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)!

Agreed. If they don’t grow up in a working household, and aren’t used to seeing their parents get up and get ready for work each day, then what incentive will they have to work in the future?

we already see whole generations of families claiming the dole. I lived among such people back in the day. I know their „culture” inside and out and I know they’re not all honest people who would „desperately wish to work but…”

they don’t want to work at all.

Even if the government do give incentives for people to work they then have to actually become employed it's really not quite as simple as just taking away their money and you can't force employers to take on risky people and a lot of those unemployed are not in the areas where the jobs are. "Get on your bike and look" only really works if there's access to affordable housing etc..

The above is the reason most governments since the 80s have struggled with welfare because it's far less simple than the media would have you believe. The system needs changing completely not just welfare but I fear that would in the end make us working class folk even worse off if not done carefully

The population rise in the UK is mainly due to immigration and those people having children.

No its because Rachel Reeves has limited the number of people you can employ to 4 before the increased ENI tax kicks in . And the employers day one rights have distorted recruitment. Especially for people employers may previously have taken a chance on like the young or disabled.

They're a party for benefit claimants and unions. They don't give two hoots about the self employed nor workers in non-unionised industries.

Yes, wage stagnation & inflation have battered salaries.

66k today is the equivalent to 35k in the early 00s. How many jobs have increased in line with that?

Far more are paying higher rate tax

“In 1991–92 just 3.5% of UK adults paid the 40% higher rate of income tax. By 2022–23 11% were paying higher rates, with that figure set to reach 14% by 2027–28.”

The whole premise of the state pension though is that it’s a top up. You’d have to be mad to expect to live off it. The IFS has a new podcast about the unaffordability of the triple lock pensions. Really worth a listen.

Not arguing that Reeves hasn't made things worse she definitely has but you're kidding yourself if you think small or large private businesses can or will take the risk of employing a lot of the people on welfare.

OK. I am still of working age. I have worked and paid tax all my life. I continue to pay tax. I also recieve a benefit, which I pay tax on. I earn a tiny amount through self-employment.

Am I milking others?

It's difficult.

I agree that they often seem to prioritise those relying on welfare to the detriment of those who work. And when they try not to they spin around in u turns as half the party won't let it through.

But what else is there? The Party of the already rich and fabulous? (Conservative)

Reform? I haven't seen much to suggest they'll help the working people unless you buy both that all our problems are down to immigration and that they can bring the numbers down. (I don't on either count)

At least Labour claims to help the working people - that alone will attract people to the party that want to try.

So much to say I still think they're the least worst option.

Compare the employment figures before July 2024 to now, particularly with regard to youth unemployment.

@Pineneedlesincarpet can you link to
something that shows our population is growing due to immigrants having dc? birth rates are declining despite immigration

"The Party of the already rich and fabulous? (Conservative)"

Not sure the Red Wall would agree with you there.

Labour are acting against the interests of working people. Its deliberate.

Their claims aren’t backed up by policies though that’s the issue.

Plus agree with @pineneedleson the red wall etc

This is true and worth some reflection

Its the latest rise of 2 million...its driven almost 100% by immigration. Have a look. I can't be bothered to look it up for you sorry. But its a fairly well-known stat.

It’s completely unaffordable but no one will do anything about it as they won’t want to lose the grey vote.

What's the benefit?

If you work you aren't in the benefits class according to my definition "people of working age who don't work and are on benefits"

Didn't ever say they were "milking others"?

I don’t agree. There’s no way that the Tories would have protested this to extent of the Labour back benchers.

And yes, I am net contributor!

I used to vote Labour, then I switched to Green. Now I think that Tory is the option. I don’t like the Tories, but there are no better options. I’m not voting for fucking Farage.

Birmingham is, so I read yesterday, the youngest city in Europe by population. London's census figures show the highest birth rates occurring in homes headed by people born outside the UK.

Sorry to the folk I'm quoting and replying to I realise I'm likely coming off as a bit aggressive I just think seeing this as a "Labour" problem is missing the bigger picture and that a lot of the Western world is in big trouble.

Deliberate?

You credit them with more competence than I do.

Also, to what end?

Can you explain this further please

2million children born to immigrants? or 2million immigrants. I know immigrants have driven population growth, governments have favoured this as I said. Immigration birth rates are still below replacement rate though.

Well if I were a cynic, Id say on the basis their traditional base of working people has deserted them and the SNP rule Scotland, its in their interests to make sure they rule in the interests of a group they can give hand outs to. Hence why they pander to the public sector and benefits claimants. They did used to be able to rely on the Muslim vote but as we see, Zac the Breast Whisperer has stolen that crown.