Labour would be even worse grrrr

[Explaintome]

In the pub last night, rolling news headlines on the TV and we talked briefly about rising interest rates/falling pound.

One man trotted out the now tired line "Labour would be even worse".

"Why?" I said, "what is it that they would do less well?" He couldn't answer, as I find is often the case with people who are certain Labour would be worse. They can't tell me why.

They may be right, they are certainly entitled to that view, but surely to be so convinced about any opinion you must also have some idea of why that is?

This is a middle aged man, does an ordinary, low level management/sales job. He'd tell you himself, he's not particularly clever and he's not interested in/doesn't undertlstand politics or the economy and yet he's so convinced of this view. It was probably unfair of me to challenge him knowing he wouldn't have an argument, but there seem to be a lot like him and frankly it's scary. 12 years and still people are convinced Tory is the best answer, even if they don't know why.

FWIW he's a nice man with other attributes, an encyclopedic music knowledge and good company provided you don't try and talk about the news 😆

When (or if) Labour win I plan to constantly say

"Could be worse, could be Tories"

As that seems to be the default BS spouted by people nowadays

YANBU. Everyone is entitled to their opinions but it seems reasonable to have some basis for an opinion.

For me, it's that note Labour left last time, saying 'Good Luck, There's no money left.' That a minister of state could openly admit getting the exchequer into such a mess, be fully aware of it, and think it's a cause for humour was unforgiveable. I'm scared that attitude persists, that it will happen again.

but Truss is no better.

The choice faced by the British electorate is appalling.

I dont think Starmer inspires confidence in people, to win elections you need a leader who is a bit inspiring, even bojo managed that. But dull Starmer and gobby 'basic instinct' Raynor just dont. Its so depressing. A bit of spark please Labour!

He is very measured, very knowledgeable and not prepared to blag his way out of situations. He has a sense of respect and holds others to account.

A much better leader than many other options.

I used to vote Labour back in the day Blair and the third way, husband still supports Labour. In recent years (post Miliband) they've been vile in the opposition. I consider them a hate party and would never vote for them again. The anti-semitism is rife. Under Corbyn they were a proxy party for the SWP who felt closer to power. The party is a disgrace now if they think they've got any chance in being power should probably reform, rebrand and rename to convince ex-Labour voters to return. I agree with the man. Labour would be worse.

That one quote was a) a joke and b) in the aftermath of a global financial crisis not of labour's making. Tories used it to further their agenda that Labour are bad for the economy when the last 12 years (and the last few days in particular) proove that it is the tories that can't be trusted with the economy.

Probably better to look at actual economic performance indicators than trotting out hackneyed prejudices based on misinformation over a decade old.

If I were you I'd deal with the here and now for deciding who would be better to run the economy. If you think its the tories you probably need a rethink.

@MintJulia perhaps do some research.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/09/liam-byrne-apology-letter-there-is-no-money-labour-general-election

Have you listened to his conference speech today?

I have. Are you implying it didn't happen? Or that it won't happen again? Because so far I'm not reassured.

All politicians "spin" an illusion of the great things to come if you vote for me.

The truth is they aren't in charge of anything.

you have more power if you own a media outlet.

My youngest daughter came downstairs about 20 mins ago, obviously been watching the news in her room.
She said she couldn't WAIT to be 18 to be able to vote & change things. Now, she says, eight years in & she's realised NONE of then know what they're doing..

AIBU to say this will probably be the best post on this thread tonight? ;-)

It's not a celebrity contest, for heavens! It's our livehoods, our schools, our medical care, our heating and electricity, our poor environment... People need to grow up and see what a government is for :making sensible decisions to ensure we're a healthy and thriving country, not a disaster unfolding.
I'm labour all the way.

How could they be worse than this? You say you see them as a hate party. How about Johnson who compared Muslim women with a burka to "letterboxes"? How about the "hostile environment" by Theresa May? How about Brexit? All of this screams hostility and hatred. The Tories are a racist party.

Starmer will win the next GE unless there's an amazing, unprecedented turnaround in the next 15 months. But Labour need to bring through some more inspiring politicians so that they don't only win when the Tories make a mess of things.

Surely you'd have to be trying pretty hard to be worse than the rotten bunch we've had for the last decade or so.

I agree. He is painful to listen to, like watching paint dry. I am sure he is a nice enough guy, but he has no charisma and his speeches remind me of someone speaking at a wake. The dull, monotone drone makes me switch off immediately.

Much of their supporters are violent thugs and scare me quite frankly with their hate speech and anger, I assume that is why Angela has such a leading role as their role model, and their lack of awareness that there are other views, equally as important as theirs.

Their MPs are racist, and what happened today overshadowed the conference, and was just appalling.

I think you have to keep in mind that not everyone is very good at articulating their reasons for things. It doesn't always mean they don't exist. Some people also feel embarrassed if they don't sound as polished as they'd like, especially if the person they are speaking to does.

At a guess, he just may not feel like the LP has offered any really plausible alternative suggestions in terms of dealing with the current economic issues. Or that they are such a bunch on numb-nuts that even with a good idea they'd likely screw it up anyway. Or maybe that if they managed some things better, they would make other things worse, and he doesn't like that trade-off.

In any case I think the background is that the economic situation across the west is really pretty serious and no governments of any type seem to be making much headway. Canada, led by the Liberals who are not dissimilar from the LP, also has it's dollar at the lowest point it's been at for a long time.

You know Boris was arguing that people should be able to wear what they want without legal restriction, no matter what people think about it?

They’ve had a parade of Labour MPs inc shadow front benchers on the radio the last few days. All they say they’d do differently on the economy is reinstate the top rate of 45%. Not change the new 19p rate, no change to VAT, no increase in benefits, no funded increases in funding for public services.

I’ve been listening well and I watched Keir’s speech today and I’m still not sure what they’d really do.

The current crop of mad bastards in charge are doing a shit job and I don’t know the Labour would be worse but I have yet to see how they’d actually be better.

Why do you think they’ll be better?

How can anyone be worse than this appalling shower?

As a Lib Dem member, I'm just here reading these comments and wishing people remembered we exist 🤣

Oh yeah Labour keep loosing election because people in this country are not so clever. May be talk to a Venezuelan and see why they would be worse.

No, nobody could be worse than this shower. Even a recent ex Bank of England policy committee member today called them " raging incompetents".

Christ, the sheer nerve of the Tories, to come on here and defend themselves!