · 26/09/2021 11:15

2bazookas - Yes I remember all those, and also when the channel tunnel was being built there were tabloid scare stories of how there was rabies in France and other European countries and that if people took their pets abroad they could bring rabies back to this country!

JayAlfredPrufrock · 26/09/2021 11:16

Can we all come with you to Sweden?

MarshaBradyo · 26/09/2021 11:17

Reading these comments

The U.K., particularly London has always been attractive to people moving from o/s

I did it many years ago now as did many of my friends. I wonder if this will change much. Getting a visa aside of course - in theory is it still attractive as Aus is (which does also have points system)

Dancingonmoonlight · 26/09/2021 11:22

Reading this thread is like reading craziness unfolding right here. Comparing life in the UK is better than Afghanistan under the Taliban is setting a very low bar and hardly boast worthy.

Mamamia7962 · 26/09/2021 11:25

Theworldisfullofgs - Did you ask if they had any out the back? My eldest son works in a supermarket and they get deliveries throughout the day. Yesterday his store was fully stocked with hardly any customers as people were blocking the road queuing up to get petrol, so no one could actually get to the store.

pontypridd · 26/09/2021 11:28

To the poster who describes Sweden and other European countries far superior than the UK now.

I have family in Sweden. I can’t move there unfortunately. But wish it was possible. The UK is sinking - the outrage @MarshmallowSwede expresses is for the state this country is in now.

But we are sinking.

HeronLanyon · 26/09/2021 11:29

Looking Out of my window in central London I am worried about continuing empty properties restaurants and retail. Elderly isolated And low paid neighbours for whom benefits cuts will be disastrous as well utility price rises. There hasn’t been a private vehicle moving on my street for two days now.

Loads of European neighbours have left. Doing hand shops for vulnerable neighbour because food deliveries are no longer working due to petrol problems.

Likely I will be needed to cover work for colleagues who can’t get into London this week due to needing to get to train stations et cetera. Can’t see my Dp Half hour drive away due to complete lack of e.g. Addison Lee or bookable black cabs which has been a real problem from way before petrol and diesel problems
Generally Feels more isolating than first lockdown. It’s not good.

Macncheeseballs · 26/09/2021 11:30

Maybe nows the time to go veggie

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