What's it like to lose your job when you're middle class? | James O'Brien - The Whole Show

This is a catch-up version of James O'Brien's live, daily show on LBC Radio from the 15th of May 2024.
Listen to the full show on Global Player: app.af.globalplayer.com/Br0x/...
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Пікірлер: 121

  • @Edge81
    @Edge8119 күн бұрын

    I am in the same position as many callers. Worked my way up from lower working class to middle class through hard work and continued upskilling. Now I am 55 in an ageist profession (Marketing and Advertising) and presumed incorrectly to be to old school or they believe me to be overqualified. I am back in the same position I was 10 years ago when my unfair dismissal and subsequent financial distress contributed to the break up of my marriage. There is no inheritance coming my way to save me ever given my background. I support my ailing mother and my two boys. I have dipped into my savings but now the well is dry. There is always something in my interview that stops them from employing me even though I am desperate. I often get asked won't I get bored. I have also been told that there is a lack of cultural fit. After so many knockbacks one starts questioning one's self-worth. I am constantly online applying for roles, doing free courses etc I feel like a runner constantly training but never allowed to enter the race. FYI. I had to sell the family home 10 years ago as we could not keep up with mortgage repayments. Here we go again.

  • @leonie563

    @leonie563

    2 күн бұрын

    You may as well jump on seek and Google jobs overseas and see if you can get a "skilled visa" or "employer sponsored visa" with the extended family. Nothing to lose asking the question. If parents protest tell them sun vs cold. Which is better for ageing well?

  • @politics392
    @politics39220 күн бұрын

    GET THE CONSERVATIVES OUT

  • @cosmicmusicreynolds3266
    @cosmicmusicreynolds326620 күн бұрын

    Remember if you are on universal credit and you get sanctioned for not looking for enough jobs or late to the job centre interview ,you can ask for a 'Mandortary reconsideration. No matter what it is appeal 🙏

  • @w-james9277
    @w-james927720 күн бұрын

    At least there's someone in the media who talks sanity rather than just right wing fear mongering

  • @DLG24

    @DLG24

    20 күн бұрын

    Don't you get it, he's being used to justify the existence of the others. Otherwise LBC would lose even more subscribers.

  • @anonomous8719

    @anonomous8719

    19 күн бұрын

    Bully obrien doesn’t talk sanity 🤣 he is a mouthpiece for kier starmer.

  • @richardgilbert5339

    @richardgilbert5339

    18 күн бұрын

    @@anonomous8719 I only recently came across O'Brien on LBC and at first I thought he was great. But after listening to him over the last year on a variety of subjects my estimation of him has slightly changed. Regardless of the topic of the discussion callers often get drowned out by his anecdotes,life experiences or just taking over them whether in agreement or otherwise.

  • @jaxcoss5790

    @jaxcoss5790

    5 күн бұрын

    ​@@anonomous8719Bully?! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

  • @user-em6ie2be7x
    @user-em6ie2be7x20 күн бұрын

    Here in The US when you fall down they just kick you.

  • @williamelewis464

    @williamelewis464

    20 күн бұрын

    No we just expect you to at the very least attempt to stand up on your own, we can't will you to try

  • @AmandaTroutman

    @AmandaTroutman

    20 күн бұрын

    Nice cope, a bit bland but tried and true. ​@@williamelewis464

  • @dodonnell-ze9yc

    @dodonnell-ze9yc

    19 күн бұрын

    ​@@williamelewis464how about those already standing reach a hand down?

  • @lordenglish2654
    @lordenglish265419 күн бұрын

    New hospitals when we can't even staff the ones we have?! Ludicrous. The collapse of the NHS is so clearly manufactured it's not even funny. And I had to go to the jobcentre when I was 20 until 24, back in 2010, and it was dehumanising. It impacted my mental health significantl; so much so that I believe it contributed to my nervous breakdown in 2011 (which continues to effect me today). I had to go in to one earlier this year after 14 odd years (for an ESA checkup) and it felt exactly the same.

  • @DeborahWalkerXOXO
    @DeborahWalkerXOXO19 күн бұрын

    Victoria is about to find out. They will offer her jobs at a certain point VERY soon. And when she says that is two hours away from my home, I can't afford to pay for five hours childcare plus pay my bills on that salary. And the advisor will say? Drumroll please. "Are you refusing this job opportunity?" And she will blink in shock because she just explained, sensibly, why that job can't work. "Because if you refuse more than three suggestions, I will have to sanction you..." And you will have your already meager support cut. She is about to find out for real.

  • @user-em6ie2be7x
    @user-em6ie2be7x20 күн бұрын

    You feel inferior like whatever hardwork you did meant nothing. Which could make you feel like looking for work is pointless.

  • @BarbarosaAlexander
    @BarbarosaAlexander20 күн бұрын

    Tories just have contempt for everyone who isn't rich. Be they your British Tories, or my Canadian Tories. Nothing but unfiltered contempt. And it's only made worse by their bootlickers.

  • @ChrisParlett
    @ChrisParlett20 күн бұрын

    What's it like to lose your job when you're Sangita Myska, James?

  • @DLG24

    @DLG24

    20 күн бұрын

    They are tone death and smug about firing her.

  • @DeltaV-sayno2CCP

    @DeltaV-sayno2CCP

    20 күн бұрын

    James O Coward is a champage socialist pretending to be a working class champion.

  • @reaver4149

    @reaver4149

    19 күн бұрын

    @@DLG24 tone Death XD

  • @melbroderick906
    @melbroderick90620 күн бұрын

    just ask Sangita

  • @nealodonnell620

    @nealodonnell620

    20 күн бұрын

    Quite.

  • @DLG24
    @DLG2420 күн бұрын

    Go ask Sangita!!

  • @tearsinpain
    @tearsinpain19 күн бұрын

    I would love for Sangita to impersonate a caller and call and say the troubles she had when she got fired .

  • @SiriusMined
    @SiriusMined20 күн бұрын

    Sunak - "don't talk about the past" Also Sunak 0 "Jeremy Corbin!!"

  • @tedtedtedtedted
    @tedtedtedtedted20 күн бұрын

    Why doesn't he just ask sangita ?

  • @tearsinpain

    @tearsinpain

    19 күн бұрын

    Priceless :D

  • @andydarbyshir8699
    @andydarbyshir869920 күн бұрын

    Well, look on the bright side it won’t be long then conservative MPs will be looking for a job themselves

  • @Petejoeoliver
    @Petejoeoliver20 күн бұрын

    First caller doesn’t know what their monthly salary is which is a concern. No way £90k annual is £7k per month on a net basis. I agree that it’s tough, especially living in Richmond, when you lose your job, but not knowing net take home doesn’t make it seem you’re that worried about your finances

  • @jacsavickas9822

    @jacsavickas9822

    19 күн бұрын

    I fast forwarded through this segment. It sounded too much like rich people problems to my working class/low wage ears.

  • @grahamepigney8565
    @grahamepigney856520 күн бұрын

    So much of what people phoning in about losing a job when on a middle-class income/lifestyle reminds me of Gerald in The Full Monty.

  • @joil6649

    @joil6649

    18 күн бұрын

    Ditto

  • @c.c.8841
    @c.c.884120 күн бұрын

    the problem we have these days also is that councils do not match people skills with jobs, local councils have been removed from localities and see unemployed people as a burden which should exist so they have a job themselves.

  • @LeeJPryer
    @LeeJPryer20 күн бұрын

    Bring back Sangita

  • @yington

    @yington

    20 күн бұрын

    Why?

  • @ladycanada35

    @ladycanada35

    20 күн бұрын

    @@yington she is great

  • @FactsCanHurt

    @FactsCanHurt

    20 күн бұрын

    A journalist is meant to go against the grain and ask hard questions, she did that.. or else it's not news, it's propaganda

  • @croneryveit9070

    @croneryveit9070

    17 күн бұрын

    @@ladycanada35 Did she say she'd rather be back?

  • @ladycanada35

    @ladycanada35

    16 күн бұрын

    @@croneryveit9070 doesn't matter, it is your loss and the reason I'm not clicking on your videos anymore.

  • @willyoung4090
    @willyoung409020 күн бұрын

    What it's like? For a start if you get redundancy you will get no help from dhss you then start gobbling up said redundancy pay your mortgage till you find another job and if you can't find one your forced to sell you cars when the money fom that's done you put the house up for sale pull the kids out of school college and move somewhere cheaper.I consider my self lucky in that I had a trade to go back to We the family returned to Scotland moved into rented accommodation went self employed and was able to run a successful business until I retired. Like your dad this was 1990 YorkShire earning 40k whatever that is now and like your dad I did my 50 years paid tax and stamp

  • @ShaunieDale
    @ShaunieDale20 күн бұрын

    Glad you are making a shout out for Gary!

  • @amekami7772
    @amekami777219 күн бұрын

    I'm in Chicago, IL in the US. And the more I listen to the LBC news, the more it mirrors the US issues or vise versa. Our Healthcare system has been appalling over the past 3 years. 15 years I had the same family doctors office, and 2 different PCP's. Now, it's hard to count all of my doctor changes. And the quality of care continue to diminish. We have had privatized prisons, then they become a 'business' they fix nothing, worse mistreatment of prisoners, etc... not to mention the early release of The Sewage that's been unloaded in Lake Windemere. I believe THE WHO has had mentions, of water quality, diminished, tainted to no return. Homelessness, we have people living in tents all over town. Our Housing Authority here, has been investigated. They have over 500 properties that are unused, they have sold properties. However the monies never put back into their system. We have had a housing crisis prior to the bus loads of immigrants. Bottom line we share a multitude of issues. It's the middle class is becoming poorer, and the rich are getting kick backs, tax breaks all over the place. I'm sure you remember, Jeff Bezos, Owner of Amazon made $11 billion, 3-4 years ago, he didn't pay ANY TAXES. I'm mean, what the.... I like all the news on LBC... however, James O'Brien is my favorite to listen. Keep up the great work all, ta.

  • @arabellacox

    @arabellacox

    17 күн бұрын

    That's thanks to Reagon & Thatcher = neoliberalism = the enemy of the disadvantaged!

  • @arabellacox

    @arabellacox

    17 күн бұрын

    10% of Bezo's fortune could save 41 million from starvation. Come 'Judgement Day' is all I can say!

  • @mickreaddin4979
    @mickreaddin497919 күн бұрын

    If you applied for Jobseekers allowance then you are on UC. Period.

  • @firefox5926
    @firefox592620 күн бұрын

    8:16 im taking bets on how long it will be till they float the idea of children's being allowed to work and bring back the work house for those undeserving poor ...

  • @mickreaddin4979

    @mickreaddin4979

    19 күн бұрын

    I think (or maybe misremembering) IDS spoke of "work houses" a few years ago. These Tories would bring back sending children down chimneys is they thought it would get a vote.

  • @isbestlizard
    @isbestlizard20 күн бұрын

    Have they tried maybe like investing a few hundred pounds in a valve that doesn't fail open and pump tens of millions of gallons of raw sewage into our lakes if the telephone line goes down? Like, maybe the valve should fail closed and call an engineer on 24/7 standby? Just a thought.

  • @isbestlizard

    @isbestlizard

    20 күн бұрын

    Like, I'd be happy to pay a 5 pound a month for a sim card data plan if the lines are all dodgy?

  • @harryturner8701
    @harryturner87017 күн бұрын

    This man is gem

  • @donvonkong
    @donvonkong20 күн бұрын

    Sangita?

  • @PuzzledlifeTV
    @PuzzledlifeTV19 күн бұрын

    Speaking philosophically on political constructs & statute law (i'm allowed - as a philosopher) ""That which is used by all should be in public hands, that which is used by many or the few but not all should be in the hands of private enterprise. Confusing or debilitating either ethos will inevitably lead to corruption and will decrease the stabilty of the civilisation that created it". oh, btw way? The beaten generation - great album, still go back to it ocassionally

  • @arabellacox
    @arabellacox17 күн бұрын

    I had sympathy for Victoria until she mentioned a husband!

  • @parster2010
    @parster201018 күн бұрын

    Norman Tebbit is alive so his ghost doesn’t even have a job.😂

  • @MartyJackson
    @MartyJackson19 күн бұрын

    After watching this, I’m pretty sure LBC need to find Nick a nursery (or maybe he could manage year 3) placement

  • @Ken_oh545
    @Ken_oh54520 күн бұрын

    The final item with the Danish Professor was gold standard radio, thank you.

  • @seenyourshine6989
    @seenyourshine698920 күн бұрын

    What income range currently defines 'middle class' in the UK?

  • @richardgilbert5339

    @richardgilbert5339

    18 күн бұрын

    According to our Scottish government which may also apply to the UK in general the average individual annual wage is £27500 ? I could make that with one full and one part time job,just. I would definitely not consider myself to fall into the lower middle class let alone middle class ! Nor do we own our own property.

  • @alfsmith4936

    @alfsmith4936

    15 күн бұрын

    It's a mindset.. Middle class in the UK are people who don't do manual labor.

  • @beegnutz
    @beegnutz2 күн бұрын

    I just assume that the English electorate are fine with this as they stand and point at 'boat people' ruining their lives.

  • @miguelurdaci7884
    @miguelurdaci788419 күн бұрын

    Jumped up milk monitor!! 😂 Nailed it

  • @simonporter8372
    @simonporter837212 күн бұрын

    I found I stopped getting responses to job applications after my 50th birthday.

  • @Le7emeChat
    @Le7emeChat20 күн бұрын

    James' lake remind me, when I was a kid, I was taught Japan famous mountain was mount Fujiyama. (It's mount Fuji, Yama is the japanese word for mountain)

  • @geraldhewing2076
    @geraldhewing207619 күн бұрын

    Would that be the remake of "The Great Escape" sponsored by McDonald's where the German officer said "have a nice day?"

  • @leonie563
    @leonie5632 күн бұрын

    The guy that rang in that lost his job:- Why can't he club together with his other mates to work together Or sell a house or car?

  • @leonie563

    @leonie563

    2 күн бұрын

    Are there not Career Consultancy agencies in UK? Do these people not have networks or able to mind map their skills into new career paths?

  • @noeldunford4955
    @noeldunford49557 күн бұрын

    MPs can afford to lose there job

  • @fintamaria2429
    @fintamaria242919 күн бұрын

    Someone tell this Oligarch, Most of the jobs that are offered are paid the minimum in the economy. The minimum in the economy. You work for a year like a fool, and your only joy is not to end up homeless....WOW, HUNT😢😢😢😢

  • @moonshine9902
    @moonshine990220 күн бұрын

    James, are you alluding to Sanita?

  • @williamelewis464

    @williamelewis464

    20 күн бұрын

    no, and the amount of wasted time you spend on someone being released from their contract with a massive buyout of the remaining portion shows which tax bracket you live in

  • @ladycanada35

    @ladycanada35

    20 күн бұрын

    @@williamelewis464 you sound jealous.... are you poorly employed?

  • @garethwonham
    @garethwonham20 күн бұрын

    A bjt of realism. She was pulling in 7 grand a month and most probably 12kper month between them. When it’s someone on a low wage, we don’t get the same coverage, bjt someone who’s middle class and we have to feel dreadful for them

  • @stephenmurray2851

    @stephenmurray2851

    20 күн бұрын

    We never stop hearing about those on a lower incomes and people like her pay the taxes.

  • @alfsmith4936

    @alfsmith4936

    15 күн бұрын

    @@stephenmurray2851 Yea. We tell them to get a better job. Nobody should feel bad for middle class people going homeless. It'll teach them a lesson.

  • @stephenmurray2851

    @stephenmurray2851

    15 күн бұрын

    @@alfsmith4936 What lesson?

  • @alfsmith4936

    @alfsmith4936

    15 күн бұрын

    @@stephenmurray2851 How to budget

  • @alfsmith4936

    @alfsmith4936

    15 күн бұрын

    @@stephenmurray2851 I replied earlier but KZread seem to have censored it. Maybe their bots think they're middle class now..

  • @softstyler
    @softstyler19 күн бұрын

    Isn't it the case that In Scotland and Northern Ireland where police powers are devolved crime is falling but in England and Wales crime is rising?

  • @SeanPan-it3jm
    @SeanPan-it3jm20 күн бұрын

    Now!

  • @firefox5926
    @firefox592619 күн бұрын

    1:22:42 those who would give up a little essential liberty for a little added security will in the end inevitably receive neither

  • @Mounhas
    @Mounhas18 күн бұрын

    How much land does the Russian Federation want? It borders 14 countries including Norway, Finland and China and is in dispute with Japan over some islands and not far from Alaska (Baring straits).

  • @richardgilbert5339
    @richardgilbert533919 күн бұрын

    "What's it like to lose your job if you're middle class?' why is being middle class and losing your job in any way different to losing your job if you're working class,part time ? If you're a Conservative Middle class voter you can find plenty of zero hours contract jobs out there,but work more hours !

  • @PuzzledlifeTV
    @PuzzledlifeTV19 күн бұрын

    as to Mel Stride? Ask him - if you ever get chance - to say he would be happy and be able to pay his mortgage and put food on the plate if he was made redundant or lost his job and had to go for a job he is qualified, i.e. tour guide, and if he could generate a job and income to serve his present wage as an unqualified member of a politica partyl that got the job just by being a member and no qualifications. Long question, make it rhetorical

  • @mickreaddin4979
    @mickreaddin497919 күн бұрын

    We already have one of the most surveillance heavy populations in the world. As far as I'm aware it's largely ineffective, so why the need for more?

  • @wjames8781
    @wjames878120 күн бұрын

    How unfortunate to be a doppelganger.

  • @gooner7331
    @gooner733119 күн бұрын

    First caller, the type of person that voted Tory and when he hears about us poors struggling for money, agrees with Tory talking points about just take a low paid minimum wage job at Amazon or go replace the now banned seasonal European farm workers. That's what Brexit was for wasn't it. To get rid of immigrants doing low paid menial labour that our unemployed work shy working class plebs could do. He's obviously not trying hard enough

  • @prideofdurham4776
    @prideofdurham477619 күн бұрын

    What does it feel like when you lose your job when you are WORKING class and just married? Something Mr O'Brien will never know!

  • @stm5275
    @stm527519 күн бұрын

    What’s it like to earn 7k a month on top of your husband the doctor, and not save any for a rainy day James.

  • @FerreusNRG
    @FerreusNRG20 күн бұрын

    I feel like James might know someone he could to call ask whats its like to lose their job, hmm...

  • @allancurrie9472
    @allancurrie947220 күн бұрын

    You have lost the plot , your dad would have , absolutely no chance now,

  • @miguelurdaci7884
    @miguelurdaci788419 күн бұрын

    James, let the security guy speak your interruptions break his flow and direction

  • @miguelurdaci7884

    @miguelurdaci7884

    19 күн бұрын

    Love the show btw. One of the best on air

  • @andal7404
    @andal740420 күн бұрын

    The opposite is a moral decline.

  • @alfsmith4936

    @alfsmith4936

    15 күн бұрын

    That's been and gone mate. Morals are what poor people have.

  • @andal7404

    @andal7404

    15 күн бұрын

    @@alfsmith4936 I can do you a special deal on morals.

  • @alfsmith4936

    @alfsmith4936

    15 күн бұрын

    @@andal7404 I'll only corrupt them.

  • @andal7404

    @andal7404

    15 күн бұрын

    @@alfsmith4936 Assuming you have none of your own to sell.

  • @alfsmith4936

    @alfsmith4936

    15 күн бұрын

    @@andal7404 I sold them to a Russian dealer when they were worth something. Are Reformuk standing a candidate in your constituency?

  • @shellovski
    @shellovski20 күн бұрын

    If you need to work then you are not middle class!

  • @mickreaddin4979

    @mickreaddin4979

    19 күн бұрын

    Historically it was bank managers, Doctors and those in mid/upper management roles, government civil servants etc who were deemed as "middle-class".

  • @minui8758

    @minui8758

    19 күн бұрын

    That’s not true. Teachers, social workers and vicars are classic middle class roles, all on between 20-30 thousand a year. There’s no way they can afford to stop working - they’d starve

  • @alfsmith4936

    @alfsmith4936

    15 күн бұрын

    I can only assume you are American..

  • @shellovski

    @shellovski

    Күн бұрын

    @@minui8758 None of those professions have ever been 'middle class'. Thatcher started all this back in the 80's when she managed to persuade half of the working class (over 95% of the country) that being working class was something to be ashamed of. Work hard, buy your own house and a nice car and you will become middle class - and half of the country fell for it! This was her real legacy as a politician because ever since then the working class have been to divided to ever get a better deal for themselves and their families. If your family live in their family stately home with butlers and maids then you can be considered middle class.... otherwise me, you, teachers, social workers and vicars will have more in common with the homeless than with the likes of Reece Mogg. We remain peasants and always will be.

  • @shellovski

    @shellovski

    Күн бұрын

    @@mickreaddin4979 Wrong. The Upper classes are royalty and the aristocracy. The middle classes were the land owners who collected the money. The rest of us who did the actual work were the peasants. Nowadays we have fellow peasants who are quite wealthy... but if their family home isn't a stately home with miles and miles of land.... you can't change who you are just because you become rich!

  • @eliandthatsit
    @eliandthatsit18 күн бұрын

    this guy is hella pessamistic

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