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?

You might think a GBP 3 bn cost per annum to the tax payer to be cause for sarcasm.

I don’t.

Wait until you find out about Brexit

These people have nothing to do with this thread.

Surely that should boost youth employment? They would be desperate for employees under the age of 21, but it seems many college and university students are struggling to find one these days.

Looking back again, I see.

Don’t fret - Labour evidently plan on doing the same, and rerunning 2016.

Note the close correlation between the regions in which Reform won in the local elections, and the Brexit-voting regions in 2016. Go figure.

No, quite the opposite is true.

The opposite has happened. Labour was warned about it, businesses are clear now on what’s happening but still they look everywhere else.

Seems odd that they’re struggling to find jobs then. I live in a uni city and the average age of employment in pubs and shops seems to have gone up the last couple of years. Although that is pure anecdata of course. Although I do often see posts on here from parents about their uni age children struggling to find a job so unlikely to be an issue specific to my local area.

But you’d think rising employers NI would lead to more under 21s being employed.

The increase in employers NI has impacted all groups - not just grads are junior hires. And it comes in the context of anti-growth policies, inflation, a deteriorating macro and AI, of course.

Speaking of casual observations, I am in finance and there are hardly any internships.

This Labour government have played a middling hand, badly - heaping one policy error upon another.

How do you think those companies get their money?

Nigel Farage has pledged to axe income tax on overtime as he vows to “make work pay”.

If Reform UK wins the next general election, people who earn less than £75,000 and work overtime above a 40-hour week will pay no income tax on the extra hours.

The £5bn a year tax cut announcement, made during the crucial Makerfield by-election campaign, will be seen as a direct challenge to Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester. Mr Burnham hopes to oust Sir Keir Starmer if he wins the seat.

THIS.

And where does Mr Farage think he’s going to find the money to fund this largesse?

From cutting public spending.

I haven't read whole thread but heard Junior minister Lucy someone on radio 4 say very clearly that the free bus travel for ONE month for under 15's has 100 million pounds of funding.
Wtaf...how much does a bus trip cost for a child and how many bus trips are being taken???
That is apparently our of money the exchequer has handy..it's not new borrowing.
So this govt that bangs on constantly about how little money there is , apparently has 100 million sitting around for bus trips.

Thank you @GiaGia16

A voice of sanity.

Oh. That’s what the Reform councillors said before they were elected and then found there was nothing left to cut. Public services are already on the bones of their arse.

Public spending includes welfare which, I would suggest, is not on the bones of its arse.

Go figure indeed.

Some people can really do with looking back.

Welfare.

You never actually say anything.

No original thoughts, no thesis, nothing.

Feel free to ignore me and stop engaging. We know you will just try again with another name.

Did you know that the bendy bananas regulation was never a EU thing? Just another lie.

We also know that you spend your entire day on MN trying to defend Labour, but without substance beyond blind loyalty and hatred of the Tories.

As to your second para, WTF are you on about?

Oh dear, another descent into personal insults. Some people really can’t help themselves, can they?

I'm 58 and desperate for a job that isn't zero hours, I'm getting very few interviews. Age has nothing to do with it.

Sorry to hear that. Labour’s policies will impact this age group too.