AIBU that now is the time for us to get behind Kemi?

[StarlightRobot]

Rachel Reeves has broken her promise that new taxes would not be levied on working people. She hasn’t followed through with her promise to prioritise growth. She failed to deliver welfare reform. It is clear that the current government is now led by the newly elected backbenchers. Labour are punishing those of us who work and save, taxing our pensions and making life more expensive for working families. She is making it more difficult for employers to hire staff and graduates in particular are suffering from a lack of opportunity due to her policies.

Keir Starmer failed to get any support for welfare reform from his backbenchers and is coasting politically.

Both Rachel and Keir have shown that political survival means more to them than delivering a budget that grows the economy and helps those of us who work hard and aspire for more. I feel that they hate people like me and my family- we are professionals on two good wages with children, not rich, middle class, trying to improve our lives, prepare for our futures while trying to pay the bills. There is literally nothing in this budget which would help people like me, only punishment (or a ‘contribution’ as Rachel Reeves described it in her budget speech).

Yes, the tories screwed up massively under Boris and Truss. But everything that Kemi is saying about the autumn budget is spot on. Kemi also stood up for women at a time when Labour was gaslighting women across the country in relation to trans issues.

The conservatives have a huge amount of work to do to rebuild trust and develop their policies. But if they don’t gain public support we are risking the chaos of a Reform government. AIBU to say that now is the time to get behind Kemi?

That's a very sweeping statement to make to say they are generally ignorant of what is going on in the real world. Many PS jobs involve working with and helping people who are living in the most dire of circumstances, so they are very much aware. That is regardless of which party is in power.

If you work in the public sector then surely you must know this? And will you not also be in receipt of one of those 'pensions to dream of' one day?

It’s really not. No, I won’t. It is easy to support Labour if you did well in a secure job. Retired at 55 on a final salary pension. The current pension scheme is a pyramid scheme. I doubt I will have one. They are unaffordable and we are currently paying for the retirees who could finish early and take full final salary. The system will collapse before then, it is unaffordable. Especially as we seem intent on destroying the sector that pays for us.

I work with people in dire need and whom are in dire circumstances. That’s why I am angry about what the current government is doing but that’s for another thread.

The only people I see supporting Labour now are mainly retired public sector workers (many of the younger cohort aren’t as militant and unionised) or welfare claimants.

I'm sorry that the pension scheme has changed so much but those of us who did retire with a final salary pension are not to blame. It doesn't mean we have no idea what's going on in the real world. It also doesn't mean that we all vote Labour.

I used to vote Tory but have not done so since Cameron was PM and was appalled at how things got even worse during the Boris, Truss and Sunak eras. I think they have taken another huge step in the wrong direction with Badenoch.

But that still doesn't mean I support Labour. I don't agree with everything they have done so far but they are not solely responsible for the state that the country is currently in.

I work with people in dire need and whom are in dire circumstances. That’s why I am angry about what the current government is doing but that’s for another thread

Were you angry before July 2024? When people were dying because their benefits were stopped, for example?

Retired at 55 on a final salary pension

Although public sector pensions can be taken at 55, there will very often be an actuarial reduction. The average PS pension is not particularly excessive generally. Around £10,000 p.a in 2019/20, which is the latest figure I can find. Not to be sniffed at, but not untold riches, either

FWIW I have a very reduced public service pension due to retiring through ill health. I had to rebuild my career, starting at the bottom in a Third sector job with an optional, minimal pension. However as I worked in the public sector at one time I'm seemingly akin to a feckless benefit claimant.

Yep. I am even more angry now. Lots of people who are all public service retirees coming to tell me I am wrong is proving my point. The only people I see supporting Labour right now are retired public sector workers and welfare claimants. Thankfully, teachers are looking to hold the government to account for the current policies and the further damage LABOUR are now inflicting. Their support is dead. They have alienated their core voter base.

No, thanks.
The only things I agree with her on are women's rights and the protection of children from medical experimentation - which should be a given for all serious political parties but somehow is still up for debate within Labour, even after the Supreme Court judgement and the Cass review...

Lots of people who are all public service retirees coming to tell me I am wrong is proving my point.

One person. Who spent part of their career in the public sector - where you also work.

They have alienated their core voter base

I agree. Even though I have a (reduced) public sector pension and am a feckless benefit claimant. I am also self-employed.

I live in a very Labour heavy area. It will always be Labour I imagine.

I know very few people who support the Tories and even less who support Reform and no, not all of them claim benefits.

I must say I looked this up and while it was an offence Badenoch wasn’t prosecuted but Harman’s password was bloody Harman!! FFS! And the content was quite gentle and comic. Pro Tory, yes, but nothing dreadful.

Harman accepted the apology and wanted nothing more to happen.

I don’t support Reform. Never been a huge fan of the Tories either. Although I didn’t think Sunak was that bad. However, what Labour are doing to education is unforgivable. Again, for another thread. Can’t stand them and they have had my vote in the past. Never again.

They are the lesser of three evils for me. I will never vote Tories and never vote Reform so Labour it is.

Great. However, it would appear the majority of the country don’t feel that way so…

Then they will get to have their say when it comes to voting in the next general election.

What don’t you like about Labour’s education policy?

I said your statement was very sweeping in saying that a lot of public sector workers don't have a clue what's going on in the real world. I stand by that reply based on my own experience.

Personally I don't think that most PS retirees do vote Labour. That is just my opinion. I don't see how that means I'm telling you you're wrong. We have differing opinions, that is all.

Oh well, that's alright then. 🙄

The (non) password was silly. But in UK law being silly is not a criminal offence. Likewise it is not for the victim of a hacking crime to decide whether action should be taken.

I can answer that:

• Schools Bill
• Education Tax
• Defunding schools (less funding under Labour than Tories)
• SEND + funding of SEND (look up impact of budget)
• Bridget Phillipson who only cares about toast and blazers. She is not interested in education

The elections in May will be an interesting test of the public mood. Labour will probably get a massive kicking, but Reform will not do as well as Farage hopes. They won't win in Wales, that's for certain. Or Scotland. I doubt they will win any London councils either. The rest of England...who knows.

Reform will do well where people are not very clever.

There’s a pretty clear overlap.

That's hilarious because the larger migration of votes is from Labour, so are too saying those previous Labour voters aren't very clever?

This is current prediction based on local election results to date

If they are migrating to Reform then yes.