Many people are losing faith in the government, and if what I’m hearing from voters is right, Labour is about to face a big defeat in the local elections this Thursday. They could even lose the by-election in Runcorn, which is usually one of their safest seats, along with a lot of their councillors and even mayoral positions in areas they’ve traditionally dominated. Voters are very disappointed with how Keir Starmer’s government is handling things, especially with the poor management of local councils like Birmingham. How Starmer deals with this first real challenge since winning the General Election could decide whether Labour survives or starts falling apart.
When I talk to people at their doors, the first thing they complain about is the government’s decision to scrap the winter fuel payments for pensioners and the changes they’ve made to disability benefits. But when you dig a little deeper, it’s clear that the anger goes beyond just these issues. People feel like the government cares more about outsiders than about its own citizens.
For instance, a lot of people are furious that the government can quickly find money to house illegal immigrants, but somehow can’t find enough to support British pensioners who have worked hard all their lives. They’re also upset that while billions are being sent to fund projects in other countries, British farmers at home are struggling without enough help. And there’s real anger that a proper national inquiry into grooming gangs hasn’t been launched — especially when the victims were mainly white, working-class British girls. Many see this as an unforgivable failure.
Another issue that confuses and angers people is the deal the government made regarding the Chagos Islands. The UK gave away this important territory for free and now has to rent it back from Mauritius, costing British taxpayers billions. People are asking how such a terrible deal could have been made and who thought it was a good idea.
Energy policies are another major concern. Voters are frustrated with the government’s push for extreme green policies, which they feel make life harder and more expensive. They’re angry that Britain now has to buy solar panels from China — a country that still heavily relies on oil and coal — while the UK itself could be producing its own oil and gas but chooses not to. Many believe these policies are making Britain weaker and more dependent on foreign countries.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from many people who say they no longer feel proud to be British. White, male, Christian citizens in particular say they feel targeted and discriminated against, whether it’s when applying for jobs or even within the legal system. They feel like Britain has stopped being “Great” and has turned into a country that doesn’t stand up for its own people anymore.
A lot of voters think this government seems anti-British. They feel abandoned, ignored, and betrayed by leaders who they believe no longer care about the country’s best interests.
If Keir Starmer wants to turn things around and avoid a full collapse of Labour’s support, he needs to take real action. One big step would be firing Ed Miliband and scrapping the unrealistic Net Zero energy plans. Doing so could quickly lower energy prices and show the world that Britain is serious about getting its economy moving again. Starmer should also cancel plans to create GB Energy, which would be a massive and unnecessary £8 billion government agency, and instead invest that money into practical ways to boost jobs and growth.
The message from these elections will be clear: when a government forgets to put its own country and its own citizens first, the voters will punish them — and that’s exactly what we’re about to see happen this Thursday.
