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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be really scared of the Tories getting into power?

193 replies

Coldhands · 28/04/2010 09:58

I've never really been into politics but now I have a DS, I am thinking about the things that have helped us etc and I realised that Labour has actually done a lot to improve the things that I think are important.

If the Tories get in, the things they want to change/cut effects me and my family and I am really really dreading them getting into power to the point that it is making me quite upset.

I am on In Cap benefit for M.E./CFS and everytime I have a medical I have to prove how I cannot work. It is difficult to do this with a fluctuating condition that you cannot test for or see and the Tories want to retest everyone on In Cap with harder tests and I am terrified of not passing and being forced back to work where I would end up at square one again and have no energy, have to give up work again and go through the whole sodding process again whilst not being able to afford to live.

Then they want to get rid of the Child Trust Fund for anyone who earns over £16000. My DH earns just over this and it wouldn't be fair to subsequent DCs for them not to have a TF and DS has one so we would have to find the money to start them one.

They want to cut funding to Surestart that I have found to be absolutely brilliant and it really helped me when I had PND. There is more stuff that I can't remember and don't want to make my post too long.

I have sent off my postal vote so I have a voice but me and my DH were talking and we really don't see Labour getting back in as there are so many people who are fed up them and blame them for everything. One reader in The Sun (I know, quality paper that I read) was blaming Gordon Brown for the sodding volcano.

AIBU?

OP posts:
electra · 28/04/2010 10:09

I started a similar thread some time ago....I remember the kinds of things Thatcher did and I will not ever vote conservative as a result. I agree with you wholeheartedly about sure start.

People say they want less state involvement but from my own perspective I do not agree. Unfortunately people just don't connect with GB and he has been unpopular from the outset - I do feel that the degree of criticism is unfair.

I hope the tories don't get an overall majority - we may be in for a depressing time if they do.

Original poster
Coldhands · 28/04/2010 10:19

Didn't see that thread. Glad someone agrees with me though.

I am clinging onto a faint hope that none of my friends want the Tories in either. In fact the only person I know who is voting for them is my nan as she thinks Labour has done everything wrong and she doesn't look at the good things they have done. She wouldn't have got her winter fuel allowence under the Tories methinks. She also blames GB for the recession but I did point out that it happened all over the world and it can't possible have been GBs fault. She said she may have to think, but she doesn't really get into politcs.

OP posts:
HappyMummyOfOne · 28/04/2010 10:20

Whoever gets in will have to make cuts whether they are honest about it or not.

Incapacity or ESA benefits have recently been overhauled as far too many claimers that can actually do some form of work. Those that cannot work in any form will still be able to claim and I cant see any party totally stopping income based medical benefits.

CTF - it was a voting gimmick - if you dont add to it it will be pretty much worthless anyway and the money could be far better spent. Those that want to save for their childrens future would do so anyway without government gimmicks.

Surestart i'm not sure on as we dont have one locally but from what i've read lots of resources go unused or by people who could afford to pay anyway so maybe an a rethink would not be so bad.

Labour have wasted a lot of money and encouraged benefits as a lifestyle choice - a change in government can be no worse than what we have now.

YesYouMust · 28/04/2010 10:23

YANBU - I hate the Tory mentality that if you don't have much money you're not working hard enough. WTF are they to say how hard someone works, not everyone can be a banker or barrister or whatever, the street sweepers and orderlies of the world are just as if not more important!

pagwatch · 28/04/2010 10:25

YY .
It is very important we have at least one of these threads every week. They will eat our babies and put pensioners into forced prostituition.
I am putting it on every one of these threads as People Should Know

Elemental · 28/04/2010 10:26

I am worried as they appear to want to get rid of the free nursery hours for 3 year olds, which is currently the only way I that I can have another child (am 35 so can't really hang around) and make it make it worthwhile actually going to work, I would hate ot give up my job but then again, why keep it as a "placeholder" for when I start earning again and miss being with my kids for no financial benefit at all?

On paper, families and people going out to work, not claiming benefits, etc, is exactly what they want to happen. So why make it so much harder and less likely to happen for so many people?

I think they care only about people who are wealthy already, everyone else is "punished" for the sin of being one of the hoi polloi.

GypsyMoth · 28/04/2010 10:26

well i'm not worried about losing child trust fund.......when it was introduced i already had 3 dc....so out of my 5 dc,only the 2 youngest have them anyway.

i generally agree from what i've seen,that conservatives wont be doing much for families

Original poster
Coldhands · 28/04/2010 10:27

On the news last night they were talking about street sweapers in Birmingham. The men get £32 000! My DH only makes half of that working in a lab, he works really hard but can't make anymore as thats the industry standard apparently.

OP posts:
Original poster
Coldhands · 28/04/2010 10:29

I'm worried about the nursery too. My DS would be starting next Easter. He will need to get out more by that age and I can't afford to send him.

OP posts:
omnishambles · 28/04/2010 10:29

I am worried about it but trying not to panic as the sky didnt fall when Boris Johnson got in - I wont be voting for them however as they are diametrically opposed to much of what I believe in.

Oh and Happymummy - surestart is a good thing - a very good thing...

Original poster
Coldhands · 28/04/2010 10:29

Pag I started this thread as I haven't seen any of the others.

OP posts:
mumblechum · 28/04/2010 10:29

I think a lot depends on your stage in life. We managed to completely miss out on all the free handouts eg surestart, CTF, tax credits, nursery vouchers etc as we had children 18 & 15 years ago, so what we never had we'll never miss. We muddled through regardless.

I'm more concerned at tax rises having already this year left us about £8,000 pa worse off, and suspect that if labour get back in they'll be further hacking away at people with higher incomes.

I don't like the idea of voting tory, esp as they'll bring foxhunting back in, but am not overly keen on the libdems either as they'll be another high taxation party, I think.

omnishambles · 28/04/2010 10:30

Theres nothing wrong in being paid well for a very difficult, dirty job coldhands - would you do it for 32k? and really think about it before you answer - not kneejerk now...

Original poster
Coldhands · 28/04/2010 10:32

I didn't mean it was a dirty job. All jobs are important from GPs to cleaners. I was responding to

"not everyone can be a banker or barrister or whatever, the street sweepers and orderlies of the world are just as if not more important!"

saying that street sweapers are well paid.

OP posts:
pagwatch · 28/04/2010 10:33

Coldhands
I have contributed to at least two - perhaps in the Politics section...

sarah293 · 28/04/2010 10:33

This reply has been deleted

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mumblechum · 28/04/2010 10:35

So Riven, is your honeymoon period with DC over then? I thought he had you converted

Nice to see you back today btw, sounds like you've had a rough time recently.

sarah293 · 28/04/2010 10:35

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brogan2 · 28/04/2010 10:36

I'm not scared as personally I'd be better off under them.

But it's not about me...God help anyone who, for whatever reason, is unable to help themselves.

pagwatch · 28/04/2010 10:37

Riven plays nice on a date but she is not easily swayed

sarah293 · 28/04/2010 10:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

wannaBe · 28/04/2010 10:42

because the economy has done so well under the labour govt hasn't it.

Ultimately, there are going to have to be cuts regardless of who gets in.

Child trust funds were just a gimic and certainly nobody needs them.

The labour government have made people too dependent on handouts and it needs to stop because the economy can't afford to keep supporting it.

whatwasthatagain · 28/04/2010 10:44

Bring them on. Can't wait personally. I know I will get flamed - but the foxhunting ban has done absolutely nothing to improve the lot of foxes. Everything you say in your post implies that you rely on the state to provide you with many things - you have an illness which does not show up on tests but you cannot work. Your DC will need to get out more but you cannot afford to send him to nursery, and yet you talk about having more children? I despair.

wannaBe · 28/04/2010 10:44

and wrt special schools - mainstream is not for everyone. But it's gone too far the other way under labour - instead of having to fight to get into ms school now you have to fight to get into a special school. That can't be right either can it?

MintHumbug · 28/04/2010 10:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.