For Aiden Robertson, a 35-year-old consultant from Burnley, Labour’s first year back in government can only be summed up as “incredibly disappointing”.
The year had been marked, he felt, by “dreadful communication, a lack of clear purpose, zero vision”, while Labour had been “pandering to Reform voters who will never back them”.
“This just feels like continuity Tories. As a man who has voted Labour at every single election since 2010, this is the first time where I now feel I can no longer support them.”
Robertson was among hundreds of people who shared their verdict of Keir Starmer’s first year in No 10 with the Guardian.
The responses – many of them excoriating – hammered home why the government is struggling to win the approval of a deeply divided public. While hundreds of people on the left branded the prime minister’s approach so far as a “betrayal” and an alienation of Labour’s traditional socialist base, hundreds of others expressed scathing disappointment about the new government’s failure to use its substantial parliamentary majority to reform the country and balance the books more.
Unsurprisingly, many retired respondents, unpaid carers, or people in receipt of welfare support clamoured for tax increases to better fund benefits, public services and radical socialist reform. Overstretched workers, middle class professionals, business owners and families meanwhile wondered why their income continued to be taxed harshly instead of the wealth and assets of “the rich” – and lamented the perceived absence of fiscal discipline and meaningful economic upswing.
Progressive voters decried the government’s approach to Donald Trump and Reform voters, its stance on Israel, attempted welfare reforms, lack of convincing solutions to tackle the climate crisis, the housing crisis and education, and the prime minister’s “island of strangers” speech. But others believed that Labour had failed to limit immigration – an issue many respondents described as a top concern.
Keir Starmer. Some voters who felt positively about the government’s achievements over the past 12 months said that ‘grownups’ were now back in charge. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA
Of those who felt positively about the government’s achievements over the past 12 months, many felt that “grownups” were now back in charge, citing their agreement with Labour’s attempts to reform the welfare state, its rail nationalisation plan, Starmer’s performance on the international stage – such as his handling of Trump being a factor in the reduction of tariffs for Britain – resolved public sector strikes after increased pay awards, and the commitment to higher defence spending.
A widely held view was that an overly critical press was “undermining” the new government and “playing into the hands of Reform”.
Mary, a 61-year-old local council employee from near Hull, felt the Starmer government had faced a lot of unfair criticism.
“I agree with the change in tax for farmers and also winter fuel payments,” she said. “I live in a wealthy area and know so many people who absolutely do not need that money. All benefits should be means tested and not given out willy-nilly. I accept that the threshold of £11,500 was too low, but feel £35,000 is too high.
“Change in Pip (personal independent payments) is also needed as the growth in the number of people receiving it has been off the scale – something obviously isn’t working with the assessment process. This all seems common sense to me. I personally think Starmer is the best leader we have had in a very long time – he has integrity and he does the right thing even when that’s difficult. He’s navigating the relationship with Trump and the EU really well.”
Starmer has attempted to rewire the British economy in favour of those in work
“I think they’re doing a good job,” said James, a 21-year-old from South Tyneside. “Starmer represents a serious break from gerontocracy, and has attempted to rewire the British economy in favour of those in work.
“Dealing with a public which wants lower taxes, higher spending and lower debt, an insurgent populist right and a rowdy backbench, Starmer has secured three trade deals, reduced NHS waiting lists, and ended the Rwanda deal [to name a few]. He is doing a good job, if [people] let him.”
Jonathan Dyson, 65, a pensioner from Huddersfield, stressed that Labour had been burdened by “an extremely difficult inheritance”.
Jonathan Dyson, from Huddersfield, believes Labour simply needs more time to deliver the change mandate. Photograph: Jonathan Dyson/Guardian Community
“It’s going to take several years before any significant progress can be seen, despite the constant demand for Deliveroo policies,” he said.
“I don’t think that they are getting enough credit for what they are trying to achieve,” said Melanie, an architect from Edinburgh. “They’re tackling emotive issues that have to be addressed. I still have faith in them and I think that they could accomplish significant change.”
Although various people described the Labour leader as “unprincipled” or “flip-flopping”, others felt drawn to the prime minister’s approach. “I like the idea of Starmer not having a fixed ideology, but instead going around fixing things,” said Chris Hurd, a 48-year-old accountant and small business owner from Wiltshire.
Dozens of people felt that the government had been spectacularly poor at controlling the narrative and making the case for many of its policies, among them Noel, a retired college principal from Otley, West Yorkshire.
“The very policies they are being criticised for, inheritance tax rises, winter fuel allowance cuts, welfare reform, etc, are the right policies, but they were introduced badly without sensitivity and without being sold properly. Each could have been widely supported,” he said.
“Basically Labour need to do much more to sell their policies and crow about the achievements.”
Where are the exciting ideas for the future?
Craig, 44, a father of three and data analyst living in Leicester, was one of many who felt that no coherent change agenda for an ambitious future had been communicated.
“I was excited to see Labour come to power. I remember the hope and optimism the last time Labour won under Blair,” he said.
“This time, though, it just feels like there’s no plan. I’m really concerned about the country’s finances, that we’re continuing to pay more and more in debt interest because of our deficit. I worry about the country my kids will grow up in.
“I do believe some hard decisions need to be made to balance the books more. But Labour hasn’t offered a bold message to address this. Where are the exciting ideas for the future? Where’s the investment now that pays off later?”
Respondents who felt decidedly negative about the government’s first year were split into those who desired a far more radical socialist governing approach and those who felt the government had ignored the will of the public in favour of left-wing concessions.
We voted Labour and got the Conservatives, but nastier
Much of the outrage was aimed at the government’s attempts to cut winter fuel for elderly people and Pip for some disabled people, and keeping the two-child benefit cap.
“I think they’ve leaned too heavily into trying to appease the right,” said Holly, a 24-year-old from London who works in PR. “As a young, disabled and neurodivergent woman I despair at these [planned] cuts – I even cancelled my Pip application because I thought the chances of me getting it were so low.
Holly, 24, from London, is bitterly disappointed by the first year of Labour’s new reign. Photograph: Holly/Guardian Community
“I miss when we had a real opposition – this government has left me feeling like we don’t live in a functioning democracy. Even without the authoritarian crackdown on legal and peaceful protest, who can I vote for that actually represents me and has a chance of getting into parliament?”
Holly said she would in theory vote for the Greens or a new party led by Jeremy Corbyn but would vote tactically for Labour if she lived in a seat “at risk of going Conservative or Reform”.
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“We voted Labour and got the Conservatives, but nastier,” said Richard Jewell, 56, a carer from Northampton.
“There’s a real danger we could end up with Nigel Farage as PM at the next general election. The thought fills me with dread, but if it should happen we all know who will be to blame – Keir Starmer.
“[This government] seems to have no moral compass when it comes to either foreign or domestic affairs,” said 60-year-old Timothy Willcocks, a school administrator from Hastings. “It is avoiding taxing wealth and hitting the poorest and most vulnerable [ … ] trying to ‘out reform’ Reform, rather than pursuing solid socialist policies to counter the far right. The first year has been utterly disappointing, made even more so by the significant majority Labour enjoy.”
Paola Adeitan, 31, a mother of three and law graduate from Wiltshire, described the new government as “treacherous”.
“Adopting a Trumpian approach on the issue of human rights and the government’s rhetoric and support of Israel’s airstrikes against Iran makes me hate politics,” she said.
Paola Adeitan, 31, from Wiltshire, is outraged by the UK government’s Middle East politics. Photograph: Paola Adeitan/Guardian Community
Seventy-seven-year-old Howard Gould, a retired civil servant from south London, was among scores who said they had been Labour voters for years but would not vote for the party again.
“[I’m] appalled at the approach over Gaza, the snuggling up to Trump, [the] cutting [of] overseas aid and welfare cuts. [I] cannot understand why taxes [are] not raised. It has left me so frustrated over who I can vote for – certainly not Labour as of now, and never for Tories or Reform. But I understand why some are similarly frustrated and willing to consider Reform.”
While many complained about Labour’s move to the right on immigration, many others felt the prime minister had not done nearly enough to reduce net migration, particularly illegal immigration.
I don’t know one single person who is not voting Reform at the next election
“Within my circle of friends and family and beyond I don’t know one single person who is happy with the state of this nation, one single solitary person who is not voting Reform at the next election,” said Lizzie Quinlan, 64, a retired registered nurse from the West Midlands. “I think it’s without exception the worst ever first year of any government I can recall.”
Quinlan was among scores who questioned why the government had targeted welfare budgets for elderly and disabled people at a time of record small boat arrivals.
“What leader punishes the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged in favour of legal and illegal [people] arriving on these shores? The next election cannot come quickly enough.”
Sally Scarfe, an unpaid carer from Lincolnshire, is in disbelief over the government’s priorities. Photograph: Sandy Scarfe/Guardian Community
“Their policies are cruel and ill thought out,” said Sally Scarfe, 64, from Edlington, Lincolnshire, who used to work as a hairdresser, in retail, catering and as a cleaner before becoming a full-time carer for her mother.
She was one of many who felt the prime minister had prioritised his role on the world stage while neglecting the struggles of his electorate at home.
“Starmer is weak, and nearly every time you put the news on, he’s somewhere other than in the country. He’s enjoying the big role of the statesman but doesn’t seem to realise the crisis that this country’s in. He doesn’t listen to how worried and angry we are about mass illegal immigration – which we’re paying for, while they’re trying to make welfare cuts.”
“I voted them in hoping for change, mainly on immigration – small boat crossings. I don’t see change and in fact, the issue is worsening with no real plan put forward,” said Damien Seaborne, 42, who works in a laundry factory, from Caerphilly, south Wales.
“I was also hoping a new government would be less wasteful on our taxes.”
“Business confidence has collapsed,” said Jason Clark, a restaurant owner from Stockton-on-Tees, who was among scores of respondents who felt the new government had damaged Britain’s economic outlook with an “anti-growth” agenda.
“Rachel Reeves’ crazy anti-business budget was like a hammer. Many businesses in this area are now no longer recruiting new staff. I thought about closing and various business friends are contemplating the same, off the back of the employers’ national insurance (NI) hike.
Jason Clark, a restaurant owner from Stockton-on-Tees. Photograph: Jason Clark/Guardian Community
“Like many others, I’ve reduced my trading hours to manage costs, so my wage bill is going to be 12 to 15% lower this year. People’s spending power has reduced in the last 12 months, footfall is down a third, while costs are amazingly high. Some months I’m not taking a salary. Why would you take the risk of starting a business? For many, it’s just no longer viable to take on staff.”
“The tax levels are the worst,” said a 54-year-old professional in the tech sector from London. “The government made a couple of early errors by treating the private sector as a piggybank and increasing [employer] NI rates, but giving out large pay awards to public sector workers. It shows how little they understand how to grow the economy.”
We need real change, not fiddling at the edges
Ruth, a professional in her 60s from Cambridge, felt Labour’s first year in government had been “tragic” amid “misfiring good intentions”.
The country, she said, needed “a mature debate about the trade-offs involved” in its desire to improve public services, increase defence spending and not increase taxes. “We cannot continue pretending the big issues can be solved by three-word slogans,” she said.
Michael Morwood, 40, a disabled author from London, predicted political consequences for Labour and the country that chimed with remarks of hundreds of others.
“We need real change, not fiddling at the edges,” he said. “Adding X million into the NHS won’t fix it. Reforming planning permission laws won’t solve the housing crisis. These are things that need to happen, but they’re inadequate given the scale of the problems.
“We’re often told we need to get on board with Labour or we’ll wind up with a Reform government. The thing is, if Labour continue as they are, we’ll wind up with Reform sooner or later, guaranteed. The UK is in real, serious trouble, and Labour don’t have the clarity of vision, the principles, or the spine to actually fix any of the systemic problems.
“I’d love for Labour to discover a bold new vision for the country, but the current leadership don’t seem to even understand why such a vision is needed.”