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

@pastyman001

5 күн бұрын

It can both, i.e Count Binface

@user-re9mp2nh5e

5 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

5 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

4 күн бұрын

Literally

@joeavreg2254

4 күн бұрын

@@GarrethOriley The 1% and their enablers.

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

@dianeirvine7624

5 күн бұрын

Grave digger - dead end job

@dekmackie

5 күн бұрын

England

@symonsmith3497

5 сағат бұрын

Vote Reform. Problem solved.

@dekmackie

3 сағат бұрын

@@symonsmith3497 🤣🤣🤣

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

5 күн бұрын

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

@heathercooper6043

3 күн бұрын

and you believe everything told to you by Guardian/BBC

@andrewrobinson2565

3 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

3 күн 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

3 күн 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.

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

@Hackney_Boy-DoesntReadReplies

5 күн бұрын

The little smile gave it away, pushing their candidate.

@Jimdixon1953

4 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

3 күн бұрын

People love free food. Another American import post 2008.

@carbonara2144

3 күн бұрын

Two parties of the establishment taking turns in running the country to the ground. They are both working for wef.

@antonycharnock2993

Күн бұрын

Politics in the foodbank. Foodbanks are due to political choices. They should not become a way of life for people. Your own dignity and self worth is at stake.

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

@Andythrax

5 күн бұрын

Compass, win as one

@brunocastro6758

5 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

4 күн бұрын

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

@Evan490BC

4 күн бұрын

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

@aleph8888

3 күн бұрын

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

The best series on understanding how broken Britain really is.

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

4 күн бұрын

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

@gregorybiestek3431

4 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

4 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

3 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.

@peteratkinson922

2 күн бұрын

Denmark has seemingly gone some way to facing up to some of the many downsides of large scale immigration.@@bugsygoo

Apathy is a UK national trait.

@martinpatterson3417

4 күн бұрын

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

@joeavreg2254

4 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

3 күн бұрын

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

@Stevies_Precog_Gym_n_Spa420

3 күн бұрын

​@@joeavreg2254talking about politics, "being political", and *doing* politics are three distinct things people pretend are one and the same.

@joeavreg2254

3 күн бұрын

@@Stevies_Precog_Gym_n_Spa420 yes, that is exactly what I was saying. Inaction is not a form of action.

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.

@aelinsardothien6560

3 күн бұрын

He certainly looks less scary to me than Jacob Rees-Mogg

@MinesAGuinness

3 күн бұрын

@@aelinsardothien6560 It scares me that Jacob Rees-Mogg is younger than I am, yet presents himself as if he's older than my late grandfather.

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

4 күн бұрын

Sounds awesome, where was that?

@michaelfarrow5817

4 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

4 күн бұрын

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

@theworldaccordingto4555

4 күн бұрын

@@therealrobertbirchall Yep, totally agree.

@James-pe6ss

4 күн бұрын

well said

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

5 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

5 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

5 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

5 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

5 күн бұрын

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

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

4 күн бұрын

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

@apebass2215

3 күн бұрын

Why do you assume "literally anyone else" will improve the situation and not make it worse?

@jamesellison6154

3 күн бұрын

"Just vote for literally anyone else" is the most smooth brained thing I've read here.

@user-it7lf7kk8m

3 күн бұрын

​@@AK-np4rpthen vote for one of the others then. This time you don't have to vote labour to keep the Tories out. Use that chance wisely

@kawallabair3216

3 күн бұрын

@@apebass2215 Because there hasn't been a more corrupt and incompetent government in living memory. Voting for literally anyone else won't change the dial very much because we're in a first past the post system, but it still registers a political intention instead of just not voting, or voting for the people who ruin your life. The correct answer in my view is to vote for the tactical vote which represents the best of two bad options in your constituency. If you're in Tumbridge Wells, you should vote for the conservatives and hope they sort themselves out in five years. If you're somewhere destitute in the North and still voting Tory, then I think you're too far gone anyway.

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.

5 күн бұрын

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

@20storiesunder

5 күн бұрын

@@Badpak. His constant grifting for one.

@icravedeath.1200

5 күн бұрын

​@@20storiesunderAyo tomska viewer, based.

@20storiesunder

5 күн бұрын

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

@danielwarren3138

5 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.

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

@andybrice2711

5 күн бұрын

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

@astronautist4716

5 күн бұрын

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

@Eleventhearlofmars

5 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

5 күн бұрын

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

@nakodares5982

5 күн бұрын

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

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

5 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

5 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

5 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

@carbonara2144

3 күн бұрын

UK has two parties running the country to the ground. Its basically a uniparty establishment, they just take turns.

@apebass2215

3 күн бұрын

​@@Minimmalmythicist even if there's no decent candidate, spoil your ballot - spoilt ballots are counted.

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.

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

4 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

4 күн бұрын

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

@HeirToTheScarletSky

4 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

4 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

4 күн бұрын

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

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

@20storiesunder

5 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

3 күн бұрын

👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

@leroysimon5692

3 күн бұрын

@@20storiesunder 👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

@MinesAGuinness

3 күн бұрын

@@20storiesunder I love that - as you criticise other people you have barely interacted with giving their summarised views in a matter of minutes to a street interviewer for their lack of internal debate, and ascribe emotionalism to their statements - you confidently (now, there is an irony) declare that, "They were actually just hungry." I am so relieved that you were able to stare deeply into their souls to reveal their true motivation. Then again, how could it be anything more from such 'folk'? How could they walk the same streets as us, going about their lives filled with struggles and worries, and yet have the audacity to have 'confidence' in themselves? What next? Pride? Dignity? "Compassion for each other and for the world?" Who do they think they are? Yes, it really gets me, too... Fortunately, your condition is not terminal. All you need to do is question yourself from time to time...

@20storiesunder

3 күн бұрын

@@MinesAGuinness Your reading comprehension is what's actually terminal. Read my comment again, this time with a hint (look for the word example)

Nobody does destitute like the Brits.

@SelenaintheChapel

4 күн бұрын

I think some Americans would beg to differ

@therealrobertbirchall

4 күн бұрын

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

@asdasdasddgdgdfgdg

4 күн бұрын

​@@therealrobertbirchallwhat does FPT system mean?

@hankgreenfingers3371

3 күн бұрын

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

@asdasdasddgdgdfgdg

3 күн бұрын

@@hankgreenfingers3371 oh, thank you

The hairdresser is totally fooled personality politicians

@leroysimon5692

3 күн бұрын

👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

@alihenderson5910

3 күн бұрын

Nah, she owned it, lol.

@UKLeonie

3 сағат бұрын

She represents a high amount of African Carribbean British who are totally Conservative in their views and ethos, I don't subscribe to her way of thinking but many in my community sound exactly like her.

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

@davidpearson243

4 күн бұрын

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

@ef888

4 күн бұрын

@@davidpearson243Not from candidates running for election

@paulroundandroundandround

3 күн бұрын

I spy a Reform candidate

@misterzee5736

3 күн бұрын

Not when theyre walking in the streets of the country that is facilitating and supplying a genocide. So by being in politics in said country, that can be stopped. DUH!

@jamesellison6154

3 күн бұрын

​@@paulroundandroundandround fail

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.

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

@nodruj8681

17 сағат бұрын

Imagine thinking this series was balanced journalism, you'd fall for anything 😂

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

@Friendly-Unit

5 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

5 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

5 күн бұрын

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

@PeppermintPatties

5 күн бұрын

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

@Friendly-Unit

5 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

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

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

4 күн бұрын

Spot on. I say the same to US citizens.

@vietashroffoliver2521

2 күн бұрын

In India one option on the voting form is NOTA (none of the above)

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

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

@MrShikaga

4 күн бұрын

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

@Northstander

4 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

4 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

4 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

3 күн бұрын

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

Imagine if reform hadn't come around. The political landscape would be utterly demoralising with no hope in sight.

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

@Stevies_Precog_Gym_n_Spa420

3 күн бұрын

You have the word "community" being abused liberally everywhere you look without any seeming need to mention the essential trait of reciprocity being THE key component. Communities aren't just assemblages of people, they're networks of support. And as long as that remains true and the word is used without this meaning we're losing the use of our language. Pay attention to the weaponization of words in media and amongst friends. These things matter.

@johnburrows3385

2 күн бұрын

💯

@A.Mardle

2 күн бұрын

Except that she didn't say that there was no such thing as society (per se). The notorious quote was taken out of context by a dishonest editor and became part of popular political mythology.

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.

@simanothername3035

3 күн бұрын

The Green party are the most controlling and totalitarian party the UK has ever seen. I guess voting for eco fascists is better than regular fascists, but it is a thin line.

@johnburrows3385

2 күн бұрын

Even if you end up splitting the progressive vote ,

@simanothername3035

2 күн бұрын

@@johnburrows3385 there is nothing progressive about the green's ecofascism and economic destruction for those not rich enough to weather their luxury beliefs. As the 'progressive' vote seems to favour terrorists and migrants while disenfranchising the working class, I wouldn't want to split the progressive vote but utterly destroy that idiocy.

@mickjeynes1172

2 күн бұрын

@@johnburrows3385 , I don’t consider Labour as a progressive party anymore so I don’t buy into that I’m afraid.

@simanothername3035

2 күн бұрын

@@johnburrows3385 The Greens are not progressive in any way. They have at least 20 really dodgy people running and are economic destruction for the working class.

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

3 күн бұрын

Yeah great comment...

@adamsmith307

3 күн бұрын

Ridiculous. Labour and around 90% of parliament supported the Tory government in the printing of £350 billion under so called "emergency" powers. That's what has caused the massive inflation.

@brianferguson7840

3 күн бұрын

Pay Politicians the Minimum Wage, then just watch in amazement at how quickly things change for the better.

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

@christianzilla

5 күн бұрын

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

@wulfhere83

3 күн бұрын

I'm from Birmingham. Labour run the council. Labour bankrupted the city, put our council tax up 22% to pay for it, and now I have be satisfied with my bins only being collected once a fortnight because Labour can't run a local council and they've had to make cuts. That's what will happen to the whole country if Labour gets a majority.

@nietzscheankant6984

2 күн бұрын

@@wulfhere83 Yeah, that's got nothing to do with the Tories' cuts, no sir.

@wulfhere83

2 күн бұрын

@@nietzscheankant6984 Oh it's a longstanding issue my friend, Birmingham has been under Labour control since the days of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

@stanpennycook5414

Күн бұрын

But can give 8 billion to Ukraine

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

5 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

5 күн бұрын

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

@barking_mad6649

4 күн бұрын

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

@misterzee5736

3 күн бұрын

democracy is a lie!

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

@adebolabloke6962

3 күн бұрын

And Labour's 100 x

Labour have shat on Birmingham.

The Labour Party think the Glass is Half Full. The Torries Think the Glass is Theirs.

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

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

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

4 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

4 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

4 күн бұрын

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

@simonc5624

4 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

4 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.

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.

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

@DACatface

5 күн бұрын

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

@AK-np4rp

4 күн бұрын

*don't

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

@heathercooper6043

3 күн бұрын

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

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

As an immigrant I fully support Reform UK. This country needs radical change quickly.

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

3 күн 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.

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.

Remember everyone. Wipeout to Help out.

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.

@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!!!!!

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

5 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-

5 күн бұрын

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

@vincerussell2849

5 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

5 күн бұрын

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

@MackerelCat

5 күн бұрын

It’s called despair.

Superb journalism 😊

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.

@joetotale6354

3 күн бұрын

Melt Graun hacks like John are now crying over what happened and however can it have happened on their watch?

@adebolabloke6962

3 күн бұрын

Labour and Guardian supported disastrous lockdowns

Many of the fears about Labour are based on outdated perceptions, particularly those rooted in the 1970s. The Labour Party has indeed changed significantly since then. Here's a more balanced perspective: Since the 1970s, Labour has undergone major changes, most notably with Tony Blair's "New Labour" in the 1990s, which adopted more centrist economic policies. Keir Starmer's Labour is quite different from both the 1970s Labour and Jeremy Corbyn's recent leadership, positioning itself as more moderate and business-friendly. Modern Labour has distanced itself from the high-tax, high-spending policies of the 1970s. Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, has explicitly ruled out increasing the top rate of income tax. Despite these changes, some media outlets and political opponents continue to draw comparisons to the 1970s Labour, which can influence public perception. While Labour has changed, there are still policy differences with the Conservatives, such as plans to reform non-dom status and approach to public services. The economic challenges of the 1970s were complex and not solely attributable to Labour policies, involving global factors like the oil crisis.

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

I can't help feeling a lot of this is down to the Guardian and their hostility to Labour at the last two elections.

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.

Stopped reading the Guardian after they endorsed Tony Bliar peace envoy for the Middle East and abandoned Julian Assange to false imprisonment and torture

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

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 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?

Keir Starmer walking down the street at 12 seconds in

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.

John please keep doing this series. It’s probably one of the few key sources of information about what’s really going on in this country and its political ramifications. Very few people do this kind of thing, and that’s why this is so important

I'd not come across this series until now. This was wonderful, thank you.

My morals won't let me vote Labour...

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

5 күн бұрын

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

@beejamjam

5 күн бұрын

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

@chrysalis4126

5 күн бұрын

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

@nihilistlivesmatter

5 күн бұрын

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

@superhumantrueman

5 күн бұрын

@@nihilistlivesmatter Well, prepair yourself for disapointment then.

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

@christianzilla

5 күн бұрын

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

@formxshape

4 күн бұрын

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

@formxshape

4 күн бұрын

Vote reform!

@christianzilla

3 күн бұрын

@@formxshape what are your favourite Reform policies?

@zoeen5650

3 күн бұрын

​@@christianzillaraising the minimum tax threshold to 20k and removing DEI from public institutions.

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

4 күн бұрын

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

@MrShikaga

4 күн бұрын

@@yashsingh5563 you forgot Afghanistan

@ilyasVa

4 күн бұрын

@@yashsingh5563 Afghanistan and Libya

@HeirToTheScarletSky

4 күн бұрын

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

@MrShikaga

4 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.

Just wanted to say that these videos have been absolutely brilliant and I do hope they get some kind of award or recognition!

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

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

@philroberts7238

4 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

4 күн бұрын

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

@quercus8833

3 күн бұрын

​@@philroberts7238 This is a vote for Palestine not Britain. DUH!

@philroberts7238

3 күн бұрын

@quercus8833 Duh, yourself! To support the right thing, in this case Palestine, is also to do right for Britain. I can't understand how that seems to be beyond you.

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

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

5 күн бұрын

You can easily share KZread videos by copying the link.

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

@Hackney_Boy-DoesntReadReplies

5 күн бұрын

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

@aleph8888

3 күн бұрын

Self serving people with their self serving moralism.

Post Brexit and post pandemic, the UK state is simply depressed.

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

@rattylol

2 күн бұрын

Where have you been for the past 40 years?

Student nurse using a food bank while Baroness Mone stole millions of tax payers' money tells you all you need to know about the tories. The Ladies at the food bank are right, not much will change with Labour in power but the tories need to go.

@patarciepaul

3 күн бұрын

Labour have to deliver in power to retain power. The mainstream media always covers for the Tories.

Nothing to do with 4 million plus that have come to the country in a few years.

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

4 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.

This week in Johns "wasting his bleeding time" season, he visits wolverhampton.

amazing series

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

5 күн бұрын

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

@seadkolasinac7220

5 күн бұрын

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

@astronautist4716

5 күн бұрын

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

@icravedeath.1200

5 күн бұрын

@@astronautist4716 yes it is

@astronautist4716

5 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

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

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 only true plan that the Tories have is yet more austerity, things will definitely get worse under the Tories. 😡😡😡

This made me emotional.

lol how much foreign aid does England give again??

Part of Britain’s problem isn’t the tories or the politicians or the system, it’s apathetic voters.

@kidscrocs

2 күн бұрын

Haha. Are you serious???

@tobiastrier

2 күн бұрын

@@kidscrocshave you seen the clip? Also, 33 % not voting.

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'...

Food banks are not needed , it’s an easy way for smokers , druggies , alcoholics to get a free meal

Much appreciated. Thank you.

12:20 That this woman thinks that Boris Johnson has anything but contempt for her is maddening. Trump's doing the same thing here in the States.

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

4 күн бұрын

john labour guru was getting in the way at the end

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.

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

@donny1960

5 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.

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

@adebolabloke6962

3 күн бұрын

I know her personally. She was outspoken during the riots of 2011. She knows what she's about

Thank you Guardian

Excellent video, as usual.

Finally someone looking at Wolverhampton this election!

Vote tactically to get rid of the Tories.

@jamessmithson-br7rm

2 күн бұрын

Vote tactically so nobody gets a majority… we don’t want any of these jokers having complete power