Enjoy your tax rises.

[kettering_baggie]

We certainly have not been governed well for the past 14 years but I am in no doubt that by the time the next election is upon us we will be worse off than we are now. As for all the strikes that have been dragging on for what seems an eternity, I am convinced that many were politically motivated in the belief that they would contribute to an election victory for Labour and that Labour would be far more likely to cave in to the union demands. Looks like that is working out as planned.

[WBA123]

We certainly have not been governed well for the past 14 years but I am in no doubt that by the time the next election is upon us we will be worse off than we are now. As for all the strikes that have been dragging on for what seems an eternity, I am convinced that many were politically motivated in the belief that they would contribute to an election victory for Labour and that Labour would be far more likely to cave in to the union demands. Looks like that is working out as planned.

Or alternatively, maybe public sector workers have been shafted by the previous government for 14 years and felt they've had no choice but to strike.

We criminally undervalue and underpay our nurses, teachers, doctors etc. I'm not against a pay increase for these people. I'm not sure why others are?

Considering the waste of the previous government, a pay rise for nurses should be a given.

The Tories deserve to be wiped out for a generation or more, and this idea that they're good with the economy be highlighted for the myth that it is. I'm so glad to see the back of them and some competent, responsible people now running things.

As for tax rises, its inevitable. You can't blow billions as the Tories have and not have a black hole at the end of it. I think you should look closer to home for the cause of them.

The only criticism of Labour is that they would have already known about this and they should have been more transparent with the public pre-election. But in reality, they have got little choice but to raise taxes. The Tories (as usual) have screwed the country into the ground.

[baggiematt]

Or alternatively, maybe public sector workers have been shafted by the previous government for 14 years and felt they've had no choice but to strike.

We criminally undervalue and underpay our nurses, teachers, doctors etc. I'm not against a pay increase for these people. I'm not sure why others are?

Considering the waste of the previous government, a pay rise for nurses should be a given.

The Tories deserve to be wiped out for a generation or more, and this idea that they're good with the economy be highlighted for the myth that it is. I'm so glad to see the back of them and some competent, responsible people now running things.

As for tax rises, its inevitable. You can't blow billions as the Tories have and not have a black hole at the end of it. I think you should look closer to home for the cause of them.

The only criticism of Labour is that they would have already known about this and they should have been more transparent with the public pre-election. But in reality, they have got little choice but to raise taxes. The Tories (as usual) have screwed the country into the ground.

Far too early to call them competent and responsible. It’s not been a fantastic start.

I do think there’s a need to hold labour to the same scrutiny as Conservatives had and really reflect on political biases. You for example justify ‘inevitable’ tax rises due to overspend but I’m sure you were a big anti austerity man, which was after a huge Labour spend. The ‘it’s not a magic money tree’ argument only seems to be relevant for Labour.

I’m not against the public sector pay rises, but note it was above recommendation and has come at the expense of winter fuel payments which I think has left a sour taste in the mouths of some. He can’t keep calling this a Tory mess when Starmer chooses how he spends what’s left poorly.

[mickd1961]

Far too early to call them competent and responsible. It’s not been a fantastic start.

I do think there’s a need to hold labour to the same scrutiny as Conservatives had and really reflect on political biases. You for example justify ‘inevitable’ tax rises due to overspend but I’m sure you were a big anti austerity man, which was after a huge Labour spend. The ‘it’s not a magic money tree’ argument only seems to be relevant for Labour.

I’m not against the public sector pay rises, but note it was above recommendation and has come at the expense of winter fuel payments which I think has left a sour taste in the mouths of some. He can’t keep calling this a Tory mess when Starmer chooses how he spends what’s left poorly.

Well put.

[mickd1961]

Or alternatively, maybe public sector workers have been shafted by the previous government for 14 years and felt they've had no choice but to strike.

We criminally undervalue and underpay our nurses, teachers, doctors etc. I'm not against a pay increase for these people. I'm not sure why others are?

Considering the waste of the previous government, a pay rise for nurses should be a given.

The Tories deserve to be wiped out for a generation or more, and this idea that they're good with the economy be highlighted for the myth that it is. I'm so glad to see the back of them and some competent, responsible people now running things.

As for tax rises, its inevitable. You can't blow billions as the Tories have and not have a black hole at the end of it. I think you should look closer to home for the cause of them.

The only criticism of Labour is that they would have already known about this and they should have been more transparent with the public pre-election. But in reality, they have got little choice but to raise taxes. The Tories (as usual) have screwed the country into the ground.

I’d be interested to know how many extra thousands of £’s a year yourself or anyone else on here is happy to hand over to Labour each year?

[kettering_baggie]

It already looks as if Labour have caved in to the train drivers, who were already well paid. Nurses are far more deserving of a big pay rise than the well off train drivers. Anyway, as far as I am concerned, Labour will always leave us worse off than the Conservatives; I cannot recall a Labour government that has left us better off.

[westcountryvillain]

We are taxed more heavily now than ever before, this is OUR money and it needs to be spent better with independent scrutiny over projects.

Money can be raised without having to increase taxes and keep screwing over the masses, can't please everyone but you certainly can p1ss everyone off!

[Leicesterbaggie]

Hypocrisy is the word. Starmer is bemoaning the fact that the Tories have left us in this financial mess and that he has to make difficult decisions to repair the damage. Has he now forgotten the fact that Labour left us in just as big, if not bigger mess, and has been bleating on for years regarding the austerity imposed on us by the Tories to get out of the mess?

[kettering_baggie]

They are all a bunch of liars and hypocrites. Starmer should not be looking for scapegoats but just get on with what he was elected to do; he won’t, though, because it’s always someone else’s fault. Tarred with the same brush, the lot of ‘em!

[WBA123]

I’d be interested to know how many extra thousands of £’s a year yourself or anyone else on here is happy to hand over to Labour each year?

As someone who accused me on another post of swerving or not answering a question directly, here's my answer...

I don't mind paying more taxes, but I want value for money for it. I want good public services. Under the last Labour Government we got that, you could argue they left us in debt - but we had an excellent NHS, thousands more police officers, doctors, nurses, record low waiting times etc.

The value for money we have got from the Tories is poor. Look at the state of the country they left behind, its hard enough to get a GP appointment now. They've wasted billions of our money.

So, as you've conveniently not answered my original question. Do you prefer the alternative to this? Tories, Doctor strikes, train strikes etc.