Lucy Powell elected as new deputy leader of the Labour party. Certainly not what Starmer would have wanted as she's got the balls to challenge him. Complete opposite of Phillipson and Rayner. Confirms the majority of party members want something different.
Part of me wanted the Sunderland lass but I think Powell will have more balls to take on McSweeney. I also think the surge of the Greens may pull Labour away from, as Powell describes, trying to out Reform Reform and govern with values. I tho n she’s spot on. Labour have some good policies but spoil it by not having the knackers to take on wealth and invest in their policies and doing dumb things to try and look hard.
Everything was rosy till a year ago? Well done the Tory party who also borrowed and taxed us more in their 14 years in power to get us to this mess.
Everything is not black, Starmer has done a great job bringing in £6 billion for the defence industry. Couldn’t of done it without Brexit though
Yeah but tories did things in their last budget which have ruined our economy. Pirates, bloody pirates
They deliberately ruined things further ahead through knowing that the pressure would land on the incumbents from people who don’t get it or aren’t prepared to be fair. I’m not saying Labour have hit it the right way mind. They’ve ducked away from some big things (wealth) and made some bad judgments (3 child families/poverty and winter fuel) but they’re not done yet so I remain open minded until further ahead. I think they need a change in leader mind but the optics are so bad they can’t even do that (Burnham needing to get a seat)
Record borrowing and record taxation in peace time under the Tories over the past 14 years. Yet, record child poverty, record nhs waiting lists and record number of foodbanks. Jails rammed full, a broken economy and record immigration. Cutting 40,000 police officers resulting in drugs and ASB out of control. Remember Liz Truss and £400billion off all our pensions? I certainly wouldn’t be crowing about that legacy. Tjis Labour government has one fcking mess to clear up after the last Tory government government.
AI: Are the UK Labour party doing a good job running the country? Determining if a governing party is "doing a good job" is subjective and depends on various factors, including public opinion, economic performance, and progress on key policy areas. Since taking power in the UK general election in July 2024, the Labour government has faced significant public dissatisfaction and economic challenges, despite promoting its policy achievements. Public opinion Net disapproval: Polls from October 2025 show widespread disapproval of the Labour government's performance. A September 2025 YouGov poll revealed that 70% of Britons disapprove of the government's record, with only 14% approving, leading to a net approval rating of -55. Leader ratings: Prime Minister Keir Starmer's personal ratings have also fallen to their lowest point since he became Labour leader, with a net favourability rating of -51 in October 2025. Party trust: Public trust in the Labour Party is low across most policy areas, including the economy, immigration, and the NHS, traditionally a strong area for the party. Economic performance Mixed signals: Economic data from 2025 shows mixed signals. The UK saw stronger-than-expected GDP growth in the first half of the year, but forecasts suggest a slowdown for the second half. Persistent inflation: Inflation remains above the Bank of England's 2% target, continuing to put pressure on households and contributing to muted consumer confidence. Negative economic outlook: Many members of the public and economic experts remain pessimistic about the future of the economy. A January 2025 survey found that less than a quarter of the public believed the economy would grow before the next general election. Fiscal challenge: The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has noted the difficult fiscal context, including decelerating growth and rising public sector debt, which could lead to tough decisions in the upcoming Autumn Budget. Policy progress The Labour Party highlights several policy achievements in its "One Year On" report from July 2025: Cost of living: An increase in the minimum wage was delivered in April 2025, providing a pay rise for millions of low-income workers. NHS: An extra £29 billion in funding has been provided to the NHS, aimed at increasing appointments and cutting waiting times. Environment: A publicly-owned energy company, Great British Energy, has been launched, and the ban on onshore wind farms has been lifted to boost renewable energy. Immigration: A new Border Security Command has been established, and reforms to the points-based system are underway to reduce net migration. Key challenges and criticisms Uncertainty and instability: The Institute for Government notes that after years of economic uncertainty, the public is still nervous and not yet optimistic about the government's effectiveness. Fiscal strain: The government faces tight spending rules and significant fiscal challenges that will test its ability to deliver on its promises. The IFS warns that the Chancellor will face unenviable choices in the 2025 Autumn Budget to fill a budget gap. Specific policy setbacks: Controversial policy changes, such as reforms to winter fuel allowance and the child benefit cap, have disappointed some voters, including a portion of those who voted Labour. Low confidence in economic plan: Polling indicates a persistent public lack of confidence in Labour's economic plans, with many unconvinced it will deliver a positive change.
To be fair this misses long term policies like the 10 year health plan, the emerging youth strategy and pride in place - things that will affect all of us positively. They are good, but mixed with daft stuff - not being firmer over Israel, the farcical numbers of multiple retired people getting arrested for terrorism, the targeting of winter fuel and disability for savings before the wealthy and the optics that presents. They aren’t stupid at policy level, practice not so good and the leader as inspiring as toast for Christmas Dinner.
