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Lest we forget what we have just lost ....

(163 Posts)
Luckygirl3 Tue 23-Jun-26 17:05:26

Since Labour took office, Keir Starmer’s government has:

- Scrapped the two-child benefit limit, lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and putting money back into some of the hardest-pressed households in the country.

- Expanded free school meals, cutting costs for families and making sure more children get a proper meal during the school day.

- Expanded funded childcare, reducing one of the biggest monthly costs facing working parents and making it easier for people to stay in work.

- Raised the National Living Wage, increasing pay for millions of low-paid workers.

- Strengthened workers’ rights, giving people greater protection against insecure work and bad employers.

- Introduced statutory sick pay from the first day of illness, so workers are less likely to choose between their health and their wages.

- Ended no-fault evictions, giving renters more security in their homes.

- Brought rail operators back into public ownership, taking key services out of failed private hands and giving the public a stronger stake in how they are run.

- Cut NHS waiting lists from their post-pandemic peak, meaning more patients are being seen sooner.

- Raised the state pension through the triple lock, protecting pensioners’ incomes against rising costs.

- Scrapped the old non-dom tax regime, making some of the wealthiest people in the country pay more fairly.

- Added VAT to private school fees, raising money from those most able to contribute.

- Removed business rates relief from private schools, ending an unjustified tax break.

- Increased neighbourhood policing, putting more officers and PCSOs back into communities.

- Helped bring knife crime down, meaning fewer families face the devastation of serious violence.

- Recorded the lowest homicide rate since the 1970s, a material improvement in public safety.

- Created Great British Energy, giving Britain a publicly owned clean energy company.

- Created the National Wealth Fund, backing investment in industry, infrastructure and clean energy.

- Passed planning reforms aimed at getting homes and major projects built faster.

- Improved relations with the EU, reducing diplomatic hostility and rebuilding practical cooperation.

- Agreed a UK-EU security partnership, strengthening cooperation on defence and European security.

- Signed a long-term partnership with Ukraine, reinforcing Britain’s support against Putin’s invasion.

- Secured new trade agreements, opening up markets for British businesses.

- Helped restore seriousness to government after years of scandal, chaos and decline.

- Revived Sure Start under the guise of Best Start Hubs.

- Stood up to Trump and kept us out of Iran without the US/UK relationship falling apart.

- Restored international faith in the UK

And this is the man who has been hounded out for not being flashy enough and not courting the media.

Madgran77 Thu 25-Jun-26 17:40:49

eazybee Yes. The Scroungers' Charter

Jane43 So you are labeling everybody on benefits a scrounger? Many are working with low pay topped up by benefits, then there are the sick and disabled unable to work and of course pensioners are included in the benefits bill. To make it personal my daughter in law, 55, has worked since she was 16 and she is now living with breast cancer, it has taken away the use of her right arm and hand, she has had to give up the well paid job she loved and is claiming ESA and PIP which is a fraction of what she earned when she was working. Scrounger my foot!

I am so sorry to hear about your DiL Jane

And it's not about "scroungers" is it. Its about ensuring:
- the right people get financial help; (your DiL being one of them, as was mine before she died);
- the right people get employment help
- ....and so on.!

The whole benefits system needs reform but done strategically across all relevant areas, not piecemeal and/or just to save money!

Susieq62 Thu 25-Jun-26 17:35:16

But she has not been the victim of gaslighting as she has suggested!! I find that offensive remark unnecessary .
Time for a much needed g&t now .

Susieq62 Thu 25-Jun-26 17:33:25

Oreo true !

LizzieDrip Thu 25-Jun-26 17:33:14

Susieq62

Oreo of course she was but then she came to life in 2024

👏👏👏 Susieq62

Oreo Thu 25-Jun-26 17:31:23

Susieq62

Oreo of course she was but then she came to life in 2024

It’s not good to be obsessed with what another GN member is doing or not doing.

Jane43 Thu 25-Jun-26 17:31:03

eazybee

Yes.
The Scroungers' Charter.

So you are labeling everybody on benefits a scrounger? Many are working with low pay topped up by benefits, then there are the sick and disabled unable to work and of course pensioners are included in the benefits bill. To make it personal my daughter in law, 55, has worked since she was 16 and she is now living with breast cancer, it has taken away the use of her right arm and hand, she has had to give up the well paid job she loved and is claiming ESA and PIP which is a fraction of what she earned when she was working. Scrounger my foot!

Susieq62 Thu 25-Jun-26 17:21:33

Oreo of course she was but then she came to life in 2024

WithNobsOnIt Thu 25-Jun-26 17:21:25

Nobody has mentioned illegal immigrants. Sorry you are not supposed to use that term anymore.
Migration.

Starmer could have done a lot more on this by either questioning the ECHR. Or better still withdrawing from it altogether. He didn't have the courage.

The ECHR is not fit for purpose and outdated to say the least.

And one of these main reasons Starmer did nothing Was that if the UK did want out. It would threaten the peace on the Island of Ireland.Think.the Good Friday.Agreement.

And more importantly their next generation of Labour Voters. You know potential immigrants who will replace their old generation of decent white, working class voters who are now dying off.

The people who have been hated and passionately despised by Labour. Since Blair and New Labour got into power.

As for Burnham. He is a the sort of politician who is just a Song and Dance man. Look at me. See what am doing . Aren't l wonderful.

I have also said this before. Burnham was the Mayor of Greater Manchester. And thank god not the Mayor of the City of Manchester. So. we should be thankful for that.

Oreo Thu 25-Jun-26 17:19:16

I expect nanna8 was getting on with life as most of us were.

Doodledog Thu 25-Jun-26 17:19:13

Why should there be a GE, GANNET? And how would a GE help with long-term cross-party strategic working in the UK?

All that would happen is that we'd have a long period of disruption, no policy making, all eyes off the ball whilst people manoeuvred and formed factions, then more of the same. Or worse.

Susieq62 Thu 25-Jun-26 16:55:39

I wonder where Nanna8 was during 14 years of Tory rule?? Strange to announce we are in a parallel universe ! I am confused but being very tired it doesn’t take much at the moment!!!

cc Thu 25-Jun-26 16:50:08

Oreo

And some of those things were just plain wrong for the country.
The two child cap should have stayed.
All the benefits you mention should have been directed towards the very poorest.
Kept the old sick pay benefits, not extended them to anyone who fancies throwing a sickie for the day.
The triple lock will have to go sooner or later, it’s just a political vote catcher, and state pensions can’t continue at that rate as the population gets older and older.
Putting up minimum wages whilst clobbering employers with more NI was a sure way to create youth unemployment.
I can’t be bothered to go through all your points it’s too hot but on defence KS has done nothing bar talking.
If he was such a brilliant PM that had done wonders, then he wouldn’t be resigning now.

Yes, I agree with what you say.
The other thing to mention is free school breakfast clubs, at my grandchildrens' school this is just 15 minutes before normal school opening time and is just a slice of toast or a bowl of not particularly nutritious cereal. Complete waste of time and money, no help for working parents as it is not early enough, and not enough breakfast to help hungry children.

MayBee70 Thu 25-Jun-26 16:44:20

GANNET

Chagos decision was pathetic as is starving defence. Not sure AB will be any better if he seriously considers Ed Milliband in any sort of economic role. His green policies are crippling the economy and growth. Personally feel that a General Election would be wise at this stage. We need long term cross party strategic working in the UK if we are ever to succeed on the important issues that affect us all.

So who do you want to win that election and what do you think their policies might be?

Oreo Thu 25-Jun-26 16:40:31

Grantanow

Thry only removed the 2 child cap after massive pressure. They didn't plan to do it.

Yet more evidence of a weak PM by his agreeing to it.

GANNET Thu 25-Jun-26 16:39:50

Chagos decision was pathetic as is starving defence. Not sure AB will be any better if he seriously considers Ed Milliband in any sort of economic role. His green policies are crippling the economy and growth. Personally feel that a General Election would be wise at this stage. We need long term cross party strategic working in the UK if we are ever to succeed on the important issues that affect us all.

orly Thu 25-Jun-26 16:31:49

Sorry for the interrupted posts earlier -the problem of trying to use a tablet when it's so hot.

Anyway what I was trying to say is...

Most of those "achievements" are considered failures by most who live in the real world. What about listing his failures like the grooming gangs, Mandelson, Savile, Chagos Islands and the sackings of the much more honorable career civil servants in the Home Office. As others have said "If everything was so good about him, why he has dumped?"

Menopauselbitch Thu 25-Jun-26 16:31:37

Oreo

And some of those things were just plain wrong for the country.
The two child cap should have stayed.
All the benefits you mention should have been directed towards the very poorest.
Kept the old sick pay benefits, not extended them to anyone who fancies throwing a sickie for the day.
The triple lock will have to go sooner or later, it’s just a political vote catcher, and state pensions can’t continue at that rate as the population gets older and older.
Putting up minimum wages whilst clobbering employers with more NI was a sure way to create youth unemployment.
I can’t be bothered to go through all your points it’s too hot but on defence KS has done nothing bar talking.
If he was such a brilliant PM that had done wonders, then he wouldn’t be resigning now.

Exactly.

orly Thu 25-Jun-26 16:19:02

.,listing his failures like the grooming gangs, Mandelson and the sackings of more trus

MaggsMcG Thu 25-Jun-26 16:17:54

Just picked on pensioners, the disabled and anyone who has saved for their future.

As far as cutting the NHS waiting lists is concerned that's just shuffling numbers around or dropping people of the list either because they've died or got fed up waiting and gone private.

Corridor waiting in A&E is still as bad. They just find a few rooms to put them in instead.

A lot of the things in that list are not always working as well and as for the 2 child benefit cap being removed we should have capped it at a higher number rather than scrap it completely it just encourages people to have even more children when they can't afford the ones they have.

orly Thu 25-Jun-26 16:17:34

Most of those "achievements" are considered failures but most who live in the real world. What about lis

Madgran77 Thu 25-Jun-26 15:57:38

Luckygirl3

Moii Your point about benefits being exploited by a minority of people has been a problem for a very long time and is nothing to do with Labour.
It is very important to remember that it us a minority. When I was a social worker I saw far more people who were not getting the benefits they needed and were entitled to thannpepple who were exploiting the system. Exceptions are not a good basis for policy making.

Yes I agree "Exceptions are not a good basis for policy making".

Changing the benefits system is not about the examples of where it is being exploited per se being the reason.

Regarding benefits I think the mistake made was when the "cuts/changes" were announced it came over as a cost cutting/ budget saving strategy rather than a well thought out strategic plan to ensure benefits benefited those who need them whilst supporting many to no longer need them. I know that more recently many initiatives to support people back into work have been announced/introduced etc and that is brilliant. But those (even when mentioned in the cuts announcement and many were not) did not highlight joined up strategic thinking regarding the benefits system; how to maximise its impact; how to reduce need through strategies to promote employment etc etc.

Its a pity!

Estrellita Thu 25-Jun-26 15:46:14

What is the Scrounger's Charter?

Madgran77 Thu 25-Jun-26 15:45:24

icanhandthemback

There’s a lot he’s done which I don’t agree with. I don’t think anybody should pay for primary or secondary education. Loading costs for employers was shortsighted and every one suffers including the low paid. Removing the benefit cap was a mistake although I do think there should be targeted help for families within the education system to see that they get fed, clothed, etc properly. The rent rules changing weren’t all bad but they are now talking about all rental properties having heat pumps. On that basis we will sell. We have updated all our properties with the recommended energy Efficient boilers already and just cannot afford the new technology.
I would never have voted for Starmer but do recognise he was a relatively calm hand on the tiller.

Good examples of the knock on effects - the point I was making in my previous comment about not all the things on the OPs list being automatically "good" without consideeing those knock on effects and strategically considering how to manage those effectively for wider good!

Estrellita Thu 25-Jun-26 15:44:53

LizzieDrip

Luckgir13

Thank you so much for starting this thread. The list of Keir Starmer’s achievements as PM are truly impressive.

As you say, the media and his own MPs have hounded him out because of ‘charisma’ (whatever that is)🤷‍♀️

Johnson apparently had ‘charisma’ - that went didn’t it!

Farage apparently has ‘charisma’ - enough said!

IMO we have just got rid of the most decent PM we’ve had in decades. Shame on those who instigated this - I don’t know how they sleep at night.

Absolutely 💯

Estrellita Thu 25-Jun-26 15:43:09

I totally agree. The right wing media have a lot to answer for.