Has Labour taken it literally when people said they are ‘doom and gloom’ and are now giving discounts to theme parks and kid’s attractions as a bit of fun?

[speckledpinkhen]

Whilst these are all quite ‘sweet’ initiatives and will help some families. Lower price theme park entry and cinema tickets don’t really help average working families with the cost of living crisis. Am I just being a grump?

In some countries, a tourist tax is linked to free or subsidised local transport and discounts to local attractions.

It would be handy if some of the usual employers of youths had some intervention from government that could increase their turnover through increasing demand, making travel less expensive and reduce the amount they have to pay in taxation, I guess.

Maybe they could take action to help places like, oh, I don't know - restaurants, takeaways, family pubs, theme parks, cinemas...

How do you reconcile that with your posts?

Physician, heal thyself, perhaps.

Tbf it’s only working for a few now.

For how long are you recommending?

Create systemic problems that cause youth unemployment to rise and do a marketing campaign for one summer. Sounds like a Labour plan.

As I said it is common practice in many countries, it hasn't stopped people holidaying in their own country or abroad.

Your local council will benefit

As many of those businesses rely upon summer season trade to get them through the year, it would make sense to at least initially apply those measures for that period, also helping recruitment of seasonal employees, potentially giving them income and a reference/experience to increase their employability later - and it could mean some of those businesses will still be open at the end of the year instead of folding.

Wouldn't want to commit to permanent/ongoing support in advance - data gained from a period where it is most likely to have the greatest effect could then inform decisionmaking for any future extension or a rollout to other businesses.

And then still with the problem of higher youth unemployment which Labour caused via taxes and costs.

A shame they can’t recognise the impact of those policies instead. Businesses are telling them but as for some on here Labour won’t listen.

It's more complex than just blaming Labour's taxes and costs, Milburn's report is out this week

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/23/uk-young-people-workplace-anxiety-alan-milburn

Austerity has a lot to answer for.

And Covid. And phone addiction.

Look forward, not back @DuncinToffee

It has worked for me.

To be fair, given the policy design recently - it’s evident that some of the youths are working for Reeves.

I wonder how delighted these attractions will be to have to rewrite all their menus and reprogramme all the tills, not to mention argue with the punters who will inevitably misunderstood the VAT reduction in some fundamental way.

This government clearly have no clue how business works and a bit like Marie Antionette are declaring ‘let them have a couple of quid off kids meals on their trips to Legoland’ while the businesses that they are currently also being hammered with increased cost of staffing/materials/supplies/fuel etc have to foot the cost of organising all this.

You mean the austerity that was necessary after the previous Labour government spent all the money and wrote a famous snarky note to that effect) after riding a wave of growth set up by the previous Tory government and emptying our coffers? That austerity?

Which of labours policies have led to youth unemployment? Genuine question

I think the raising of minimum wage for younger people has led to more unemployment for them. No incentive for employers to choose an inexperienced young member of staff anymore.

Increased employers NI.

What say you?

The austerity that closed mental health programms, youth centres, sure start centres.

It all adds up.

An economist’s take on the ideological austerity that was the reaction to a global financial crisis.

https://business.leeds.ac.uk/research-aire/dir-record/research-blog/2393/in-the-struggle-to-get-britain-working-the-long-shadow-of-austerity-could-be-part-of-the-problem

And another.

https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/07/31/austerity-does-not-save-money/

And yet another.

https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cbrwp434.pdf

I am not sure it is just the youngsters that are an issue. There are millions of elderly people being scammed and manipulated online and not getting enough exercise either. Suddenly we have a generation of elderly right wing zealots - where does anyone think that came from. Malign influences and algorithms most likely.

Almost 400 migrants crossed the Channel on small boats on Friday, as temperatures rose sharply.

Official figures showed that 394 migrants landed in Britain from France in the first dinghy arrivals recorded since May 9. People-smugglers had been expected to take advantage of hot weather over the bank holiday weekend.

Edit: intended for other thread but will let it stand.

But none at all in the previous six days.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats-last-7-days

Don't worry these refugees won't jump queues for discounted tickets, meals or free bus rides.

They also won't take young people's jobs.

The main driver of these figures is always the weather.

Yep, ergo calm sea conditions.