Page 10 | Is anyone better off since Labour

Luckymum20 · 2025-08-26T19:26:57+00:00

I am not just talking financially but feeling optimistic about the future for children, old age. With the £22 billion debt now pasing £50 billion. The increase in Council tax (that they said the wouldn't do). OAPs raid on pensions and no Winter fuel relief. Changes to finance regarding care homes. Utilities up. TV licence up. Food costs up... I know minimum wage has increased but all costs have increased by a greater amount! In 2021 minimum wage was almost 30% lower than it is now... So I ask. Is anyone actually feeling better off, optimistic and pleased with this Government. Also the October budget of likely to bring more stains on the 'average working man" YABU - change will happen. It a good thing. YANBU - not good

BIossomtoes · 27/08/2025 08:29

This thread was a really interesting debate until it got hijacked by bloody school fees.

I hope someone from Labour HQ has read @ExpressCheckout’s post. It’s the most sensible thing I’ve read on MN for a long time.

Theolittle · 27/08/2025 08:31

Mosaiccat · 27/08/2025 08:22

I totally agree in principal, but frankly I see that I'm paying more and more tax and it's not improving services. Too many people aren't working and just taking from the system. Many more people should work than currently are. If everyone who could work, was contributing to our communities then they would be nicer, safer, happier places.

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I agree it would be great to get everyone working. But sadly there are too many who have been raised that don’t have the skills to work.

I do think the 2 child benefit cap will help - kids growing up in benefits culture where the best way for non working parents to get more money is have more kids - doesn’t set them up for normal society

Labour do need to tackle the benefits bill but unfortunately their own MPs (and other parties) scuppered their plans and no savings made.

Theres also the massive state pension bill and triple lock which has to be reformed. I feel so sorry for my kids having to work probably beyond 70 if they are healthy enough, but no-one wants changes to be made, couldn’t even sort the WFA without a national uproar (stoked by the right wing press)

twistyizzy · 27/08/2025 08:33

Kdfjh4847 · 27/08/2025 08:26

Not really in the trenches then.

Private education is a luxury service a tiny percentage of the population uses that has a massive impact on equality within the UK. The vast majority of users of private education won’t even blink an eye. Every pupil can access a free state place with zero VAT if they so wish. University education isn’t a luxury service, and there is no alternative. It can help with equality and a far bigger percentage of the population can access it.

And back to the op…..It must be frustrating to feel the country has most definitely moved on as regards listening to the whining about private school fees only a tiny percentage can afford. However maybe read the room. Everybody else is worrying about the cost of food and keeping a roof over heads.

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Again, VAT isn't a luxury tax.

"Not in the trenches"? So teachers aren't in the trenches? Are we now having to virtue signal our experience?

Remind what your educational experience is that gives you the right to judge mine?

HiddenRiver · 27/08/2025 08:34

Mosaiccat · 27/08/2025 07:15

I'm worse off. I'm surprised more people aren't annoyed by lack of pay rises, opportunities, entry level jobs - all bought on by the NI rise.

Public services won't improve as there is no clear vision for what the investments will be. All tax increases will just fund more people on benefits who have clocked that working doesn't pay....

A lot of the reason behind increased lack of entry level jobs is the rise of AI 🤖

twistyizzy · 27/08/2025 08:34

BIossomtoes · 27/08/2025 08:29

This thread was a really interesting debate until it got hijacked by bloody school fees.

I hope someone from Labour HQ has read @ExpressCheckout’s post. It’s the most sensible thing I’ve read on MN for a long time.

Because it is completely relevant to how Labour has made life more expensive 🙄

Remind me who said they wanted us sharp elbowed parents in the state sector?

hattie43 · 27/08/2025 08:34

Plinketyplonky · 26/08/2025 21:11

I’m around £4000 a year worse off thanks to Robber Reeves. I earn more than I ever have done, but have less disposable income than I dud in my twenties. I despise Labour.

Same here . I knew it would be like this though .
No growth but rob those who have tried to do the right things in life .

BIossomtoes · 27/08/2025 08:35

VAT is a luxury tax. That’s why it isn’t levied on essentials like food.

spoonbillstretford · 27/08/2025 08:36

Yes, I got a payrise at the end of last year. Also inflation has come down, my mortgage payment has come down and I'm also not ranting every day at what the complete tossers Boris Johnson or Liz Truss are doing next to tank the economy, put prices up, fuck up business with red tape simply to trade with neighbouring countries, cause supply issues, or a turmoil of political instabiity with reshuffles and general elections every few months.

twistyizzy · 27/08/2025 08:37

BIossomtoes · 27/08/2025 08:35

VAT is a luxury tax. That’s why it isn’t levied on essentials like food.

No it really isn't.
Get your facts right.

It is a value added tax on goods and services. Nothing to do with luxury.

Kdfjh4847 · 27/08/2025 08:38

Trentdarkmore · 27/08/2025 08:28

Did anyone expect to be better off?
My hope was that public services and infrastructure would be improved, not individual finances.

Exactly this!

There was always going to be a shed load of expense as a result of Brexit thrust on every family in the uk. That alongside needing to turn round 14 years of Tory damage and under investment is never going to mean we will all feel richer a year after Labour being in power. One of the big reasons the Tories were booted out was their decimation of services. Many who voted Labour simply want to see better services and a healthier NHS
not to have a paltry few extra pounds in our pocket every month. Waiting lists are already coming down. You don’t get difficult achievements and turning round massive under investment in the blink of an eye. It will take years.

Mydadsbirthday · 27/08/2025 08:39

Snowmanmarryme · 26/08/2025 20:59

I’m not as angry. I like that they are putting in place policies I agree with.
I like that private school fees are subject to VAT.

I dislike ‘putting in place policies people agree with’. Especially tax policies people agree with. Wealth taxes would be harmful but people agree with them. Giving those earning over £100k a nil rate band and free child care would be massively beneficial to the overall tax take and the economy but people disagree with them. The average voter is a poor judge of good tax policy.

This. Very well put.

Seymour5 · 27/08/2025 08:46

Theolittle · 27/08/2025 07:17

There will be loads of MPS that do this. Loads of MPs have more than one home. Funny that the right wing press just focus on Angela Rayner

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Regardless of the press, for someone who has been poor, the image she portrays shows a lack of any sort of connection or understanding of the general mood.

For all those who think there should be no private education or healthcare, why? People who pay take some pressure off the NHS and local authority education service.

Unlike private education and medicine, which are choices, elderly care is means tested. Should that be applied to other universal services? I haven’t see any suggestion that care for the elderly should be state funded. We could get rid of all those privately owned care facilities and let Local Authorities bear the costs.

LillyPJ · 27/08/2025 08:49

@taxguru Thanks for such an informative reply. I actually worked for HMRC as a tax officer briefly in the 1970s and know the whole set up has changed drastically since then. Back then it was an interesting job where you got to know the firms allocated to you and talked to people who called in for advice or information. My brother also worked there most of his career. He never gave a tip to a taxi driver because, according to the taxi drivers' Tax Returns he'd seen, none of them ever received tips!

Lisanne55 · 27/08/2025 08:50

We are better off - I'd had virtually no pay rises for about 10 years. When our mortgage deal ended a couple of years ago, we had to go onto a much higher interest rate so I'm crossing my fingers that interest rates will be down when our fixed rate ends & our payments will reduce.

BIossomtoes · 27/08/2025 08:51

Regardless of the press, for someone who has been poor, the image she portrays shows a lack of any sort of connection or understanding of the general mood.

What do you want her to do? Live in a hovel, wear a sack and eat gruel? How would that benefit anyone other than allow her critics to say she was virtue signalling?

sleepwouldbenice · 27/08/2025 08:52

JollyUmberDeer · 26/08/2025 21:47

I think you misspelled ‘true’.

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No it was a bunch of incoherent rambles

YourJadeDeer · 27/08/2025 08:52

I'm worse off. I don't think many people realise Tories and Labour are two cheeks of the same butt. Neither one do anything they pledge before being instated.

MrsMurphyIWish · 27/08/2025 08:56

Haven’t notified a difference apart from the endless posts about Labour on MN.

Was awarded a pay rise, mortgage payment down and youngest going into Yr 7 so will be slightly better off financially. We don’t eat out or have new cars so don’t really have to budget for luxuries or debts. Still had our annual holiday and camping trips.

Council tax did increase by 5% (just like the last 14 years I have lived here!) but at least the roads have been resurfaced!

MrsMurphyIWish · 27/08/2025 08:57

Haven’t notified a difference apart from the endless posts about Labour on MN.

Was awarded a pay rise, mortgage payment down and youngest going into Yr 7 so will be slightly better off financially. We don’t eat out or have new cars so don’t really have to budget for luxuries or debts. Still had our annual holiday and camping trips.

Council tax did increase by 5% (just like the last 14 years I have lived here!) but at least the roads have been resurfaced!

Theolittle · 27/08/2025 08:58

Seymour5 · 27/08/2025 08:46

Regardless of the press, for someone who has been poor, the image she portrays shows a lack of any sort of connection or understanding of the general mood.

For all those who think there should be no private education or healthcare, why? People who pay take some pressure off the NHS and local authority education service.

Unlike private education and medicine, which are choices, elderly care is means tested. Should that be applied to other universal services? I haven’t see any suggestion that care for the elderly should be state funded. We could get rid of all those privately owned care facilities and let Local Authorities bear the costs.

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The right would be shouting “politics of envy”!

I don’t like private education or healthcare as it takes a lot of resources from the state sector. Where profit is made eg with agency nurses, PFI, costs go up. Private sector now helping to get waiting lists down take doctor/nurses away from the NHS.

Finland has no private education and one of the best standards of education in the world, and really importantly, all children benefit equally, there’s no two tier system . They do spend more than the UK per child though

Theolittle · 27/08/2025 08:59

Local authorities mainly do pay the costs for privately run residential care!

twistyizzy · 27/08/2025 09:00

Theolittle · 27/08/2025 08:58

The right would be shouting “politics of envy”!

I don’t like private education or healthcare as it takes a lot of resources from the state sector. Where profit is made eg with agency nurses, PFI, costs go up. Private sector now helping to get waiting lists down take doctor/nurses away from the NHS.

Finland has no private education and one of the best standards of education in the world, and really importantly, all children benefit equally, there’s no two tier system . They do spend more than the UK per child though

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Sorry some fact checks:

Finland does have private schools. It is also dropping in PISA rankings and Finland has much higher rates of tax
independent schools don't take £0 from state or taxpayer. Please can you clarify what you mean?

You still haven't answered my Q about how you would find the £4B if all independent schools close? Where does that money come from?

It's OK saying that they take resource from state schools but you need to explain how and where

OxfordInkling · 27/08/2025 09:01

skippy67 · 27/08/2025 08:09

The right thing to do is to get rid of all private education so that we all make sure that state education is funded and delivered better

Agreed.

If they had made education better in the first place, demand for private would have vanished. So this ^^ is a pipe dream.

Theolittle · 27/08/2025 09:03

I mean decent teachers are taken away from the state sector

Kdfjh4847 · 27/08/2025 09:04

MrsMurphyIWish · 27/08/2025 08:57

Haven’t notified a difference apart from the endless posts about Labour on MN.

Was awarded a pay rise, mortgage payment down and youngest going into Yr 7 so will be slightly better off financially. We don’t eat out or have new cars so don’t really have to budget for luxuries or debts. Still had our annual holiday and camping trips.

Council tax did increase by 5% (just like the last 14 years I have lived here!) but at least the roads have been resurfaced!

This very much sums us up. We’re mostly veggie which has absorbed a lot of food price increases and cook well so have no wish to waste money on food or coffee I can prepare better myself. We run cars and phones into the ground and have focused on paying down our mortgage which is reducing. Loads of potholes have been fixed everywhere where we are and I’ve had 2 very quick 2 week NHS hospital referrals and 3 other issues dealt with swiftly by the GP. We have a new online triage system that is mostly working well.

So I guess on the whole we are better off however we are buckling up for a bumpy ride as know what needs to be put right is going to take years and £££s.