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?

That’s what Tories and reform want you to believe but he always declared them. I do believe he is actually an honest man, not a very good politician I’ll grant you that but I do believe he has good intentions. He is a good manager/ administrator and he follows the rules because he gets that but he doesn’t get feelings.edited to add thinking about it that’s probably why he didn’t realise what would happen when he declared late after winning the election.

Christ, give it a rest. Im not a huge fan of the current PM but the Labour bashing is getting comical. They are also probably better than anything else on offer right now.

Free transport for kids in August will help.

This govt is clearly not actually communist.

But responding to cost of living crises with price controls (eg rent, food, recently being discussed) plus a propaganda emphasis on the govts role in delivering affordable leisure and entertainment is an absolute classic of communist regimes.

The Tory government proposed similar, I don't remember much outrage or talks about communism then. Maybe you do?

I don't remember that, but I may have missed it. Did the Tories really propose rent controls, food price caps, and cut-price summer outings?

Even if they did, the chance that the Tories would be accused of being communist is pretty low. PP was saying that she's a Labour supporter and struggles to convince her friends that Labour isn't a communist-nanny-state when it does stuff like that.

I don't think anyone on this board actually thinks this govt is communist. But I do share the concern that this govt seems to leap straight to subsidy, price controls, banning or mandating things, to address the cost of living crisis. That's solving the problem from the wrong end, addressing symptoms rather than cause. Solving from the supply side is the answer. (Communists also famously did supply side too... just in a castrophically wrong way).

The govt has also done some good supply side stuff, like on nuclear and planning (while at the same time doing bad things on planning too). Basically they seem muddled on how the economy works and how they want to run it, applying accelerator and brake at the same time.

I don't remember that, but I may have missed it. Did the Tories really propose rent controls, food price caps, and cut-price summer outings?

You might want to book an appointment at the memory clinic.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-a-discount-with-the-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme

So different standards then

It's a temporary tax cut, no controls imposed.

I'm not sure what your point is.

You asked if I thought people would cry 'communism' if the Tories did these things. I think they probably wouldn't. Do you think they would?

I'm not these "PP's friends" so I'm not really answering for them.

But it's undeniable this govt has reached for controls, caps and mandates. Managing rental prices, talks with supermarkets this week about capping key food item prices, fuel bill subsidies rather than expanding supply, etc. etc.

I don't like that because it treats symptoms not causes. I also didn't like it when the Tories floated similar things.

Agree with this, better to do something else that helps across the board. Going to the theme park or cinema is not really a vital part of life, is it? There are many other free things that families can do if the parents can be arsed to arrange it, such as walks, picnics, museums, seaside, scenic bus trips.

That wasn't a response to cost of living, which was what is being discussed. But I'm also not here to represent the Johnson/Sunak govt. I think eat out to help out was a weird scheme. Designed to support the hospitality sector but did so in a way that ended up accelerating spread of a virus we were trying to control.

My point is that we are not sliding to communism because the government is offering some help during the summer holidays.

And that people shouting communism or Stalinist are just using soundbites to have a go at Labour whilst forgetting previous governments proposed similar.

All is good, Arsenal won, the sun is shining on a bank holiday, eat biscuits and crisps to store up for the cold unheated winter ahead. Hastag Summer of 26 - no Problemo.

Treasury think, line item 250 million max - cheer the populus, get out of your bedroom whilst you still can! hashtag - 5C Celsius ahead

Don’t worry be happy. Eat some Walkers!

What is your magic solution to make this stop then?

A big part of the welfare bill is the state pension: Do you want to cut that and see pensioners freeze and starve?

Do you have a way to make disabilities and long term health condition disappear?

Is your magic wand going to create jobs out of thin air?

Maybe think before you post blanket statements.

And by the way many people claiming benefits already work and pay taxes. Their poverty wages just aren't enough on their own to make ends meet.

I'd certainly not say communist. But absolutely statist. The instinct that social or economic problems are first solved by government intervention or mandate.

On the plus side, the standard question to any politician is now “what’s your favourite crisp and why?”

What is Nigel Farage’s favourite crisp?

I reckon Reeves is ready salted walkers all the way.

Keep munching on your turnip.

Maybe think before you post blanket statements.

I do not appreciate your tone, so please consider your words before posting, in future.

This government has done nothing for growth - on the contrary, everything they have done has resulted in value destruction. Look at the unemployment figures, look at the latest PMI’s, look at April’s borrowing numbers, look at gilt yields, look at the highest fiscal burden since WW2, look at removal of the child benefit cap, look at the inflation-busting public wage settlements.

This all ties in to too many people relying on the state for support.

This! I am pleased!

We work and can’t afford these days.

This will make a difference to us.

I would go further and say I want this vat cut universally!

“Keep munching on your turnip.”

@DuncinToffee - I am not allowed. I have been told to eat biscuits and crips. And I have to waste my Friday mostly for good reason. I will go tend to my tomatoes now and my courgettes - they need a good watering.

These are issues a summer theme park and crisp allowance won’t hide. The borrowing costs today are a bit like the credit card bill landing on the mat.

That’s it.

Reeves thinks that a blow dry, and some nonsensical policy gimmicks, will solve the UK economy (and her skin), at a time when Labour have taken £70 billion out of the economy in additional taxes.

Reeves is totally fiscally incontinent and completely incapable of controlling spending.

Her acolytes on MN and elsewhere are financially illiterate.

Nobody ordered you to eat biscuits and crisps.

You have a choice there.

Andy Burnham - what your favourite crisp?
“It depends, what do you think it should be? Let’s ask our members.”

Sir Keir Starmer - what is your favourite crisp”
”Umm, I usually start a packet and then switch to another 2 crisps and then another after another 3, hmm, The more the merrier. Got to keep all the crisps happy somehow, Rachel - where are you when I need you? What is my favourite crisp?”.

Wes - what is your favourite crisp”
“Definitely anything Lays or some such, as long as it is made in the EU somewhere, anywhere. Anyone out there listening?”

Boris - what is your favourite crisp?
“Dunno - all of them, the taste doesn’t matter, it is all about the wine pairing. But if you need more order on Amazon and one of my manyUber Eats drivers will oblige your every whim. Crispus, crispa, crispum.”

Nige - what is your favourite crisp.
“Ask Donald, he knows!
Also, Aldi’s best. Got to support the local economy.”
“Err - I thought Aldi is a German company. Never mind.”

I was thinking this announcement had parallels with the eat out to help out scheme. Surprised there isn't a better slogan than "The Great British Summer Savings".

Also surprised the tabloids haven't come up with a better alternative yet:

• Help out: go out?
• Loop the loop taxes?
• The Great State-funded Summer?

A previous poster argued against my view that this would cost money to implement.

It will cost money. Firstly the details are yet to be fully confirmed, then fairly quicky venues need to update pricing (if the VAT drop is passed on), which will also require changes to advertising copy, menus, POS systems.

Milkshake tax is now a joke. No VAT if takeaway, but eat in as an adult and it is 20%, but 5 % if part of a kids meal. Presumably 20% if for a child but not part of a meal.

Then there is the 'lost' tax revenue. Reeves has said £300 million.
metro.co.uk/2026/05/22/full-list-everything-included-great-british-summer-savings-scheme-28466628/

Whilst I may benefit a bit from this announcement personally, I see it as probably net negative to the UK as a whole.

I also thought Eat out to Help Out was a bad idea too, so I'm not being party political on this one.