British politics would be funny if it wasn't so terrifying

@pastyman001

2 күн бұрын

It can both, i.e Count Binface

@user-re9mp2nh5e

2 күн бұрын

The two party system is designed to keep people in their place, it priests the establishment and the rich and keeps ordinary people down. If you vote, you validate a rigged system.

@GarrethOriley

2 күн бұрын

I am not a Brit and follow it. I think it is less terrifying then following local politics for me but in the end the problems in the "west' are all the same.

@smudj8181

Күн бұрын

Literally

@joeavreg2254

Күн бұрын

@@GarrethOriley The 1% and their enablers.

Can't believe this is the same city (Birmingham) my Irish grandmother emigrated to as a child with her parents in the 1930s for a better life. She trained as an NHS nurse before returning to Ireland in the 1960s when she married. The NHS once was a proud institution, and now student nurses are using food banks for necessities? Tories have destroyed the country. Ireland has its issues with wealth hoarding but the desperate poverty in wealthy Britain is shocking

@andrewrobinson2565

2 күн бұрын

It's the same city, just different immigrants, luv 😘.

@heathercooper6043

Күн бұрын

and you believe everything told to you by Guardian/BBC

@andrewrobinson2565

Күн бұрын

@@heathercooper6043 And you don't? You're very confused if you think the TORY-run BBC's editorial position is the same as The Guardian's 😳🥴. Or maybe CRITICAL THINKING 🤔?

@aleph8888

20 сағат бұрын

The NHS has had money poured into it. There is a reason the Irish Republic and all other European don’t have an NHS. The internal NHS culture is very different from the 1960s. Everything to do with culture and nothing to do with money. But the British electorate seem too conditioned to realise it.

@takethebread794

20 сағат бұрын

Labour won't fix it, they are a party of and for the capital holders as well. Capitalism is ruining Britain, the west, it already ruined its colonies.

'it's like working in a mortuary' - perfect description of modern Britain

@dianeirvine7624

2 күн бұрын

Grave digger - dead end job

@dekmackie

2 күн бұрын

England

The best series on understanding how broken Britain really is.

we need some type of PR voting... no more 30-40% of votes giving 1 party 100% of the power

@Andythrax

2 күн бұрын

Compass, win as one

@brunocastro6758

2 күн бұрын

Albeit in favour of that view is a very big change for the UK, it would involve removing the local representation of constituencies into a representation of the country as a whole, I would like nothing more than for that to happen, I come from a system like that and been living in the UK for a while a change like that would require generations or a radical change that won't benefit the larger parties so is unlikely to achieve it in the UK unfortunately

@bugsygoo

Күн бұрын

PR and end private education completely. Then Britain will change.

@Evan490BC

Күн бұрын

That would mean coalition governments in every general election. Coalition governments are usually a disaster.

@aleph8888

20 сағат бұрын

PR is an awful system. Months of politicians coming up with a coalition after the elections.

Those ladies at the food bank summed it all up, everyone is disenfranchised!

@Hackney_Boy-DoesntReadReplies

2 күн бұрын

The little smile gave it away, pushing their candidate.

@Jimdixon1953

Күн бұрын

Giving away free food to poor and vulnerable people while advocating for big change and voting for independent candidates. What could that all be about?

@aleph8888

20 сағат бұрын

People love free food. Another American import post 2008.

I don't think walking around in dark glasses looking like a mafia boss (the independent candidate at the beginning) is going to appeal to everyone tbh.

The number of people who say that things are awful when we've had the same government for 14 years, only to not vote in the election because they don't know who to vote for is shocking. Just vote for literally anyone else.

@AK-np4rp

Күн бұрын

You are missing the point. Labour haven't shown they will be any better than the Tories.

It's funny to see people proclaiming how they aren't gullible, only to turn around and support an obvious grifter like Akhmed Yakoob.

@Badpak.

2 күн бұрын

Until this i had never heard of him. What makes him a grifter?

@20storiesunder

2 күн бұрын

@@Badpak. His constant grifting for one.

@icravedeath.1200

2 күн бұрын

​@@20storiesunderAyo tomska viewer, based.

@20storiesunder

2 күн бұрын

@@icravedeath.1200 Hah didn't even realise I channeled it until you mentioned it

@danielwarren3138

2 күн бұрын

There is a certain charm to blatant grifters like him and George Galloway, who is probably the most blatant grifter and short term opportunist in British political history. Something admirable about it I can't define.

I lived abroad for 13 years and came back... I was shocked at how bad things had gotten! ... I've been back 3 years now and I'm ready to pack up and leave again. When I lived abroad I NEVER worried about my bills because energy, water and public transport were all state run and cheap! Transport was cheap, clean and ALWAYS ran on time! My tax was 12%, NI £40 a month, no council tax... Rental prices were also very reasonable. The streets were clean, lights stayed on, garbage got collected, despite no council tax... The UK is a joke, we've allowed private companies to bleed us dry for profit!

@MrShikaga

Күн бұрын

Sounds awesome, where was that?

@michaelfarrow5817

Күн бұрын

When I came back to the UK from Spain in 2021, I couldn't envisage ever going back. Now I'm pretty certain I'll return as soon as I can.

@therealrobertbirchall

Күн бұрын

1979 it started. This is where Thatcher wanted the uk to be.

@theworldaccordingto4555

Күн бұрын

@@therealrobertbirchall Yep, totally agree.

@James-pe6ss

Күн бұрын

well said

Similar sentiments to what I've seen in Yorkshire since well before the election was announced. Everyone's sick of the Tories, just not at all convinced that Labour is any kind of answer. Plenty of people abandoning Labour for Reform, LibDems, Greens or just staying at home - especially the last of these. Turnout was 67% in 2019, I'm expecting ~60% this time, with a Labour vote around 40% of that. Is it really a landslide endorsement of all your policies (such as they even exist) if only 1 in 4 people will go so far as to put a cross in a box for you?

@MrShikaga

Күн бұрын

I don’t think anyone is saying that what is occurring to be a landslide endorsement of Labour, there is almost no excitement about their policies at all from what I have seen. People are just saying there will be a landslide result. Whether that will occur we wait to see.

@Daemonik

Күн бұрын

@@MrShikaga if the predicted 400+ labour seats come in, we will hear phrases akin to "the country has overwhelmingly said they are in favour of (random policy we just announced)" quite a bit, I expect. Maybe it's just because I'm jaded.

@michaelfarrow5817

Күн бұрын

It's insane that Starmer will get less votes than Corbyn in 2019

@simonc5624

Күн бұрын

@@Daemonik That's why you guys need to change to a proportional representation system. People might feel voting for other parties than the big two is actually worth it, and would affect govt policy more, as in the case of almost all MMP govts, they are coalitions, and the big two would be unable to govern by themselves. I strongly suspect that if UK had a MMP electoral system in place for this election Labour would not being doing as well in the polls and would not get such an electoral result as they probably will. MMP would've no doubt encouraged some of the disenfranchised to feel that their vote actually counted again, unlike in the current system.

@MrShikaga

Күн бұрын

@@Daemonik I don’t agree with that. Typically a policy must be in the the manifesto for the government to claim they have a mandate to deliver it. That is part of why manifestos are so important for government whips. It is basically impossible for MPs to rebel against a vote for something that is in the manifesto.

How can anybody imply they are not gullible? Thats dangerous! You need to question yourself from time to time.

@20storiesunder

2 күн бұрын

Its the confidence that gets you, most folks don't even question their feelings, an example, if they think if they are angry at someone they must be correct (they were actually just hungry). Very little internal debate.

@leroysimon5692

14 сағат бұрын

👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

@leroysimon5692

14 сағат бұрын

@@20storiesunder 👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

A Recession is when your neighbour loses his job ! A Depression is when you lose your job ! Recovery is when the Tories lose theirs !🤣🤣🤣

@azillliasmith2734

21 сағат бұрын

Yeah great comment...

We - as a country - are in a whole giant heap of a mess. This is fertile ground for the populists offering simple solutions to complex problems. We’ve fallen so far, we don’t even know how far we need to inch back before we get to Zero. It breaks my heart.

@icravedeath.1200

2 күн бұрын

Yeah, they've done nothing to fix any root issues and instead have gone "toss money at it, that'll hopefully fix it"

@johnmay7675

2 күн бұрын

Spot on, and people will expect immediate results when labour get in, unfortunately that's not going to happen. Getting the country back on track could take decades after the mess we've been left in. This is why reform is dangerous because they're offering a quick fix which is not there. A long term plan is needed, only Labour can offer.

@andybrice2711

2 күн бұрын

Problem is, I can see why people are turning to the populists when the mainstream answer to those problems seems to be _“Shut up, you ungrateful plebs, everything is fine.”_

@Jim1255783

2 күн бұрын

@@johnmay7675 This is what I fear; Labour get in, but inevitably can’t fix the country in five years. In 2029, fuelled by accusations of ‘Labour Failure’, a Far Right Populist Party is elected on impossible promises. This is why we need to ditch FPTP; we cannot silence the Far Right, but we can make votes matter. But Labour are not making ANY noises towards changing the voting system.

@Micfri300

2 күн бұрын

That's what happens when you sell all your national industries to India and China.

Nobody does destitute like the Brits.

@SelenaintheChapel

Күн бұрын

I think some Americans would beg to differ

@therealrobertbirchall

Күн бұрын

​@SelenaintheChapel the problems of the FPT system and the English language.

@asdasdasddgdgdfgdg

Күн бұрын

​@@therealrobertbirchallwhat does FPT system mean?

@hankgreenfingers3371

Күн бұрын

@@asdasdasddgdgdfgdg First Past the... Post? I think he means that and missed the last part of the acronym.

@asdasdasddgdgdfgdg

Күн бұрын

@@hankgreenfingers3371 oh, thank you

Superb journalism 😊

Apathy is a UK national trait.

@martinpatterson3417

Күн бұрын

You can't blame people. Neither the Tories or Labour are a great option.

@joeavreg2254

Күн бұрын

@@martinpatterson3417 I can blame a person who refuses to take any form of action when they tell me nothing is getting better. You don't the benefit of the doubt if your political engagement is complaining at the dinner table or in the pub. We really need to get past the idea that inaction is a form of action.

@azillliasmith2734

21 сағат бұрын

@@joeavreg2254....I half agree ..but what are your plans to be unapathic.....Any ideas?

What concerns me is that it always takes twice as long to fix a mess than it does to make it, after 14 years of being hammered the UK will need at least this or longer to find its place again.

@AK-np4rp

Күн бұрын

What's the evidence that Starmer will do better? He hammers the growth mantra without explaining how it will be achieved. He's maintaining the Tory child benefit policy and Streeting has indicated that he will privatise the NHS.

@chrisgoodswen

Күн бұрын

@@AK-np4rp there isn’t as he hasn’t been in power before.

@HeirToTheScarletSky

Күн бұрын

The planning reform stuff might actually help a lot. If they get it right it'll be the biggest immediate change.

@AK-np4rp

Күн бұрын

@@chrisgoodswen Pay attention to the verb tense. I said *will,* not *has.* I repeat. What is the evidence that Starmer *will* do better?

@AK-np4rp

Күн бұрын

@@HeirToTheScarletSky *might* Mark my words. Starmer will not last more than one term.

Walking around with a foreign flag for a British election is crazy to me

@davidpearson243

Күн бұрын

Have you been to Spain more Union Jacks than Spanish flags on the coasta’s

@ef888

Күн бұрын

@@davidpearson243Not from candidates running for election

@paulround7924

Күн бұрын

I spy a Reform candidate

The Tory answer to any problem, is invariably ten times worse than the problem. (Johnson's law)

When Tories suspect that there is some light at the end of the tunnel, They simply steal some more tunnel.

I haven’t voted since Blair took us to war. This time I’m voting for an independent candidate who’s standing for the first time ever in Leicester South ✌🏼❤️

@yashsingh5563

Күн бұрын

Blair took us into 3 foreign wars-- Iraq, Sierra Leone and Kosovo

@MrShikaga

Күн бұрын

@@yashsingh5563 you forgot Afghanistan

@ilyasVa

Күн бұрын

@@yashsingh5563 Afghanistan and Libya

@HeirToTheScarletSky

Күн бұрын

Sierra Leone and Kosovo were both successful. I don't think anyone is complaining about those.

@MrShikaga

Күн бұрын

I think people only care about Iraq because of how transparently immoral and illegal it was. The other conflicts were understandable. Sometimes the use of force is necessary. But in Iraq there was clearly no justification for it, and we objected and we marched and were ignored. I will never vote for Labour after that.

The hairdresser is totally fooled personality politicians

@leroysimon5692

14 сағат бұрын

👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

Please vote, even if you spoil your ballot paper. At least you're counted in the turn out

@andybrice2711

2 күн бұрын

I second this. Spoiling your ballot sends a clearer message than simply abstaining.

@astronautist4716

2 күн бұрын

I'll be spoiling it. Tired of this utter sham

@Eleventhearlofmars

2 күн бұрын

@@andybrice2711no it doesn’t, spoiled ballots are simply cast aside and not counted so it’s a waste, you are better off voting but leaving the two horse race candidates out, in other words do not vote labour or tories because it’s through these two that we are where we are today. At least if people make reform the opposition or better there’s more likelihood of a real shake up of Westminster and getting rid of some of the worst civil servants who are running the show.

@andyleighton3616

2 күн бұрын

@@Eleventhearlofmars They are counted. The returning officer reads out how many blank votes and how many spoiled ballots there are.

@nakodares5982

2 күн бұрын

@Eleventearlofmars completely incorrect, why are you just making stuff up? Spoiled and empty ballots are absolutely counted and read out.

If you want a change, go and vote. Apathy solves nothing.

@Friendly-Unit

2 күн бұрын

I think you don't get it. We want change and see no real options. Why vote if the two options looks pretty much the same.

@MattNolanCustom

2 күн бұрын

@@Friendly-Unit what if everybody who thought that went out and voted for a candidate who is not from one of "the two options"?

@tara34952

2 күн бұрын

​@@Friendly-Unit Don't vote for Labour or Tory then; vote for someone else. You have more than two options.

@PeppermintPatties

2 күн бұрын

It's so important to vote, even if you spoil your ballot. Your opinion is counted.

@Friendly-Unit

2 күн бұрын

@tara34952 not realistically. I live in a city where its a labour safe seat. My vote doesn't matter. Name another party that can win the election other than Labour or tory? I will wait

Normally not a huge fan of the Guardian but props for doing this little bit of balanced journalism

This series is so insightful, and incredibly powerful journalism. Great work

@heathercooper6043

Күн бұрын

Oh come come it's the usual Guardian one sided fare.

I'm watching this from Denmark. It is obscene that ordinary people have to forage for food through no fault of their own. It doesn't have to be like that.

@johnkennedy3669

Күн бұрын

What does you being from Denmark have to do with it?

@gregorybiestek3431

Күн бұрын

The UK is becoming more and more like the USA with every passing month. How long before the country has to give up the NHS because it is broke?

@bugsygoo

Күн бұрын

@@johnkennedy3669 Try visiting Denmark and see if you can find a food bank. Or anywhere with the sort of depravation shown in these videos.

@johnkennedy3669

Күн бұрын

@@bugsygoo Thank you for sharing I didnt know that. Though I haven't visited Denmark, I have visited other European countries and have seen this level of poverty. That being said even in poor countries like Serbia and Bosnia, it still seems like the poor people have more pride than the English.

I am 54 and I have voted Labour at every general election but this incarnation of the LP does not align to any of my values anymore so I will be voting Green on this occasion.

@2.51 - "It's a bit like being in a mortuary..." The profundity of downtrodden people - when talking about their own situation and articulating their hopes, fears and feelings - will never be rivalled by a professional politician!!!!!

When Thatcher said, 'There's no such thing as society' she planted the seeds of this country falling apart.

Is BREXIT a taboo word now? Why is everyone ignoring it or not mentioning it?

@MrShikaga

Күн бұрын

Because what is the point? What do you think they should be asking?

@Northstander

Күн бұрын

@@MrShikaga They should be asking how much leaving the EU has cost the UK in the terms of GDP...the commonly quoted figure is between 4-5%...how much better would the economy be if we hadn't left, how many extra nurses, doctors, teachers and police officers could be paid for with the tax generated...it is a simple question and the major parties are frightened to talk about it for fear of ostracising those who voted leave.

@MrShikaga

Күн бұрын

@@Northstander but you already know the answer. Why ask the question? Surely the question is what to do next? If the question is “was Brexit a mistake” the obvious answer is “no, we live in a democracy and we need to respect the will of the voters. But obviously the manner in which it was carried out by the Johnson government was inept”. If the question was “should the referendum been held at all” the answer is again “yes, holding a referendum was part of the Tory manifesto, and they needed to keep their word to hold one” If the question is “should we join a customs union as Theresa May proposed” both Labour and Conservative parties have said “no”, so you have your answer. Listen, I am upset about Brexit as anyone. I have now emigrated to a EU country because of how trapped and isolated I felt in the UK, but have still fulfilled my duty to vote in this election. Sadly it will be my last. But as upset as I am by Brexit, I also don’t see the point in playing the “I wish we had…” game. You can’t change the past, only the future. Britain has made its choice. The question is what we should do with the future.

@martinpatterson3417

Күн бұрын

They probably don't mention it as there's no point. Unfortunately neither the Tories or Labour are going to rejoin the EU.

@aleph8888

20 сағат бұрын

The projection is 4% loss of GDP growth over 15 years. And that could be reduced if the UK takes more trade deals.

I really can’t stand people that complain but then don’t vote. Vote reform, vote green, abstain, whatever I don’t care, but at least go and hand in that sheet. People died and struggled for so long to get a right to vote and they can’t even be bothered. Completely unaware of their privilege.

@Minimmalmythicist

2 күн бұрын

I think it depends if there´s a decent candidate in the constituency. I have voted Labour all my life, and I nearly didn´t vote this time, I decided to reluctantly vote Green, as they´re the most left wing candidate in my seat. Also, the UK electoral system is a sick joke, there are plenty of constituencies where it´s virtually impossible for the other party to win.

@TheTwinn

2 күн бұрын

I think it's important to remember that people died and struggled for so long to enshrine your right to not vote as well. Freedom isn't about having the right to vote. Freedom is having the right to choose to vote or not to vote. I've voted in every local and general since I was old enough. I celebrate the privilege to vote. But I also celebrate the privilege to choose not to. Attacking people that choose to exercise their right not to vote is being equally unaware of the privilege of choice we are afforded today.

@nakodares5982

2 күн бұрын

@@TheTwinn So I guess you mean dying and struggling for freedoms in a general sense? Unless I'm unaware of people struggling and dying for the right not to vote in our history? I daresay you've made that up a bit. Why not just abstain or spoil the ballot? I really don't think that the "privilege to choose not to vote" is at all equal in our history or a global comparison to the "privilege to vote". If I'm considered unaware of that privilege, then fine. I don't consider Australia especially less privileged then us just because they have compulsory voting, but I do consider any country which stops you from voting to be severely less privilged. Pick your poison

"We don't like the way things are going so we're going to remain voiceless and not vote"

@DACatface

2 күн бұрын

That and they don't feel like a vote will do anything because we have fair representation in the house

@AK-np4rp

Күн бұрын

*don't

John, still wishing he was in the Smiths with that haircut he has : “I MEAN, WE ARE HERE, LOOK WHERE WE ARE. WHAT IS IT?” Local person, not at work on a weekday but in a bad shopping precinct ; “I WANT TO SAY LOUD SWEEPING STATEMENTS USUALLY IN A MIDLANDS ACCENT. I AM NOT WELL INFORMED ABOUT ANYTHING BUT THEY ARE ALL THE SAME, THAT USED TO BE A SHOP”. John, still wishing he had been in the Smiths : “WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT, I DUNNO”.

I love these videos, and I love the kinds of people you talked to. I've been to the UK a dozen times or so and it's those kinds of people that made me love it.

It’s hard to stomach John coming over all emotional listening to people talk about the dire need for change. The change these people and others are crying out for was in Labour’s 2017 and 2019 manifestoes. But John, along with most of the UK media, played their part in making sure those policies never saw the light of day. Now he’s upset those same people have no faith in New New Labour to be any different to the Tories. While John and his chums at the Guardian will be popping open the champagne when Starmer walks into no10, most of the people he spoke to in this report will still be despairing.

Sunak is planning more cuts - *£12bn* - will there be any country left after that?

@christianzilla

2 күн бұрын

Austerity is a part of neoliberal ideology. Labour are now neoliberals too. 'Change'

countries falling apart and you make palestine the issue. ffs do you guys really hate yourself that much

@philroberts7238

Күн бұрын

For some of us it's a moral issue first and foremost, and morality is something that has disappeared in the body politic in this country. Nothing to do with any religion - just a straightforward issue of what is right versus what is wrong. Get that right and the country will be all the better for it.

@debbieredfern2267

Күн бұрын

​@@philroberts7238Hell no. Put your own house in order first. We stick our fingers I too many pies.

There’s probably a quote somewhere saying ‘the wealth of a nation is determined by its lowest people’. If a country has mass relative and absolute poverty of 10% that’s a poor nation.

A spoiled ballot / none of the above / 3rd party candidate vote sends a clearer message than abstention. Abstention cannot be distinguished from apathy during the count. I feel that too many people are forgetting that achieving true change is a long game. Voting is not just about who wins this time around.

@AK-np4rp

Күн бұрын

Spot on. I say the same to US citizens.

Remember everyone. Wipeout to Help out.

She's 46? That's a tough paper round she's had. 😂

John H, could you make these town visits a regular on-going series? They are important in showing the diversity of opinion and life, not just during an election.

People who say they want change but then claim they’re not gonna vote because ‘everyone’s the same’ just come across as very lazy and surface level.

@ocher8931

2 күн бұрын

If you’ve seen nothing change over a sustained period of time it’s quite easy to see how people get to that point. Life is very difficult for the majority of people. Hope can be the first thing to leave you.

@Believe-you-me-

2 күн бұрын

@@ocher8931the difference between now and 14 years ago when Labour were in power should sway every voter.

@vincerussell2849

2 күн бұрын

Voting in the system that’s in place for the majority parties is a waste of time. They are the same self serving sociopaths with different coloured ties.

@stephenmurray8559

2 күн бұрын

​@@Believe-you-me-Aye to not vote Labour lol.

@MackerelCat

2 күн бұрын

It’s called despair.

"It's not the same as it used to be'

I think people think they’re abstaining from responsibility if they don’t vote, but not voting is just as much a decision as voting.

@steveminecraft6353

2 күн бұрын

And its the correct one. It sends the message that we do not have faith in our institutions. This system cannot cause change as anyone who wants to enact change cannot get the money or spotlight to be heard

@patrickwalker4159

2 күн бұрын

​@@steveminecraft6353 The freedom to not vote, is the only freedom you shouldn't have. Voting should be compulsory.

@barking_mad6649

2 күн бұрын

​@@patrickwalker4159 why do you think not voting isn't taken seriously?

The Guardian helped to slur Corbyn. And how complain of apathy!

Dear John, it’s important work that you do. I’m not going to lie, it’s gotten harder and harder to watch over the last few years because the ‘base line’ has just got worse and worse. Things just don’t feel right.

Voted green all my life. Now I’m considering Lib Dem in hopes that we can hold this so-called Labour Party to account.

@GaryS-gi9fk

2 күн бұрын

I feel I have to vote Labour to keep Reform out, but was the same as you before hand.

@beejamjam

2 күн бұрын

​@@GaryS-gi9fk Labour are gonna win, it's more a question of who's leading the opposition

@chrysalis4126

2 күн бұрын

I'll vote Labour to keep Reform out in my area even though they seem like tory lite now.

@nihilistlivesmatter

2 күн бұрын

@@chrysalis4126 I'm voting reform to keep Labour out

@superhumantrueman

2 күн бұрын

@@nihilistlivesmatter Well, prepair yourself for disapointment then.

Am loving this series, getting the opinions of a wide spectrum of people, many of whom we don't normally hear from. Great journalism.

What Do you prefer? Overpromissing without delivery like in the last 14 years or underpromissing but you get what is promised (and feasible)?

Such important work you do Jonh, thank you so much!

The more I watch of these videos, the more I'm convinced someone has sat Sunak down and said 'if you can lock up the pensioner vote, you have a chance'...

Crazy how many people he spoke with are just not interested in voting... they want a voice, but won't make the effort... So disillusioned that they feel the effort is meaningless.

Please can you create and Instagram account for these episodes so they can be shared. It's frustrating that these aren't posted on the guardian account. You would get a lot more spotlight if you did so.

@KatharineOsborne

2 күн бұрын

You can easily share KZread videos by copying the link.

But its not Labour anymore is it. Its the Starmer party. Clean it out and get back to its original ethics and Ill vote for it next time.

@SevenEllen

Күн бұрын

I miss Jeremy Corbyn. I don't car what anyone says, we'd all be better off with him instead of everyone we've had these past 14 years.

Food banks, drug addicts and welfare are not any solution. Small businesses hard working people actually producing something are where the solution is 👊

@christianzilla

2 күн бұрын

Are you a scholar? Drug addicts are not the solution? Who would have thought!?

@formxshape

Күн бұрын

Labour certainly aren’t going to help any of that, might as well vote for the CCP.

@formxshape

Күн бұрын

Vote reform!

@christianzilla

23 сағат бұрын

@@formxshape what are your favourite Reform policies?

Almost every single person spoken to was Asian. Are there any white European people left in Birmingham England?

Hairdresser sums it up - we have literally failed as a country and people like her are a fantastic summary of how far we've fallen

Too many people saying they won't vote. Too many people saying all MPs are the same. BUT nothing the UK says on Israel Palestine will change anything. Israel are not listening to the USA, so why think they would listen to us?

@icravedeath.1200

2 күн бұрын

If we pull support, maybe we could influence by swaying public opinion over there.

@seadkolasinac7220

2 күн бұрын

The USA’s supposed opposition to Israeli policies is just for show

@astronautist4716

2 күн бұрын

Believe it or not, Israel/Palestine is not a key electoral issue for most UK citizens

@icravedeath.1200

2 күн бұрын

@@astronautist4716 yes it is

@astronautist4716

2 күн бұрын

@icravedeath.1200 what are you basing that on? You should have seen the turnout in our last local protest lol. Several dozen people in a city of quarter of a million. 5 police in attendance. Tell yourself whatever you want though eh

"Changes and progress very rarely are gifts from above. They come out of struggles from below." - Noam Chomsky

Keir Starmer walking down the street at 12 seconds in

The ladies in the food bank are the most realistic opinions I’ve heard so far out of all the people interviewed in recent political videos.

@uttaradit2

Күн бұрын

john labour guru was getting in the way at the end

Really enjoy these episodes and this journalism whenever they come out. Keep it up.

This made me emotional.

Labour have shat on Birmingham.

Love listening and watching his reports on U-Tube..... As a Brit living in Austria but with a family and friends on the Island great to get info on what's going on.

No compassion for country.. Only greed.. Selfish politicians

None of these people voting is why Tories will still be close to government.

Mr Harris and Mr Domokos are rapidly growing on me as excellent journalists, and excellent human beings. Keep on listening, even when people tell you things that are difficult to hear. This IS the way.

Those ladies working in the food bank are the people to listen to.

@Hackney_Boy-DoesntReadReplies

2 күн бұрын

That voting makes no difference so you should vote for their candidate? They came off as disingenuous.

@aleph8888

20 сағат бұрын

Self serving people with their self serving moralism.

That despair we saw everywhere, we saw at 15.58 in the car. That despair is exactly what the Tories wanted, because they know it turns to apathy and people don't vote when they're apathetic. The most apathetic generaltion is mine, Gen X. we're apathetic because we grew up under Thatcher and Major. Tories cultivate this. They rip the guts from this country everytime they're in power. That is why I vote Labour.

You've been on the road for years, I've been reading your columns and watching these videos for years and it never seems to get better. Hopefully it will if the Labour govt gets a massive landslide but I wouldn't put money on it.

I imagine a lot of people relate with the idea of not voting, that a lot of people in the video expressed. I just want to point out here that spoiling your ballot is absolutely an option, and is a perfectly legitimate form of democratic participation. Spoiled ballots are still counted as separate votes in an election - if enough people were to spoil their ballots, it would absolutely get the attention of the media and the politicians. Write a different candidate in, rip it up, post a blank ballot, whatever you want to do, don't let a lack of representation result in your voice not being included.

VAT on private schooling?! In a cost of living crisis, would we remove VAT on these private school businesses if it were already applied?

It’s just mirroring what the country looked like in the early 90s when we finally got rid of Thatcher

Seems like people globally are suffering injustice because their political representatives don’t deliver value. A total disconnect. Change is healthy

I honestly can't understand after the last 14 years how people think there's no difference between the Tories and Labour!

@AH-te5gs

2 күн бұрын

Because they've taken over the rhetorics of the previous generation of Tories

@goonerboz6023

2 күн бұрын

It's very easy they are

@Hackney_Boy-DoesntReadReplies

2 күн бұрын

Because the people saying that either never paid attention to politics or have an ulterior motive like supporting one of Galloway's "independents".

@deco2132

2 күн бұрын

Very easy just look at the policies - Labours policy is exactly the same as Tories - high immigration, high taxes and big government. The exact opposite to what the majority want. Vote Reform if you want real change.

@Friendly-Unit

2 күн бұрын

Labour has moved heavily to the right decade after decade. Lost the heart of their party.

Austerity. Not even once.

We had hope. If Corbyn had become PM in 2017 when Labour got a huge majority of the popular vote we would be in a much bette place.

amazing series

Lack of optimism is heartbreaking…

14 years of the worst bunch of crooks in our history has led many people to believe all politicians are the same. I despair at the apathy of some people.

Love him or hate him Jeremy Corbyn was the last hope for a lot of people of this country and papers like the Guardian and every other mainstream rag took him down at every opportunity to make sure he never got in. You the Guardian share some responsibility in these peoples misery.

@alynwillams4297

16 сағат бұрын

I’ve always voted Plaid Cymru. But I do believe Corbyn was a man of his word and the uk would have seen real change. It shows you how the establishment and media works tho and because of that I 100% support independence for Wales and Scotland. We can’t let ourselves be dragged down with England and there right wing views.

These videos/interviews are excellent John, very compassionate and revealing. When someone tells you they aren’t voting because they don’t like any of the candidates, I wish you would ask “what would your ideal candidate look like?” I think it would be very interesting to see what an apathetic voter would want to vote enthusiastically. I imagine it would involve the NHS and the economy (only based on the polls), but these are two subjects basically all parties are focussing on, so maybe it is indeed less the policies than the person this time around.

"I welled up a couple times. There is a sort of basic unfairness" Well said sir, thank you for this series. Sympathetic and still objective

yes, keep making the films please. very real and eye opening

Also: "vote for us or you get another 5 years of the Tories" is not an electoral message. It's blackmail.

@donny1960

2 күн бұрын

It's common sense. If you are content with ineptitude, great. But do not put down people at least willing to try and improve things.

Please make more shows, visit more places , hear more people I can’t get enough of your videos since Brexit.

Whether things get better under a Labour government, time will only tell. What is certain though is that things will not get worse under Labour but given that the true plan that the Tories have is yet more austerity, things will definitely get worse under the Tories. 😡😡😡

Vote green ! We need to tax billionaires

Brian Butterfield needs to win

I haven't watched it yet but is this another episode where John is surprised that everyone he meets doesn't subscribe to the Guardians fan fiction vision of the working classes?

i dont get why everyone is so sure the private schools will pass on the full 20% VAT increase. its not like they dont make profits.

@marklasy6209

2 күн бұрын

Cos why would they not pass it on

@spireitexi

2 күн бұрын

Of course they will….not going to let anything hit their profits are they

@pplzprincess

2 күн бұрын

@@marklasy6209 so why arent they angry at the schools then?

@marklasy6209

2 күн бұрын

@@pplzprincess cos it’s an unnecessary tax

@pplzprincess

Күн бұрын

@@marklasy6209 not if it brings in a shed-load of money and takes pressure off the NHS its not. I get not wanting to pay tax, our current MPs are shitheads and have wasted our money but that doesnt change the fact that unfortunately to fix 40+ years of austerity we need investment and that money has to come from somewhere. Why shouldnt it come from the pockets of private businesses?

"The mess goes on." That right there is the entirety of living in the UK for anyone who isn't fortunate enough to be in that privileged class position.

Nobody is called Akhmed. The name is Ahmed احمد. Bit of a wide boy ?

Even Mr. Juss, the labour candidate, is trying to sell the party based on the past rather than on any of its current policies. Not exactly a glowing recommendation

Perhaps those private schools should become academy schools, they could do with increased oversight.

learn to spot when you've overstayed your welcome, the food bank staff should not have had to ask you to leave when theres people queuing outside!