Seems every day now, I get frustrated that many don’t see what we go through. Those of us working class and living in social housing, who went a different route in life. Seems we have become invisible, as the government and the media ignore us. Not part of the debate, as so many try and figure out why so many are angry with the government. The winter fuel allowance always puzzled me, as I wondered why in the first winter of government? Why not make sure all those that need help receive the help they need. Then, a couple of years into your term in parliament, look at the issue.
Do They See Us?
Think about it from the pensioners perspective, the working class pensioners who won’t have much. Something like 16% of pensioners live in social housing like I do, some of them are my neighbours. Many doing the jobs that needed doing, like so many of us have done. Living in social housing was the norm for decades. So, for Labour to come along after they have worked for 40 odd years and take money from them, you expect them to accept that? They never had much anyway and I have helped some claim what they are entitled too. Also, do the government expect those with disabilities to accept what they are facing, after a life changing diagnosis? Labour ignored the working class and its been an issue that goes back to the Blair years, in my view. The working people rebrand has backfired, because it ignores large sections of society and the working class now retired.
One Size Fits All
The reason I mention the Blair years, is because I believe the anger we are seeing aimed at Labour, goes back to that time. Blair introduced measures that helped, including the min wage, which helped me after being homeless. I basically went from £5 an hour to a £20000 salary in a supermarket distribution centre. I knew when on that 3 month temp contract, if I worked hard, I would get offered a full time job. After my transplant this changed everything for me and helped me turn my life around. So, my point is, Labour should have kept social housing and fair rent, alongside the new min wage. Lets be honest and fair here, all parties since have failed to do the same. But as Labour are in government and seeing this happen and living through it, its so frustrating that so many don’t see it. Its as if Labour don’t see us or want to listen to its own voters. Many will want to help themselves like I did, but its now harder because of what happened.
I applaud the government for looking at the younger generation and giving them support. I admire the younger generation for speaking about their mental health, its something that was alien to me growing up. But they are stuck living at home, as they look to be their independent selves. They will need fair rents and social housing like we had. Not everyone will own a home, that’s just basic common sense. We all earn different wages and in my view pushing one size fits all has failed. That failure alongside has caused a knock on effect that is causing more homelessness, more poverty and more anger. Its also caused a great deal of cost, as Billions are now going to buy to let landlords. Yet its the claimant that will be questioned, as most of the money they receive goes to a private landlord. Nothing against landlords, but its all linked because of what happened with housing and partly why the welfare bill is rising.
Time To Listen and Open Your Eyes
Do the Labour government see the working class? Or are they hellbent on agendas and ideology that has caused what we are now seeing. Will they look at what went wrong and solve the problem? Or, will it be a constant daily headline to try and show they understand what we are going through. Its like we are all one big merry go round. At Christmas it will be the same, talking about homelessness and the poor for a feel good story. Any political party or government that ignores the most vulnerable in society, is not seeing what we see. Whether its bad advice, out of touch, it could be both and more. But they must open their eyes and see the working class. See how we are being ignored, used by those pretending to be on our side for self promotion. Ignored by the media as we are shut out of the debate.
Housing
As I mentioned above, social housing was the norm for so many pensioners, as well as our parents and wider families. That stepping stone to home ownership that worked for so many. Now, politicians are still pushing the dream of home ownership, which I suspect most aspire too. But they are ignoring the fact that the stepping stone is no longer there. As they talk about to what worked for them for them as they try and relate. Its great that so many did well. But as we know, coming from working class, is not the same as being working class. Working in that job week in week out, they are the ones being ignored in my view. It really does not need to be this way and I hope we can get back to fair rent and social housing, alongside home ownership. I believe that is what will help so many and help society as a whole. Have a great week and keep well – Stuart
