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)!

We all know why the Red Wall turned blue in 2019. Brexit. But why didn't the Tories hang on to it in 2024 if immigration was the key? Why didn't the Red Wall become the Reform wall?

I think at the time the polls were showing that immigration was not the No.1 issue.

Then the parents need to WORK. Take different shifts and overtime if needed.

But the majority of people on benefits do work. Housing costs and wage stagnation are a big reason for increased costs.

But you’ll agree that the welfare state is booming at a staggering rate and needs to be addressed, surely?

I think only tax payers should have a vote .

In other words you haven’t got a clue. Fair enough.

I agree that both parties are as bad as each other, and mainly concerned with their own self interest. However, I do think that things have been worse under Labour. Anyone earning above minimum wage is a cash cow to pay for their ballooning welfare bill.

I fully supported their proposed reforms to disability benefits - but of course the Labour back benchers blocked it.

I have voted Labour in the past, I’ve never voted Tory, but at the moment I think that the Tories have the better leader.

The issue with the above & I agree pensioner spend is a problem is they are a large cohort. The majority of people vote on their own interests so I can’t see much changing.

By scrapping the triple lock, obviously.

This might help them get votes but it’s a sinking ship economically. I agree with you that it’s such a bad idea.

Brexit but also Jezza of course.

2024 the tories had caused the high immigration (along with Blair) by the Boris wave and Rishi had not got it under control at that time...the effects of their reforms are only being seen now. So the electorate had had enough and rememebr...Keir did say he was going to "smash the gangs". So people had some hope in Labour at that time. Not many as most people were voting against thr Tories.

Immigration has been a top issue for years. I thought Brexit went through because all Leavers were racists after all....??

However, I do think that things have been worse under Labour. Anyone earning above minimum wage is a cash cow to pay for their ballooning welfare bill.

Individual taxation levels are exactly the same as they were before the last general election.

So at least a million pensioners should lose the vote? Stay at home parents? Students?

I don't agree with all of Labour's decisions but I also couldn't imagine voting for anyone else. Especially the Tories and Reform so I imagine I'll stick with Labour.

I don't like the lot of them, to be honest.

Benefits claims have risen steadily since UC and PIP was brought in and have continued to rise under Labour I was asserting they were any better than the Cons.

As for evidence of companies not wanting to employ folk who've been on benefits for a long time I don't think it really needs providing when it's simple common sense that as a private business you don't take on risks and costs of employing people who may or may not be reliable or trained.

That's not to say I think the current welfare system is fit for purpose as it need massive change but I really don't see private businesses focused on profit and efficiency helping much, it's easy for the media to say there lots of job vacancies but they always fail to highlight where they are and what they pay like the good old "picking fruit" which is seasonal and the fields are often in affluent areas that would appose the building of housing and the influx of "poor" people.

I wish I had all the answers but I don't and I find the whole thing a depressing mess tbh

Wait for it - “Oh no, not those non tax payers”.

That's Rachel Reeve's trick. Hammer everything apart from income tax. People can see through that fairly easily.

This is EXACTLY the issue though! Too many scared politicians thinking they’ll stick their heads in the sand and let the next government deal with it while the country gets ever poorer, and pensioners - the UKs wealthiest demographic- take an increasingly large wedge of the UK budget. It’s insanity. See also benefits payments to people with adhd who are perfectly capable of working - signed off for ever. If you don’t believe me watch that panorama on it. It’s staggering!

How much of the boom is due to an ageing population? An ageing population is a sicker one too.

People forget that one consequence of raising the state pension age is all those people who would fall into the pensioner category now fall into the “worker” category and increase the % of economically inactive & in ill health.

It’s crazy that so many don’t seem to realise the Tories froze the tax bands.

If a leader needs to take massively unpopular decisions for the long term good of the country and is inured to abuse then I can't think of anyone better than Farage. He won't care. Hes used to abuse and has had it for 30 years.

Hoping for Kemi personally. But won't be distraught if Reform have to get in.

@bist that’s not enough though, although I agree it’s the first thing I would do now.

• Don’t touch current pensioners or people close to retirement

• For younger people, freeze what they’ve already built up and stop adding new State Pension rights

• Make pension saving much higher and mandatory (not just the current auto-enrolment levels)

• Set up simple, low-cost default pension accounts for everyone (so people aren’t left to figure it out alone)

• Still have employers contribute a decent share

• Do it slowly over decades, not quickly

Tax bands have been frozen for years and Reeves has extended the freeze - this hugely increases the income tax we pay and we’re not even feeling the worst of it yet.