So frustrated and desperate for Labour to be bold and give the country something to believe in.

[youlookradishing]

This is my take on what is happening today.

I really do believe that the last decade and a half has left the country (Western world, actually) in a terrible situation and that any government with any moral values are in a totally impossible situation.

The economy needs fixing before the lasting change can happen and the public can reap any rewards, but the people are too desperate and cynical to wait. The vultures are circling and we are turning to populist voices who are looking to take advantage of our desperation by promising the impossible and delivering only for themselves to the detriment of us all.

Labour have actually tried to put the very limited public money in the right places (eg tightening up winter fuel allowance) but caved in and U-turned any time they face opposition. Policies like scrapping the two child benefit cap brought them negative press rather than positive, because of the fannying around.

Likewise they are actually bringing NHS waiting lists down and getting more houses built, but their messaging around this is utterly woeful and nobody seems to notice it’s happening.

Kier is FAR too bothered about being popular and trying to please everybody. He won the mandate in 2024 and he should have built a narrative of ‘this is gonna be shit for a while, but this is WHY, and this is why it will be WORTH it. He is trying to deliver but any positives are being utterly drowned out because there is no vision for us to believe in! At the end of the day, nothing he can deliver will ever be enough in the short term, when we’re starting from such a low baseline. This is about vision and messaging. Look at Trump, the guy is a complete lunatic, but he has charisma and tells a good story and THAT is what gets people on board long enough to actually have an impact.

I honestly believe that this Labour government are the best hope this country have got - come on Kier, time to turn it around and give us something to believe in, because we have everything to lose if you don’t!

People realise that taxing the shit out of workers and business is not the way to "fix" the economy. Taxes and welfare need to be slashed, and government needs to get out of the fucking way so that the people of this country can improve their own lives.

He didn’t win anything, Tories threw it away. The man has no moral compass. All the scandal around Mandelson and his chief of staff. Ole Ange and her stamp duty. They have no shame and no talent.

Labour are finished. Don’t know what the answer is really. Feels like this country is finished too and will probably descend into further chaos with Greens v Reform. Maybe the Lib Dems need to start getting serious again.

It’s because socialism doesn’t work because nobody who works actually wants to pay for it.

I think when labour came back to power many thought we would have that feel good factor when Blair first came to power, but unfortunately it was never going to happen, we still hadn't got over the economic shock of COVID, the war in ukraine, and the Tory mismanagement of the economy.

I agree that labour need to get a grip, too many people are getting sucked in by reform and it's going to be a disaster for this country.

I've always voted labour, my family have always voted labour, yesterday I voted lib dems, the country is so divided at the moment and I really worry for the next generation. I agree starmer needs to stop with the people pleasing but I fear it's too late, I hope I'm wrong.

Don’t be ridiculous. The Tories and Brexit( thanks Nige)have left us in complete utter shit. The Tories ran us into the ground over 14 years and caused huge damage with Brexit. It’s laughable you think 2 years of Labour should have put that right. Do you not realise that if Labour “ get out of the way” you’re going to have more of what put us here!

The cost of living crisis isn’t because of tax!

The 200,000th illegal boat migrant arrived today.

Yep and the Tories spent 14 years saying they were going to stop them. Reform insisted Brexit would sort it!😆

I absolutely agree he needs to make a big positive move which appeals to the centrists. He has already lost the far left, so will be fighting the tories for the moderate vote. I voted for Labour but feel thoroughly let down. We as a family are experiencing less money in our pockets, worse school funding for our girls, and less funding for my nhs team. It feels pretty depressing tbh. And that makes people turn to the extremes of Reform or the Greens.

I hope Labour turns this around and quickly. If Farage gets in I am blaming Starmer.

But thats not true is it? I work, and im happy to pay my share. Why aren't you?

Doesn't help though does it? I filled up my car today. Cost pretty much £80. £40 of that was tax. And I paid with income that had already been taxed at 40%.

Because I’m not a socialist.

Personally I think Reform will win/coalition next GE. I think it'll be bad
But I think the govt after that will be better as now it's defeated the 2 party hold and will hopefully allow other parties to grow. China blows ahead with economic and technological growth as their parties stay in power for long enough to establish and finish long term projects

HS1/2/300 or whatever should have been finished years ago. Most trains still arent even electrified. Yes cost is a factor but it's total political inertia. Politicians scared of doing things as the smallest outcry they U turn to stay in power. Doing small quick wins for their 5 year electoral cycle. No forward planning at all

USA is also in an economic mess albeit not as much as us so major world events are weighing heavily financially on every country - but where we are going wrong is massive taxation, high energy bills and shit NHS/public services on top.

Totally agree. Wish they would make bold changes. My wishes:

• Abolish stamp duty and replace with capital gains tax for primary residences (meaning only people who have made a profit on homes pay tax, and FTB don’t lose out)

• Implement proportional representation and strong anti-corruption laws in terms of election funding to ensure UK democracy is strengthened while they have the chance, because no right wing government will ever do this. 2/3 labour voters support electoral reform - WHY isn’t this a core issue?

• Actually properly reform leasehold like they promised to save people stuck with predatory landlords - ban shady offshore funds from owning the freeholds to residential property in the UK

• Prevent private equity buying core services like care homes and abolish the private equity tax breaks on carried interest like they PROMISED to do in their manifesto but they backtracked on - meaning predatory private equity vultures pay 13% less tax than other employment income despite being demonstrably terrible for economy & society - e.g., 11% more deaths in care homes owned by private equity & profits go offshore instead of back into UK.

• Reduce national insurance for employers & reduce small business taxes.

• Make it more attractive for UK businesses to hire UK youth and train them rather than the current tax incentives for foreign employees.

• Establish required apprenticeship/graduate schemes for businesses of certain size to give young people a chance

• Regulate/require labelling of AI and copyright protection for creative industries.

• Ban social media for under 16s.

Labour have introduced net tax loss policies, that have seen unemployment go up by 25%. They’ve introduced a children’s education tax where the tax payer is actually funding closing schools, putting people out of work to have less education funding per child. They’ve hounded farmers to suicide through inheritance taxation policies. Brought the employment and housing market to a standstill through taxation and ideological legislation. Driven 1000s of high net worth individuals and businesses out the country. Reduced the incentive to be productive. Raised taxes on working people and increased welfare spending to the point where welfare spending is bigger than income tax for the first time ever.

There is nothing laughable about what Labour have done to the country, pp is exactly right that Labour need to get out the way …. this time permanently.

Well firstly as you know, the cost of fuel is worldwide and thanks to America, Israel and Iran, nothing to do with Starmer.

Perhaps you are a person of considerable means who could withstand the privatisation of the NHS as per Reform’s vision, but I also pay 40% tax and I know that I certainly couldn’t. Most of my family would be dead if it weren’t for public services.

Let's hope you never have a disabling accident or fall on hard times then.

Oh this is an excellent list.
I hope somebody in the Labour team reads mumsnet.

The stock answer

America, Israel and Iran don't decide UK tax policy.

I agree. I wish Labour would give us something radical to believe in

The tax on fuel is everything to do with Starmer.

Lets tax energy at 10% rather than 70% for 6 months and then see if you stand by that statement.

Well, what do you think would happen if there was no welfare state or nhs?
What's your stock response?

To be honest nobody really knows for certain anything would be better under [any party name] because

1. theyre all as bad as each other
2. the western world in general has problems that are too big and complex for any party regardless of the colour on the rosette
3. no party ever tells you the good things they would say no to, in order to say yes to other also good things. Manifestos are useless and are written as if we are little children
4. stats can be spun many different ways to say opposing things so one can never really have a grip on how things are going

Depressing.