‘I wouldn’t vote for any of them - Britain’s gone’ | The view from Port Talbot

[@martinsmith251]

“…Having a foodbank in the centre of a town like this is in fact a political statement” how true.

[@sgu00dir]

yes very astute and almost poetic somewhow

[@AntSudbury-tv3we]

,,,,, it's the only growth industry in Britain, what kind of people ( I that word loosely) vote to starve children, I know a word !

[@fellspoint9364]

It was indeed a forceful and poetic statement that struck the bullseye

[@scottstevens78]

Her words hit me hard. Lovely lady, thank you to her for your work at the food bank.

[@AngelaVlahos]

I wish I could help

[@richardmurphy9006]

When politicians are filmed opening foodbanks all smiles your country is on the wrong road

[@HarithBK]

as a Swedish steel mill worker the issue and the eventual shutdown of UK steel production is a clear as day. UK mill only produce standard steel qualities that just aren't as a whole profitable with the wages in a developed nation. there is zero investment in making unique steel qualities or shifting production to deal with the domestic market scrap using arc furnaces it is all about hammering out ever single penny they can out of the blast furnace before shutting down the place. the talks and work about shifting the works to arc furnaces should have started 10 years ago like it did in Sweden. the same thing that is happening in port talbot would happen in my town if it wasn't for the fact our government still owns the mines so they had to on a level step in with investment to keep our steel mills working. the investment in Unique steel qualities meant we won the contract to provide the steel for the UK navy boats. and now the investment in green steel production means arc furnaces where i live. the fact is a western nation can not compete with brazil and other south American nations on normal steel qualities when it comes to price the only way to survive is making better steel or inventing new tech to sell to said nations. (should mention nobody trusts Chinese steel so most of there production ends up in domestic use rather than international trade)

[@coffeebuzzz]

If they were aiming for hydrogen based steel made with the power from wind turbines, towns like these would prosper. Doing things the same way as a century ago is destined for failure, doesn't matter if it's privately owned or nationalised. People need to stop voting for politicians based on slogans and start looking for leaders with vision.

[@SkeletonDrums1]

Thats really insightful, thanks for this explanation. I've long known that the deindustrialisation of our nation is a terrible thing for communities. But getting a Government with a plan for encouraging new investments and technologies to bring the UKs industry up to date is essential.

[@jameswatson5807]

Trumps hotels are built using Chinese steel.

[@briangriffiths1285]

We do make special steel in the UK. In fact we export special military grade armour plating steels to USA for Tank making. These are made in Sheffield using an EAF.

[@MbisonBalrog]

Is not profitable for private investors who can’t do the work themselves. If only the workers can go into business no need worry about middle men who control money supply. If only the money supply not in control by certain groups but instead by the people as a whole you know like a nation.

[@chrisspencer6502]

Yeah, trust a foreign company to 1 make the local business un profitable 2 ship the production line to a low wage low regulation country 3 use the local business as a shell to import the new cheaper product

[@juliepaul6344]

💯

[@placemats1598]

Steel should be nationalised,run for the country,run for the workers,not run for a foreign country to take the profits and shut down

[@williamho5636]

Remember what Margaret Thatcher sold and closed. Sold the manufacturing industry….steel plants, water , gas and electricity companies etc Closed down the coal mines. She even sold the Telecom manufacturing industry. Stop blaming other overseas companies. Start by blaming what the UK government has done

[@AdrianMcDaid]

​@@placemats1598and if it keeps loosing money should the tax payer have to keep paying for it ?

[@sarahann530]

@@placemats1598 I dont remember communism being a Brexit benefit

[@derekwhite2929]

Closing the steel works will be devastating for the whole of South Wales!

[@kb4903]

Yeah but china makes steel cheaper. It’s the same as coal in the 1980s. They live in the past.

[@ajs41]

Steel isn't very environmentally friendly.

[@Paul_C]

Isn't that Tata steel? Where Sunak has part of his money in?

[@timothyoreilly6675]

Don't rely on any government to help you. I learned this the hard way.

[@axzx8000]

But they rely on our tax money, one way street

[@genestone4951]

These Brits are all socialists. They believe that literally every aspect of their lives is the responsibility of the government....its insanity.

[@redroses247]

Better late the never my dear ❤️ The government are useless. No matter who you vote for ❤️

[@graemeedgar7654]

I'm from Consett Co Durham, in the 80's the Torries closed the steel works, a profitable works, this decimated the town to this day, I was from a line of Iron and Steel men since the 1800 hundreds, the first generation to leave, left school to no work in the Town, so I joined the Army and left the North East in 86, never moved back, now we have emigrated to the Rep of Ireland, couldn't take anymore in the UK. My advice, get out if you can.

[@samuelculper4231]

As an American this report was a breath of fresh air. As bad as politics may be elsewhere in the world, American politics is off the charts insane.

[@karimtabrizi376]

Yes i think how on hell did trump get elected now biden who is past it. Whole system is inept

[@-i1007]

you could put on the plaid’s words and all of bidens words and have an 80% overlap

[@samuelculper4231]

@@yorkshirehousewife784 it’s too late. From what I’ve seen it appears you are on an irreversible course. Unfettered corporate capitalism was the final nail in our casket. Competition is so severely reduced, you can hardly call them markets. Old sluggish companies kept afloat while innovation is stagnant. As rightly concerned as I am about climate change, or at least we can call it man’s environmental footprint - I am surprised I never hear the political right make the reasonable argument that there are more urgent matters at hand regarding imminent confrontation between the West and the new Axis of evil (Russia, China, Iran). The vibe is that while the West signs off on well meaning documents to save our world, we are losing the immediate and thus long term competitive edge to China.

[@valuetraveler2026]

US decline is affecting other countries too

[@dinitis]

It is a microcosm of america and has been for decades​@@yorkshirehousewife784

[@callu947]

“I want someone who’s going to help us- Rishi Sunak” love, he is not the man to help you 😂

[@RJTheQuizzer]

I live in Port Talbot, the older generation plan to vote Conservative, shocking

[@callu947]

@@RJTheQuizzer I just don’t understand why

[@RJTheQuizzer]

​@@callu947 Many English nationalists have moved to Port Talbot, especially over 50's, we know they'll boost the Conservative vote

[@callu947]

@@RJTheQuizzer planters do as planters do

[@gdgyhgrd]

​@@RJTheQuizzerI've just checked the ONS figures and as of the 2021 census, around 6% of Neath Port Talbot are English. Meanwhile, you're watching a video of a Welsh woman who likes Rishi Sunak.

[@rodioleary]

I've watched a good few of these Guardian videos from these proud but struggling towns. Quite disheartening to see the resignation on people's faces. But amazing to highlight the local heroes trying to hold the community together. The slow death of these towns feels like the result of decades of politicians kicking the can down the road on future jobs / new economy transition. Why deal with an issue now when you can ignore it til the next election. Not hard to see why people then move to more extreme parties. Similar story across the world.

[@CarnaghSidhe]

All the driving talent amongst the young heads to London because a lot of reasons. One reason I don't see discussed much is the often casual disregard for the value of it's young people in the kind of towns you're talking about. The same young people are valued in London. These towns can blame 101 reasons, but in each case, they lost their best and their brightest to London, and they've yet to put much thought into that. Instead you'll hear lots of blather about immigrants -- who are also welcome in London. In fact many of the people who are little valued in the towns you describe, are welcome in London. I grew up in one of these kinds of towns. Some 25 years ago I moved to London to become a graphic designer and programmer. Today I live in Spain -- now the region of Spain I live in goes to great efforts to retain its young people. It puts on gigs and events for them. It supports young businesses, and overall it promotes a good attitude towards the young. They are valued. The region of Spain I live in understands that if it loses all its talent, it's dead. It works hard to retain its talent and attract new talent. The towns that are currently suffering, need to stop driving their most precious talent away and look at what actually makes a region prosper. Instead they bemoan the past and put little real thought into the future. Oh, and they're not stingy about putting up new housing in Spain, so there's plenty of cheap housing for the young. The UK needs to let go of the bitterness it has wrapped itself in, and put some adult thought into the future it wants and how best to go about getting it. Frankly, people need to stop whinging about the sky falling in and think a little about actually doing something.

[@kb4903]

But u think these people have unrealistic expectations. China can produce steel a lot cheaper. No company is going to save it and after thatcher the government is unlikely to save it.

[@AngelaVlahos]

work got sent overseas. be willing to travel.

[@count69]

No - similar story across WESTERN nations. Vote Labour for an increase to the pace.

[@aremedyfrosty]

I've watched 5 guardian videos in a row and i've not heard one person say they are voting reform. The guardian doing their very best to selectively edit out anyone who dares say they are voting reform.

[@e4t662]

Hmm, reminds me of the rust belt in the US.

[@briangriffiths1285]

Nothing like the rust belt in the US. Port Talbot is not miles from anywhere, it is next door to Swansea which has fast rail connections to Cardiff, Bristol and London. Both Cardiff and Bristol have plenty of job opportunities and Port Talbot is likely to get plenty of jobs from the off shore wind industry. The sea bed conditions require floating wind technology to be developed and used. There is likely 30 to 50 GW that can be exploited, more if the work in Irish waters gets shared.

[@EdwardSinclair]

@@briangriffiths1285 Yes, practical solutions are much better than the doom and gloom. Although, why does it take so long to implement such solutions? Who or what is causing this delay? People just want a fair chance at a job so they can live with dignity and feed their families...

[@briangriffiths1285]

@@EdwardSinclair I think it is a mindset that jobs exist for life in these old industries of steel and coal. Some guys may be too old to retrain into physical jobs and that will be a real shame but if the Unions and Tata get their heads together with the govt agencies that support training and transition, there should be jobs for all. Certainly the Grid want electrical engineers, we need thousands of heat pump installers, I cannot believe that these steel men that have worked with dangerous materials cannot be retrained? The history of Wales has been sad when the pits closed in the 80s the men didn’t find work easily and the communities in the Valleys were left in relative poverty. They need to kick that and look forward to change.

[@samuelculper4231]

@@briangriffiths1285 Valid point. This wasn’t addressed in the segment. My guess is the skilled workers are coming from elsewhere.

[@briangriffiths1285]

@@samuelculper4231 There is a shortage of skilled folks in the heating industry in the UK and also the power distribution industry. Plenty of retirees in both sectors in the next few years. I cannot stress enough that the UK intends to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2027 which is nowhere enough to have an impact on climate change, we need to install 1.4 million a year. The plumbers of today aren't skilled to do that and it also requires a serious no. of electricians too. Both trades could assimilate 250,000 workers each. But the jobs will not all be in South Wales. That is the rub. South Wales is generally seen as a low wage low cost place to live and moving to wealthier areas is a real challenge. It might be possible to manage by working rather longer hours 4 days a week or even 3 days a week to combine a home in S Wales and continuing to work. Folks need to think outside the box. Oh and yes, I have a Welsh name but born in England!

[@stephfoxwell4620]

Ironic that the Iron Lady wrecked our Steel Industry.

[@Danxph]

She wrecked the country,

[@stephfoxwell4620]

@@Danxph Indeed. Completely and utterly.

[@LuisCarruthers]

If you support Net Zero you must be delighted by that.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

@@LuisCarruthers I don't. Net Zero is bankrupting us.

[@stephfoxwell4620]

@@LuisCarruthers I don't. Net Zero is bankrupting us.

[@kieron4694]

Labour’s been running Wales for 100+ years………no economy, no jobs, no future……….no wonder the locals have lost hope………….nuff said

The Tories and Brexiteers are the ones who have driven the country into the ground

[@maestegboyo]

And the excellent 20 MPH LIMIT ❤❤❤

[@ciobalina7445]

I feel like this is a general issue. The truth is the rich are hoarding all their wealth and refusing to give any. It's doesn't matter what politicians you will vote for because they are all bought

[@thelolguy007]

Britain is gone. Has been gone for years. Unfortunately most only see it now when it’s too late. Hopefully other countries can learn from their mistakes and take control before it’s too late

[@_yonas]

1:48 As a German, I could say the same about "my" county. The amount of food banks which have opened over the last few decades is concerning to say the least. We need radical leftist change. Conservatives had their grip on power for too long, and we have now seen where it leads us. The UK has undergone a tremendous economic downturn like no other European country over the last 10 years or so thanks to the Tories. Please vote in an actual leftist party, and not Labour.

[@sarahann530]

You must be East German , no food banks required back then . Your govt took care of you

[@matthewprince9705]

What leftist parties does the UK have?

[@_yonas]

@@matthewprince9705 They should probably vote for (independent) socialist or communist parties, or, if people are not comfortable with that: Greens. I know the Greens aren't really that left, given their positions on capitalism, but I think they would still push the needle in the right direction.

[@dominicchallis2928]

@@_yonasThe Greens recognise the need to effect greater environmental responsibility and social progress by using the framework of capitalism for redistributive purposes and proper funding of social and environmental services. I’d argue that they’re quite left wing even if falling short of overturning capitalism in its entirety.

[@SvenSkottke]

We don't have any credible leftists in Germany, the most popular ones are just Kremlin agents from the party that built the Berlin wall and shot those trying to be with their families. Apparently, these people's ideas are resonating with some voters, but not as many as the far-right. And the SPD and Linke have also massively declined in popularity, don't think we'll see them back in power for a while. Realistically, the CDU will win the next election and then lose credibility like the Ampel have. Then, one of Putin's parties will win, end elections and that regime will enslave and brainwash us, just like in Belarus or occupied Ukraine. There'll be no tolerance of anything, except state sanctioned violence, hate and ignorance. The sad part is that we will do this to ourselves, by popular demand.

[@martinjohncassidyCASSIDY]

He's spot on these politicians are all the same . Things are just getting worse .

[@genestone4951]

The politicians get all the blame, but the truth is their entire value system results in misery. The problem is the mental decline of the people.

[@NotALot-xm6gz]

U.K. Steel? That ship sailed to India decades ago?

[@pevebe]

industry sold there and their people shipped in here

[@ooc4436]

They have been shipping iron ore out of Afghanistan through Pakistan into India, where they process it without any labour laws or quality control and re-absorb the finished product into the UK through shell companies. This rabbit hole is way deeper.

[@kc4276]

@@ooc4436 India has labour laws. In fact, India has a much more robust left-wing ecosystem than the UK. Furthermore, Indian steel is of extremely high quality - which is something that you would know if you knew anything about the steel industry. But of course how would Little Britain (and Brexiteers) ever know what’s going on in the rest of the world in 2024? There’s a reason why you’re not a competitive (or serious) country anymore, unlike your American and Australian cousins. You’re pretty much in the same boat as Canada, with your prime well in the past and no future to look forward to on your miserable little island.

[@ooc4436]

@@kc4276 LOL!! Oh please!

[@ruairievans]

​​@@kc4276 no need to rub too much in.

[@stefanosbrilakis5065]

Most people get it ,Starmer and Sunak are only servants of the establishment.

[@brettwalters-n4u]

Welcome to the communities of the closed coal mining towns and villages...

[@beltingtokra]

Rishi Sunak - alright? Has she has a knock to the head?

[@RJTheQuizzer]

I live in Port Talbot, the older generation plan to vote Conservative, shocking

[@SevenEllen]

@@RJTheQuizzer JAW-dropping. Have they learned NOTHING from these past 16 years???

[@alfonsohorcajada4399]

I know. I fell off the chair when she said that.😅

[@kanedNunable]

@@RJTheQuizzer because pensioners have been the most insulated from tory policies. or so they think.

[@GreenOliveBranch]

@@RJTheQuizzer Because they live in the nostalgia of the Great British era, singing 'Rule Britania' in their dreams... but those days are gone. They still need a reality check if they haven't learnt anything from the post-Brexit crises.

[@simonfunwithtrains1572]

It's not the lack of steelworks that's the issue it's the lack of forward thinking by past government always doing the immediate easy crowd pleasing stuff, instead of planning for the future. A future that perhaps didn't have a steelworks in it but had something that had replaced it of equal value.

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

It's finance or IT.

[@existentialvoid]

Labour will be under major pressure to make drastic changes for rural UK - in 5 years time these people will vote for Reform if Labour fails.

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Labour will almost certainly fail. These areas are beyond salvation. Tourism might be the only industry, like most of Southern Europe.

[@sylviabaxter265]

That’s if Reform are in power in five years time, I don’t think Farage will stay the course.

[@howtoappearincompletely9739]

That was just depressing.

[@PrinceofKyiv0331]

The UK is cooked it’s over.

[@benmarley3086]

Aged like wine

[@CarlosAlberto-ii1li]

You allowed it.

[@sharadkorgaonkar5505]

It is tragic to see the suffering of these people. But is there a solution to the economic woes of this country? All the countries are subject to the laws of the capitalist economics . Why the steel industry, or for that matter any other manufacturing industry, is not viable in the UK? The politicians would not answer these questions honestly. No government has a magic wand to solve these problems. Yet people are hoodwinked into thinking that only with the change of government things will be better. Politicians are selling false dreams to the public. The policies of the Tories was not to touch the big money at the expense of the running down of the NHS and the other welfare needs of the society. The labour party might tinker here and there, but in that case they risk the flight of capital. There are no solutions to these problems within the Capitalism.

[@kirishima638]

There is no solution. The UK is dying. This country was built on the back of an empire that no longer exists. Being members of the EU papered over the cracks for a while, but the decline was only slowed. We cannot compete globally, not in terms of resources, or industry, militarily, education or innovation. And the AI apocalypse is about to wipe us out technologically. If it’s any consolation, Europe is going the same way, hence the resurgence of the far right.

[@Avengerie]

TINA. There is no alternative. All it is is managed decline and the “rise of the rest”. Ricardian law of comparative advantage says you should focus on what you do most efficiently (i.e. cheaper), and stop doing everything else. In a globalized world it is impossible to “bring back” the steel industry when the Indians and the Chinese can do it for a fraction of the cost. The next question to people who say it should be “would you be willing to pay 2-3 times the price for iron gates, construction rebar etc to support the local industry? The honest answer is going to be “no”.

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

​@@kirishima638that's right. There is not much UK is competitive at other than the creative sector.

[@bengreenbank]

Was not expecting to see a Morbid Angel t shirt in this. Very based.

[@johnalver]

2:59 OMG I'm so glad I never had to work a job like that! That's soul crushing to have to show up to a place like that every day AND BE THERE ALL DAY! All the jobs I had were working in retail stores or fast food its great 👍

[@cincoy3679]

Will in the future there won’t be one

[@larynOneka8080]

Let's vote for people who only care about major corporations and billionaires and see what happens. Lol. This is what happens.

[@sarahann530]

Brits voted for Brexit to cut themselves off from Globalist capitalists . You should be happy

[@scallamander4899]

National governments in every country serve the international capitalist class. Never forget it.

[@lewisbaitup6352]

Yep, all the governments of the world's foundations are all built on domination over those who it exploits.

[@kb4903]

Even china and North Korea?

[@lewisbaitup6352]

@@kb4903 kim jung un and xi jingping don't look proletarian to me, they both look like bureaucrats that are way above the people who they dominate over, not to forget about china's billionaires.

[@robertduluth8994]

@@kb4903china does have capitalism they say so after deng

[@scallamander4899]

@@kb4903 Yes, North Korea is the least integrated into the world system, but still integrated.

[@Mike_TGL]

I live in PT. Look at all the shops in the background which are either closed down, or straight up abandoned. The town has been like it for years. The place is already dead.

[@waylingtons]

Man this country is seriously depressing.

[@ommanipadmehung3014]

brexit and the conservative party have driven this country off a cliff at full speed.

[@AlienatedNortherner]

Deindustrialisation has been going on for many decades now. It is not a novel phenomenon. Interestingly, the reduction in industry's share of our economy happened at its fastest rate in the Blair years.

[@mrbenn1489]

Fear not, Labour will come to the rescue.

[@silondon9010]

​@@mrbenn1489your joking right ???

[@mrbenn1489]

@@silondon9010 - naturally, and of course more than a little sarcastically.

[@apemoon1731]

Tata are investing in the plant by modernising it. Want to blame someone? Blame the climate change zealots.

[@BobB-pn2ip]

I'm a non voter from 🇺🇲. The 2 party system we have is 🗑️.

[@johndorney7812]

So much pessimism these days.

[@dannyfeller7034]

We need nationalisation of so much of the UK industry and utilities.

[@barryfield-o4y]

its 2024 not 1824

[@MichaelDamianPHD]

That's the last thing the UK needs

[@snowheader2200]

@@dannyfeller7034 I wonder what happened in the Soviet Union or Maoist China.

[@sanepillow59]

better yet, make industries like these into cooperatives

[@heldinahtmlhell]

We also need nationalisation of the UK's people.

[@Republic_Unbowed]

Similar situation got here in my city in India jamalpur but its not the steel works its the railway work

[@lazylad8544]

So what are they going to do with the land where the steel works is. Is there money for regeneration or is it another massive housing estate. Port Talbot needs a plan.

[@pauledwards7340]

Really makes me angry these steelworkers moaning and groaning about redundancies etc.What many people fail to realise is that these workers have received over inflated wages for decades and decades.Also getting quarterly bonuses when the plant was losing millions a week.Many of the workers who have worked there years will leave with gold plated final salary pensions worth hundreds of thousands plus I expect thousands in redundancy. Thousands of men and women have lost their jobs over the years and ended up with nothing.

[@purplerings1969]

If you don't vote, then you have no right to moan about what others have voted for.

[@boomshanka8743]

I don't agree - democracy means nothing if we don't respect the right to abstain from it. People deserve better than choosing the least worst option.

[@Pemmont107]

@@boomshanka8743 That may be true, but then every time in history where democracy failed (30's Italy and Germany, modern day Russia and Belarus, for example), there were too many people who simply abstained and let it happen. Democracy is so fragile. To take it for granted is to leave it and yourself vulnerable.

[@martinradcliffe4798]

@@Pemmont107 Given our absurd voting system, whether I vote or abstain is not going to have the slightest effect on the outcome. The right to abstain is a wholly legitimate political stance.

[@kanedNunable]

@@boomshanka8743 by not choosing the least worst they let the worst win last time tho. how did that help?

[@kanedNunable]

@@martinradcliffe4798 and that gave us a huge tory majority last time. how did that work out for you?

[@bobsingh7949]

thank you. i like hearing from folks. longer-form interviews with regular folks please. i recommend local autonomy, a revitilised education system, powerful communities, dignity, compassion, genius, and joy

[@Gmx92]

What the UK lacks in economic might it makes up with diversity!

[@NeygarzruinedAmerica]

😂

[@andrewsmith-lt3sx]

We sell most of your steel to the EU and used to have tariff free access to the single market, but the people of Port Talbot voted to leave, thereby making their steel less competitive. The unions also resisted attempts to install a new, less carbon intensive blast furnace, on the grounds that it would lead to job losses. The end result is that Port Talbot steel became even less competitive. The people of Port Talbot need to realize that being reliant on the steel industry is foolish. The tide of technological change over time is always for primary and secondary sector producers to use less labor as they adopt labor saving technologies. These people need to upskill and move to the tertiary sector. They are the equivalent of farm workers in the early 20th century complaining about mechanization.

[@Mundellica]

Same feeling here in the US

[@CS-1988]

Anyone who thinks sunak is ok let alone that he's helpful has completely lost the plot, unbelievable

[@rondunn4336]

Let us now call it...'Grate' Britain. shall we?

[@magnusb879]

I think england will be the next Poland in the coming 20 years, poor and hopeless. But Poland is turning around and becoming a powerhouse,,

[@Isochest]

​@dellwright1407 My wife and children are probably eligible for a Polish Passport. Perhaps that's the future as there is none here

[@CatherineDover]

Tories and ANY party that resembles should be banned. The coal industry, steel industry, water companies, Rail industry, all public services should be nationalized and the private sector fined and then kicked out of the country. What is left of it.

[@sarahann530]

The UK needs to look at North Korea to find ideas for the future

[@stevenhenry5267]

No coal

[@jameswatson5807]

Nationalized did not work.

[@sarahann530]

@@jameswatson5807 Privatization does not work either , the UK is bolloxed

[@kristiankruse3964]

How did the town vote on Brexit?

[@yusufk7975]

Essentially these are the Turkeys that voted for Christmas.

[@cal5566]

Not fair to say, the industries were built long before the EU. There's a lot more moving parts to it than just in the EU or not.

[@anglodoomer5995]

@@yusufk7975are you aware that deindustrialisation was happening before Brexit

[@Sam_Green____4114]

Brexit had nothing to with it !

[@leonblittle226]

@@yusufk7975 That level of arrogance is exactly how brexit was a win, and you learnt nothing

[@mattdamutt5681]

What a dead end. You find nobody worth voting for, but not voting only means someone else picks the malicious failure that ruins everything for you.

[@charleyzacharia9878]

I don't live in England , is it really this bad over there ?

[@Evemeister12]

It's Wales in this video, not England. But england is bad too.

[@charleyzacharia9878]

@@Evemeister12 I see , is the quality of life degrading ?

[@anthonym3351]

​@@charleyzacharia9878 yes things have gone backwards in past 15 years. Remember uk lost all it's colonies since ww2. Ireland is next to UK was 3rd world 40 yrs now one of world's richest countries. It's not that UK is overly poor it's that's things are declining NG

[@charleyzacharia9878]

@@anthonym3351 that’s very unfortunate

[@Ryan-gf5ir]

Also the price of things is ridiculous

[@rolisreefranch]

"The government should've sorted this out years ago." - That's who got you into this.

[@LukeofSmeg]

"The first successful and operational (electric arc) furnace was invented by James Burgess Readman in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1888 and patented in 1889" Why has it taken over 100 years to get this technology in place?

[@sakshambhadoria9998]

Trust and confidence in the Westminster and politics is at a historic low because of ethical scandals, policy disasters and social divisions.

[@alundavies1016]

I can understand the despair. The only party that will do anything to help the people left behind are Labour.

[@alundavies1016]

@nowherepeople3431 Labour are looking to go back to their previous overseas aid budget of 0.7% GDP when there is sufficient money to do that. Current government spending is 45% of GDP, so 70 times that of overseas aid. So your statement is wrong.

[@alundavies1016]

@nowherepeople3431 the people that run out public services?

[@Tigerman303]

Keep telling yourself that 😂

[@europainvicta3907]

It’s like Ceaușescu’s Romania - with better cars. Obviously Romania is more prosperous now. I’ve got an idea - why don’t you leave the EU That will sort it all out. 😂😂

[@hazelwray4184]

Germany, France, Italy etc, aren't facing these issues right? - hence the success of the far-right just the other day.

[@valuetraveler2026]

Even the poorest parts of Romania are not as hopeless as places like this. The woman are still thin and the people chill

[@daarianaharis]

@@hazelwray4184 How about reading up on those before you claim stuff? All you hear in those countries is immigration, immigration, immigration - and while many pretend it's an economic argument, the economic situation is not what it is in Britain, and certainly not based in immigration. The rise of the right is deeply steeped in racism, not in the desparation of factories closing down.

[@TeodorCostea-y1y]

The factory owners chose to invest in Sweden, not the UK. What's the difference between a Land-rover made in India compared with one made in the UK? UK has no trade relationship, and without London, it's a poor country. Ta-da!

[@heldinahtmlhell]

The UK is the 6th richest country in the world. And London accounts for around 14% of its economic output.

[@TeodorCostea-y1y]

@heldinahtmlhell you can't eat GDP! The UK population is one of the poorest in terms of assets in Europe. You pretty much call yourself rich for owning a home.

[@roryhand6650]

That's not really true. In terms of housing we are individually poor as the prices are unaffordable. However we have more material goods than we've ever had before (TVs, phones, laptops etc). However what is more worrying even on that front is the amount of personal debt people are being encouraged to adopt. Want this thing now and can't (don't want to) wait? Get it on finance! Want that dream car instead of putting up with something a bit older? Get it on finance! Want to save? Don't bother! Get all your hopes and dreams on finance! People are being encouraged to buy tons of stuff they don't really need with money they don't have. However, a lot of people I know seem to like that...

[@violinstar5948]

REFORM 🇬🇧 💪🏻

[@mesamies123]

🗣 GREEN! 🇬🇧🏳️‍🌈🇺🇲😉

[@rice4550]

How is reform going to bring back steel deporting migrants who help drive the economy and prevent demographic collapse doesn’t seem like a working plan

[@YolandaHalfAlmonde]

Oh look its a brainwashed fascist sheeo that thinks voting for abusive upper class will help solve problems they themselves have created. Nice try, little sheeple

[@joeduffy3309]

führage got the UK into this mess, stop shilling, these people are suffering because of him

[@primafacie6442]

@@rice4550ahhh yes of course all those Hand Car Washers and Deliveroo Drivers are really boosting our GDP/capita. 🙄

[@sevendaughters]

"Who is fighting for the steelworkers in this election?" absolutely no one, next question.

[@siskinedge]

Labour have a 2.5Bn commitment to investment in green steel so we can start producing virgin steel again in their manifesto. This country needs to get over the cheems mindset of only seeing potholes as viable when labour have an asian tiger type growth plan.

[@kb4903]

What do they want the government to do? Use public money to prop up an expensive system that china makes cheaper?

[@undesignated3491]

What do people regard as "Finished". Why is Britain finished ? For me after travelling to many different parts of the world I find Britain especially England to be so void of culture it feels like an atm. You work, buy the house and the car, then when all done, you leave. There is nothing that will keep me here other than poverty !

[@user-oq9ly8lr9z]

Looks like the US and the UK are in a pretty similar situation.

[@forumknight]

Amazing that's its such a complicated 20-30 year issue ... but the Guardians readers just keep hooting on about Brexit... strange bunch

[@Take_Me_Back_To_The_1980s]

@dellwright1407 Please tell me how on Earth a halfway sane person can consider borrowing £2 trillion in 20 years (for future generations to repay) austerity?

[@colinmacdonald5732]

Nothing to do with Net Zero bollox then?

[@LysanderLH]

The Steel workers who voted by a majority for BREXIT? Those Steel workers?

[@Grover3364]

Yes, those ones who, like most working class people, have been betrayed by a Blairite elite and are doing what they can

[@hazelwray4184]

Germany, France, Italy, etc, don't face these issues. That explains the success of far-right parties the other day.

[@RW-nr6bh]

The Welsh nationalists like to pretend it was English retirees, but in truth it was the working class 'salt of earth' Welsh people of the Valleys that did it.

[@davidpryle3935]

What’s Brexit got to do with it ? The Redcar steelworks closed in 2015 when Britain was a member of the European Union.

[@CuteTartanCat]

This is a truly disgusting reply. You have been confronted with a situation in which thousands of working class lives are about to be thrown into peril due to the closing of industry. And your first instinct is to condemn these people for bringing it upon themselves because they were disenchanted with an institution which did absolutely nothing for them. You people don’t understand why you’re hated.

[@MichaelRe-c7q]

In the UK there is no Trump or Ron Paul which is daunting. I am Irish originally but living in the US as it's my country and we are barely holding on.

[@unclegargameldgargameld4888]

I would be surprised if those electric arc furnace ever gets built , Port talbot will just become a finishing plant with the slab steel being shipped in from abroad

[@axzx8000]

Politics in this country is a laughing stock

[@nf5416]

maybe they shouldnt have voted brexit , tory , ukip etc

[@stevenhenry5267]

Exactly

[@ruairievans]

How do you know if they all voted for Brexit?

[@sturdywordy1158]

You haven't got to vote for anyone! Fact is it's always Tory or Labour

[@XTSu-sl1bb]

Democracy has failed the British people.

[@joeduffy3309]

You voted for brexit, you deserve what you get, you were warned and called it project fear. Ignorance is not an excuse

[@valuetraveler2026]

as if that is the only reason

[@AntSudbury-tv3we]

Stupidity is,,,sorry meant gullibility

[@Canis_dirus300]

Brexit happened because of the irresponsibility and arrogance of British/EU leadership. You can’t neglect and abuse your people indefinitely. Brexit was completely avoidable, had the needs of the people been taken more seriously.

[@ruairievans]

How do you know if all steel workers voted Brexit, do you have their ballot papers?

[@joeduffy3309]

@@ruairievans The video is about Port Talbot, which voted to leave the EU, Do try and keep up

[@DixieBanjo]

An independent Cymru would help a lot. Get away from the English and their failed British parliament.

[@gethinj]

Port Talbot Steel works raises over twenty billion a year in VAT to the English government. If we had an Independent Wales twenty billion a year would stay in Port Talbot.

[@scarletoharabia3801]

Record numbers on benefits and the remaining workers being taxed to the hilt to pay for it! Failing NHS, Police etc. food banks are the norm! I can only see more tax for workers and more milking the system. Eventually most hard working if they can will leave the cesspit that was once a great country.

[@richardbarton2709]

I see the Tories are helping the steel workers NOT.

[@jablot5054]

Why should they ? It's up to the people to invest in their own futures.

[@TheVintageApplianceEmporium]

And yet the Conservative Government has pledged £500million to help with transition. What has Welsh Labour done? NOTHING!

[@paramotorhead]

@@jablot5054 they do invest in their own future by grafting for the company, why else do you work for a company FFS. The company is supposed to pay that back by reinvestment.

[@timowagner1329]

​@@jablot5054 why are people homeless? Just buy a house lol

[@ruairievans]

​@@timowagner1329 like it's that easy?

[@matthewprince9705]

Just like what the workers in the 1970s were striking about... they saw this coming. History is repeating again 😢

[@kb4903]

Out dated and poor industry not being floated by the tax payer as it’s cheaper to import?

[@getlost3346]

Thats why Reagan warned people..." the most frightening words uttered...I am from the government, and i am here to help you".

[@celticlofts]

If they don't vote then they don't get to complain, it's as simple as that.

[@Jonathan1997hk-ln4yk]

Well if people in the UK bought UK products and people weren't obese might help

[@SevenEllen]

This feels like what happened in the 80s with Thatcher closing the coal mines.

[@trytwicelikemice3190]

Its tragic how hapless the Greens look. This election is crying out for a competent, serious Green party with a strong energy/industrial policy, openness to closer economic ties with the EU and a moral stance on Israel/Gaza. Instead we seem to have a bunch of useless old crusties. Such a shame.

[@kb4903]

Competent serious greens is an oxymoron

[@dominicchallis2928]

Watch Carla Denyer in the debates.

[@clappedoutmotor]

So get involved with the party

[@JackTenrec-qk4zp]

learn to code BRO!!

[@anthonyrybicki1000]

Wakes has ditched all of its Tory MPs so it must have learned something in the last 14 years!

[@worldofameiso5491]

Where's Wales?

[@peteblueeyes]

love the welsh accents

[@edwardanthony8929]

Amazing that I agree with the Plaid leader.

[@mikecohen2400]

Where are the young voices in these videos, all you see are the older people from the community.

[@enochpowelghost]

Why are all our steel works closing?. If you don't make anything you don't EARN ANYTHING ITS MADNESS!. to put skilled people out of work is just crazy.

[@AnakinsDaycareForPadawans]

Ideally, the best kind of politician would be someone who doesn’t want to be a politician. But therein lies the problem.

[@alcapone6796]

Weren't the TATAs building a giga factory in UK? Can they not absorb some people from Port Talbot?

[@QuoPaperPlane]

Plaid and Sunak! What do you call people who actually enjoy ruination and pain but still complain about it?

[@freshfruityglitter]

Why wasn’t there a major focus in these segment about how this area voted to leave the European union (brexit) and how Brexit has had a devastating impact on the steel industry?

[@josephkolodziejski6882]

Because it's very simple, they were lied to by a slogan on the side of a bus.

[@lewisbaitup6352]

This wouldve happened even if we stayed in the EU, the EU isn't really a pro worker institution.

[@andrew30m]

@@lewisbaitup6352The EU is increasing tariffs and raising the regulations on those imports coming from outside the EU, such as the UK

[@lewisbaitup6352]

@@andrew30m well like i said, they're not pro worker. It's just an imperial core club that extracts wealth from the ones who need it most, it's not something we should be a part of but we left it to compete in the same game as it, not to be better than it.

[@davidpryle3935]

The Redcar steelworks closed in 2015 when Britain was a member of the European Union 🤔

[@paulprosser4108]

If you cant be bothered to vote then shut up and stop moaning.

[@fanfeck2844]

Exactly

[@DescendIntoTheAbsurd]

What is the point in voting when only two neoliberal parties can win power?

[@russellg5022]

poor guy was made redundant 42 years ago. Now he's in politics. Reading between the lines: He was made redundant 42 years ago and hasn't had a real job since. 2:33

[@connoryhhhfgbvlk]

Revolution is needed

[@alankirkby465]

@connoryhhhfgvlk Interesting concept.

[@amayastrata4629]

They voted leave. The eu attempted to increase tariffs against non eu steel and the uk government vetoed it. You voted for everything you got Port Talbot.

[@silentking5559]

Until tariffs are put on these cheap imports our industries will never recover, nor will the economy, we can't run a country on just banks and hedge funds.

[@thedon8772]

You all voted for Brexit, you got what you wanted and now complaining about who's going to support British steel, I know!!! Go and ask Farage.

[@leonblittle226]

We voted for it and absolutely NOBODY in government would make it happen correctly after the instruction was made. You still think this is a functional democracy ? The fact it lives on in your brain as pure salt was reason enough to vote brexit and keep on doing it.

[@thedon8772]

@@leonblittle226 a Brexit cultist unable to accept that you were conned.

[@kumstuke]

​@@leonblittle226how does correct Brexit look like?

[@twistedsister2568]

@@leonblittle226 we weren’t conned and I’d vote for it again. The government failed to implement the will of the people.

[@sharonharris9782]

​@@leonblittle226unfortunately, you weren't lied to. You just didn't do your research. You were the mark. Congratulations on being conned. Oh, and by the way there was no way to do Brexit correctly, as you put it.

[@apemoon1731]

I thought Tata were investing in the Port Talbot site by replacing the old, dirty furnaces with cleaner, electric ones? They arent closig the site, they're modernising it. Do they want investment or not? Blame the climate change zealots if you have blame anyone.

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

Does Wales really want to be independent of the UK like Scotland?

[@peterbedford2610]

Outside of London, its a doom loop