Is mumsnet right wing?

[BrilloPadHairball]

There are so many benefits bashing threads on here I’m really starting to wonder. Do the majority of people posting on mumsnet lean heavily to the right?

If they are here not paying their taxes they should be investigated
As should all tax fraud.

Only 30% of the working age population are net providers, it won’t help the country to reduce that %.

The idea of a benefits system is something to be admired and protected. It seems to have morphed somehow though and has created dependency and a terrible work ethic. It isn’t right wing to believe reform of the system is very overdue. People who are supported by the benefits system are not paid enough because there are too many people on benefits. If only those who actually needed financial help, got help, they could be given much more.

I guess my point is, why are you picking that. The majority of people only pick something they get some benefit from - very few things are entirely altruistic, could be bragging rights, a feeling of moral superiority, a warm fuzzy feeling - the majority of what you do will be for your benefit in one way shape or form,

I agree.
However I didn’t categorise the country of birth.
Thats not to say uk born don’t as well, it’s not like they can’t afford the move.

Other countries I’m sure are happy to benefit from their taxes,

Oh come on.
There are legal tax avoidance measures and illegal tax evasion measures. The government needs to reduce the opportunities for the former and the wealthy need to pay it. If they don't want to and would rather leave that shows they aren't contributing fairly so good riddance imo

Perhaps, but isn't it better to vote for a party that governs for all? prioritises good public services? fights crime? maintains public infrastructure to a good standard?

After all, what good are tax cuts or RTB if further down the line, your kids cannot afford a house, your gran dies in your arms waiting for ambulance or (as its a fav subject of yours) you smash your car up on a pothole and it costs £2000 to fix it?

I do think there is a good number of people in the UK that at least consider the common good, rather than purely selfish reasons.

I've seen that thread.
The times article is a rehash of what was said last year - Labour's position hasn't changed. That board is not neutral on Labour's position and I don't agree on the spousal veto. No-one has the right to 1) object to their partner transitioning or 2) force their spouse to stay married when they transition.

I've seen nothing to suggest Labour are proposing the latter. It's just the usual anti-Labour flannel that periodically crops up on that board.

@Devonbabs bit of generalisation there. Reading your past posts it may be applicable to you but not others. And of course the idea of voting altruistically is all just for bragging rights and virtue signalling, what a sad and cynical mindset.

Think it says it all actually. I’m ok Jack. Let’s pull the drawbridge up after us. Typically short sighted and selfish.

Agree reform of the benefits system is needed. It's very clear now that an increasingly punitive system achieves the opposite of reducing need (for benefits, or any other help). Poverty and stress (often interlinked) both affect health. So people get sicker, or fall into deeper financial trouble, or need more help from other public services, and so are less able to move away from needing benefits.

So what's needed is a supportive benefits system, and also timely and effective access to good well-funded public services. NHS, social care, more social housing, improved, child support system, good work education and training opportunities.

False economy approach is a proven failure. There's a need to invest to save. Costs money to invest but pays off by improving everyone's quality of life and saves money. So I'd say that's something that should be supported by both Left and Right.

yep

I'm sorry you're feeling confused.
But it won't be me - most threads on Mumsnet either unnerve me or make me face-palm. Unlike the premise of this one. This one's straight up comedy gold!

Here's another joke: Are most of DFLs (down from Londoners) racist as when they do leave Peckham, they seem to go to 99.9% white areas only?

This... If only those who actually needed financial help, got help, they could be given much more

needs to change to...

If only those who needed financial or practical help, were given timely and effective help, less people would need benefits, or would need them for a shorter period of time.

Loads of examples just on MN.

People waiting too long for medical treatment (often extra long waits because of doctor 'fobbing off') so needing benefits because by the time they get the care they need their health has deteriorated.

People fleeing DV having to give up their jobs and go on benefits to go to a refuge because there's not enough social housing

Primary carer parent needing benefits because child support system is a mess and lots of NRPs get away without paying up

People in work needing benefits because there's not enough social housing.

People needing benefits because there's 916,000 total job vacancies in the UK, but over 1 million people on jobseekers benefits (the 1 million doesn't include people on sickness benefits).

As I said in my previous post. The false economy approach not only doesn't work but it makes things worse for everyone. Financially, and effect on quality of life both on an individual level and wider societal one.

@AdamRyan
Could you please give a few examples of a "right wing position" on any topic that you've seen on Mumsnet?
And what would be the opposing position (as in left wing) in those cases?

@GivePeaceAChance actually I meant trans issues and VAT on private schools. I have absolutely no issue with people being very well off- if they are paying tax here-
if they aren't then I don't see the issue in them buggering off elsewhere as they were not contributing anyway .

The women's aspects- hmmm -it's not as if the Tory's have been doing a swimmingly great job on this either.

Re
Your last para.
Updates are on a MN thread referenced here at 6:17pm .

The Conservatives and Labour have a very different take on Womens rights. That’s why women are up in arms at Labour. ( see above thread as it has posted articles )

..apart from women are not, polling actually shows more women are backing Lab than ever before, recent poll showed a 28 point lead between the 2 parties.

MN isn't society and women can see the mess the Tories have created, inc loss of female rights.

I believe a regular GC poster on a different thread actually said both parties have very similar policies i.e neither will amend let alone repeal the GRA.

I posted the link on MN here for article reference.
Im well aware a lot of men and women won’t be on MN 🙄

🤷‍♀️ What does right and left wing mean anymore? Pretty pointless. For eg. some people are so far ‘left’ they are turning ‘right’.

This article is quite interesting.

‘Calling someone “left wing,” “right wing” or “communist” or “fascist” has become a substitute for engagement and civil discourse. Although binary labelling gives a nice dopamine hit, binds tribes together, and is much easier than thinking, it is terrible for health of our democracy. Thinking in terms of a spectrum turns us into ideological zombies, unwilling and unable to think through issues and consider alternative perspectives’

https://iai.tv/articles/political-labels-are-a-farce-auid-2090

The benefits post above is a good example:
"People who are supported by the benefits system are not paid enough because there are too many people on benefits. If only those who actually needed financial help, got help, they could be given much more." Typical right wing.

Left wing position is this "If only those who needed financial or practical help, were given timely and effective help, less people would need benefits, or would need them for a shorter period of time".

Immigration - anyone claiming the country is "full" or that immigrants "aren't integrating in our culture" is right wing. People wanting to offer help to refugees from perceived high risk areas e.g. Gaza would more likely be left wing.

Both examples on recent threads here.

That's before you even get on to private school fees (very clear left/right divide).

Sometimes. And some times people/politicians are behaving like communists/fascists.

Jeremy Corbyn definitely had communist tendencies.

Suella Braverman definitely has fascist tendencies.

We shouldn't stop calling these things out just because online people use the terms incorrectly.

Actually they don't. Well, Labour has more policies that benefit women.

If you mean "womens sex based rights" there is a gnats fart between them. The Conservatives are just more prepared to say things they don't mean (e.g. Sunak saying "a woman is a woman" while doing nothing about single sex spaces or the GRA).

@adam

I’m not advocating for cancellation of specific words. I’d suggest it’s perfectly acceptable to describe -an individual - a certain way, if it suits.

But as per the article I posted, we are talking about generic terms / labels used in a tribal fashion. It’s increasingly meaningless.

Has anyone used those terms on this thread?

@GivePeaceAChance some women on MN are up in arms you mean. Not taking part in threads doesn’t mean tacit agreement. Most women on here don’t contribute to political threads. That’s why you tend to see the same old names on them.