Labour hate people like me

[Meadowtrees]

I feel sick at the thought of how much our lives are going to change.

This is not a thread to bash or criticise people nervous about Labour. It’s a place for those of us who are feeling very anxious to have a bit of space - it’s not something we are ‘allowed’ to say in public without being called ‘scum’ ‘selfish tories’ or similar. I’m not particularly linked to any party and not sure how to vote, I may spoil my ballot.

Labour have made it very clear that they intend to make us poorer and our lives harder.
I’m a woman - Labour intend to remove women’s rights
I’m rural - Labour aren’t interested in rural areas
I work in a private school - enough said
I have teens - I expect Labour to put vat on uni fees
We both work full time and have slogged our guts out to now be in a position where we have a comfortable (but not high) income - I expect to be taxed more heavily.
We have elderly parents - I expect the cost of care and inheritance tax to increase.

Maybe it’s selfish but we’re screwed and I don’t expect that what we lose will be put to efficient or good use. It feels like we will be punished for having worked hard and being ambitious.

I don't think they've made any of this clear. What part of their manifesto are you referring to please?

I understand OP. It’s not going to be any easier under labour for people in our position. My dh and I earn we but have no spare income and we do not live lavishly. The middles earners are always battered and this is going to get worst over the next few years.

I understand your concerns. Labour message strikes me in a similar way. I just have to hope that when the rhetoric dies down, the reality will be more measured.
Especially, as is always the case, the party leadership are not themselves averse to a bit of wealth preservation.

That said, I am in Scotland, where the SNP over tax the working population while misappropriating funds.

I don't think any of this is the case so I'm sorry you're worrying about it. Maybe think of it as other people's turn for a bite of the biscuit? If you still have enough food, a roof over your head and warm clothes to wear you're doing better than many many people have been under the last ten years of the Tories so can you think of it in those terms?

Happiest- I have read their manifesto. It’s what they’ve refused to rule out, what they’ve fudged and their tone that concerns me.
eg - they say they’ll protect women’s spaces but they won’t confirm that by women they mean XX and aren’t including any XY people.
They talk about ‘working people’ but have implied that they only mean under a certain income - it’s not clear.
They’ve definitely been clear about VAT on school fees! Even though it’s increasingly clear this is an ideological spite tax rather than based on sound economics, what other punishment taxes will they bring in? Taxing education is so bizarre- punishing ambition and opportunity, it gives an insight into their approach / leveling down.
they haven’t ruled out vat on other education sectors (nursery, uni…)

You're worrying about things in your imagination. Is this a normal pattern for you? Try and look at the facts and it might help. Labour policies are freely available.

I have sympathy, it's hard to know life is going to be harder than it has been.
But I also know the poor and disabled have been feeling this way under a Tory government for the last decade, and are suddenly looking to be able to breathe a lot more and be better off. I know it sucks, but whatever government gets in - SOMEONE has to feel the brunt of it. Maybe it is about time to take your share of the burden, knowing it will not last forever, 10 years time and we will most likely have a conservative government again

Labour is a party of division. They promote toxic victimhood.

The only benefit that will result from their hopefully single term in office will be to refresh people’s minds about just how appalling and destructive they are.

It feels as if we are about to be punished.

Spinet - no, I can’t. I don’t want my life to get worse - who does? My concern is my kids and their future.

Amen.

Labour aren’t going to put VAT on uni fees.

It would be a massive own goal given the state will be writing off most university debt anyway.

Don’t take everything you read in the Telegraph as a statement of fact.

Who would you like to win the election?

So what have the Tories done in their years of government that makes you feel comfortable and reassured?
Also, 'Labour intend to remove women's rights' is a bit sweeping, surely?!

Don’t take everything you read in the Telegraph as a statement of fact.

I'd go as far as to say don't take ANYTHING you read in the Telegraph as a statement of fact!

I feel like I’ve been punished by the Tories for the last 14 years

Wow. How empathetic to the people with less than you.

I had sympathy, not so much now

Midnight- I don’t read the telegraph. I don’t like any of the current parties. I’d like a sane, rational, centrist party that rewards hard work and supports the vulnerable. I think a lot of people are going to be very disappointed when Labour fail to deliver positive changes.

The only benefit that will result from their hopefully single term in office will be to refresh people’s minds about just how appalling and destructive they are.

To be fair it's taken three terms for the public to realise what an appalling, corrupt, self serving, divisive group the Tory party is - so I wouldn't hold your breath.

What about the Tories' 14 years in power will you miss, OP? Who do you think the Tories look out for and who do you think they dislike/go after?

But I also know the poor and disabled have been feeling this way under a Tory government for the last decade, and are suddenly looking to be able to breathe a lot more and be better off.

How are the poor and disabled going to be better off? There’s a £20bn black hole to fill, their growth plans are fantastical and the benefits bill is rocketing. Labour aren’t going to leave benefits alone anymore than the Tories would.

@Meadowtrees do you think the Tories reward hard work?

Labour at least don't see women as subhumans and rely on woman as the default carers and people who manage the space that should be occupied by decent health and social care service

Yes they will target the rich - women are likely to be poorer than men

Toxic divisions - you get a great example from the Tory party that has had how many leaders ?

Destructive- like the NHS and education has been destroyed? Like the lakes and waterways are being destroyed?

If you have lived through these Tory years and not experienced the huge decline in living standards as a direct result of their policies then you are not the common woman

fiddlefig - I work hard, really hard, I volunteer in the community, we live modestly, kids at state schools. I don’t see why I should be punished for this. I am sympathetic to vulnerable people. But I also see a lot of people not working hard through choice.

There's a reason it's called the squeezed middle. Doesn't matter who is in No. 10, the squeeze is constant. The perception by others though is that being in the middle is a utopian land of milk and honey. You only have to read the threads on here to see it. There's a lot of jealousy, fury and hatred.

I believe Labour will make my family’s life worse too OP. People are trying to convince themselves that Labour are credible just because they want the tories out.