1. Here are just a few of the ways in which Starmer’s Labour Party seems determined to alienate its voters and lose the next election. As they pile up, you have to keep pinching yourself and asking, “what the hell is it playing at?” 🧵
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Could it be that we now live in an unsustainable level of capitalism that exacerbates increasing climate collapse, have no tangible way of exiting this absurd insanity and anyone would have to be a batshit crazy sociopath to even want to be in charge of this country?
He is friendly with Farage. Crossed the floor of the House during a parliamentary session, caught on camera, to have a chat with him. Meanwhile he ignores and punishes his left wing MPs. I think that, and his political decisions, speaks volumes about where his loyalties lie.
-->Fifth columnist.
Having seen off the left, and now trashing the appeal of the centre, too - all that'll remain is the Tories (who've trashed themselves) ... and Reform. Hmm.
Years ago I joked that Starmer was a deliberate plant to destroy the Labour Party from within. I have now come to see it as the only plausible explanation.
Yes, but we know it doesn't work. All over the Europe, that strategy has failed. It simply alienates left-wing supporters while legitimising the far right.
You and I may agree but it looks like Labour is going to have to find out the hard way. I do have some sympathy in that if they went down the road of making an alternative argument, they would be battling the headwinds of a totally unsympathetic media environment.
Dude writes for The S*n, expelled more Jews from the party than every other Labour leader combined, has a title (aka for services to the establishment), is a committed Zionist, appointed a former IDF spy involved in dismantling the 🇮🇱 Labour Party from within and is 💯 doing the same to 🇬🇧 Labour.
Apart from his other failings, Starmer is too lazy to come up with his own political philosophy and has outsourced all his policies to others, mostly the Tories. Here's one example:
Exactly George. Whatever opinion you have of Starmer, a few things can be universally acknowledged about him. Hes inexperienced, hes not a good politician, he isnt and never has been working class no matter his bullshit, he has no ideology of his own and he is just an establishment authoritarian.
Always voted Labour but did want to vote Green last election. It got in a 21 year old Labour guy with 100 majority against a Tory, 13k majority.
Even if no PR next election will vote Green regardless as they represent my unchanged views now.
@umakumaran.bsky.social Labour offered an alternative , but the signs are that you guys have surrendered to the right. Please give us a sign that it’s not true!
Its almost as if he was a completely amoral stooge, deeply in thrall to wealthy interests, empire, and the security states on both sides of the Atlantic and devoid of any principles beyond those he was told to have in pursuit of power for powers-sake
Its not alienating its voters, it chooses only to represent Conservative voters, it did this under Blair. That English Conservative voters are going further to the right every decade just means Blairites will chase them leaving the rest to someone else, its not rocket science
Although I completely agree with all of this, (hell, i mean, how is it possible to disagree?) - What I fear, is that we risk pointing the finger in the wrong direction, The government is getting too much wrong, but at whose service to they enact these policies? Need to point at the corporate lobby..
It's like, if we focus too much attention on governments themselves, we might lose sight of those behind the rot. Not unique to the UK though, this same pattern is repeating itself across the world. There needs to be a unified push against the greed of the 1%.
I dunno what it'll take to be honest, short of a globally organized general strike against the right. Y'know, hoof em' in the wallet and see how they like it. It's the only language they understand, because they don't see us as people, just cattle. Labour doesn't grasp how people feel right now.
Liz Kendall though, she has got to go. In fact, so does universal credit. It's nothing but the tool of class warfare and is used to dominate people rather than assist them in doing anything. Every bugger knows it too.
This obsession with growth at any cost is a liability that imperils this nation.
That push against the greed is to be done at the ballot box. A great swathe of Labour support is disillusioned and will support the well thought out arguments of the Greens. Starmer will not be able to hold out against PR forever and then we will break the Tory/Labour hold on our political system.
Agree, I think the only way to change the thinking in parliament is going to be PR for sure. Yes, that would mean more Reform MP's, but it also provides a counter-argument which is needed from the left.
That moment may be coming quicker than most realize.
I’m hoping that the local elections, tho much reduced, will give this argument a boost. That the Reform message had so little substance is something these elections should highlight. I can imagine Reform candidates being pulled apart at hustings, should they be brave enough to attend…
Yeah, they're not going to have as easy a time as they think they will. The events in the states atm may have forced a re-think about representation, It could be the moment when the lib-dems and greens can actually make a lot of inroads.
True the answer isn't to run towards Reform makes you wonder why Labour keep on running towards Reform, we've got the leader of Labour in Scotland claiming he's happy to work with Refrom on their good ideas.
Yes, but my experience of the green party isn't good. I found out that my local recycling centre wasn't actually recycling plastic, so I contacted the greens. And they ignored me.
Plus they were opposed to HS2 (at least until very recently) despite its potential for reducing road and air traffic, and one of its MPs has been opposing power lines to connect up vast offshore wind farms to the national grid, thus boosting renewables generation.
HS2 is insane, if you have not worked out why, let me know & I'll tell you...
As to power lines, presumably you're in E England, as the only other major pylon projects are currently in Wales (with no Green MPs) the protests are the same, they are not against power lines, they are against pylons...
... putting the cables underground is far better, and cheaper in the long run, though installation costs are somewhat higher (though not as high as various companies would have you believe, since they deliberately ignore modern cable ploughing methods)...
France has 1,800 miles of high speed rail. Spain has 2,500 miles. Germany has 1,000 miles.
“Great” Britain, inventor of railways? Yep. 68 miles. Sixty-eight. HS2 would add a massive 140 miles to that.
A majority of environmentalists were opposed to HS2 (including George Monbiot, as well as very strongly anti-HS2 Chris Packham, and many, many others!) so you can't blame the Green Party - who was very split - on that! You'd need to be more specific about the other case: I don't know it!
Must admit I was always baffled by a lot of Greens opposing HS2. Like the whole of Western Europe is connected by high-speed rail, but for that long & thin nation, let's not bother and make them wait in massive traffic jams on the M6.
Probably trying really hard not to antagonise ‘Mango Unchained’, by being concerned for the environment, human rights and the limits to executive power.
If his enforcers take against us , in our current isolation and poverty, we will have to give up what remains of our self respect!
We're having trouble with the Greens in Bristol; now they control our Council they're selling off the council houses Labour only recently had built; positively Thatcherite !!
Is that true though Mark? Problems in Bristol can be traced to severe local Gov underfunding and previous councils decisions. Hard decisions need to be made mainly due to whats gone on before the Greens took control.
Depressing but predictable stuff. They said they would continue Tory policies at the election despite promoting change. With the exception of their 1945 govt, Labour has consistently reigned in the ambitions of the working class in favour of the established order. UK democracy is a sham democracy.
I email my M.P. @melanieonnmp.bsky.social about these things and the responses are so 'mustn't argue with the leadership' that I'm beginning to feel like the whole lot of them aren't worth the effort. And Melanie Onn was supposed to be one of the better ones.
Us now even. Starmer is behaving like a 5th columnist for Reform. He can't wait for their policies so attacking the vulnerable now and parcelling off the NHS to Private Enterprise.
Tell you what, help us UK citizens to campaign against Palantir.
We do not need foreign, nosy, disruptive, evil gits like that running any of our systems. Keep it British and in house.
I know people who could write just as good, if not better, programmes.
It's over my head. Perhaps I am as super dense as the RW guys I call out! I'll check Palantir out later Granny. Thank you for the comments. They are appreciated.
WTAF are they playing at.
It's as if they are going hell for leather to NOT be re-elected in 2029.
And frankly the way they are going - I would not vote for them.
Trouble is - where are the Greens/ Lib Dems?
Politically homeless will apply to more and more people - and then where are we?
They are panicking about the finances and have become obsessed with growth at all costs. “Boxed in” by promises of no tax rises though Starmer not normally worried about going back on what he said. I assume he is worried about upsetting big business and donors. He’s shown his lack of true colours
But doing Friedman Neolib Thatcherite economics has proven to be a failure over and over again for almost 50 years. It has done nothing but enrich large corporations and increase inequality. A decent politician whatever flavour, would try and mitigate that. But no. Do the same thing over again. 🤦♂️
Today is worryingly like how the wall street crash helped the Nazis. With enough disinherited, dispossessed, in-poverty its a simple task for any far right to get their votes. People deprived of prosperity easily lose compassion, personal agency and 'pile on' blaming someone for their plight.
We've had over 6 months now and I stuck with the line that "they've just taken over a 14 year mess so give 'em a break". Recent behaviour though indicates they're disappearing down a rabbit hole of trying to out-reform Reform UK. They don't look anything like a Labour Party atm.
Totally agree George. But what can we do about it? So now we have a situation in which the ethical voter can't vote for the Tories (and never could actually), can't vote for Reform (and never could actually), can't now vote for Labour under Starmer, for all the reasons you've given, and finally (1)
can't really vote for the Green Party or the LibDems because neither, realistically, has a cat-in-hell's chance of getting into power, at least just not yet.
So in other words, the ethical electorate are now wandering in electoral exile...
Yeah, we’ll prolly be looking at messy coalitions (chances of a solid Labour 2 termer must be slim), but levels of global insanity mean all sorts of odd things could occur in the next 4 years. Having principled stances on Europe, NATO, US, environment, got to be better than fear driven knee jerkism
If you want change then vote for it. There’s no god given right for Labour to win elections. They can be replaced if people stop treating them like they can’t.
The thing about the Greens is that they seem to be strong at local council level. I do respect Carla Denyer, though don't always agree with her, but I thought Caroline Lucas was far more impressive, a real asset, but Carla's okay.
It's very sad to witness from a party formed from the trade union movement. They're certainly no friend of the working class, nor it seems, any vulnerable group.
Early days, but the trend and MO are clear: odds on a large 2 term majority must be shortening fast with each I’ll-advised knee jerk policy and stunt. Opportunity for Lib dems.
Addiction to focus groups and an obsession with trying to win over Reform voters by appealing to the things they say they want instead of putting energy into trying to persuade them that rightwing policies won’t make the country a better place and to actually change their minds
We're voting #Green next time. Only voted for #Labour in 2024 (tactically) to get rid of the ghastly #Tories who'd held the seat for decades. Can't vote #Labour now - they're doing too many stupid and horrible things. Migrant deportation videos a new and disgusting low. 😢🤬
The onus is on the government to show us they're trustworthy. I don't care if they're pursuing some college debate team project. We live in the real world where real bad things happen. I want a government that's doing everything it can to redress the damage done over the last 15 years
It's time for a "palace coup" and remove the top three in the government. They all have their agendas which imho are not in the interest of the country. However much criticism they receive, they won't listen.
You failed to mention pensioners many of whom lent their vote and gave Labour a huge majority yet immediately they won the election cut the Winter Fuel Allowance. Probably hoping they will be dead come the next election in 2029.
Your analysis is correct. So who is proposing/has proposed a coherent programme to deal with all these problems, and why were they punished with concerted lies after they showed how popular it was in 2017? #itwasascam
It all makes sense when you remember he ditched all pledges he made during LP leadership contest & has only one core value - power. He will only worry about electoral popularity in the run up to the next GE.
Starmer is a duplicitous sh** who set about purging the party of the left as soon as he became leader, especially those who supported Corbyn.
He’s a red Tory who destroyed the membership, bankrupted the party, and so had to rely on corporate donations.
A corporate shill.
They want politics to be fought further to the right. Even if it means losing. Did Labour expect the Tories to dissolve like they did last year? No. It’s a long term project. Keith ‘the driver’ isn’t in charge. ‘Labour’ is an ossified function serving the elite. It’s last gasp is a ‘sorry’ to the 1%
He's risking making millions of Labour voters into ex-Labour voters. He's already worked his magic on me. Although I should really be thanking him for finally convincing me that I belong in The Greens.
I won't thank him for normalising hate and performative cruelty and sending troops Farage's way.
I voted for the Green party last year for the first time because of Starmer changing his mind over policies all the time, and his neo liberal front bench stigmatizing people on benefits, he is a chameleon that changes his mind from one policy to another
I've been telling my MP just this - all I get back is the growth narrative bs. It would seem that 14 years in the wilderness isn't long enough to formulate a set of plans that address the gross inequalities in our society or to protect the environment which supports all life including theirs.
Labour are now the 1990s Tories.
The so-called ‘middle ground’ is being dragged to the right by a weak left that is unwilling to support its own ethics.
This is appeasement by another name.
Just asking but did you ever wonder if we as a country are BANKRUPT financially but obviously not morally but morality costs £££££ to enforce and no matter how you would like to do the right thing the ship we are all in has to be saved before good works can be completed. BluKip/Reform won’t do it.
They have become right wing. They seem hell bent on killing unproductive people that can't work either through age, disability or sickness. Hence their wasteful spending choices and snatching assistance away from those most in need. They court the super rich with tax let offs to get donations.
For everyone reading this. I'm sure you're contacting your Labour MP, right? And I'm sure you're encouraging other Labour voters to also contact their MP?
Because that's the way to move at this point. If you feel particularly strong about a certain point in this thread, contact MP and tell others.
I voted Labour to rid our constituency of an utter waste of space Braverman supporting Tory. It worked, & new Lab MP is far better by comparison. I daresay in our Lab/Con marginal I'll be forced to lend my vote again rather than vote 💚 as I'd like. Until FPTP goes... & there we have it. Catch 22...
As I said before the election, Tories = Far right/UKIP/Reform. Labour = old Tory. Liberal = well who knows. Anyone expecting real change were deluding themselves. Thankfully in Scotland we have a real alternative, and we need out of the UK asap.
The Labour party suffered a coup when Starmer took over. Starmer, Rachel Reeves & co. are Tories in disguise, put in there so the establishment doesn’t suffer.
The Left-Wing of the Capitalism Party exists to control opposition to the Right-Wing of the Capitalism Party so that the Capitalism Party can continually maintain control and move evermore towards the right.
Actively supporting the Israeli genocide by supplying military equipment and intelligence data.
Failing to listen to public opinion on Brexit and public ownership of utilities.
Trying to out-Farage Farage on immigrants
Climate policies based on fantasy carbon capture figures and nuclear fission
George, don't jump on this bandwagon. You're coming across as another middle-class voter who doesn't care about the concerns of 'Loyal Nationals' – the core of Labour's base. They're drifting to Reform because they're tired of being patronised by liberals like you.
Remember all those Labour stans telling us the party was only moving rightward to win votes and that after the election they'd actually be progressive?
Yes, indeed. They’re now saying ‘give him a chance, you can’t fix 14 years of tory ruination in 7 months’, which of course is absolutely true if you don’t even bother trying in the first place. Like he isn’t.
Soon to pivot to ‘he can’t do anything too progressive now or he’ll lose the election’, that he has demonstrably already set out to lose. Exhausting. Illogical.
I don't understand why Labour, in order to fend off Farage and the fascists, makes themselves a little bit more like - Farage and the fascists. You'd have thought offering an alternative might be worth a go.
Feel exactly like that. They need to look across the pond and see how disconnected from ordinary working people the Dems were for a very long time. My party membership is now under consideration.
Surprised more people don't acknowledge this post. Looks like the puppet master to me and I stand by that conclusion purely on reading his Wikipedia page. (No need to reach for oddball conspiracy theory sites here)
Unfortunately Starmer and his paymasters have removed the left from Labour, they are now traditional conservative lite. By destroying the left it leaves the country wide open to the rich right wing.
Stop expecting them to be " Labour " as UK needed & expected them to be. That big a Majority has created a Monster who's arrogance knows no bounds now.
@noahlawmp.bsky.social your labour party would be well placed to read and understand this thread. Many people lent their vote to labour to rid Cornwall of the Tories, but won't be stupid enough to do it again if Labour follow them and Reform down the right- leaning rabbithole.
The rich want to destroy democracy and bring in Trump style corporate dictatorships. Right now it looks like Starmer is in on it and making reform win the next election
I used to be full rejoin the EU. But with the spread of populism and the march of fascism. I am not sure how strong and unified it will remain. It's already failed to fulfill many of its core principles. It's been degraded by external powers. It's no panacea. Just saying.
I get what you’re saying but Labour today are a product of the electorate. The country is a fucking bin fire and we can’t pretend that those who vote want what those on the left want. Because they clearly don’t. We get the government we deserve and this is it.
McSweeney’s Labour Party is morally weak, pro-oligarch, pro-wealth extraction, authoritarian. No sense of history. Refer Chile under Pinochet for the arc of maintaining extreme neoliberalism. Refer Christian Democrats in 1930s Germany for trying to outflank the right from the centre.
Where I live it’s essentially a two horse race between Tories and Labour with Lib Dems coming a distant third and the Greens an also ran. I voted Labour in the hope of something better than the Tory disaster. I cannot describe how disappointed I am. I will not be caught out again!
You were in a difficult position as with FPTP a swing to Libs and Greens that wasn't big enough to topple the Tory wouldn't please you. We have to make the swing huge by the smaller parties committing to work together plus introduce PR.
I would certainly favour a progressive coalition. I’ve always thought that proportional representation is the fairest voting system but the prospect of enhanced results for the latest Farage vehicle I find chilling!
Labour voter 50+ years and now I’m doubly betrayed as a Disabled oldie. First they take my Winter Fuel Allowance and now they’re after my Disability Benefits. I paid tax and NI for nowt, it seems. And they’re letting our NHS crumble. Environmental I-turns and wildlife fails too. Disappointing rather
Thanks again George for putting your finger exactly on the collective pulse, all of us that voted for Starmer,hoping for a more radical approach and real change, have been bitterly disappointed...I just hope someone at Labour Central office see your post and show it to Starmer!
Just 500 votes and we could have been rid of the smirking shit face, funded by private health, who loves to shit on all the letters in LGBQTI even those hes one of those letters, the height of hypocrisy. Ill never forget the late great Dawn Foster on Streeting
Labour won't win a fight by just ignoring Reform. Labour needs to take the fight to Reform and park it's tanks on Reform's lawn. You fight Reform with its own tactics, not by being weak and failing to stand up to them. I'm all for Labour taking this hardline approach.
Also, dismissive and colonialist approach to Scotland that's eroding the devolution settlement, stripping us of our assets and denying us democractic choices. See: Grangemouth/export of energy and food to England/overriding ScotParl legislation.
2. The astonishingly cruel treatment of people in poverty, including:
a. maintaining the outrageous two-child benefit cap, a Malthusian policy extreme even by Tory standards – and suspending Labour MPs who sought to scrap it.
Sorry can’t agree on that, my view is rigid if you can’t afford to fully fund your own children don’t breed how dare someone expect the state to pay for the upbringing of their child? those who send a kid to school not toilet trained should be charged with child neglect life isn’t a passenger ship
The language used about disabled and sick is causing anguish in the community. People are fearful that they won't survive if benefits are cut or being forced to work when unable.
Just remember in 1979 45% of voters voted for Thatcherism, in 2024 it was 70% voted for right wing conservative Thatcherite parties, the real question is why do roughly 21 million voters prefer to keep inflicting those meanspirited, cruel policies on thier fellow 50 million citizens 45 years later ?
I think the line is have children to bolster the economy but should any misfortune befall you then we will do nothing to support the third child you encouraged us to have in the first place....or something.
There's a basic contradiction at work here but I watch too much tv to spot it.
Researchers found disability benefits improve people’s wellbeing+ health. Treasury guidance estimates the economic value of disability benefits to be around £12,300 per person
3.5 million people claim disability benefits meaning a total of £42bn annual economic benefits which exceeds the £28bn cost
That’s okay as long as there’s someone to pay the £28 billion cost who can afford it. Sadly that no longer is the case as too many want to take, and those who are asked to pay get little in return. Enough is enough and we are past the point of reasonableness.
That’s a very specific example. But what do you do when you dont have the money to run the bus service and the only people who use it are unproductive ? In your world there’s a bottomless pit of money and there’s no downside to living beyond your means. That’s economics.
3.
b. freezing Local Housing Allowance, making decent housing even less accessible to people on housing benefit - while simultaneously refusing to introduce rent controls.
c. identifying disability benefits and personal independence payments as major targets for cuts.
Ohhh how I look forward to this…it only took 3 hours to get out of bed, I fell over twice, and forgot what I was doing completely.
But…I look fine!
In a good day, I am still me, bad day, wish I wasn’t here.
It will be great to have no money
#invisibledisability #ehlersdanlos #depressio
I checked what a single pensioner would get with pension credits, £945 pm. So income of £950 pm would be over the limit making them ineligible for WFA.
If they rented in my area reference rent is £448, unlikely to get anywhere under £600, leaving £152 to make up from HB. Left with £798 to live on.
Had a look online at houses to rent in my area (northern town).
More likely they would be paying £700 -£750 to live in a basic 2 bed terrace taking their budget for everything else under £700. 1 bed properties had higher rents than that. There was a bedsit for £460, £450 for a house share.
Its very very simple England runs the UK for the benefit of the top 5% no one else, pure and simple we are back to 1900`s societal thinking, to be fair we never left it, the brief period tween 1945-79 was just an aberration which was quickly tossed away by the greedy 40% within the working class.
It all can be traced back to English Exceptionalism and feudal deference engrained in their societal thinking. Namely knowing your place and respecting your betters while being exploited by the establishment elite. https://bsky.app/profile/para-handy.bsky.social/post/3lchxpvenmc2p
Everything else is smoke and mirrors to protect the entrenched anglo-norman privilege. Bill the Conk proved that might is right and England has been trying to prove it ever since.
She has been convinced that they will leave the UK entirely, and as such, not even pay the exchequer the money that they currently pay on UK earned money.
The only way around that would be to tax all income globally (like USA), but that would breach dual taxation treaties that we have signed.
So Labour will listen “concerns … raised by the non-dom community” but won’t listen to concerns raised by the retired community over winter fuel payment cut. 🤔
If UK government cooperated with UN & other nations, it would be much harder for super rich to dodge tax. UK recently voted against a UN resolution to tax super rich.
The only growth stimulated by the "non-dom rich" is their own, at the expense of any country they come into contact with. Disown them and tax them out of existence.
5. Sustaining the most extreme anti-protest measures in any allegedly-democratic country. You could even start to believe that Labour finds it convenient to criminalise protest and send peaceful dissenters to jail for years.
These anti-protest measures will not be used today against farmers blocking roads in London with polluting farm machinery which shouldn't be anywhere near any ULEZ.
Tractor protests are 100% legit. @juststopoil.bsky.social should run a protest where activists encase themselves in cardboard mock-tractors and block roads just like actual farmers did. I'm sure that'll be fine then. #ClimateCrisis. #JustStopOil.
This one is truly mind boggling. Just rescind the cruel anti protest legislation that the Tories put in. The fact that labour is continuing with laws put in place by Suella Braverman is indefensible
THIS is no.1 on the list for me on why I feel alienated from the Labour Party. I'm considered an extremist by Starmer-The one thing I thought I could do was take part in NVDA in this #climatecrisis I've been arrested but I hesitate to do it again under these laws
I'm defeated. Deflated. Desperate
The increasing criminalisation of peaceful protest and the severity of sentencing will yield a terrible harvest for Labour if/when they eventually rediscover the need for creative and brave activists to stand up to the fascists.
I think you mean "respect the fascists' legitimate concerns, as democratically expressed at the ballot box, just as they legitimately, concernedly and democratically did in 1936." 😢
GRRRR the most dysfunctional law implemented in post war UK. We were not asked we did not vote for it. We are neutered, silenced. Respected non violent teachers protest and get thrown in jail. I think it is riot after protest isn't. They know not what they do. nonwits
If they discussed the arrangements through online chats, they'd better pack a bag for prison. Oh, wait. That's only for people calling for action on climate change, I forgot. Aren't farmers also impacted by a changing climate? Where is there concern on that?
6. Taunting, insulting and abusing anyone who cares about life on Earth and a habitable planet, while ripping up environmental commitments and accelerating destruction. This includes a. airport expansion; b. new trunk roads; c. attacks on the planning system; d. more river-killing chicken factories;
7. e. freeports; f. constant briefing that it wants to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields; g. packaging a new fossil fuel project, that will greatly increase emissions, as a “carbon capture and storage” programme, to be built at vast public expense.
This is because of the changes coming the SEZs, people will start getting angry as their councils disappear and things get deregulated and land is housing is bought up by whatever multi national or country funning these areas. Its going to get rocky.
I have long taken the view that the likes of Starmer, Reeves, Streeting etc are Tories who are embarrassed to be called Tories. Instead they've infiltrated the Labour party.
It's as if neoliberalism pervades the whole of the Westminster system. We need to demand better as our democratic system is failing us badly and has been for a long time.
In the same way that US voters felt underserved by Biden and went to Trump, those who voted Labour for real change will feel underserved and rather than vote Tory, will vote reform out of a desire to shake up the system. It will be a disaster.
Starmer is the epitome of uselessness. The biggest majority in Parliamentary history and he seems determined that no good thing for the British people will come from it.
Such a shame. There was so much possibility moving away from the Tory looting and austerity. Was firmly Labour for socialist leanings previously. It only seems the Lib Dems and greens have people in focus now.
If you don't think the richest conservative Brits aren't following the Koch Manifesto for the same goal, go over it again for how they act & where they are. I'll bet you can check half of the goals off.
Don't forget pushing more pensioners into poverty by removing the Winter Fuel Allowance for most too. Some of us don't qualify for Pension Credit because of a bit of savings. We've now been pushed down the ladder in terms of how poor we are re: income. Having to top up every month from the savings
This thread is spot on. The Government have done a few good thing s - eg on workers' rights - but overall, they have shown themselves to be timid and directionless and far too keen to hold onto repressive and regressive Tory legislation.
What worries me is being confronted with the choice of this s**t shower or something worse. Although the way the LP is going it's becoming harder to think there's very much worse.
It's madness. Starmer is trying to win over a segment of the population as if the GE is tomorrow, instead of making decisions that will improve things enough that in 4 years he can say to them: look - you're better off than before. That's how you win them over - not by trying to out-Reform Reform.
I keep thinking about the Sewage scandal . Whole nation united in outrage, demanding redress against predatory corporations
And Starmer? Just shrugs n says sorry not much we can do
Oh but we can n will hit pensioners
Who is advising them?
The political incompetence is huge
It’s definitely wilful. An intelligent, educated person couldn’t make so many monumental, blinkered fuck ups one after another unless they were actually intentional. He doesn’t WANT to win the next election, he wants to ‘rinse and go’… straight to the lucrative after dinner circuit.
Sorry to hear that you are forced into debt. Labour shat on us all most of all on vulnerable people like you. But please don't vote reform who are 10 X worse. Greens, SNP, Plaid Cymru, are OK & liberals are best of the rest.
They are certainly making some questionable decisions. And in their handling of issues, it sometimes seems they are more amenable to representations from people who have wealth, which fuel s the feeling of injustice. Not actions that encourage voters to give you a second term.
And it just opens the door for Reform. The Tories will not be fit to govern in 2029. Indeed, there is a good chance they'll merge with or be devoured by Reform. And centre left voters will opt for Lib Dems or Greens. But Reform will sadly be the front runners.
Centre left, dont make me laugh. George, have a word with your colleagues, Labour, by ANYONE with half a brain, cannot be classed in any way shape or form as “Centre Left”. Jokes.
Terrific thread - and we could all add more examples. Labour must realise that a lot of people voted for them as the only way to unseat the Tories / keep Reform out. Being "Reform Lite" is a great way to alienate progressive voters; we need a party that shows they're on the side of the vulnerable.
Irking that this need be said at all. There was relief that the previous incompetence, hypocrisy and terror was finally routed. But to be replaced by this? Different lipstick, same swine? There are greater global dangers coming than we have witnessed before. We need a government prepared for them.
Also, the cancellation of some local elections (afraid of the results?)
Leading to many people cancelling payments for this years council tax - 'No taxation without representation'
I should be a nailed-on natural Labour voter, but mainly for their ineffectual Brexit position, went LibDem at the last GE. Now even less likely to vote Labour.
True, although I don’t know whether that’s intentional or whether it’s a result of incompetence howsoever that has come about or which is worse (which probably doesn’t matter given the result is the same)
They've made some bafflingly awful choices. Very few of these seem to match "the people's priorities "(in so far as avaiable polling data indicate what people want).
Yep. Anti-trans measures supported/promoted by Labour: Trans women in male prisons, PB ban, conversion practices for kids, segregated healthcare, women excluded from female hospital wards, HRT stopped by GPs, schools mandated to ban social transition and out kids to parents without safeguarding...
I didn't realise just how nasty politics had become until Labour got in power. They were supposed to be the positive change. There seems to be no choice between terrible and tragic.
I’m not sure I’m glad I voted Labour or that I’m a Labour member. The way to grow the economy is to put more money in the pockets of the vast majority who are low to middle income. They will spend it locally, thus regenerating towns. The rich spend abroad or hide their wealth. It’s basic sense.
Every day, new horrors. Their threats and aggression is not promoting growth it’s making the U.K. a frightened and angry country. Can’t they see that they loose more support daily?
Not only failure to support trans people, its worse than that. Actively harming trans for points with the worst of people. Just like their latest immigration nonsense. Performative for the lowest common denominator
Strange how you discuss democracy seeing as how you also share the truth that there is no longer any democracy..
Is it helpful to continue to switch between the past and our lived experience now? Sorry no feedback required just pondering out loud.
I wonder if corporate backers have told them what they want done, knowing it would be unpopular with the aim of getting reform in after to deregulate everything being put into place in order to make huge profits.
Comments
"The centre cannot hold..."
-->Fifth columnist.
Almost as if Labour have no ideas at all except "more of the same" and "let's keep donors happy".
"U.K. orders Apple to let it spy on users’ encrypted accounts"
https://archive.ph/79dA3
Even if no PR next election will vote Green regardless as they represent my unchanged views now.
Blairite chancer with zero redeeming qualities
2. It has condoned free gifts
3. Starmer is a self-avowed Zionist (which many Jews in the Party are NOT).
This obsession with growth at any cost is a liability that imperils this nation.
That moment may be coming quicker than most realize.
I suspect that would probably be the case.
As to power lines, presumably you're in E England, as the only other major pylon projects are currently in Wales (with no Green MPs) the protests are the same, they are not against power lines, they are against pylons...
“Great” Britain, inventor of railways? Yep. 68 miles. Sixty-eight. HS2 would add a massive 140 miles to that.
If his enforcers take against us , in our current isolation and poverty, we will have to give up what remains of our self respect!
Americans need our support
It will be us next
https://podfollow.com/1747192337/episode/c8bed43b8d0523d4ee8e9b39afcfe29210c2cce2/view
We do not need foreign, nosy, disruptive, evil gits like that running any of our systems. Keep it British and in house.
I know people who could write just as good, if not better, programmes.
It's as if they are going hell for leather to NOT be re-elected in 2029.
And frankly the way they are going - I would not vote for them.
Trouble is - where are the Greens/ Lib Dems?
Politically homeless will apply to more and more people - and then where are we?
So in other words, the ethical electorate are now wandering in electoral exile...
Bleak is a vast understatement I would suggest...
As they grow they can affect decisions.
Writing them off is a self fulfilling prophecy.
Denying them that seals their fate.
I want unmistakeable and major differences in policies and actions.
We're getting the same old shite
15 years of triple lock should mean that all pensioners are better off..
He’s a red Tory who destroyed the membership, bankrupted the party, and so had to rely on corporate donations.
A corporate shill.
Unroll
I won't thank him for normalising hate and performative cruelty and sending troops Farage's way.
There's no risk just reality
The so-called ‘middle ground’ is being dragged to the right by a weak left that is unwilling to support its own ethics.
This is appeasement by another name.
It’s different when you are in Government, you have to do things…they are scared of their own shadow and are paranoid about upsetting the status quo…
Because that's the way to move at this point. If you feel particularly strong about a certain point in this thread, contact MP and tell others.
Labour have their heads in the clouds with all too familiar unadventurous staid policies akin to the last Tory government.
This is not putting nation before Party.
https://join.greenparty.org.uk
As you probably know, they think they know what the Dems did wrong.
https://bsky.app/profile/deborahmattinson.bsky.social/post/3lcsqmm4agh23
Failing to listen to public opinion on Brexit and public ownership of utilities.
Trying to out-Farage Farage on immigrants
Climate policies based on fantasy carbon capture figures and nuclear fission
https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lhr3mm6ajk25
Labour sold out with Blair.
They perform war crimes ffs. Did Keir Hardie ever predict this?
Everyone should share these with Labour supporters who are attacking those on the left who are trying to hold Labour to account.
This is the last chance for real change.
Wealth taxes
Proportional representation
No new airports
No cuts to benefits
Rewilding
Back in the EU
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/lovebombed-by-lobbyists-how-starmer-labour-became-the-party-of-big-business/
This is who they are:
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23805719.jim-murphy-praises-keir-starmer-business-links/
a. maintaining the outrageous two-child benefit cap, a Malthusian policy extreme even by Tory standards – and suspending Labour MPs who sought to scrap it.
For starters add Labour being devoutly inside the AI bubble, the Online Safety Act, and demanding a backdoor in Apple encryption
But there's good stuff too... it's just a little swamped
There's a basic contradiction at work here but I watch too much tv to spot it.
3.5 million people claim disability benefits meaning a total of £42bn annual economic benefits which exceeds the £28bn cost
The whole point of the research is to show that cuts are a false economy.
If you cut a bus service you save money.
But when the person who relies on it can't get to work or their hospital appoint these produce costs which outweigh the savings.
"The IMF now believes that it massively understated the damage that spending cuts inflict on a weak economy."
https://www.theguardian.com/business/ng-interactive/2015/apr/29/the-austerity-delusion
b. freezing Local Housing Allowance, making decent housing even less accessible to people on housing benefit - while simultaneously refusing to introduce rent controls.
c. identifying disability benefits and personal independence payments as major targets for cuts.
But…I look fine!
In a good day, I am still me, bad day, wish I wasn’t here.
It will be great to have no money
#invisibledisability #ehlersdanlos #depressio
If they rented in my area reference rent is £448, unlikely to get anywhere under £600, leaving £152 to make up from HB. Left with £798 to live on.
More likely they would be paying £700 -£750 to live in a basic 2 bed terrace taking their budget for everything else under £700. 1 bed properties had higher rents than that. There was a bedsit for £460, £450 for a house share.
Sorry, but wtaf even is a “non-dom community”? The whole point of being a non-dom is to secede from the community.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jan/23/rachel-reeves-non-dom-tax-rule-uk-davos
https://bsky.app/profile/para-handy.bsky.social/post/3lchxpvenmc2p
The only way around that would be to tax all income globally (like USA), but that would breach dual taxation treaties that we have signed.
The reason Jeremy Corbyn had to be destroyed. He had no strings to pull.
Is a polite way of saying non-doms started leaving the UK and the new rules risked being net negative in terms of tax revenue.
I agree with taxing non-doms more, but not at the expense of losing tax revenue overall.
Oh dear oh dear oh dear
This deadly refrain
the bane
Of humanity
Again again.
So could we leap
From ego to eco
head to heart
Reframe
Reclaim
Whole system
Honouring
Resilience
Resurgence.
Could We?
That'squite a roadblock 🤔
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cwypj14q122o
I'm defeated. Deflated. Desperate
This thread…
https://bsky.app/profile/theferocity.bsky.social/post/3lhjku4gpek2l
I think you mean "respect the fascists' legitimate concerns, as democratically expressed at the ballot box, just as they legitimately, concernedly and democratically did in 1936." 😢
I'll be rich someday, Ma,
Look what they've done to my Song.."
#Melanie
https://youtu.be/r44Ach4mXE4?si=UQs03Hpnj-WFBD_A
I've seen agar-agar platters with impressive growth of those, from samples taken off of domesticated birds and their feces.
With the LHA freeze on top it's like an extra kick in the teeth.
The correct response to rising fascism is to go the other way, not join it.
They're throwing away any chance they have of being reelected.
And Starmer? Just shrugs n says sorry not much we can do
Oh but we can n will hit pensioners
Who is advising them?
The political incompetence is huge
They are faithfully serving the interests represented by the lobbyists for the worst people on the world
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/10/adopting-rightwing-policies-does-not-help-centre-left-win-votes
Leading to many people cancelling payments for this years council tax - 'No taxation without representation'
A few of them align with policy positions favoured by the Murdoch press, tho. Coincidence?
https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-special-relationship-with-the-murdoch-press/
He's doing an Alec Guinness ....
This is preplanned assault.
Starmer is doing exactly what he set out to do from the moment Corbyn became leader of the Labour Party.
Destroy the labour movements path to power for the next 15+ years.
Is it helpful to continue to switch between the past and our lived experience now? Sorry no feedback required just pondering out loud.
#youyesyet #WhyNotScotland #YesScots #politics #IndyToRejoinEU