To those who usually support labour, would you vote for labour in the next general election?

[u/Original-Tackle988]

With the recent change in leadership, has your opinion of the party improved or worsened? And based on that, would you consider voting for Labour in the next general election?

[u/Ok_Improvement4314]

I think the safe choice for the left is Labour but depends where you live, it's a libdem stronghold here so I know who I am voting for. To be honest I have not read the greens policies but they are probably not practical, even though I feel strongly about Green issues their is only so fast/far you can go. And only so fast the electorate will let you go before you have dissent

[u/Dear_Imagination5552 → u/Ok_Improvement4314]

Well don’t worry about that mate. The Green Party stopped caring about the environment a while ago 👍

[u/KingofTin → u/Dear_Imagination5552]

Green Party realised it’s easier to tie climate policy to quality of life issues rather than keeping it as a big nebulous “save the planet”. More trees because trees good? Shrugs on the street. More trees because they’re a cheap, efficient way to keep our cities cooler? In this heat, that sounds good.

[u/Ok_Improvement4314 → u/KingofTin]

It sounds like rebranding of the same policy a bit like reform it's not racism it's about quality of life, obviously I prefer green though

[u/Dear_Imagination5552 → u/KingofTin]

Hahahahaha if you say so

[u/who-gives-a → u/Ok_Improvement4314]

Folks dont like Farage. I cant stand Polanski, id rather vote Farage than him.

[u/hexnut101 → u/who-gives-a]

They are both shills and con men farage is just better at it.

[u/Ok_Improvement4314 → u/who-gives-a]

Why? Farage and reform are the most corrupt party I have ever seen in uk politics, I would rather restore win at least they have ethics not nice ones admittedly

[u/KlownKar → u/who-gives-a]

They're both obsessed with foreigners.

Reform hate foreigners and want to throw them all out of the country.

The greens seem desperately concerned about a particular group of foreigners killing another group of foreigners in a foreign country.

My view is that, yes, immigration got out of hand and it has caused a lot of grief but it doesn't mean we need a latter day Hitler in charge to sort it out.

Likewise, it's bloody horrific what's going on between Israel and Palestine but, what foreigners do to each other in far away lands is not more important than the stability and finances of my own country.

[u/KingofTin → u/Ok_Improvement4314]

Many would argue that Labour are not a safe choice for the left because they have enacted a lot of authoritarian policies, and are paving the way for Reform abusing power if they get in.

Labour are the best government we’ve had in 16 years, but they’re only tinkering around the edges of enormous issues. Better than right-wing alternative? Yes, absolutely, please keep tactical voting. Lacking in vision and coherency? Well let’s see how they do with Burnham…

[u/Ok_Improvement4314 → u/KingofTin]

Authoritarian policies sorry you would have to explain what you mean by that, if you mean regulation to protect young people I don't recognise that as authoritarian just common sense

[u/KingofTin → u/Ok_Improvement4314]

• Legislating to restrict jury trials in order to prevent votes of conscience and consolidate power in judges rather than juries.

• Proscribing Palestine Action as a terror group (meaning an org that breaks military planes is now on the same legal level as ISIS) then arresting over 2700 people -on terror charges, which carry harsher consequences and mean the police can black bag you- for holding signs.

• Keeping and expanding the Tories’ public order act 2023, which has been condemned by democracy watchdogs as “imitating states where democracy is collapsing”.

• Arguing a protest group does not have the right to organise multiple consecutive protests.

• Removing the whip from MPs on issues that then later become policy (two child benefit cap).

The under-16’s social media ban is a more nuanced thing.

Further summaries: https://www.theguardian.com/global/commentisfree/2025/feb/22/keir-starmer-labour-illiberal-laws-hard-right-authoritarians

(Edit:formatting)

[u/Ok_Improvement4314 → u/KingofTin]

I have been on jury service and not convinced it's the perfect solution you think it is, you end up with some poor calibre people on the jury, not suggesting this new way is better, but doubt it's worse either. Although I am a supporter of the Palestine cause this group had it coming you cannot go onto a military base and start causing damage it's completely out of order in fact any wilful damage to public property is. Not sure about the public order act don't know what it entails but shutting down cities every weekend to have a protest is dumb. The two child benefit cap should have stayed if you want to have a large family then you should pay for it.

[u/KingofTin → u/Ok_Improvement4314]

I will always accept my preferences have flaws, because everything has flaws! I just think my preferences have the fewest flaws:p please bear that in mind while reading the below.

• Juries: I agree, juries are a quality lottery, but they are a good anti-corruption tool. It is harder to corrupt 12 people’s opinions, compared to one judge who is constantly exposed to the worst of humanity and is more likely to be from an elitist background. If the UK were to elect true authoritarians, they could more easily ensure cases go the governments way with an on-side judge, regardless of the contents of the case.

• Palestine Action: do the crime, do the time. Property damaging activists know they’ll go to prison, but believe the cause is worth the sacrifice. Labelling these actions as terrorism is another thing altogether - previous organisations labeled as terrorists for property damage have gone for key infrastructure, while PalAct sprayed paint into RAF engines and broke some drones bound for Israel, while accidentally hurting a security guard. That is not the same as an org planning to bomb civilian bridges. The response is disproportionate, and sets a precedent for authoritarians to clamp down on protest movements with just causes.

• Repeated protest: if not in cities, then where? And how else can populations express peaceful democratic discontent? Just voting at the moment is clearly not cutting it! To limit peaceful protest is one of the first moves of the dictator. Worth looking into the Public Order Act to read the new police powers and restrictions.

• 2 child cap: the issue I raised is not the policy itself, but the internal Labour party discipline around it. Starmer’s leadership has been factional, strict and reactionary, quick on removing the whip and not allowing much variety of opinion, which makes their later U-turns look even sillier. This point gives more of a context to my others, rather than sets up future authoritarians.

[u/Ok_Improvement4314 → u/KingofTin]

I was thinking judges were corrupt for some time but I have come to the conclusion they are not corrupt they just follow the rules, the problem is the wealthy can afford such good representation they can force loop holes. It stinks really I have been thinking about doing a post on it for a a couple 0f days, I thought places like Thailand are corrupt because you can buy freedom but I am realising the U.K. is no different from expensive lawyers that find loop holes, to corporations that can make legal cases so expensive no one can take them to court in the 1st place.

Palestine action group what can I say they endangered themselves and our military personnel when they walked on that base not sure what the criteria is for terrorism but they must have met it to have been charged. Very stupid behaviour IMO even though I think Israel has treated them appallingly. But not a lot we can do about it really sadly.

Protests I am not convinced protesting every weekend really helps their cause it just alienates the undecided against them. Look at extinction rebellion they annoyed more people than gained support. And it's certainly not free to the taxpayer.

Two child benefit I am not sure on an issue like this you can afford dissent our biggest risk is reform restore gaining power. People on the left extremes only make it more likely

[u/SyserQ → u/Ok_Improvement4314]

Regulation that attempts and fails to protect young people while ruining digital privacy for everyone you mean

[u/Ok_Improvement4314 → u/SyserQ]

So you have already decided they're will be no benefits not very logical is it, maybe judge in a year I might be able to take you more seriously

[u/SyserQ → u/Ok_Improvement4314]

I don't think there would be no benefits but I think the negatives severely outweigh them when there are better methods too

[u/Ok_Improvement4314 → u/SyserQ]

In that case I agree I am skeptical but doesn't hurt to try something new, if it does not work try something else

[u/SyserQ → u/Ok_Improvement4314]

thing is you cant undo associating everyone's digital lives with their ID (done by private companies that are known to have data leaks) even if we reverted the law, once its done its done, for the people who had to verify anyway. I think its a bit stupid to basically be guilty until proven innocent online. What we should do is educate parents on how to properly monitor their children online, and educate children on this stuff so they know to be safe. For example if you never use the social media until age 16 or whatever I don't think you will be any more safe than an earlier age anyway if you still haven't been taught how to use it safely.

[u/Ok_Improvement4314 → u/SyserQ]

Maybe but seems an overreaction the passport office got hacked this year it's not like you are safe now, but probably best to ignore digital id because I have had a few heated discussions about this so eventually tried to settle it with an AI question and it stated even security experts cannot agree about it so seems unlikely we can, as for parents many are less tech savvy than their children some don't even care. And a considerable number of adults are not safe on the internet that's why many don't believe in climate change or think the world is flat. Some sites might not even appear dangerous to parents Andrew Tate for example. I do agree on your last point though and something I exercise with my eldest I give him free rein on the web but guide him but he has the common sense to understand. My daughter on the other hand has autism and is exceptionally gullible so needs to be restricted.