Jeremy Corbyn

[Deutsch Wolf]

You wonder what the point of it all is when these are the people who are voting.

The nine middle-aged men sitting round the table in the Holiday Inn were stumped. They had just been asked to name the chancellor of the exchequer.

“I can see him now, slim build…”, said one.


“Old guy,” said another.


“He’s rich.”


“Oh, God who is he?”


Eventually, they were given the right answer: Philip Hammond.


BritainThinks, a research and strategy group, held three separate focus groups last month in Southampton and Barnet, involving mostly self-employed or white-collar “swing” voters. They wanted to find out what people think about politics in 2018 — and, in particular, how they feel about the Labour party’s policies under Jeremy Corbyn.


BritainThinks also carried out a survey this month of more than 2,000 eligible voters as part of its research, which showed that just two in five people could name Mr Hammond as the current chancellor.


But the majority surveyed supported Mr Corbyn’s manifesto pledges, including plans to increase taxes, strengthen workers’ rights, crack down on executive pay and nationalise utilities.


For example, 55 per cent of respondents “strongly” agreed that taxes should be higher for people earning over £70,000 a year. Just 9 per cent of respondents “strongly” disagreed.


Thirty-nine per cent of respondents “strongly” backed a 20:1 cap on the ratio between an employer’s highest and lowest-paid workers, while just 8 per cent “strongly” opposed one.
Voters’ views on Labour’s business policies


In the focus group in Southampton, the men were also keen on a cap on the difference between the pay of executives and their employees, and the nationalisation of the water, energy and rail industries.


But when asked whether the policies belonged to the Conservative or Labour party, three quickly replied in succession: “Conservative”.


When the men were told that the policies belonged to Mr Corbyn’s Labour party, not Theresa May’s Conservatives, they went cold, with one calling them “rubbish”.


“Their sums don’t add up,” said another participant, adding: “Although we haven’t seen the sums. We’re assuming they’re not going to add up.”


Another said the ideas could not be delivered “without ruining the country”.


Their responses chimed with the wider survey, which found that voters believed that the Tories were the best party for big business, the economy and securing a good Brexit deal — even if they disagreed with their policies.


But when the men in Southampton were shown the Tories’ business proposals — including a higher income tax threshold and cuts to corporation tax — they were lukewarm at best.


“At least they aren’t offering false hope,” said one.


“More realistic than the other rubbish,” said another.


“Cutting corporation tax will help the rich get richer . . . at least they’ll stay in this country,” added a third.


In a separate session, seven younger women, all working professionals, were asked to share their thoughts about the economy. None of them said it was a key issue for them when voting.


“My brain doesn’t register much, I don’t have the capacity,” said one, while another said that while politicians “go on about the economy . . . nothing ever changes”.


A third woman said: “The economy is massive, we are just a pinpoint in it, there is only so much you can worry about it.”


The group agreed that Labour offered “change” and was “more in touch” with ordinary people when it came to issues like education and healthcare.


But some of the women said Mr Corbyn was “not a safe pair of hands” and one called him a “try-hard” for attending last year’s Glastonbury Festival.


And when told about Mr Corbyn’s business policies, they were also sceptical, saying higher corporation tax for larger companies seemed unfair — “they are being penalised for doing well”.


One in five respondents to the BritainThinks poll were “strongly” opposed to the idea of lifting the corporation tax rate on large companies from 19 per cent to 26 per cent. Just over one-quarter were firmly in favour.


All of the women questioned Labour’s nationalisation proposals — but few grasped what the policies would entail.


“It is going private, isn’t it? We don’t want that,” said one, while another asked if the programme would be funded by private investors.


Even after they were told that nationalisation meant utilities would no longer remain in private hands, they were uncertain.


“It sounds like a massive financial cost,” said one.


In general, both the men and women in Southampton saw the Conservatives as untrustworthy, out of touch and elitist.


But while they believed Labour was more “caring” and offering “change”, the swing voters said the party was populist, pandering to the biggest audience and saying anything to get elected.


That was also the case in Barnet, where BritainThinks interviewed an older group of women who saw Labour as strong on the NHS, housing and education but weak on Brexit, business and the economy.


One woman summed up the group’s sentiments, saying Labour just “says what you want to hear” without thinking “where’s the money coming from”.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Jeremy Corbyn says workers should have a say in the merger of Asda and Morrisons...

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Asda and Sainsburys surely...

 

[YoungWolf]

Jeremy Corbyn says workers should have a say in the merger of Asda and Morrisons...

I saw that :icon_lol: Sainsburys won't be happy about that ha!

 

[Derby Wolf]

Sainsbury's are in enough hot water with the staff as it is, they're shrinking store management by getting rid of team leaders and having one manager responsible for 2-4 departments on less pay than now. Those people losing livelihoods get to watch on as they've bought Nectar for £60m and talks of this merger with Asda.

I know for a fact at my store check out staff have been made to sign declarations preventing them from talking about the merger, seems ludicrous when it's in the public domain but they didn't want the news to break and have scrambled since.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Jez-fest was a roaring success.

Tickets were priced at £35, but sold so poorly that prices were slashed to £10. Even then the UNITE Union spent a reported £35,000 buying tickets to give away for free. I am sure UNITE asked their members before spending their money on a political rally.

Then in an act of sheer hypocrisy party staff were asked to work 10 shifts without pay - and this from a party that has rallied against any exploitation of workers and pledged to end no pay internships if Corbyn becomes Prime Minister.

Every time I think the Government are in trouble, along comes agent Corbyn to save the day.

 

[Kenny]

Every time I think the Government are in trouble, along comes agent Corbyn to save the day.

Yep, every day that goes by with a piss poor Government is a delight isn't it. Shame things wouldn't change if an election was held tomorrow but that is where we are right now and it is shit. A weak opposition is no good for anyone.

I also see the Daily Mail praised JC the other day due to his stance on Brexit. So you do share 1 thing in common with the cult* that is Corbyn




* Not a typo

 

[Derby Wolf]

Jez-fest was a roaring success.

Tickets were priced at £35, but sold so poorly that prices were slashed to £10. Even then the UNITE Union spent a reported £35,000 buying tickets to give away for free. I am sure UNITE asked their members before spending their money on a political rally.

Then in an act of sheer hypocrisy party staff were asked to work 10 shifts without pay - and this from a party that has rallied against any exploitation of workers and pledged to end no pay internships if Corbyn becomes Prime Minister.

Every time I think the Government are in trouble, along comes agent Corbyn to save the day.

I did think there was a delicious irony in Corbyn supporters going mental on Twitter they'd paid money for tickets and then the less fortunate were given tickets for free.

Was it party staff or Unite staff? I volunteer/fundraise for Wolverhampton and Bilston TUC and my 'wage' is paid to the TUC by the event organisers. In exchange entry to the event, travel and meals are all covered.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Yep, every day that goes by with a piss poor Government is a delight isn't it. Shame things wouldn't change if an election was held tomorrow but that is where we are right now and it is shit. A weak opposition is no good for anyone.

I also see the Daily Mail praised JC the other day due to his stance on Brexit. So you do share 1 thing in common with the cult* that is Corbyn




* Not a typo

I share common ground with anyone who backs Brexit.

Regarding the Government, it is not the fault of Mrs. May that the opposition have barely challenged her despite her having such a small majority, (and that is only due to the DUP.)

 

[Kenny]

I share common ground with anyone who backs Brexit.

Regarding the Government, it is not the fault of Mrs. May that the opposition have barely challenged her despite her having such a small majority, (and that is only due to the DUP.)

I know it is not her fault the opposition are about as threatening as a Pardew managed Albion. It is her fault the Government is piss poor though but she can get away with it. Hence why it is shit for all of us and not likely to change anytime soon.

Surely even yourself would prefer a decent opposition to challenge and press the Government rather than what we have?

 

[FrankMunro-371]

I know it is not her fault the opposition are about as threatening as a Pardew managed Albion. It is her fault the Government is piss poor though but she can get away with it. Hence why it is shit for all of us and not likely to change anytime soon.

Surely even yourself would prefer a decent opposition to challenge and press the Government rather than what we have?

I have said on many occasions that a Government is at its best when there is a strong opposition. I have said that when IDS and Michael Howard were leaders of the Conservative party that we were very weak, and Blair could do as he wished. The difference is though that Blair had a big majority.

As a Conservative supporter, I cannot believe that Corbyn and his team have not put more pressure on a propped up Government. Following the ridiculous decision to call an election last year the Government have been sitting ducks, but Corbyn has barely fired a shot in anger.

 

[Kenny]

Corbyn has barely fired a shot in anger.

He has fired shots at them...but the wrong ones. He has missed plenty of open goals to fire into

Brexit is massive one. Regardless of thoughts on stay/leave it has been a shambles from the Tories in dealing with it....yet basically silence on that one. Oh well, on we stumble with the biggest threat to May being 10 Irish folk with a few Billion in the coffers.

 

[The Saturday Boy]

A government should not have to rely on an effective opposition to be a/ competent and b/ compassionate. These are both qualities that should be a given, neither of which this government posess or even aspire to.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

A government should not have to rely on an effective opposition to be a/ competent and b/ compassionate. These are both qualities that should be a given, neither of which this government posess or even aspire to.

What was said was that a strong opposition makes the Government of the day keep on their toes. The current Govenment needed support to form a majority in Parliament, all due to the calling of an unnecessary general election.

Now there is plenty of criticism of the Government on this one sided forum, but could it just be possible that the failure of the opposition to lay a glove on the Government has allowed them to stumble along, and it also shows the desperate state of the Labour Party.

 

[Tony Towner]

The bit you miss time and again Frank is that anti Tory doesn't mean either pro Labour or pro Corbyn. You copy or paraphrase Guido/The Daily Mail on this thread expecting a bite and when you don't get one it's because of the "one sided forum" when in reality there are very few posters who support him hence the lack of a defence.

 

[Langers]

The bit you miss time and again Frank is that anti Tory doesn't mean either pro Labour or pro Corbyn.

Correct.

 

[Del Woppio]

Aye. JC is doing more harm than good to both the party and the country. He's a good man, a principalled man, but he needs to fuck off now.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

Now there is plenty of criticism of the Government on this one sided forum, but could it just be possible that the failure of the opposition to lay a glove on the Government has allowed them to stumble along, and it also shows the desperate state of the Labour Party.

Yes, Labour are making it a lot easier for them to get away with it than they should be but the Government should do a good job of running the country regardless of the opposition.

The Government rightly get criticised on this forum because they are doing a terrible job. It has nothing to do with whether you like Corbyn or not. Perhaps you could counter by suggesting why you think we are wrong and what they are doing well rather than the standard argument of 'but Corbyn...'

(Just to clarify, I don't think Corbyn or Momentum in particular are good for the Labour party).

 

[SLA]

So this Conservative government is awful because of Labour and Jeremy Corbyn? What nonsense. It's like saying the fire brigade are to blame when an arsonist burns down a building because they didn't get there quick enough. Sure, they should be better at their job but the person to blame is the arsonist.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Dave Edwards can be excused for never learning how to control or pass a ball, understandable when you remember that at various points he was competing with Seyi George Olofinjana, Greg Halford, Eggert Jonsson and Tommy Rowe for a first team shirt.