I get Starmer's strategy of letting the tories screw everything up as it is working.

After 'small boats week' Labour now have a poll lead of 28% (tories would have fewer than 100 seats) and more women than men would now vote labour.

But its hardly inspirational.

I've said before that during lockdown my wife took part in a Zoom call with Starmer and she said in person he was much more engaging, relatable and switched on than he comes across in the media. Whether this commitment is translatable to a wider audience is another matter.

Starmer was at the game last night - he looks very ordinary in the flesh.
Regardless of the mess that we are in I genuinely don't think that Labour can or will do any better except make my life more difficult and expensive and so to that end I could not possibly vote for them.
And he is a bloody Gooner - no way should he be voted in!

Tbh EDN your still young so if labour get in you will experience first hand what labour are about for the middle class worker which you are. Unless you are better off by not working and claiming free stuff your tune will change. Maybe not after one term but after two for sure. Let’s have this chat in 9 years.

The good thing is there’s loads of data to reflect on what different governments achieve, without relying on outdated stereotypes and anecdotes that are not based in reality.

Taking your welfare line; have the numbers of people exploiting the welfare system drastically reduced in the 13 years of Conservative government? I don’t know the answer but I’d be surprised if it has… and yet the narrative persists that this is a Labour problem.

I’ve also said many, many times that I’m not a fan of this Labour Party - as things stand there is no chance I vote for them at the next GE.

Let’s run with this young middle class worker thing… I went to university and got a degree and was saddled with circa £30k in debt for the privilege. I then join the workforce at a time when wages are, in real terms, s***e, while also having to contend with ballooning rents and an unfit for purpose property market. The cost of living explodes, wages still don’t, and my student loan debt grows by the month - including that loan, I probably pay a higher ‘tax’ rate than any other generation in recent times, and then I sit here and read that the Tories are the ones who will protect my money now that I earn well - it’s laughable.

Put yourself in my shoes and ask why I would ever vote for the party who oversaw all of that, and consider why I struggle to realistically conceive of a worse government than this one.

On your degree point you made the choice but I honestly believe that the core subjects should be free. Those which will be easily transferable to the working environment. What or who decide which subjects is beyond my pay grade but maths, certain sciences and practical engineering are but 3. In reality the stats say that a degree will in time give you better opportunities and wages than not. You also only pay once you earn over a certain salary and for 30 years. I may be wrong but it’s my understanding. Look I seriously think forcing kids to stay at school after 16 if not working was wrong. Many kids hated school but need time to job hunt. Why force them back to hate it again. Most parents would support their kids in this search and while they search financially. There are jobs out there and many will be content with just a job whichever it is. The uni thing is because at the end of every year leaving school hundreds of thousands are job hunting together. They can’t get one so go to uni. Split the job race up and more jobs would be available. Give the dole for 6 months to help school leavers, even if they get a job. A leg up. Sod it give all 16 s the dole for 6 months even if they stay at school. Radical changes are needed you also state you earn well and your degree got you that. BTW someone had to pay for the increase in uni students. Should it be me only ?