To think Labour is not the party of the working people.

[pinkpalmleaves]

I voted for Labour as I believed their election pledge of being a party for the working people but genuinely I can’t think of one thing, since they’ve been in power, that they’ve done to help me (a single working mother on around £42k a year)! I get zero help from UC, these mystical breakfast clubs don’t exist, people aren’t employing people due to their ridiculous NI implications, they aren’t building affordable housing, energy prices are insanely high and all they talk about is grants (which won’t affect me as I live in a flat)! Genuinely I can’t think of one thing that they’ve done to help working people in the middle. Why are Labour sticking their heads in the sand? Why do they refuse to help the squeezed working class? They are stopping this economy from thriving - as
nobody can afford to spend anything extra (treats, holidays, meals out etc etc)!

They are stopping this economy from thriving

Do you think the economy was thriving under the previous government?

We are broke, never recovered from the 08 crash & chronic underinvestment. I don’t think any party can fix things now unfortunately.

Our taxes are too low (except for those higher earners on PAYE) for the services we expect and throw in the ageing population we are pretty screwed.

Because they cant work out who 'ordinary working people are'. A lot of people seem to think anyone who earns more than nmw is rich and has broad shoulders and should bear their 'fair share' , disregarding the sharp decline in what a previous 'good salary' can achieve.

The government is not to blame for the high energy prices.

YANBU - I am a floating voter, didn’t vote Labour at the GE but had high hopes regardless when they were elected.
I am a high earner (as is DH) and we work for our money. We are definitely feeling the negative impact on our finances and have had many conversations with others how it doesn’t pay to work, so to speak . I appreciate it is not the same as for those who have less of a buffer.

Thy are the party of people on benefits - they’re not remotely interested in working people m, small businesses or anyone with aspiration.

I really feel for small business owners who do not seem to fall under Labour’s “working people” definition.

@HermioneWeasleyyes this is exactly how it feel. I was expecting the usual Labour UC help etc but also feel they spun a bit of a lie saying they’re th party of the working people. I know it might offend some people but we don’t all have shit loads of cash to spend and are on the poverty line, but entitled to nothing! It’s quite a scary place to be!

@noworklifebalancetotally! I mean the measures they’ve put in place screwing over hospitality and small business! The stress levels many of us are feeling are incredible and they just don’t want to acknowledge it, like they don’t want to acknowledge the disgusting anti semitic rhetoric they’re just blindly allowing to happen in this country!

@noworklifebalancei don’t have a buffer but work bloody hard! But I also appreciate those who are higher earners and think ‘what’s the point’ the government is making it very easy to aspire to earn minimum wage, work limited hours and get UC

@dinbinwe are also the 6th richest country in the world! Where is the money going?

But our GDP per capita is much lower driven by low productivity for years. Brexit etc.

Our income & wealth inequality ranking is also poor. A lot of that is to do with our distorted housing market.

I don’t think many people do.

The question is not radical enough. It should be “AIBU that no politicians ever represent working people”?

Many politicians are in a bubble of wealth by the time they reach parliament; as such, they soon forget what things are like for people earning average or less. Granted, Tory and Reform politicians are far more likely to be rolling in money than Labour politicians. But take Tony Blair: he claimed to represent working people, and put on a show of doing so, but most of his attention was on the Blair Rich Project.

I watched Bridget Phillipson squirm in an interview when trying to define a working person - she tied herself in knots and said it was someone who took home a wage…”so you, minister?…”

The question is not radical enough. It should be “AIBU that no politicians ever represent working people”?

true

Sorry OP, only read the title of your post, but I don’t know why anyone thought they were for the working person?

I think that was the big song and dance with the current Labour government - son of a toolmaker (ahem factory owner) and all that

And Reeves was beating private school kids at chess
Phillipson added tax to fees, meanwhile her daughter was using private school hockey pitches.

They are all in it for themselves.

Maybe it’s the human condition .

@scalt yes, great point you make! Went to see my local MP practically in tears at this insanity of their policies that keep squeezing me until I have nothing left. He gave his own similar bullshit toolmaker speech ‘I grew up with a single mum blah blah blah’ did he do anything to help or even push to speak to Reeves for more help for single parent working families (help towards wraparound care would be incredible) did he f**’! Even the Tory MP before him I have to say went out of his way to me! Sorry for the rant - just genuinely don’t see the point, I work full time then work freelance in the evenings and weekends to just make ends meet! I’m exhausted barely see my daughter and when I do can barely afford to do special things with her!

I am underwhelmed by this government but I’d challenge some assertions.

Breakfast clubs are being rolled out.

The “free” childcare is useful (I am aware the previous government had a part to play in this and it isn’t really 30 free hours).

The workers rights bill?

Warm homes plan?

I think this is overtly simplistic and clearly Labour’s electoral coalition is now liberal people in urban centres and people in their traditional industrial heartlands who are socially conservative. They’re trying to please two very different groups with two hands tied behind their backs because of the fiscal situation.

@AlmostThereMaybeueah, I feeel foolish! Tory party let me down massively (luckily most of the plebs have jumped ship to Reform), I would nevef
vote Refom, I despise Zack Polanski and the Greens - I guess I’ll go back to Lib Dems!

@JehovasFitnessthey are not being rolled out. The amount is very limited and under funded. If you’re going to bang on about tjem
as much as Starmer does I’d expect them to be in 90% of the schools by now. They’re not!

I feel truly disappointed in this government. They seem to have no idea about politics or business. It doesnt work to keep saying the other lot were crap. It is working people who are being treated badly and especially those who run small businesses. Young working families are overtaxed and given less back for their taxes.

This. They are not the party of the working class, they are a the party of people on benefits who contribute fuck all

Of course it is. We had the highest energy prices in the developed world before the Iran war. Because of net zero. Which is government policy.