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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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?

349 replies

speckledpinkhen · 21/05/2026 13:00

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?

OP posts:
Blueyelloworange · 22/05/2026 11:51

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 08:39

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

Yes, remember eat out to help out?

EasternStandard · 22/05/2026 11:57

Rollercoaster1920 · 22/05/2026 11:47

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.

A difference between the pandemic Eat Out scheme and this one is hospitality and leisure have said it’s the NI taxes and extra costs crippling them.

A virus is tricky, Labour’s anti growth tax policy is avoidable.

BIossomtoes · 22/05/2026 11:59

Scraping the barrel now @EasternStandard.

EasternStandard · 22/05/2026 12:01

BIossomtoes · 22/05/2026 11:59

Scraping the barrel now @EasternStandard.

Still with the @ on every thread.

Scraping the barrel.

EasternStandard · 22/05/2026 12:05

Moving on from the usual. Labour are trying to resolve an issue they created. As @Seabiscuit111said it’s systemic and not solvable with a summer of crisps and theme parks.

The casual employment will end and young people back to fewer jobs. Borrowing costs are highest yet.

BIossomtoes · 22/05/2026 12:05

EasternStandard · 22/05/2026 12:01

Still with the @ on every thread.

Scraping the barrel.

😂

EasternStandard · 22/05/2026 12:06

BIossomtoes · 22/05/2026 12:05

😂

Sure. See you in two seconds on every thread next time. Keep going it’s really helping Labour 😂

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:12

BIossomtoes · 22/05/2026 11:59

Scraping the barrel now @EasternStandard.

Life biting you in the arse hey Blossom?

BIossomtoes · 22/05/2026 12:13

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:12

Life biting you in the arse hey Blossom?

Not particularly. How about you?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/05/2026 12:14

Peoplesfrontofjudea2000 · 21/05/2026 19:22

I’d prefer £5 mill undeclared thank you very much!
I’d say they are in very different leagues

They’re so wildly different, it’s almost unbelievable people would draw a comparison.

And the sad thing is, it’s the small gifts Starmer had that attracted attention!

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:15

A virus is tricky

So is the Iran war

BIossomtoes · 22/05/2026 12:16

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:15

A virus is tricky

So is the Iran war

Sssssssh, we don’t talk about the war.

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:16

BIossomtoes · 22/05/2026 12:13

Not particularly. How about you?

I’m glad everything is ok at home.

Life is good, despite Labour’s best efforts. I will break out the Krug once your lot are out though.

Just a pity we all have to live through their unfolding psychodrama in the interim.

Do try to get out to enjoy the sunshine - not healthy being cooped up indoors all day!

EasternStandard · 22/05/2026 12:20

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:15

A virus is tricky

So is the Iran war

The war is all Starmer has to go on about, it doesn’t even work for his own party.

It can’t be that great when even Labour MPs want you out.

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:21

EasternStandard · 22/05/2026 12:20

The war is all Starmer has to go on about, it doesn’t even work for his own party.

It can’t be that great when even Labour MPs want you out.

Are you telling us that the war is not affecting the UK?

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:23

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:21

Are you telling us that the war is not affecting the UK?

Labour never let a good crisis go to waste.

They will continue to use Hormuz to cover their own fuck ups.

SOP.

BIossomtoes · 22/05/2026 12:23

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:21

Are you telling us that the war is not affecting the UK?

To be fair, it would be affecting us a lot more if Badenoch and Farage had their way.

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:26

BIossomtoes · 22/05/2026 12:23

To be fair, it would be affecting us a lot more if Badenoch and Farage had their way.

True.

Some lone wolf radicals would be using it as justification for randomly stabbing strangers etc.

EasternStandard · 22/05/2026 12:26

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:23

Labour never let a good crisis go to waste.

They will continue to use Hormuz to cover their own fuck ups.

SOP.

Doesn’t seem to work even with their own party. Most can see through it.

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:26

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:23

Labour never let a good crisis go to waste.

They will continue to use Hormuz to cover their own fuck ups.

SOP.

Tories gave us austerity and Brexit, we are still recovering from the effects of Covid and now a war in Iran.

Wonder hat your next inspired name will be.

SOP

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:27

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:26

Tories gave us austerity and Brexit, we are still recovering from the effects of Covid and now a war in Iran.

Wonder hat your next inspired name will be.

SOP

Talking about the war - you seem to be a bit Dads Army repeats with your Tories obsession.

Seek help.

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:28

EasternStandard · 22/05/2026 12:26

Doesn’t seem to work even with their own party. Most can see through it.

You want Starmer to resign anyway, so what is the issue?

He is still right in how he handles the war in Iran. And the war affects us all.

A little help over the school holidays is welcome.

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:29

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:27

Talking about the war - you seem to be a bit Dads Army repeats with your Tories obsession.

Seek help.

Usually you tell me I am obsessed with Farage, your name changes, your 'insults' do not.

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:31

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:29

Usually you tell me I am obsessed with Farage, your name changes, your 'insults' do not.

In which case you will know ZFAG.

Seabiscuit111 · 22/05/2026 12:34

DuncinToffee · 22/05/2026 12:28

You want Starmer to resign anyway, so what is the issue?

He is still right in how he handles the war in Iran. And the war affects us all.

A little help over the school holidays is welcome.

Help over the summer holidays?

Do me a favour - if that’s where you’re at, financially, you really are screwed.

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