Why are the Tories collapsing? These true-blue towns know the answers | Anywhere but Westminster

[@theshahunshah5408]

Nice food bank, has something approaching a pleasant, non-humiliating atmosphere.

[@samsteve1000]

The thing is, Food Banks weren't a thing until the Tories came to power. Now there are more in the UK than branches of McDonald's! Go figure.

[@Electrowave]

Yes it's somewhere to not be embarrassed to walk into. Our foodbank closed down but people needed to get a ticket from CAB or a church to be able to get food from it. Now people need a £8 bus ticket to get to the next nearest one from here.

[@SagaLarton]

How do you know?

[@JJPwfelli]

​@@pippajennings5856bet they do. All the so-called 'posh' places in Britain always have a flip side of bad poverty.

[@malcolmmitchell6529]

Ludicrous comment. Food banks are a DISGRACE.

[@heijd]

When the conservatives lose retired Times readers, they are truly on the edge of whipeout.

[@oscarfeatherstone6688]

whipeout

[@captainbuggernut9565]

I doubt it.

[@diskopartizan0850]

@@oscarfeatherstone6688 whipeout

[@Clare0116]

​@@captainbuggernut9565 The Cons havelost the trust of the people!

[@MichaelJ44]

30% of Young Germans are voting AFD. The only reason why the Tories aren’t attracting the young vote, is because they’re not right wing.

[@AaronOkeanos]

The main problem is the trust is gone. This is the real cost of the lies and broken promisses.

[@samuelfawell9159]

They have been making the same promises and the telling the same lies for the last few elections, the same things over and over, and having the GALL to say now, “sure we didn’t follow though with what we promised last time but we super duper promise that we might seriously think about fixing the problems we caused… maybe… if you pay us”

[@DameNelson]

tories wasting/stealing public funds to mates and family. This needs to be looked into and prosecutions made.

[@milsub59]

I never trusted any Tory...ever

[@Tsunamiash80]

@malcky630 I'm curious, i see this kinda of whataboutry as a defense of the Tories, but what exactly makes you think you can't trust Starmer other than the Tories and their stooges (proven liars) saying so? Or is this just the lazy "oh you can't trust anyone, they are all as bad as each other" rhetoric?

[@milsub59]

@malcky630 I don't trust Starver....he is a Tory

[@davidking5765]

We need some form of Proportional Representation in the UK. The two-party system is at the root of everything wrong with this country.

[@jaysterling26]

Here's....Nigel!

[@chindit6784]

The UK will end up with a Conservative-reform coalition and a Labour-lib diem-Green coalition

[@tajj7]

100% yes because we wouldn't have had this mess for the last 14 years, most elections the elected government gets maybe 35% of the vote at best, and because we generally only have one right wing party, you have most of the country voting for parties who more broadly align with each other, being governed by the party that is basically the opposite of what they voted for.

[@neilpike6758]

End the first past the past system, REAL PROP REP NOW> Vote Reform this time.

[@TheDrexelUK]

@@neilpike6758 Lib Dems have been campaigning for electoral reform for decades - no need to vote Reform. Perhaps people should have voted in the referendum that really mattered instead of the one that didn't.

[@MrGraemeb2022]

I can't help thinking that all those 'undecided' conservative voters are reluctant to publicly admit they'll vote Reform on July 4th. But they will.

[@JBucks99]

Im not sure you're right. These areas were mainly remain. I think it'll be a low turn out as they think they haven't got any one to vote for. Other less affluent blue wall areas might go Reform but not the likes of Guildford. Lib Dems could do well too

[@PhilEadie65]

Not so much in Surrey. Some will but the move is much more to the LDs.

[@Robbiewa-bg4lu]

Vote Reform

[@PhilEadie65]

@@SaintWill70 He won't be leader of opposition so would not have much direct interaction

[@freakishuproar1168]

@@Robbiewa-bg4lu Why would I vote for pro-Putinist party? :3 Seems like that'd be a silly thing to do.

[@mesnilman2327]

I want a dream. I want a vision. But for the time being, I'll get by on wanting the Tories out.

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Neither will you get with Labour, just higher taxes and less money in your pocket.

[@MichaelMayhewMcNally]

@@jjefferyworboys8138if you want the public services to improve, the money and investment has to come from somewhere. If your roof was leaking, you wouldn’t sit on your hands complaining about it but being disgusted that you had to pay for it would you?

[@matthewbacon5734]

Vote Reform!

[@Nora.........]

@@MichaelMayhewMcNally Labour will tax you, and tell you that it is for the roof. . . It will not be for the roof. Vote Reform. . . the roof will finally get fixed.

[@leehighland5435]

Farage is the only one talking sense, vote reform

[@Yeah-Buddy-Lightweight]

The one guy in a FOOD BANK saying he's not sure if he's going to vote Tory. Complaints about how bad things are and people still say things like that. Stop complaining, then, if you're still thinking of voting Tory.

[@matthewbacon5734]

Vote Reform or this country is finished!

[@Yeah-Buddy-Lightweight]

@@matthewbacon5734 Nah

[@matthewkent-ellis1121]

Ah yes, tories have brought us to our knees. Vote double strength tory. Makes sense

[@Nora.........]

@@matthewbacon5734 I will be voting for Reform. X

[@Tozzywozzy01]

@@matthewbacon5734 Vote for Amazon! Like Reform they're a private company run by tax-dodging millionaires but at least they deliver what you ask for.

[@JayGrofte]

They all voted for broken Britain but seem dumbfounded about how we got here

[@nizviz]

We've been broken for decades.

[@ALV694]

​@@nizvizunder tory rule for 14 years

[@nizviz]

@@ALV694 you really think the Tories have been ruling?

[@jt5765]

As if things were great under the previous Labour government? Just admit the LabCon uniparty are both terrible & the country needs change without any of the establishment cronies running the show. Reform or Workers party are the only votes that make any sense.

[@paulgibbon5991]

@@jt5765 Let's have a look to before the global financial crash, shall we? No food banks, booming public services, tax havens being closed, poverty levels being vastly lower, we were in the EU, and no Trumpanzee hate politics oozing into the mainstream. What a terrible dystopia. BTW, the term "uniparty" was coined by Marjorie Taylor Greene, speaking of Trumpism. Look her up, and then ask yourself if you want to be chanting her talking points.

[@Albert_O_Balsam]

"I'm leaning towards Conservative, but the last 14 years haven't been the best", and there you have it, idiocracy

[@davidcooks2379]

Because he is conservative, but not a Conservative

[@auxlen]

I came to comment on this. As humans were are flawed. Stockholm syndrown...

[@markoconnell2458]

97 Tony the Tory Labour They probably voted for him then

[@Edward-cv2gw]

Not necessarily. You can dislike the Tories,but that doesn't automatically mean you think Labour is any better. It can come down to the least worst option.

[@ANonymous-p5x5n]

Idiocy

[@hholton7245]

When questioned on National Service, Sunak said he would use access to finance and sanction people who refused. That is sinister, would you want to fight for a country led by Sunak? If left to Sunak and the Tories people won't have a choice.

[@3baxcb]

I wouldn't be surprised if he found exemptions for any relatives of his political allies who don't want to enlist under his proposal on National Service.

[@ericdunn555]

According to Wishy-Washy, you won't able to drive a car nor ride a motorbike, unless you have completed your "National Service". If that's not blackmail, I don't know what is 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@hopesprings7812]

I think he's finally gone stark raving mad.

[@Bob-e9f9q]

Didn’t know that. In keeping with Globalist mindset though

[@jamesgravil9162]

@@hopesprings7812 Finally?

[@iskrajackal9049]

Pretty much every tory voter is embarrassed and says they can't vote conservative again, but it seems obvious they'll still vote tory in the privacy of the polling booth

[@videostoviews2262]

😂

[@joni8090]

Mugs 🤡

[@johnboy14]

Same in America. This attachment to parties is baffling

[@markoconnell2458]

Hope they vote Lib Dems and not Reform

[@janjanwaladier]

i highly doubt they will. the tories are absolutely done

[@kb4903]

Older women blaming the whole lot will definitely vote tory again and then complain about the state of the country. How about give another party ago boomers?

[@TheMillieBurton]

How about young people bothering to vote? That might do the trick as well!

[@mariatheresavonhabsburg]

​@@TheMillieBurton If there wasn't such distrust in the political system, perhaps they might.

[@methanedirigible]

@@TheMillieBurton They’re not particularly interested in things like ‘triple lock plus pensions’ (which they won’t even have access to until they’re 70 anyway), they don’t want to be made to do the national service their own parents didn’t have to do. Who in politics even speaks to young people?

[@SkyEcho7]

👋🏻 Boomer here NEVER voted Tory in my life & NEVER will

[@Anonyomus_commenter]

@@methanedirigibleGreens, Lib Dems, some parts of Labour

[@mikegreig3338]

Man sitting in a food bank, I’m not sure might still vote Tory, 2010, 35 food banks in uk, 2024 c2700….. The logical disconnect with Tory voters is huge….

[@workevan-mathias7714]

I agree - food banks are a plaster on an infected wound. Food banks are far more expensive to run, cost to economy, than simply ensuring welfare allows people to buy their food from extremely efficient commerial outlets. It is dumb, wasteful and pushes people to crime.

[@mikegreig3338]

@@wulfhere83 and rightly so, except reform, remember their leader took us out of the EU, which made us all poorer, reform is not an intelligent option…

[@thecheesefactor]

@@wulfhere83 Reform has nowhere near the support Labour does, or for that matter, the Lib Dems. Too much like the Tories.

[@suffist]

@@mikegreig3338 Yes, because we're still waiting on Brexit. It actually got worse because people like you in the Tory and every other party did everything in their power to ruin it. We never left the UCHR. We got nothing for voting for Brexit, NOTHING because of people like you.

[@antediluvianatheist5262]

​@@wulfhere83no, you're not.

[@grassygnoll3345]

The footballer's comment that voting anyone but tory isn't a sign of a healthy democracy or of anyone showing any real choice is spot on.

[@Deathwish026]

yeah your right but what do ? these are the 3 choices and we have nothing else.

[@gamerguy7853]

It’s madness that there isn’t a compulsory purchase order on houses like that if they have been empty for a few years. Crazy how those houses are just left empty

[@kayew5492]

They already belong to either the council or a local housing association. They don't have the money to maintain/repair/refurbish the properties they have, due to years of underfunding.

[@dulls8475]

@@kayew5492 Years of wasting money.....get some facts inya.

[@12presspart]

yes its crazy i hope labour do something about it when they get in and force compulsory purchase we need affordable home and a fair renting system

[@thecheesefactor]

@@12presspart Renting system is broken. Anyone who says it favours tenants is a landlord or just lying. I have just gone through it and after numerous shenanigans it took almost a year to move. A ridiculous waste of time.

[@geofflepper3207]

Toronto recently implemented a tax on vacant homes. People have to certify that they live in their house to avoid the tax which is significant. Though unfortunately the implementation of the tax has been a disaster with many people saying that they were given a notice to pay the tax even though they had certified that they live in their house and that it is not vacant.

[@deadadam666]

this video in two words 'voter apathy'

[@germansnowman]

I think it’s frustration more than apathy.

[@thecheesefactor]

There is a lot of regret as well. Too many voted poorly and they know it, both for the Tories and for Brexit. Some don't and are in a state of denial or just plain numbness. Some are blissfully unaware.

[@spinynorman8217]

BS, that is your narrative, Brexit has never been implemented, THAT is the truth chap.

[@dquzmanovic]

People still don't get it. It doesn't matter! All major parties are different faces of the same coin. Either vote for an independent candidate whom you know well or don't vote at all.

[@germansnowman]

@@dquzmanovic The problem with that is that this tends to be a wasted vote, especially in an FPTP system.

[@CertifiedSlamboy]

"We could do the country better than that lot" said the lady who has always and will always vote Tory.

[@SlavaBanderastan]

snide comment from the sheep who thinks starmer Labour is a vote for chage 😂

[@schester159]

​@@SlavaBanderastanOr maybe a realistic assessment of a person who is akin to the proverbial turkey voting for Christmas. This Tory government is the most corrupt and incompetent of my lifetime and the country is crying out for change.

[@gavincraddock5772]

IS there anything more frustrating than hearing someone complain about the problems the country has and then saying that they're not even sure if they're going to vote?

[@yucol5661]

Better than not voting

[@AbigailBrown-wk7xl]

Tories have failed British people. Broken promises 😢😢

[@Outdoorshuntingshooting]

Keir starmer ‘hold my beer’

[@kevinwillis6707]

Hasn't been a great 14 years....leaning towards the conservatives...😂

[@JohnnyCrash-ug8zt]

Obviously thought the Tories and Conservatives were separate parties..🤪

[@clarkejosland9982]

Hasn't been great for the last 25 years 😂

[@IRISHSALTMINER61]

@@clarkejosland9982hasn’t been great since 1997… Tony

[@JonyJon-d3p]

People complain all the time but make no effort to understand anything beyond a tabloid headline.

[@tara34952]

I think basic politics and economics should be taught in schools. I think a lot of people simply think it's too complicated and difficult to understand and they don't know where to begin.

[@michaelandrews4783]

@@tara34952 IF they did a Conservative party would never hold power ever again.

[@tara34952]

@@michaelandrews4783 I disagree.

[@antediluvianatheist5262]

​@@tara34952they'll never do that, because a politically aware populace would do things like start looking into socialism.

[@Strange_Club]

Aint that the truth?

[@progpuss]

Tories= no moral standards

[@mattblack6736]

sounds like a safe bet to me

[@dererik9070]

​@@mattblack6736look at real GDP per capita the last years and food bank users since 2014

[@EmiSuperTrans71]

Though as a Transgender Women in a wheelchair Labour aren't any better. LibDems or Greens for me the only two who don't want to fight cultures and actually deal with the countries issues instead demonising minorities.

[@kanedNunable]

@@EmiSuperTrans71 labour created the NHS which you use. libs and tories didnt want it. greens are ok but its a wasted vote in most places.

[@captainbuggernut9565]

Yes because Tony Bliar is an example of honesty. 😂

[@MoonschoolGamer]

Glad to see this series is back!

[@no_one_of_that_name_here]

Voting for Tory is a sign of insanity

[@evonne_o]

Totally agree.

[@paulgibbon5991]

Specifically, self-harming tendencies.

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

​@@wulfhere83they couldn't make it any worse

[@AmazingDuckmeister]

It is the sign you aren't suffering

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

@@alexanderstefanov6474 Labour will make it worse, particularly for you

[@TheF1uffyOne.50]

I'm in the Tory south east...I can be quite vocal about my utter disbelief of the corruption of these fools in charge. Tactical all the way...net zero Tories.

[@ErinStephanie-mf2qk]

This Tory government, is a story that can be split into three ABC chapters, all flowing into each other: Part I - Austerity; Part II - Brexit; Part III - Collapse.

[@ALV694]

You forgot part 4 blame it on migrants

[@rogerbennett9641]

@@ALV694 Socialism is an ideology that can be defined with 2 words; hypocrisy and corruption.

[@0w784g]

Tory government backed remain. How is your memory so short?

[@rogerbennett9641]

Socialism is a story that can be defined with one word; TYRANNY.

[@ALV694]

@@0w784g yet most of its members are brexiters

[@NeverRubARhubarb]

So many tales of decline, disintegration and disrepair. Yet the billionaire class's wealth has increased by 34% since the onset of covid. A wealth tax is the only way to recoup this unearned, unneeded and undeserved windfall.

[@krob2327]

I agree.

[@progpuss]

Starmer has to win over the right wing press , if he doesn't they have no chance, he's already there now , Blair did the same as the sun said vote labour, the only time it's happened. I hate Murdoch he's 80% the problem

[@ChartreuseDan]

Thing about winning over the right-wing press is you've got to repulse the left-wing voters to do it

[@david-pb4bi]

So true, I work with people on minimum wage two pay packets from being evicted, fooled into thinking they are middle class and are still staunch Tories.

[@Anonyomus_commenter]

@@david-pb4biIt’s because under neo-liberalism, accepting that you are working class is seen as shameful, so people pretend they are middle class- it’s what happens when you associate wealth with hard work.

[@david-pb4bi]

@@Anonyomus_commenter That’s just wishful thinking, unfortunately to quote Bob Dylan “ It’s a wonder that they still know how to breathe.”

[@dulls8475]

@@david-pb4bi Dont worry they will drop a class when Labour get in.

[@albertbrammer9263]

The country is broken. 14 years of austerity has broken it.

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

In case you aren't old enough to remember that it was the previous outgoing Labour governments financial incompetence that resulted in the first 10 years of austerity. Covid and the illegal invasion of Ukraine can hardly be blamed on the Tories.

[@tatata1543]

@@jjefferyworboys8138Well, that and a worldwide economic crisis. You forgot that part .

[@tomricketts7821]

You ain’t seen nothing yet Brexit has only just begun to bite

[@Layla-kd4ui]

In 1984 the country was broken...5 years of Thatcher's neoliberalism had broken it...and neoliberalism is all that has been on offer since 1979. I'm genuinely baffled as to why everyone is only speaking about the last 14 years...

[@loolfactorie]

@@tatata1543 Oh yeah, and grand decisions like selling off our gold at a record low and driving our country into greater debt was a great strategy?

[@FuadMohamed-k7o]

Just when you think the Tories can't sink lower,they find a new level. It's some achievement.

[@Sally237-s4w]

Sounds like my son in law..I can’t beleive how he acts..same thing.

[@SagaLarton]

Labour you mean

[@DilanPerera1]

Never vote for Tories.

[@nizviz]

Or Labour.

[@triffid68]

@@nizviz Avoid Reform like the plague

[@ALV694]

​​@@nizvizwhat are you, a brexiter

[@fullovstars9447]

@@nizviz Labour are Tories now?

[@babylon_bob]

@@ALV694 More constituents in Labour areas voted Brexit that Tories, so your point is

[@TitouannBiard]

I'm watching it from France and honestly what a piece of content, absolutely love it

[@MattGarnham1]

Really enjoy these series. Actually going out and speaking to real people rather than sitting in a podcast studio and endlessly discussing what people want or think.

[@stevemcgowen]

Leaving the largest trading bloc next door couldn’t possibly be why the uk is falling apart…

[@razorbird789]

Because it's sunny uplit hills over there. Give over

[@wulfsorenson8859]

You’re right it isn’t. Locking down the entire country for 3 years and printing money doesn’t really benefit the economy.

[@Midland_Wolf_71]

The only time I could ever consider "leaning to the Conservatives" is to make sure my Uppercut lands solidly....

[@23merlino]

nice one... LOL :-)

[@timmelia7551]

That says more about you than the Tories .

[@Midland_Wolf_71]

@@timmelia7551 Zzzzz, Bore off.

[@timmelia7551]

Touché.

[@paolom.6011]

Likely you couldn't beat eggs.

[@jim-es8qk]

My area has been conservative for ever. It is probably going to switch to Labour.

[@Jonpoo1]

I’m in a totally safe seat for the tories. First time in my life I’ve ever seen Labour leaflets through the door.

[@williamhenry8914]

awesome

[@jt5765]

Vote reform 🇬🇧💪🏻♥️🙏🏻

[@fullovstars9447]

But thats just more of the same :-(

[@fullovstars9447]

@@jt5765 That's all we need a return to the 1930's and the British Union of Fascists? What are all the reform voters going to do when farage bins the nHS?

[@chrisdawson6156]

The Tories are collapsing because they really have left us in a mess

[@gamewithadam7235]

Seeing those empty houses made me cry.

[@amandadavenport1994]

Did the candidate explain why they're empty? I was watching this outdoors and couldn't hear!

[@LAD907]

perfectly put. 'there's something going on' but not for anybody we speak to..that is the sense of most places I visit around the country

[@GeorgeGeorgeOnly]

Most of us probably already pay enough tax. What we need is for all the tax loopholes to be closed down, and stop all the public funds being place in the private hands of those who have far to much money in the first place.

[@PhilEadie65]

'Enough' is often used but somewhat subjective. Not sure loop holes are losing that much and a large amount of what is collected is being used to pay interest on debts accumulated on spending from before many of us were born.

[@sluglife9785]

We need to have a proper sit down and look at the ins and outs of the tax system. Some people are paying too little. Some people are paying too much. And then there are some forms of tax which don't make any sense, and some which do make sense that we don't employ. Need a proper reformation, with a new social contract, imo. I honestly think the country's ready for it, it will just be tricky and in itself cost money to do.

[@Dreyno]

⁠@@PhilEadie65You’re “not sure” tax loopholes are losing much? It costs billions every year.

[@PhilEadie65]

@@Dreyno Yes OK, much is relative though. Say 20 billion on revenues of close to 1 trillion.

[@Dreyno]

@@PhilEadie65 20 billion isn’t much? 20 billion is the total cost of the increased defence spending over the next six years. It’s the entire commitment the U.K. has made towards carbon capture for the next 20 years. 20 billion is not an insignificant amount.

[@mistazed1170]

I’ve never understood why there are 100s of different types of cheese but only 2 serious political parties you can choose from. People talk about diversity but we have no diversity to choose from in the ruling elites. Choosing between any of the main contenders barely makes a difference as they all serve the same corporate paymasters

[@MsCharlieBrown78]

Clearly these people who say 'they could do a better job than that lot' can't. They voted for what they got!

[@annphillips1086]

And they'll fully do it again!

[@MsCharlieBrown78]

@@annphillips1086 yep. You can see it in their faces. They never learn.

[@gotany1]

Torie's motto, "As the Torie's standards rise, their morals sink."

[@BEGGARWOOD1]

What’s more scary is all the “don’t knows “

[@thecheesefactor]

All those who voted Tory in 2019 must find it embarrassing. They fell for the trickery.

[@SteveeeeeeeeeeeeeFB]

If you're in Farnborough or Aldershot please vote Labour If you're in Farnham, Ash, Guildford or Godalming please vote Lib Dem. Get the useless tories out.

[@margaretpepper3550]

No, simply vote Reform. QED!!

[@BalosWarlock]

Dont vote for labour or lib dems or tory anyone else please, There all motivated by unrealistic aims, Take your country back.

[@simonjones2240]

Why would anyone with a brain vote labour?

[@chrysalis4126]

@@margaretpepper3550 Reform UK ltd is just a business owned by public schoolboy millionaires, they aren't going to improve things for the ordinary people. Farage thinks we need an insurance based healthcare system like the states so it'd be bye bye NHS.

[@MikePhillips-pl6ov]

I would, if I was in one of those constituencies. And if I was in Bristol I'd vote Green, and if in Clacton I'd vote Reform. Anything to get the Tories out. I shall vote Labour where I live, as they are the only party that can beat the Tories. I don't think Labour are great. But better than a Tory MP here.

[@VesiustheBoneCruncher]

As I said on Guardian comments, the surprise isn’t that Aldershot is probably going Labour, the surprise is it’s taken this long. Guildford’s always had massive Lib Dem support, it’s never, ever been true blue. There, and in ‘true blue’ seats around here, there is a massive Liberal vote that has been roundly ignored by Tory MPs since time immemorial. Rushmoor is unusual for the area that Labour is the alternative, but if you know Rushmoor, you’ll understand that makes perfect demographic sense. The worm has turned. For at least this election there is consensus in the progressive vote, even the reform vote, across party lines, get these Tory tools out.

[@rhysepoos]

Absolutely spot on! Aldershot is a working class town, it should never have been Tory. I have never understood how people can see the poverty and homelessness in the area, and then vote for the politicians who caused it.

[@fabrice7458]

I am so glad you are back online. I have watched all previous episodes of Anywhere but Westminster, I mean all. I am French and I love Britain. Your videos bring a unique understanding of the political and socio economic situation in Britain. I wish you all the best. Wish us luck: Situation in France is dreadful and scary

[@tara34952]

Tell us more about France, please. What is happening there right now?

[@fabrice7458]

Sure. The results of the European elections brought the far right (Rassemblement National-RN) in 1st place with 32% of votes. French President called for general elections for 30 June and 7 July. We have a fair risk of having a far right government which will deeply divide the country. Populism is on the rise. #1 problem is purchasing power. Low income people especially in rural areas suffer. They are fed up and want to give their chance to RN. We all saw that coming during the past 7-10 years and the centrist government failed to address the problems of the working class and instead chose to reduce the super tax on the rich and increase tax credit for corporations. Sounds familiar?

[@JL-sw7mh]

"we need to pay more taxes" - two retired boomers who don't pay taxes

[@LesOuefsBrouillés]

Maybe they were offering to pay 😂

[@normanchristie4524]

They probably do...

[@sluglife9785]

I was actually just pleased to hear someone having the guts to say that.

[@chrisd5964]

First, everyone pays taxes, every time you shop you pay 20% tax for example. Second, don’t fall for the far right tactic of dividing people by age, note the Tories National Service and Farage saying young peoples ‘minds are poisoned’. Why do you think the right wants to divide people by age, religion or ethnicity?

[@pickyricky820]

When i see somebody use the word boomer all i see in my mind is a hateful twenty something jealous type character who does not understand how the system works and i can assure you, it aint the boomers fault that you have no future.

[@happisakshappiplace.6588]

As someone who lived in Woking for 20 years it was a working class towm. The railway is a direct 25 min train ride to central london. That railway and the ease to get into london attracted the London Yuppie over spill. The council caught on and set about turning the place from a working town to a yuppie towm. Made it terribly expensive to live and drove all the working class out.

[@formxshape]

Places like Portugal or Japan, Taiwan - don’t just stick everything in one city. Why does England jam everything into London.

[@TheOfficialEmirati]

​@formxshape japan and taiwan local councils dont get to block tower blocks, high reises urban density etc. In England people who live 45 mins by train london act like they want to live in a village.

[@MookMineola]

Are u looking forward to your council taxes doubling under labour .

[@JJPwfelli]

All the so-called wealthy and celebrated areas in Britain have a flip side of being home to some of the worst poverty.

[@12presspart]

@@formxshape yes why dont we have 7 or 8 devolved parliments in england like scotland or wales why should the problems say in manchester or birmingham be run from london i live in the north west an area of some 6/7 million people bigger than son european countries

[@paulm7243]

I love when John goes on the road. Some of the most refreshing Guardian content.

[@EdLeslie-h4w]

I have often wondered... Bankrupt Council's. Was it because people where allowed to buy their council flats/houses and so now there's no money being paid to the council in rents? My mum and dad and my mates mums and dads bought there flats and sometime later I thought all that money that came to the council's is no longer comming in.

[@Christina-g4s]

They made it worse as any remaining places are taken up by those that are on housing benefit and council tax exempt. Meanwhile you have 4-6 working people jammed in one house, paying a private landlord sharing one council tax bill. This is why there's no money. Madness really

[@dulls8475]

Yes keep people poor with rent.......

[@fiddley]

Not only that but councils now home the needy in housing owned by private landlords.Yet another scheme cooked up to get the taxes you have paid out of the hands of government and into the pockets of the rich.

[@12presspart]

thats true the councils mdae millions from rents then along came thatcher who said buy your own council house at a knock down price result 30 years later we have an acute housing shortage and with all the immigrents comming in its going to get worse

[@EdLeslie-h4w]

​@@dulls8475And buying a house doesn't?

[@joeegg90]

This is instructive for everyone watching who isn't from the South-east of England. Why?? Because many people from elsewhere in Britain have had this hardship for decades. Hint: since Thatcher kicked the British manufacturing sector to death. Now it's the South-east's turn, and guess what ? They don't like it one bit.

[@rhysepoos]

The truth is that parts of the South East have always experienced poverty. Unfortunately, they were ignored by the wealthier areas that didn't care, or didn't want to know. However, in recent years it's become impossible to ignore. Every town and city in the South East has visible homelessness and food banks galore. The middle classes can't pretend not to see it anymore.

[@GeorgeP1066]

You do realise that some of the most deprived parts of the country, to this day, are in the south east, right? Places like Hastings and Folkestone were on their knees long before the north deindustrialised. The stereotype that all is prosperous in the south east is about as ridiculous as visiting the high rises of Manchester city centre, or wealthy villages in Cheshire, and thinking the north is going through an economic boom.

[@krob2327]

@@GeorgeP1066agree.

[@DiodeFilms]

The "I don't believe the other parties will deliver either," attitude is a valid opinion, but its a terrible justification to continue voting Conservative. The Conservatives are the one party you KNOW won't improve things because you've got 14 years of hard evidence of that.

[@Dreyno]

Is it valid? The last Labour government delivered better healthcare, education and wealth distribution. If we’re basing things on facts, that opinion isn’t valid.

[@billgreen576]

What do they mean "we need to pay more taxes". The UK is now paying more in tax than ever. It is how the Govt spend it that is the issue. And hiving off public services at inflated prices to Tory supporters serves the minority. You, Mr Harris, are still quoting Johnson....Why?

[@rhysepoos]

As a leftie living in Hampshire and Surrey, I'm delighted that people here are finally turning their backs on the Tories. Better late than never, I suppose!

[@FART-REPELLENT]

Don't get too excited yet, because we have another major hurdle to overcome ie Tory-Starmer.

[@CarlGerhardt1]

Hopefully, they're voting Reform.

[@thecheesefactor]

14 years of it though. What have "we" done to ourselves?

[@wulfsorenson8859]

They will vote Reform. Too bad for you.

[@thecheesefactor]

​@@wulfsorenson8859 UKIP 2.0 Not a party but a limited company. 30p Lee is there.

[@martogambir]

Surrey is where Harry Potter lives, right?

[@methanedirigible]

Indeed. He votes Labour where most of the Slytherin lot vote Tory. Boris Johnson was in the same quidditch team as Lucius Malfoy.

[@Blackadder75]

@@methanedirigible Boris Johnson is a Squib, I doubt he would make the team

[@fredjones234]

​@@methanedirigible😅😅😅

[@jt5765]

​@@methanedirigible Ravenclaw would be the Tories. Hufflepuff LibDems. Slytherin are the religious extremist house.

[@methanedirigible]

@@jt5765 Slytherin are Reform?

[@IowanMatthew683]

Ngl, the sheer economic damage and trauma 14 years of Tory rule has dealt Britain is unforgivable.

[@ImMigrant98086]

I want to know what it would take for people to not vote conservatives? How much more damage before they change their mind?

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

I have lived through Labour governments and the prospect of another doesn't appeal. I live in an area that's been both Tory and Lib Dem and I will vote tactically for the party that has the best chance of keeping Labour out.

[@Believe-you-me-]

@@jjefferyworboys8138i was earning so much more under Blair. I could get a dentist and see a doctor. I will be voting Labour.

[@thecheesefactor]

The recent polls answer your question.

[@todosmentira336]

@@jjefferyworboys8138 same here, my were wages higher under blair, could get a hospital gp apointment, council wasn't going bust, hadn't had my European citizenship stolen..

[@turbomunch]

Landlord: What... I have to pay extortionate prices for my mortgage now..... Landlord: How can I milk the renter anymore than I already am?

[@rogerwoodhouse7945]

Garbage

[@deco2132]

@@rogerwoodhouse7945@turbomunch There are plenty of landlords out there who simply are not corporate suit and briefcase types who are all about the money but instead people who have inherited property or have found a spouse so no longer need to live in their own home and decide to rent it out. Generally these landlords are fantastic - such as my own.

[@dulls8475]

@@deco2132 Dont destroy the lefty narrative please.

[@narannavan]

​@@deco2132as an enforcement officer for councils, you are absolutely wrong. These are the worst type. I bet you have around 3 Category 1 hazards and half a dozen Category 2 hazards in your home (under HHSRS) and you don't even know it.

[@turbomunch]

@@rogerwoodhouse7945 MMmmmmmm Landlord energy 👴

[@jonny6330]

Sneering, condescending Guardianistas, just what the people of Surrey need in their lives

[@TheEnergeticPanda]

Can't believe he's in Woking. Grew up here and never been happier since I left

[@Believe-you-me-]

Where did you move too?

[@ant4686]

India

[@TheMightyAntar]

We need to modernise and reform our democracy.

[@Thelma7361]

I don’t need to pay more taxes. All I have is my income. I don’t own anything. Wealth needs to be taxed.

[@DNRTannen]

So, yes - both are true if done correctly. Those who can comfortably afford to need to pay more taxes. If you can't, you need to benefit from the taxable threshold being raised in line with inflation, just like a huge swathe of the country who have often been driven into poverty without a visible tax hike.

[@dulls8475]

Well stop wasting your money then...

[@dsmhiggins67]

So you own nothing ? Clothes ? A car ? Shoes ? They’ll tax that if they can.

[@matthewcoombs3282]

Tories were set up in 1834 to protect the interests of the landed gentry spooked by the Grear Reform Act which extended the franchise. They will always tax income higher than assets. The English Working and Middle classes are too thick to work this out.

[@Lissyblanche]

Great to see this series back, so important

[@Testchannels-z8j]

The Conservatives appear to not have a moral centre.

[@matthewbacon5734]

Vote Reform!

[@leehighland5435]

but Labour does?????????????

[@tomricketts7821]

Never have they where Christian only on Sunday looters pillagers liars and cheats at all other times

[@Testchannels-z8j]

@@matthewbacon5734 Can’t mate. Lost any interest the second they hired Farage. His record as an MEP and subsequent response to his failings as an MEP is not what I’d like to see in power. Not trying to persuade you any differently. Farage isn’t for me.

[@PoorlyWrttenReviews]

Take it as someone that lived in Woking all their life and then had to move to the north purely to afford life. Woking is dire currently, the death and depression and poverty I see not only in the young but in the elderly is harrowing. There are no services or job opportunities so everything has become so bleak.

[@VinnyCarwash-js8op]

All the ones who know it's over and say they will vote for Labour, will still go out and vote Tory, that's the English voter.

[@annphillips1086]

Yes, they'll get in the booth with every intention of making the switch, then they'll look down at the paper, give a deep sigh, and put an X in their usual box.

[@thecheesefactor]

That's lazy. Anyone who is paying attention should not vote Tory. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

[@mechatankzilla4733]

@@thecheesefactor That's the point, They _are_ lazy, lazy thinking, lazy acting, I'm all right Jack, $%^&*

[@mrsoikawa]

It's scary how much more intelligent the football team are than the old people immediately prior.

[@thegeneral123]

I'll be voting Labour to kick the Tories out. However, like you've seen, I'm not at all enthusiastic about how centre right Labour seem to have gone. The whole electoral system needs changing. Politics is not working for the majority.

[@thecheesefactor]

I was very disappointed by the 2019 vote. Everyone bought the Brexit lies. The whole referendum was ill-advised. You need to be an economist to really understand how much EU membership benefitted us. That election was about Brexit, this one isn't. Both main parties have tried to prevent that happening. But it is still a massive elephant in the room. Some of the things said about it by SNP and Lib Dems are very true. It has done terrible economic damage that we couldn't afford, piled on top of the failures of austerity. I do hope we have seen the end of people voting against their own interests.

[@thegeneral123]

@@thecheesefactor Brexit was populist lies and hate winning.

[@robertingle9845]

Im guessing that you don't remember New Labour. The labour party have been "a friend to big business" for a long time. Conservatives and Labour both serve the globalist agenda. Any differences between the 2 parties are just spin to keep their traditional voters.

[@fleurbeckwith9280]

That lady hit the nail on the head. We don't make anything anymore.

[@matthewmanning8413]

Those Women Footballers make a lot of sense.

[@alst4817]

They didn’t say anything mate😂

[@Eekyellie]

Lots of community venues for teenagers needed all over the country.

[@Eekyellie]

Re Guildford housing town ruined by the University as all over the town previously family estates now bought up by investors. No families any more and houses standing empty fir months when students go home. Social housing DESPERATELY needed all over the country!!!

[@dererik9070]

​@@alst4817 They know what brexit and austerity did so they know more than the average Tory politician

[@dulls8475]

@@dererik9070 Think about the lockdown as well. Labour loved it and were disappointed not to get more.

[@danielmartinezdowsett4776]

'I don't know who I am going to vote for' = 'I am too embarrassed to say I will vote reform'

[@ryanmurphy2610]

Can't help but feel Paul Weller would've written something about voting tory from a foodbank.

[@AbigailBrown-wk7xl]

There is 300,000 British families stuck in hotels waiting to be housed by the council . It is shocking that there is empty council houses

[@colincampbell4261]

Why are those houses empty? For how long? Compulsory council purchase if private?

[@elizabethhumphreys9105]

I really love your reporting on what real people feel. I live in NE Hampshire, and Woking, Guildford and Aldershot are local towns. Two things really struck me, firstly that all towns are suffering economically with no investment, even wealthy Guildford, and secondly the comments about the army leaving Aldershot being a mistake. I agree with that, it's unique character has almost gone😢

[@BarryDiegoLondon-cy9ij]

The guy at 3:00 😂 always voting Conservative, the party of "small government", sat in a foodbank, still not sure who he'll vote for. Reminder of some of the corruption: - Boris Truss Michelle Moan Kwasi Zahawi

[@plunder1956]

I've stood where this guy was in Woking, Guildford, Aldershot and many other places in this region. I have lived here for almost 20 years. The Tory party will be drastically busted on July 4th. But my question is what happens after they are a minority party and Labour have a majority of over 200? Britian is in a desperate and drastically damaged condition, Whoever ends up running the next government will have the toughest job in wertern Europe. But leaving the EU was the worst decision Britian has made for centuries - WHY hasn't rejoining the EU been made the top priority? It clearly should be.

[@kaba_me]

13:37 If all young people in the country were like those football ladies... The country would have a chance.

[@danfrake]

"we know about the Woking pizza express"

[@lecaprice2572]

Those highrises are horrible and completely out of character with the traditional architecture that used to make Surrey so attractive. A reflection of the arrogance and bad taste of the current luxury elites.

[@sonofCW]

Came on to listen to genuine reasons, got some, and a ton of hyperbole. I'm a labour voter but I'm getting tired of hyperbole from both sides.

[@64offsuiter]

When older people say younger people (16plus) shouldn't have the vole but then are completely devoid of logic or reason when explaining their potential voting choice it is completely insane and hypocritical.

[@chrisvalford]

Flew over to Gilford maybe 8 years ago for a job interview, just to find they gave the job to someone else that morning. Stayed in a reasonable hotel, and attempted to buy dinner out, but no open restaurants. So chatting with the hotel staff the next day, I asked about the train service back to Gatwick, and was told to go to the station early as almost every day there had been a suicide by jumping onto the tracks from the railway bridge. Maybe I dodged a bullet? Being from South Hampshire I have always been proud of the area (including Surrey and Dorset, but so many jobs have been lost there over the last 30 years, and so much production has been shipped to the far east I can see why the area is now just existing on inherited money.

[@kathydent2116]

Are you mad? There are plenty of restaurants in Guildford. Were you there during Covid lockdown? And I think they were pulling your leg about the suicides. The people on the railway tracks are stealing metal, not killing themselves! The police get the electricity turned off so that they can chase the thieves and then all the trains are delayed.

[@michazajac5881]

Probably every second person you interviewed has spent the last 30 years voting for this or the other form of austerity and now they can't understand why nothing works and everything is crumbling it just boggles the mind...

[@hugonavakopp]

And yet nobody mentions the real culprits of this mess , the owners of both parties : the financiers and the bankers

[@alexthorne38]

if they can not run a successful election campaign how can they run a successful government

[@howtoappearincompletely9739]

The two are very weakly correlated.

[@kenboon1478]

Labour won't help the working class ,the working class will end up paying more taxes to pay for the pay rises for civil servants

[@krob2327]

And will continue to be assaulted. No refugees in guildford

[@JackWalsh-d7h]

This year's challenges will undoubtedly be more difficult. Looking back, I realized that I was so focused with my portfolio that I made disastrous financial decisions for the entire preceding year. I had to pick between increasing my investments and purchasing a house. After choosing to sell my investments, I discovered that the property I had purchased required more maintenance than I had anticipated. Trying to find out how much longer I can take this is becoming increasingly difficult.

[@CoreyLloydo]

We've all made mistakes at some point. You should consider financial planning

[@RhysHuntoffice]

True. My portfolio was diversified across several markets with the help of a financial planner, and were able to achieve over a million in net profit among high dividend yield equities, ETFs, and bonds. It is vital that you have a variety of exposure, including in firms that are currently generating cash flows.

[@JackWalsh-d7h]

Do you mind sharing your financial planner?

[@RhysHuntoffice]

Leah Foster Alderman

[@RhysHuntoffice]

You are most likely to find more info when you look her up.

[@rows3063]

Always enjoy reading John Harris’ columns and this vignette lives up to expectations.

[@chrisbates7743]

Another great documentary, in years to come these films will be very interesting to watch

[@johnkennedy3669]

This series is great, I love getting to see normal British people joking about the same problems we have across the pond

[@matthewprince9705]

Watching those Jordan Klepper videos terrifies me. No one ever tells him Trump has the answers, they just have his anger...

[@dauntless1248]

Too many people who fell for the lies of brexit, boris johnson and soon enough, nigel farage

[@DanV18821]

Great report!

[@MickeyMichaels348]

We need a Reform of the political system. Labour are going to get in, not on merit but by default. The two major parties are a joke.

[@augustoherrera]

"we have to pick from a bad bunch, haven't we?" pretty much describes elections in EVERY country these days 😂

[@MrsWilliamTheBloody]

On the basis of everyone's complaints, it's insane then that Starmer chooses to offer absolutely nothing other than being Tory-lite. I can't help but feel like Jezza went for it one election too soon...

[@tara34952]

Yet his own party booted him out. 😢

[@Dreyno]

Corbyn gave the Tories the huge majority that’s led to this sh1tshow. He didn’t go soon enough.

[@kaze987]

John and John are back and we are here for it! Love this series. Wish someone can do this for Canada as we have an election next year. Cheers from Vancouver

[@markhutton6055]

Historically, high taxation collapses the economy. We currently have historically high taxes. The NHS has record funding proving it is NOT funding that is the issue.

[@kahalani]

I was born in Guildford in ‘68, moved abroad in ‘98, it was always a upmarket town with great pubs and shopping. It’s been decimated by the Tories, so depressing to see it like this.

[@IRISHSALTMINER61]

There are 48 members of Guildford Borough Council: 25 Guildford Liberal Democrats, 7 Residents for Guildford and Villages, 10 Conservatives, 3 Guildford Greenbelt Group and 3 Labour Members. They are elected every four years. The last borough elections were held on 4 May 2023 and the next borough elections will be held on 6 May 2027. The Libdumbs run the council, that’s your problem

[@robertingle9845]

Did you vote for Blair before going abroad because that's when the rot started?

[@kahalani]

@@robertingle9845 so in 14 years all the Tories have done is make it worse.. 14 years!! You sound like Farage mate, always blaming someone else. 🤡