The previously conservative heartlands of Kent turned red but with U turns on welfare policies and an increase in both national wedge and National insurance, how do people really feel about Labours first year?
00:00One year ago, Labour won the general election.
00:03The party took 412 seats, giving it a majority of 174.
00:09Here in Kent, Labour won 11 seats and the Conservatives lost 10.
00:14Previously blue parts of Kent, such as Folkestone and Hive and Ashford, voted in Labour candidates.
00:21But how did the people of Kent feel Labour have done in their first year?
00:24They've been a bit weak, haven't they? They started off being tough on benefits and stopping winter fuel allowances but unfortunately they've U-turned on all of them, shown them to be weak.
00:36It's not all about characters, who fits the bill or who doesn't. As long as the bills fit the public, that's the main thing.
00:44I think they're trying their best. I think there's definitely a lot of things they can improve on but it's just got to see how it goes for the future, I guess.
00:52He's not doing very well, is he? Basically, eh? Winter fuel payments, I mean all that's up in the air? No.
00:59On a few of the things that he's cut and whatever, he's gone wrong to start with.
01:04I think the obvious bits that he's not doing well, I agree with that. He looks like he's not doing very well, Keir Starmer, but I think in the background there are a lot of things that he has done well that sadly he's not actually publicising.
01:17Economically, Labour increased national wage, but they also increased national insurance, and that's affecting businesses' profits.
01:26However, a focus on infrastructure, such as roads and trains, could help economic growth.
01:32Looking at their infrastructure strategy and industrial strategy, these are all things we've not had for several decades, so they've made some progress.
01:40But, yeah, it's been slower going than I think they had originally hoped for.
01:45Others feel this first year has let them down. Recently, Labour did a U-turn on their welfare policy, and the Dartford Kindness community recently hosted a Care Not Cuts coffee morning in response.
01:59General consensus is that we've been ignored, a lot of people in the room voted for Labour, but still those people are feeling dramatically let down by these changes and these proposals that are being rushed through, and it all seems grossly unfair.
02:15With mixed opinions across the county, many watch on to see if the next year will bring change or disdain.
