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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what the country was like under a Labour government?

1000 replies

user6776 · 13/11/2023 20:14

I'm too young to remember a proper Labour government. I was 12 when the Tories got voted in back in 2010 so that's all I've ever really known.

How much better was it than it is now? Why did Labour lose the election back then anyway?

Interested to hear people's opinions.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
48
BIossomtoes · 15/11/2023 21:24

Howard also said he would not have lied about the evidence/legal opinion or kept his cabinet in the dark.

In the words of Mandy Rice Davies “He would say that, wouldn’t he?”

Clavinova · 15/11/2023 21:42

BIossomtoes · 15/11/2023 21:24

Howard also said he would not have lied about the evidence/legal opinion or kept his cabinet in the dark.

In the words of Mandy Rice Davies “He would say that, wouldn’t he?”

I guess he would - some extracts from my Guardian link:

Sir John Chilcot’s report is more than just a carefully worded, clearly argued dissection of the decisions that led Britain to go to war in 2003, and the failures thereafter. It amounts to an uncompromising and deeply critical exposition of the way Tony Blair conducted himself in office during this period.

In page after page, the report highlights how the former prime minister appeared to be privately saying one thing “sotto voce” to George W Bush, while keeping many of his own ministers – and military commanders – almost completely in the dark.

It also underlines how huge decisions about the legality of the war and the execution of the military campaign were never properly discussed at cabinet meetings...

All of these failures of leadership, the report notes, were down to the then prime minister.

Chilcot identifies 11 key moments in the two years prior to the invasion in which there should have been wider discussions “by a cabinet committee or small group of ministers” about important issues.

Chilcot records that there was also “no substantive discussion of the military options, despite promises by Mr Blair, before the [cabinet] meeting on 17 March – three days before the invasion.

In addition, the report says it could find “no evidence that any department or individual assumed ownership or was assigned responsibility for analysis or mitigation” about what might happen after the invasion. Chilcot puts the blame for this firmly on Blair.

bombastix · 15/11/2023 21:47

BIossomtoes · 15/11/2023 21:24

Howard also said he would not have lied about the evidence/legal opinion or kept his cabinet in the dark.

In the words of Mandy Rice Davies “He would say that, wouldn’t he?”

Well quite! It's a valueless thing to say!

jcyclops · 15/11/2023 22:05

Under a previous Labour government (the one where they held a referendum on membership of Europe), inflation was above 10% for the whole period, peaking at 23%. Interest rates were always above 5% and even reached 15%. Strikes were widespread in both public and private sectors as the government tried to impose pay rises well below inflation. Unemployment went from 3.7% to 5.5%. GDP growth was below 0% for two whole years and although it did recover, it only averaged 1%/year over the term. The government was affected by deep divisions between extremists and moderates.

The shoes were different though.

Kendodd · 15/11/2023 22:08

Clavinova · 15/11/2023 20:46

BIossomtoes
people could get an NHS dental appointment

15 October 2007

Patients pull own teeth as dental contract falters
Survey reveals lack of access to NHS treatment

Large numbers of people are going without dental treatment and some even report extracting their own teeth because they cannot find an NHS dentist in their area, a survey reveals

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/oct/15/health.healthandwellbeing

I remember I volunteered for a charity for people with mental health problems around this time. They all had terrible teeth. One thing I always used to do was get them registered and take them to the dentist, and their children. It was easy, I could just phone any dentist, book an appointment, no problems at all. Never had a single issue. Imagine that, just being able to get a NHS dead easy. It was a different world to now.

bombastix · 15/11/2023 22:30

I tell you what I have a personal example. There is a young couple next door to me who have just had a baby. He has been sacked from his job and they both have to rent the house next door from me, both need salaries. Today they have been told to get out by their landlord who is selling up.

I am 25 years older, and I own my house on one salary, with a nice comfortable life which I had at the same age as these people. Only I didn't have to sweat like both of them.

Next door there are s doctor and a lawyer. They need both their salaries to pay the mortgage too.

Housing is key and good salaries. People lack both. During the last Labour government people like these would not have been struggling. Same demographic as me "urban professionals" and they are in trouble.

BarneyAteMyHomework · 15/11/2023 22:37

Housing is key and good salaries. People lack both. During the last Labour government people like these would not have been struggling. Same demographic as me "urban professionals" and they are in trouble.

I agree that housing and salaries are key, but it’s simply not true to say that people like your neighbours wouldn’t have been struggling during the last Labour government. I’m the same demographic and was definitely struggling with the same issues around housing affordability in the early to mid 2000s - unless you were of an age to get on the ladder far enough before the 2008 financial crisis it really wasn’t easy.

bombastix · 15/11/2023 22:39

I didn't say it was easy. But I didn't have to sweat to maintain a mortgage in this way. I bought in 2012. These people are doing far more than I ever had to.

Fionaville · 15/11/2023 22:53

Under a Labour government, I was able to get on the property ladder at age 24 (on a basic admin wage) Got married and had my kids. Moved up the ladder from a flat to large detached house. My sons autism was picked up by the well funded Sure start centre and he was put onto the pathway to diagnosis immediately and he started speech therapy there the week after! Within 18 months he'd been diagnosed and had a statement (now EHCP) in place. When mainstream school didn't work out, he was given a place straight away at a nearby, excellent special school.
When we needed a doctors appointment we could get one and....a doctor would come to the house in the middle of the night if you were really poorly!

These are things people couldn't even imagine now. I feel especially sorry for people with SEND children who have to wait years for any sort of help and even if they are offered it, it's still a battle.
The first thing the torys did for us when they got in, was to take away our child benefit! It's got progressively worse since then.

RudsyFarmer · 15/11/2023 22:56

Fionaville · 15/11/2023 22:53

Under a Labour government, I was able to get on the property ladder at age 24 (on a basic admin wage) Got married and had my kids. Moved up the ladder from a flat to large detached house. My sons autism was picked up by the well funded Sure start centre and he was put onto the pathway to diagnosis immediately and he started speech therapy there the week after! Within 18 months he'd been diagnosed and had a statement (now EHCP) in place. When mainstream school didn't work out, he was given a place straight away at a nearby, excellent special school.
When we needed a doctors appointment we could get one and....a doctor would come to the house in the middle of the night if you were really poorly!

These are things people couldn't even imagine now. I feel especially sorry for people with SEND children who have to wait years for any sort of help and even if they are offered it, it's still a battle.
The first thing the torys did for us when they got in, was to take away our child benefit! It's got progressively worse since then.

How long ago was that thought? We have a much larger population now which has stretched many facilities. I do think we are conflating bygone times with governments of the time in a lot of cases.

MaidOfSteel · 15/11/2023 22:57

It was easy to get GP appointment and the wait for hospital treatment was much, much shorter. Us ordinary people mattered more than the Oligarchs.

BitOutOfPractice · 15/11/2023 23:04

RudsyFarmer · 15/11/2023 22:56

How long ago was that thought? We have a much larger population now which has stretched many facilities. I do think we are conflating bygone times with governments of the time in a lot of cases.

It was 25 years ago. That’s all. And an Increasing population does NOT account for the changes.

Fionaville · 16/11/2023 00:15

RudsyFarmer · 15/11/2023 22:56

How long ago was that thought? We have a much larger population now which has stretched many facilities. I do think we are conflating bygone times with governments of the time in a lot of cases.

15 years ago, so hardly that long ago. The key here is the Surestart centres which were a Labour initiative and were finished by the Torys. They provided a vital service for young families. It was a time when the government believed in investing in children and young people.

VivienneDelacroix · 16/11/2023 00:37

Underthesea65 · 15/11/2023 18:26

They still do get ema

In N.Ireland, Scotland, and Wales they do. Not in England.

Lastchancechica · 16/11/2023 05:38

They spent every last penny literally. People have short memories.

RudsyFarmer · 16/11/2023 07:02

Fionaville · 16/11/2023 00:15

15 years ago, so hardly that long ago. The key here is the Surestart centres which were a Labour initiative and were finished by the Torys. They provided a vital service for young families. It was a time when the government believed in investing in children and young people.

I remember the SureStart centres abd they were wonderful.

AuntieObnoxious · 16/11/2023 07:21

The country felt alive.
I had my children during the labour government, without Sure Start I think I would have succumbed to terrible depression. My ds is autistic while my dd had terrible abandonment issues and I struggled to even put her down without her screaming. I felt really supported by the Sure Start ‘team’ and enjoyed being a new mum. I can’t imagine how it would be now without this support on my doorstep.
Schools & NHS had money and both worked for people using these services, unlike now when it’s more a care of them struggling to survive.
the infrastructure worked too, roads didn’t have huge potholes, there were rural bus services, leisure centres & libraries were open.
There was less of a rich/divide, back then I felt rich but now I don’t. it just feels meh.
It’s just depressing to compare life now compared to then. There’s no enthusiasm coming down.

Lastchancechica · 16/11/2023 07:52

God all I can say is people are going to be sorely disappointed in a new Labour government if it happens next year.

After the huge debts of covid and still funding the Ukraine war - and now whatever happens in the ME there simply isn’t the money to make any of the changes people hope for. Zero chance of that.

DrinkingMyWaterMindingMyBiz · 16/11/2023 08:16

Lastchancechica · 16/11/2023 07:52

God all I can say is people are going to be sorely disappointed in a new Labour government if it happens next year.

After the huge debts of covid and still funding the Ukraine war - and now whatever happens in the ME there simply isn’t the money to make any of the changes people hope for. Zero chance of that.

I agree. I personally also have little faith in Starmer’s leadership. Two sides of the same coin. And then to add all the stuff you’ve just listed on top of that (and then some)? Safe to say my optimism is at an all time low.

CaramacFiend · 16/11/2023 08:18

Lastchancechica · 16/11/2023 07:52

God all I can say is people are going to be sorely disappointed in a new Labour government if it happens next year.

After the huge debts of covid and still funding the Ukraine war - and now whatever happens in the ME there simply isn’t the money to make any of the changes people hope for. Zero chance of that.

Yeah, I don't think Labour have a magic wand either tbh.

Much as I dislike the Tories, I'm not particularly enamoured with how quick Labour are to jump on any bandwagon that gets them brownie points.

I'm not the gender obsessed type but I couldn't believe my ears when that serial rapist bloke was put in a women's prison and that Labour MP was saying he "deserves respect and support to transition safely". He'd just raped two women and only started transitioning after being charged!

Maybe he was all too aware of what happens to rapists in men's prisons or perhaps he saw a great opportunity to prey on more vulnerable women. Either way it activated my wtf alarm. Labour are not the Labour of the past, that's for sure.

EasternStandard · 16/11/2023 08:20

Lastchancechica · 16/11/2023 07:52

God all I can say is people are going to be sorely disappointed in a new Labour government if it happens next year.

After the huge debts of covid and still funding the Ukraine war - and now whatever happens in the ME there simply isn’t the money to make any of the changes people hope for. Zero chance of that.

The expectation in some of these posts, on all these nostalgia threads that are repeated, is v high

Sartre · 16/11/2023 08:24

I’m only 30 so I grew up under Labour but obviously had no experience as an adult with a mortgage and job under Labour. All I know is everyone seemed wealthier and happier under Blair, until the recession obviously. Schools were funded better, sure start centres existed, food banks didn’t really exist…

BIossomtoes · 16/11/2023 08:34

Lastchancechica · 16/11/2023 05:38

They spent every last penny literally. People have short memories.

Your memory is the short one.

To ask what the country was like under a Labour government?
verdantverdure · 16/11/2023 09:09

Nice graph @BIossomtoes

verdantverdure · 16/11/2023 09:14

Lastchancechica · 16/11/2023 07:52

God all I can say is people are going to be sorely disappointed in a new Labour government if it happens next year.

After the huge debts of covid and still funding the Ukraine war - and now whatever happens in the ME there simply isn’t the money to make any of the changes people hope for. Zero chance of that.

Tory mismanagement, incompetence, waste and corruption have cost, and continue to cost this country billions.
^
So yes thanks to the Tories we are in a big hole, and everything's broken.^

All Labour have to do is not do what the Tories have done and slowly but surely things will start getting better around here.

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