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

[user6776]

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.

Because politics is cyclical. They won a landslide in 1997. Tony Blair was really popular until the war in Iraq, he had to step aside for Gordon Brown who was a capable chancellor but not a charismatic leader. Being one of only a couple of EU countries that didn't put conditions/ controls on migration from Poland and other Eastern bloc countries when they joined the EU (leading to mass migration) which allowed the Tories to capitalise on anti- migration sentiment. The financial crisis of 2008/9 didnt help. All governments have a life span. And to answer your question, yes. The 1997 election was the first I voted in after growing up under the Tories. There was a feel of genuine hope which mostly delivered- especially for public services.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/25/nhs-hospital-trusts-paying-hundreds-of-millions-in-interest-to-private-firms

There was a lot of hope in 1997 when Labour came to power.

Much like now everyone was just fed up to the back teeth of 18 years of tory sleeze and selfish attitude towards public services and the public and people just wanted a change.

When they played D:ream 'things can only get better' after winning the election by a landslide.... it was a moment.

And much like last time they will probably win by a landslide again this time round, chuck money at stuff for a few years until everyone forgets how shit it was under the tories and start getting jealous of poor people getting 'handouts' and start thinking of voting for a government that says they will rein in public spending again.

Round the roundabout we go again.

It was great

The one problem with the last Labour govt is that they spent all the good time money on services, but not just the ones you think of that would be considered good, but also pointless wanky things. So yes you can argue that it was all rosy, but when they should have been using the good time money to reduce debt they were spending it on 'services'. Now obviously there should be a balance between the two, but it seems like they went too far the other way. Not to mention that the last Labour govt was the most 'Conservative' Labour govt ever.

I am a traditional Tory voter. I don't even really know what that means anymore, but we have a two party system and my political leanings are Tory.

So I voted for Blair in my very very early 20's, I could actually have been a teen. Blair years were amazing - but he is about as right wing as our current Tory government. There hasn't been a properly left wing government in power since the 70's.

Blair now considered a war criminal by many and my family live daily with the consequences of the war he was part of.

If you are young and have ideals - I suggest research and also to shape your decision on what you want your country to look like.

As a Tory by ideals, this bunch will NOT get my vote. I would like opposition for two terms at least .

No different, they’re all lying cheating arseholes.

we had numerous wars, and we bombed the fuck out of Iraq so badly it makes Ukraine & Gaza look like kiddie club.

Victoria Climbie and Baby P? Think you’re reaching with making that statement

Didn't Gordon Brown sell all out gold reserves and basically fucked us?

And fucked up what was previously a decent pension system

Society was a bit more optimistic, less cynical, and more sympathetic to those at the bottom of the heap. Inequality certainly existed, but not to the degree it does now. And shame had not been entirely abolished-I can remember politicians voluntarily resigning when it became obvious that they were dishonest or incompetent, rather than hanging on until they were sacked.

Oh and there was help for women getting back on the work ladder with children. I was able to do a course funded by the EU, free with childcare paid for.

It was a bit of a golden period economically during the early dot.com years, so many jobs were created over this period which Labour enjoyed the benefits of with generous spending plans. People got a bit carried away assuming the good times wouldn't end. Then the financial crisis happened which to be fair was largely created in America but we'd become complacent so our institutions weren't well sheltered. Then lots of people were made unemployed, the voters punsihed them and we got the Tories.

PFI was brought in by the Major Government. But it significantly expanded under the Labour Government and as the only real option for local authorities and NHS if they wanted new buildings.

Yes, the traditional joke note left for every incoming government, but only publicised and politicised by the time incoming Tories to justify their ridiculous and damaging austerity policies.

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

We can argue whether it was better or not (I think it was though had many policies I disagreed with).

What I think 100% is beyond dispute is that the calibre of minister was adequate in almost all cases, and some were good. Unlike the governments since 2019, who have included several people who should be facing criminal charges that until the 1960s carried the death penalty.

I think there is an element of “rose tinted glasses” when it comes to the Blair & Brown years. They were not a Labour government in the traditional sense - Blair was very much a capitalist at heart. I think the nostalgia of the whole Britpop and “Cool Britannia” stuff plays a part.

Those of us who lived under the Socialist Labour governments in the 70s can recall what a shambles they were. The militant Unions were effectively running the country.

Labour didn't invent tax credits. John Majors government brought in Family Credit, which was pretty much the same.

I'm really sorry, life is such a struggle nowadays in comparison.

I've voted Labour in all general elections that I've been able to vote in so far. I'd never vote Tory. But then recently I don't really like Labour under Keir Starmer either..

Dire!

It was better than this mess.

It wasn't perfect by any stretch, but it wasn't completely broken. Bloody Tories just break everything.

Whether you agreed or disagreed with them, the grown-ups were in charge. The calibre of politicians was significantly better (on both sides).

They're still going. Some of those my Department looks after don't complete until the 2040s. They were often a bad deal (particularly the early ones) and the public sector don't always manage them properly.

Gordon Brown changed pension rules which screwed many, due to tax changes.