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 clearly are not very bright - voting Reform?

If I wasn't bright I'd be voting for someone on the left.

YABU. What a brilliant way to get families out during the summer holidays.

This is yet another daft move from Labour.

People are struggling to pay for utility bills/food bills/rent/petrol for their car and can't find work if they lose their jobs.

Reeves' response is 5% off on summer attractions and to lower the price of biscuits....

I voted Labour and I think this is an absolute joke and frankly offensive to people who are struggling.

A leadership challenge can't come too soon.

Look, it’s all good, days out these days cost a small fortune. That said, it does feel a bit like bread and circuses, but without the bread.

A 15% cut on the cost of attractions could be the difference between a family going or not going.

Why not just appreciate that?

Decreasing VAT reduces the prices for everyone.

And yet there you are adding your own apples to oranges comparison.

What is wrong with the government giving help to families during the summer holidays?

Because they are more important, basic issues to address first.

I am more interested in whether people in general (and not just ''families'') can eat, have a roof over their heads, have enough money to pay bills and a job rather than whether people can go out to the zoo or not.

They’re also two very different issues.

Doing one doesn’t stop the other happening.

Do you genuinely begrudge some families a day out?

Don't be obtuse.

Reeves was supposed to announce measures that would help address the cost of living for people in the UK.

This certainly is not it.

How could any of those issues be addressed by changing the VAT rate?

Honestly they are so not reading the room. Frankly if you’re really struggling with COL then you can’t afford a day out at a theme park anyway. I’m amazed that people talk about these places as if they are the norm and every child is missing out if they don’t go. They aren’t.

There are loads of free things to do and this subsidy would be better spent elsewhere. I have no doubt the companies who run these attractions will fudge it so they end up making more money ie they now put prices up as people are getting a subsidy, they claim VAT back on visitor numbers but don’t pass the VAT saving on to every entry price ie it’s only available when you pay full price not a family ticket.

Yes I’m cynical!

@Greenwitcharttotally agree with you!

They're still really expensive and it's not only families who are struggling

It's like Rachel is fiddling whilst the UK burns

She is under instruction from the IMF.

“Supposed” according to who?

She can’t bake in more inflation or increase the price of debt service further - as if she does, then we actually pay more for it than she invests. Every other person who is not willing to cut benefits or deal with the triple lock will be in the same position. But it’s only unnecessary benefits she can cut - if there are any. Because cut too much or wrongly, costs of NHS or social services or policing/prison go up.

Housing and upskilling and energy prices need addressing but that is long term investment. She can’t fix those structural issues quickly.
And anything that involves price fixing like rent controls/food caps - investors pull money , debt service on sovereign debt increases potentially. Supermarkets are a competitive industry. All she can do is get various regulators to check people are being competitive within the limits of existing competition law. And I guess regulate profiteering - but usually when they come down harshly there are anomalies like small energy companies stop investing.

Fact of the matter is nobody is really in full control - despite people wanting to believe someone can swing a magic wand.

Off on a tangent but I was annoyed at the bbc article example of saving £1.50 on a return bus fare. Our buses are £6 per person return to the nearest town (15 mins drive).i.e. the £3 flat fee that was introduced a while ago. No or minimal discounts for children and no difference in returns vs singles. I would love to use them more but it's expensive for me and two children over 5. So if it runs in our area this might well make the difference between me going on the bus or not.

I think this is tinkering and won’t help the majority feel better .

It's very 'While Rome Burns'

Subsidised coach tours for OAPs next!
With trips to struggling rural pubs!

Your children will get free bus travel all summer. Isn’t that a good thing? Why

It's always the way.