Labour government

[DoNotBlameTheMessenger]

With Starmer now, apparently being the most unpopular PM we've ever had - and all the things he's done since they got into power, are you still pleased you voted for them?

In spite of all his hypocrisy and the shit shows around labelling everyone who disagrees with him 'far right', the economy is truly the main issue going on.

The budget has seriously undone any recovery we had underway (the Tories had reduced inflation after Covid!) and they have set us back already. I dread to think what the next budget will look like - probably even higher taxes for all the nasty rich folk.

I find Starmer to be unusually robotic, there just doesn't seem to be much passion, any real well thought out opinion. There's just nothing. Yet, he ploughs ahead speaking in clickbait type language not really giving anything away about who he is. I don't even think he likes British people, he seems to hold a sneer for anyone who doesn't agree with him. It's a strange thing to say that a PM doesn't seem to like a large proportion of British people, but I genuinely think he doesn't.

I wanted Labour to win but didn't vote for him as I didn't want there to be a massive majority . I live in a normally Tory seat so voted conservative but Labour won the seat. My fears over the huge majority have materialised, I felt KS had promise but now for the most part I see a PM who doesn't listen, has no real plan and is quite dogmatic. I won't be voting for Labour in the next election and think those Labour MPs is marginal and same in non marginal seats ought to have an alternative career plan.

I didn't vote for them and I'm really disappointed that they have made so many unforced errors since taking office. They seem to have a problem with Comms - anyone seen their latest TikTok video?

The budget has been widely criticised from all sides and is now proving to be extremely problematic - how can you bang on about growth for months and then plan a budget like Reeves did? It's beyond me. It's clear they don't really understand growth but just thought by saying the word repeatedly, people would believe they did.

The problem is that they are big State thinkers fundamentally - seeing the private sector as something to milk to expand the state sector again. When in reality, the private sector is the driver and the state sector is essentially back office and a cost now. You first need the private sector to grow to then fund the back office improvements you want to make. Yes you need to comply with the laws and regulations in the back office and yes the back office is a critical support function, but without the front office bringing in more revenue you are essentially screwed. So the NI rises were completely mis-timed. You do that once there is growth. And you certainly do not cause inflation via channelling funds to the back office first. Step 1 of the rules playbook.

Good point regarding the private sector. The public sector is paid by the government, by taxpayers. Without a healthy private sector, public services can’t function.

You have to make it easier for private sector companies to succeed to keep the economy going.

I don’t understand the need to make it more expensive to employ people for a start with the employee national insurance hike.

Certainly hard to run a small business these days. Much, much harder than 10 years ago.

I'm not stupid. I didn't believe their lies and would never vote Labour

😮

"...not rich cronies". Starmer is a millionaire, and most of the government has got a 2nd home...

Never voted Labour, never would

Never would have guessed by goading post which comes across as smug😂

In what way have I been goading or smug? I asked a perfectly simple question. You must be one of the Labour voters who now feels quite foolish.

The question was fine it’s only due to issues Labour have created you get this response

There’s probably a public / private sector spilt in responses with some still thinking they’re doing a great job whereas the impact of contracting private sector is clearer

And the filtering through of that overtime. Pretty much all analysts are pointing to options with spending cuts a main one

Big assumptions there about someone you know nothing about, demonstrating again your sad need to goad people...sorry I'm not playing.

They're not climbing up Elon Musk's backside at the moment which gives them a lot of kudos for me right now. What are Bad Enoch, Philp and Jenrick thinking?! Assuming that though is anything that they're actually capable of.

Bad Enoch?

Along the same lines as all the nicknames given to Starmer and Reeves

At some point Labour will have to look at what they’re doing, and the impact they’re causing

So calling Reeves "Rachel from accountants" is misogynistic (agree it is) but fine to call Kemi "Bad Enoch" which actually has serious racial undertones???

Double standards much?

The Chancellor is learning on the job. Hopefully the latest tough lesson (for the whole country because we will all be paying for it) will translate to some introspection and better listening skills, to the economic experts which she can easily tap into, at every turn, should she wish to learn from the experience.
Pretty much the same applies to the Education Secretary and the rest of them. Not too late to learn!

The issue is that Labour are now facing economic reality.

As a previous poster correctly summarised Labour have three options (or a combination thereof):
Increase taxation
Cut spending
Increase debt.

Her previous budget increased taxation (notably on employer NI) and increased debt.

The increased debt part is what is leading to higher interest rates (the more you borrow the riskier you are and the higher the interest rates).
The increased NI on employers has led to weaker growth.

Just like Liz Truss found out the hard way (she wanted to cut taxation and fund it through higher debt), the days of simply increasing national debt are gone, it's simply already too big.

So that leaves her the choice of increasing taxation which will weaken economic growth further.

Or significantly cut spending (Austerity 2.0) which will most definitely not go down well with the public sector employees or those that voted Labour.

Sadly a lot of this was completely predictable and stems from both her and KS lack of knowledge and inexperience.

So the Tories echoing Musk and Tommy Robinson is absolutely fine but don't be mean about Kemi?

None of it is fine but another wrong doesn't make a right

Although I don’t think she is learning on the job. They don’t seem to acknowledge their role in causing issues

@1dayatatime summarises options but also this was predictable pre GE

Is calling Lee Anderson 30p Lee still OK, or is that a bit disrespectful too?

None of the name calling is OK, from either side. Not sure how much clearer I can be on that

But nobody is condemning her (or Philp, or Jenrick...who are frankly disgusting) for what she's been saying...just me for making a joke about her name.