General Election - 4th July 2024

[BrianW]

So are you suggesting that those assets should be seized to get those people back working

Far from it. I am saying that these people don't need to work and will not - unless their assets are seized. I certainly do not advocate that, I am merely trying to explain the figures.

 

[Brewster's millions]

Strong argument.

Thanks for your contribution to the debate.

I was reacting to the strength of your argument actually.

Labour putting that in their manifesto without clarifying how they’re going to actually address the issue is about as meaningful as Miss World contestants saying they’re going to achieve world peace.

Since the end of 2019 there’s been a roughy one million increase in inactivity for people of working age. Three quarters of that increase is people on long-term sick, while the number of people retiring early on private pensions - mentioned by some on here - has actually gone down.

That long-term sick number could reduce if NHS treatments can increase- not rocket science - but I would think that readdressing how people are classified as being able to work or not should also be a priority and I would be very sceptical about Labour doing that.

Most interestingly, however, the ONS also ask inactive people whether they actually want to work, as well as why they are inactive. And since the end of 2019 the number of inactive people who say they don’t want to work has in fact increased by well over a million.

So I would think it’s quite difficult to suggest that there hasn’t been a change in the willingness of people to go out to work, and that’s the issue that needs to be addressed.

 

[BrianW]

Maybe employers need to offer better pay and conditions. Anyone who believes in the market should see that as the obvious driver.

When I retired early I no longer needed to work and it would have taken big bucks to get me back into another poxy office, that I can tell you. And I mean big bucks.

Covid was revolutionary. It taught people a) they could live on less and b) that work is not all that life is about.

Real pay in many sectors has dropped significantly during this government's rule. So it's small wonder if fewer people want to work. It might be an interesting academic exercise to tease out all the reasons behind the change though.

In my view, one factor is that many employers treat their employees with what is little short of contempt. Loyalty cuts both ways. Always has, always will.

 

[hilts]

As a non Labour voter with no skin in the game one thing I can say which is 99% guaranteed is that Labour will not be worse than the last few Tory govts. Its almost impossible tbh.
Post Cameron we have had the worst govt in living memory it would take something to top that.

 

[metalblue]

Just a little joke mate.

So was mine mate. The most tolerant people down here are the mods for letting us fight like cats in a sack for page after page.


But we’re all blues at the end of the day and mostly don’t offer each other out for a straightener ;)

 

[mosssideblue]

So was mine mate. The most tolerant people down here are the mods for letting us fight like cats in a sack for page after page.


But we’re all blues at the end of the day and mostly don’t offer each other out for a straightener ;)

Do you want some:)

 

[mosssideblue]

Tories clambering to suggest Starmer will switch off at 1800 each Friday is embarrassingly childish. Their desperation is palpable

 

[metalblue]

Maybe employers need to offer better pay and conditions. Anyone who believes in the market should see that as the obvious driver.

When I retired early I no longer needed to work and it would have taken big bucks to get me back into another poxy office, that I can tell you. And I mean big bucks.

Covid was revolutionary. It taught people a) they could live on less and b) that work is not all that life is about.

Real pay in many sectors has dropped significantly during this government's rule. So it's small wonder if fewer people want to work. It might be an interesting academic exercise to tease out all the reasons behind the change though.

In my view, one factor is that many employers treat their employees with what is little short of contempt. Loyalty cuts both ways. Always has, always will.

Real wages have dropped but real take home pay (which is the only thing that matters) has increased - at least up to the huge inflation we witnessed, now it’s possible it’s lagging it but as a general point.

Which all goes back to your earlier point about the tax payer propping up poor pay either through tax breaks / in work benefits - it’s all taking away money from programmes we expect our government to enact.

 

[metalblue]

Do you want some:)

 

[Bodicoteblue]

…….and in a new slant on an old tactic, the tories have stopped blaming the last Labour government and are now blaming……………the next Labour government!!!