More U Turns than our Midfield!

[baggieal]

Every Party must be praying the Tool Makers Son does not resign as clearly Labour will be hammered in the May Elections.

Not difficult for Kemi to run circles around this clown at Question Time.

More u turns and going backwards than our midfield 😭😭


July 2024 - Change to fiscal rules Labour campaigned on;

September 2024 - Decided not to compensate Waspi women, despite campaigning in opposition;

October 2024 - Raised employers' national insurance despite election pledge;

April 2025 - Change in position on legal definition of a woman after Supreme Court ruling;

June 2025 - U-turn on the cut to the winter fuel allowance;

June 2025 - U-turn on planned cuts to disability benefits after backbench rebellion;

June 2025 - Announced national inquiry into grooming gangs after saying one wasn't needed;

November 2025 - Increased income tax, despite election pledge not to;

November 2025 - Scrapped the two-child benefit cap, having previously said there was not enough money to;

November 2025 - Changed qualifying period for protection from unfair dismissal to six months, despite manifesto pledge of it being from day one;

December 2025 - U-turned on most of the changes to inheritance tax for farmers;

January 2026 - Announced business rates relief for pubs after budget changes led to huge tax increases;

January 2026 - U-turn on plans to make digital ID mandatory;

February 2026 - Labour backbenchers forced the government to hand sensitive Mandelson documents to a parliamentary committee;

February 2026 - U-turn on plans to delay 30 local elections set for May.

[Albionic68]

So would you be any happier if they'd gone through with all of the above? As in not made any of said Uturns? Not getting dragged into an ongoing political debate of the pros and cons of everything but personally speaking I'm quite comfortable with a number of those reversals.

[baggiematt]

They have had a lot of u-turns but like anything political, the context is more important than the headline.

The right for unfair dismissal was day 1 but with 9 months probation, they changed it to a flat 6 months to make it easier for businesses and staff.

The definition of a women was defined in court, not by government.

The national insurance rise was a pledge to people not to businesses. They didnt break a pledge in changing this. Also they havent increased income tax?

[baggieal]

They have had a lot of u-turns but like anything political, the context is more important than the headline.

The right for unfair dismissal was day 1 but with 9 months probation, they changed it to a flat 6 months to make it easier for businesses and staff.

The definition of a women was defined in court, not by government.

The national insurance rise was a pledge to people not to businesses. They didnt break a pledge in changing this. Also they havent increased income tax?

Many would say they have increased taxation because they have dumped it on businesses . So indirectly the businesses have not swallowed the costs but increased their prices and profits accordingly. Many businesses have also discarded staff which is one factor why unemployment is the highest for five years!

I know a lot of business leaders being one myself, Ask the majority what are their thoughts on the idiot from Accounts?

One of the best U Turns albeit forced was losing their battle with council elections in May and anybody sensible would know why Two Tier wanted them cancelled. The millions will have their say in the May Elections so let?s wait and see!

The cost of living in this country is through the roof and yet Starmer said there will be more money in pockets in 2026. Who will fund the increase in military spend to the promised 3.5% and council taxes and bills?

The government need to save wasted money and resources and the majority who work for a living know where this should come from!

[Omegstrat6]

Nothing wrong IMHO in any government making the odd U-turn in the light of new information for example and reconsidering a decision if they then find it either flawed or wrong but the number made by Starmer and this government simply makes them look inept rather than considered.

Like 68, I've no wish to go into each of those listed by Al, but will just say that some of them are decisions that I felt should never have been taken in the first place while others I felt were, at heart, the right thing to do but simply not refined enough. Never ceases to amaze me how they either cannot read a room or else consistently fail to properly think through next steps with potential policies before implementing them.

[baggieal]

Nothing wrong IMHO in any government making the odd U-turn in the light of new information for example and reconsidering a decision if they then find it either flawed or wrong but the number made by Starmer and this government simply makes them look inept rather than considered.

Like 68, I've no wish to go into each of those listed by Al, but will just say that some of them are decisions that I felt should never have been taken in the first place while others I felt were, at heart, the right thing to do but simply not refined enough. Never ceases to amaze me how they either cannot read a room or else consistently fail to properly think through next steps with potential policies before implementing them.

Bang on Omeg! It?s not about the amount of U turns but in your words - the failure to read the room. As mentioned unemployment now at the highest level in 5 years partly due to companies on their knees through taxation which impacts on hiking consumer goods and reducing staff.

[Omegstrat6]

Bang on Omeg! It?s not about the amount of U turns but in your words - the failure to read the room. As mentioned unemployment now at the highest level in 5 years partly due to companies on their knees through taxation which impacts on hiking consumer goods and reducing staff.

I think that various factors feed into the current levels of unemployment Al. Certainly, the decision to hike NI costs for businesses has played a big part in it (though the reality is that some big companies could still afford to recruit but choose not to in order to protect profit levels) but it isn't the whole story. Under the previous Conservative governments, the "Gig economy" had been allowed to flourish which ate into the number of traditional lower paid jobs available and advances in technology (e.g. self service checkouts) over the years has similarly impacted the number of job roles available across a variety of sectors. The number of "entry level" jobs available to young people has shrunk considerably over the last decade and this has little or nothing to do with the current Labour government.

The UK's manufacturing base has long been in decline as the country has moved to an economy based overwhelmingly on the financial and service sectors. The latter has been hit hard lately, especially post Covid, and is struggling to recover.

We're very far from the days of Britain being the "workshop of the world" but quite how we grow our manufacturing industries and create more jobs through them I don't know. Newer industries based on tech and AI, such as the mooted data farms, may generate some wealth but they will only create a limited number of jobs. Sadly, I can only foresee inequality levels in the country growing.

As mentioned in another thread, more young people than ever before now go into higher education but it is no guarantee of financial security. Labour talk of increasing apprenticeship schemes as an alternative which is a good idea, but I still have concerns over whether there will still be sufficient jobs available for them at the end.

[WBA123]

I can't believe I'm saying this....I politically agree with Al.

The previous Govt's U-turns used to frustrate me and this Government are no different.

This from a Government who said they were going to prioritise growth, how does increasing NI tax on employers do that? Workers will just end up paying for that in the long run.

They boxed themselves into a corner with the 'no tax increases on working people', yet are stealthily taxing people by not raising the tax thresholds.

A Government should weigh up making a decision with all the pros and cons and then stick to it. Not backtrack when they realise it is wildly unpopular.

These U-turns just fuels uncertainty - which ironically is not good for growth.

[baggieal]

I think that various factors feed into the current levels of unemployment Al. Certainly, the decision to hike NI costs for businesses has played a big part in it (though the reality is that some big companies could still afford to recruit but choose not to in order to protect profit levels) but it isn't the whole story. Under the previous Conservative governments, the "Gig economy" had been allowed to flourish which ate into the number of traditional lower paid jobs available and advances in technology (e.g. self service checkouts) over the years has similarly impacted the number of job roles available across a variety of sectors. The number of "entry level" jobs available to young people has shrunk considerably over the last decade and this has little or nothing to do with the current Labour government.

The UK's manufacturing base has long been in decline as the country has moved to an economy based overwhelmingly on the financial and service sectors. The latter has been hit hard lately, especially post Covid, and is struggling to recover.

We're very far from the days of Britain being the "workshop of the world" but quite how we grow our manufacturing industries and create more jobs through them I don't know. Newer industries based on tech and AI, such as the mooted data farms, may generate some wealth but they will only create a limited number of jobs. Sadly, I can only foresee inequality levels in the country growing.

As mentioned in another thread, more young people than ever before now go into higher education but it is no guarantee of financial security. Labour talk of increasing apprenticeship schemes as an alternative which is a good idea, but I still have concerns over whether there will still be sufficient jobs available for them at the end.

Totally see the point Omeg and especially the last paragraph. You?re right about greedy companies too as customer service seems to have disappeared. I would cut uni courses from 3 years to 2 years and 5/4 years to 3 years but they won?t as too much greed. Many students go to uni on non relevant courses knowing they may not meet the wage threshold to pay the debt back. That?s why interest on student debt is an astounding 9% as it will cover debt written off - unfair on those students who go on to earn high wages in uni relevant careers. The more you earn the more paid back each month as you know.

My daughter with her apprenticeship and it?s a top company will earn around 150K in wages in four years - be professionally qualified and have no debt. Her firm will recruit graduates from top unis like Kings and UCK who will then start their four year professional qualification - have around 100K of student debt and be behind apprentices. Madness!

[baggiematt]

It is hard to see what good has come out of this government. I appreciate they inherited a mess but they have done very little to get the country moving.

I wouldnt be surprised if Starmer is not a candidate next election.

[kettering_baggie]

Inherited a mess and made it worse. Whatever your view on the policies that have been U-turned, it seems obvious to me that ther is a serious lack of good judgment in this government, they are incompetent, plain and simple.

[regis80]

i’ve said before and will say again, put politicians are bought and ‘influenced’ by think tanks. Just why do we need so may right leaning think tanks and why do our governments need advisors? Boris et al had them and until recently starmer with mcsweeny - who are these people? Why can’t our governments make their own minds up and not rely on these so much? it’s because they are not there to serve us. Wake up people.