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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do Labour really know what they are doing??

79 replies

MichaelandKirk · 07/10/2024 14:38

Reeves ‘drops plans for pension tax raid’

Chancellor reportedly abandons move amid concerns it could disproportionately affect up to a million public sector workers.

Since when has public sector workers become the 'Golden Child'?

OP posts:
EasternStandard · 07/10/2024 18:44

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 18:27

Because they went for the lowest common denominator, I hate to say it. “Loooooky here, fuck the rich, vote for us.” People clapped like seals and voted for it. We don’t value education as a society and it reflected in our ability to think for ourselves.

Problem is, higher earners have never been taxed so high under the Tory government. Middle and lower earners so low. Mad but true. There is only one place to go and Labour couldn’t say it aloud.

Pension tax relief would have been an unmitigated financial catastrophe. It’s why so many economists warned against it and it is left alone. It takes the tiniest amount of fiscal knowledge to understand but the chancellor didn’t. Mad.

People won’t understand this backtrack because they don’t understand the consequences. Some nonsense about fuck the rich or something. If they knew what they were talking about - they’d have seen this coming too. As I say, seals clapping when the whistle blows. Now all confused because they will lose their ball.

Do you think they’ll delay or u turn on VAT for same reasons?

Llttledrummergirl · 07/10/2024 18:47

I'm amazed people are still posting this made up speculation as fact and getting worked up about it.

Nothing has been said about the budget by Labour yet. Wait until they actually tell us what they plan, then write to your mp to object if you feel strongly enough. That would also be the time to write about your objection to a factual situation.

This constant ballshit it tiring, pointless and will water down any complaints when it matters.

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 18:53

EasternStandard · 07/10/2024 18:44

Do you think they’ll delay or u turn on VAT for same reasons?

Yes. I think they will try and force it through in some way but it won’t be how they planned. It’s not going to impact the state education system. All the people wanting to level it up need to stop treating teachers like shit - that’s just the start. It’s the unintended consequences which will cause issues as a pp has mentioned.

Dorisbonson · 07/10/2024 18:56

araiwa · 07/10/2024 14:44

It will takes years to work out and understand the absolute fucking of our country that the tories did before trying to fix it it all

I already can't wait until Labour lose the next election. Had forgotten how awful they are.

FOJN · 07/10/2024 18:57

No I don't think Labour have any more of a clue than the last lot. If they had a plan they would have communicated it clearly and stuck to it. Their plan was apparently fully costed, the state of public finances was not kept from them before being elected, so either they lied or they never had a plan.

Staunch Labour supporters may dismiss anyone who criticises the party as a bot but Labour are only receiving the same scrutiny that any party in government does.

I'm not convinced that all the press speculation about what Labour may do in the budget is made up. I think Labour are using ambiguity about their intentions to test the waters about what they might be able to get away with.

iamtheblcksheep · 07/10/2024 18:59

Wait until the good old VAT raid on private schools is deemed unlawful by the high court.

Not a clue do they have

nearlylovemyusername · 07/10/2024 19:00

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 18:13

This was NEVER going to happen. When everyone on here was crowing for it with a fuck you higher earners. I explained why and I even said the excuse they will roll out - public sector.

No-one ever touches pension tax relief - with good reason. The money is used for investment. The government would create huge unintended consequences in the countries’ investment. Not to mention brain drain, higher earners changing behaviour, leaving, etc, etc. Was never, ever going to happen. Every economist worth their salt and not on the payroll of the government warned against it.

Easy way out? Blame the Drs and UPS teachers. They would be dragged into this extra tax. Considering we were short of drs because of pension issues - not a great start. By blaming the public sector, they can save face a little. Pretend that this would have been an unmitigated financial disaster.

Dog whistle politics of envy for the uneducated masses.

Well, you were more optimistic than me.

This is still obviously only speculation at this stage, still three weeks to go so we'll see, but I was sure they will press ahead no matter what and we'll end up with full blown disaster. If it is true that they are u-turning, then I'm actually more positive.

The problem with this government is that ideology is above common sense for them so I didn't think they will even try to save face.

Lorelaigilmore88 · 07/10/2024 19:02

They seem to know what they doing in terms of strategy - put all the shitty benefits cuts through early white they can still blame the tories.
I actually do think Rachel Reeves has a plan and knows what she's doing. Starmer less so....

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 19:03

nearlylovemyusername · 07/10/2024 19:00

Well, you were more optimistic than me.

This is still obviously only speculation at this stage, still three weeks to go so we'll see, but I was sure they will press ahead no matter what and we'll end up with full blown disaster. If it is true that they are u-turning, then I'm actually more positive.

The problem with this government is that ideology is above common sense for them so I didn't think they will even try to save face.

They can’t. It would cause investment to collapse and productivity to collapse even more. It was never feasible, they knew it. Frankly, if they didn’t, then they have no place in office. Plenty of warnings out there.

I always said - their get out clause for this will be the public sector. That way they are protecting the hero Drs and teachers. Without communicating that, in reality, it would’ve caused economic collapse.

PandoraSox · 07/10/2024 19:08

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 19:03

They can’t. It would cause investment to collapse and productivity to collapse even more. It was never feasible, they knew it. Frankly, if they didn’t, then they have no place in office. Plenty of warnings out there.

I always said - their get out clause for this will be the public sector. That way they are protecting the hero Drs and teachers. Without communicating that, in reality, it would’ve caused economic collapse.

Edited

But they don't need a get out clause, because they never said they were going to do it in the first place?

caringcarer · 07/10/2024 19:10

Labour have always favoured public servants.

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 19:18

PandoraSox · 07/10/2024 19:08

But they don't need a get out clause, because they never said they were going to do it in the first place?

Of course they did. Via leaks to the press. How our democracy has run since day dot. This way they can just quietly backtrack without committing. I look forward to the fireworks then they are honest about what they really need to target.

PandoraSox · 07/10/2024 19:25

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 19:18

Of course they did. Via leaks to the press. How our democracy has run since day dot. This way they can just quietly backtrack without committing. I look forward to the fireworks then they are honest about what they really need to target.

But they don't need to backtrack at all because they never announced they were going to do it! They don't need to say anything.

PandoraSox · 07/10/2024 19:29

Criticising Labour for not doing something they have never formally announced they were going to do and criticising the imagined reasons for them not doing it (favouring public servants etc.) it is a bit...desperate.

EasternStandard · 07/10/2024 19:29

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 19:18

Of course they did. Via leaks to the press. How our democracy has run since day dot. This way they can just quietly backtrack without committing. I look forward to the fireworks then they are honest about what they really need to target.

They do seem a bit all over the place, with the non dom row back but also the very early doom press conference

The CBI and IoD have said that too

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 19:30

PandoraSox · 07/10/2024 19:25

But they don't need to backtrack at all because they never announced they were going to do it! They don't need to say anything.

Well they are and that’s being leaked again to manage expectations. One day, people can admit to themselves they were fooled and Labour got in on policies and leaks which don’t make fiscal sense. Maybe when they target ESA, PIP and UC. Until then, I’ll wait.

abracadabra1980 · 07/10/2024 19:30

2921j2 · 07/10/2024 14:44

They have no clue. Neither did the last lot.

Don't know what the solution is.

Agree. 100%.

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 19:30

EasternStandard · 07/10/2024 19:29

They do seem a bit all over the place, with the non dom row back but also the very early doom press conference

The CBI and IoD have said that too

That conference has caused a fair bit of damage already.

Soukmyfalafel · 07/10/2024 19:32

I'm confused. I thought the budget was at the end of October. Have I missed something?

Soukmyfalafel · 07/10/2024 19:40

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 19:18

Of course they did. Via leaks to the press. How our democracy has run since day dot. This way they can just quietly backtrack without committing. I look forward to the fireworks then they are honest about what they really need to target.

Most of the right wing press don't like Labour, never have. It may not be leaks.

Looks like there wasn't a budget then like I thought from reading this, and it's just people frothing before anything has been announced.

I'm not impressed with Labour though, but they have been handed a crock of shit and Tories seemed to be revelling creating the shit too. They were utterly awful. I don't think the current incarnation of Labour's policies are that far away from what we had before though sadly. I'm disappointed and frustrated.

I don't understand why people are so fucked off with them trying to keep staff in the public sector when it is literally falling apart through lack of staffing and adequate training. If you don't want it to get worse, unfortunately you need to keep attracting people to fill the vacancies, especially since everyone hates importing workers from abroad evidently.

Sesma · 07/10/2024 19:40

PandoraSox · 07/10/2024 19:29

Criticising Labour for not doing something they have never formally announced they were going to do and criticising the imagined reasons for them not doing it (favouring public servants etc.) it is a bit...desperate.

So what are you hoping they will do or will you just be pleased with whatever they do, you surely must have some opinion

EasternStandard · 07/10/2024 19:40

Aduvetday · 07/10/2024 19:30

That conference has caused a fair bit of damage already.

That was a strange political error adding to thread title yanbu

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 07/10/2024 19:44

OP, given that you say the Chancellor has now "dropped" this plan, could you please indicate when exactly she stated that she was planning it in the first place? Not interested in speculative media reports about what she might do, just in what she indicated that she was planning to do.

User37482 · 07/10/2024 19:45

I really don’t think so no. Not sure why they even gave the chagos islands away tbh. If you are going to give it away give it to the poor chagosians.

HoppityBun · 07/10/2024 19:49

But nobody decent knows what they’re doing. Have you seen the state of the world? The only people who know what they’re doing are the undemocratic, ruthless bastards. Everyone else is trying to square the circle, with less money and more pressures than before.