The Labour government thread

[Arniepie]

6 minutes ago, Engineman Hicks said:

The cuts to foreign aid, winter fuel allowances and now welfare were all never mentioned in the manifesto.

probably something to do with the fact they weren’t anticipating a Russian asset in the white House

[Engineman Hicks]

6 minutes ago, Arniepie said:

probably something to do with the fact they weren’t anticipating a Russian asset in the white House

But the war didn’t start last week did it ? The welfare cuts go much further than anything proposed in 14 years of the conservative government. This wasn’t just dreamed up in the last few months. 

[Arniepie]

1 minute ago, Engineman Hicks said:

But the war didn’t start last week did it ? The welfare cuts go much further than anything proposed in 14 years of the conservative government. This wasn’t just dreamed up in the last few months. 

they didnt know they would have to spend more on defence

[Engineman Hicks]

8 minutes ago, Arniepie said:

they didnt know they would have to spend more on defence

But the war is likely to end or at least enter a ceasefire this month. If the 2 were intrinsically linked (welfare cuts and the war) then why not delay the welfare bill for a year until the situation is clearer. I said in the Ukraine thread that Governments often use the excuse of foreign wars to push through unpopular policies and this is a great example. 

[HazelyCosmicJove]

20 minutes ago, Arniepie said:

they didnt know they would have to spend more on defence

Really? Are you saying that they are really, really stupid? Or just incompetent?

[Arniepie]

4 minutes ago, HazelyCosmicJove said:

Really? Are you saying that they are really, really stupid? Or just incompetent?

thought your lot would have approved of welfare cuts?

[HazelyCosmicJove]

6 minutes ago, Arniepie said:

thought your lot would have approved of welfare cuts?

Who is my lot?

[Arniepie]

1 minute ago, HazelyCosmicJove said:

Who is my lot?

tories

[HazelyCosmicJove]

Just now, Arniepie said:

tories

OK, if that is what you think. Are you still in Militant Tendency these days?

[Arniepie]

Just now, HazelyCosmicJove said:

OK, if that is what you think. Are you still in Militant Tendency these days?

nope..I dont actually think they exist anymore

 

but you certainly have your finger on the button

[HazelyCosmicJove]

Just now, Arniepie said:

nope..I dont actually think they exist anymore

 

but you certainly have your finger on the button

What button is that ?

[Arniepie]

Just now, HazelyCosmicJove said:

What button is that ?

the political one

[HazelyCosmicJove]

Just now, Arniepie said:

the political one

Wtf are you on about? Are you sober?

[Arniepie]

1 minute ago, HazelyCosmicJove said:

Wtf are you on about? Are you sober?

says the lad who thinks its 1985

[HazelyCosmicJove]

2 minutes ago, Arniepie said:

says the lad who thinks its 1985

You win. I have no meaningful response to that accusation.

[Kevin D]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/15/john-mcdonnell-accuses-ministers-of-lacking-empathy-over-benefit-cuts
 

The former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has joined those criticising the government’s proposed benefit cuts, as he accused ministers of lacking empathy and understanding over the proposed changes.

McDonnell, who sits as an independent MP after losing the Labour whip over a previous benefits vote, said he was surprised at how poorly Keir Starmer’s government had handled the lead-up to the policy changes.

Labour MPs said on Friday that the government could face frontbench resignations if it freezes some disability benefits.

 

Writing in the Guardian, McDonnell said: “Emails are pouring into MPs’ boxes from disabled people and carers, who are truly frightened by the suggestions from government sources and ministers’ speeches that the benefits they rely on are to be cut.

 

“The latest comments to a journalist from someone described as a ‘government insider’ demonstrate starkly what a tin ear some ministers have on this issue.

“This person accused Labour MPs who are expressing their constituents’ concerns about proposals to cut benefits of ‘pearl clutching’.

 

“It’s clear that some politicians have learned nothing from the winter fuel payment debacle that is still being raised angrily on the doorstep with Labour canvassers.

 

“More importantly, they appear to have learned nothing from the introduction of the work capability assessment for disabled people, associated with nearly 600 suicide deaths in England between 2010 and 2013.”

 

The changes will be published next week in a green paper, and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will present her spring statement to MPs on 26 March.

Labour MPs have told No 10 that resistance to the freezing of the personal independence payment (Pip) could be stronger than that to the means-testing of winter fuel allowance, one of the first major changes announced when Labour came into office.

 

The disquiet over welfare policy mirrors challenges Tony Blair faced in the early days of his Labour government in 1997. Forty-seven Labour MPs voted against the government’s move to cut benefits for single-parent familiesmonths after his landslide victory.

 

McDonnell was one of seven Labour MPs to have the whip removed in July last year, shortly after Labour entered office, when they supported the removal of the two-child benefit cap.

 

He is one of three MPs on the left of the party still yet to be given the whip back.

The veteran Hayes and Harlington MP said the handling of the matter risked undermining policies by the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, and the health secretary, Wes Streeting.

He said the decision to rule out increased taxes on high earners based on pre-election promises was “dogmatic and foolish”.

 

“The lack of understanding and empathy in the government’s policy planning and articulation has been shocking,” he said.

 

“There is still time for the Labour cabinet to act like a cabinet, and for its members to stand up to the Treasury to halt the cuts in benefits to the sick and disabled, and to insist on a more flexible interpretation of the fiscal rules and a limited set of tax measures. That would follow Starmer’s guiding principle that the broadest shoulders should bear the heaviest burden.”

 

Starmer’s deputy spokesperson said on Friday: “The system we’ve inherited would swallow up more taxpayers’ money and leave more people trapped in a life of unemployment and inactivity.

 

“That’s not just bad for the economy, it’s bad for people too, and that’s why this government will set out plans to overhaul the health and disability benefits system shortly so it supports those who can work to do so, whilst protecting those who can’t, to put welfare spending on a more sustainable path so that we can unlock growth.”

 

 

 

[Red Phoenix]

Looks like they're starting to realise that going after disability benefits isn't going to work out well for them : Cuts to welfare. Cuts to international aid. Has Labour lurched too far to the right?

[Harry's Lad]

1 hour ago, Red Phoenix said:

Looks like they're starting to realise that going after disability benefits isn't going to work out well for them : Cuts to welfare. Cuts to international aid. Has Labour lurched too far to the right?

Yet Streeting had this to say this this morning.

 

 

[Jimmy Hills Chin]

44 minutes ago, Harry's Lad said:

Yet Streeting had this to say this this morning.

 

 

Why the fuck is this bellend even allowed to pretend to be a labour supporter. Unfortunately the new government is allowing the 'they're all the same' brigade to come out swinging. I'm actually embarrassed that I voted labour even though the alternatives were worse. Cunts.

[Red Phoenix]

47 minutes ago, Harry's Lad said:

Yet Streeting had this to say this this morning.

 

 

 

Yeah I was just reading about him in The Guardian. They said there though that he didn't deny they weren't freezing pip even if they were still going ahead with other changes.

 

It also had this at the end that made me laugh because he's either got his words mixed up or The Guardian have, it doesn't even make sense I don't think :

 

Quote

“Now, of course, there will be some people because of serious disability or because of chronic illness that can’t be turned around, will not be able to work, and those people need to be supported to be a springboard back to work.”

 

Wes Streeting: there is overdiagnosis of mental health conditions

[Harry's Lad]

8 minutes ago, Jimmy Hills Chin said:

Why the fuck is this bellend even allowed to pretend to be a labour supporter. Unfortunately the new government is allowing the 'they're all the same' brigade to come out swinging. I'm actually embarrassed that I voted labour even though the alternatives were worse. Cunts.

Same here.

I've voted Labour ever since I was old enough to vote and this current lot are about as far from Labour as you can get imo and I'm seriously considering withdrawing my membership of the party.

Not that it would make much difference.

Starmer, Streeting, Reeves, Kendall, McFadden, they're supposed to be a credible alternative to the Tories.

They're not

 

Hardie, Attlee and Bevan at al must be spinning in their graves.

 

 

 

[Harry's Lad]

21 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

 

Yeah I was just reading about him in The Guardian. They said there though that he didn't deny they weren't freezing pip even if they were still going ahead with other changes.

 

It also had this at the end that made me laugh because he's either got his words mixed up or The Guardian have, it doesn't even make sense I don't think :

 

 

Wes Streeting: there is overdiagnosis of mental health conditions

He's a gobshite. No other way to describe him.

Unfortunately, I think he'll be the one to take over from Starmer when he finally goes.

[bossy]

I wrote to my local MP, a Starmer loyalist, about a Labour government lurching to the right of Cameron that will satisfy nobody, and also about a local issue. The right won’t applaud them for it and the Labour supporters will hate them for it. His reply was a party politicians template for saying nothing in two paragraphs. Prick. I replied congratulating him on his ability to say nothing using words.

[Bellflower]

43 minutes ago, Harry's Lad said:

Same here.

I've voted Labour ever since I was old enough to vote and this current lot are about as far from Labour as you can get imo and I'm seriously considering withdrawing my membership of the party.

Not that it would make much difference.

Starmer, Streeting, Reeves, Kendall, McFadden, they're supposed to be a credible alternative to the Tories.

They're not

 

Hardie, Attlee and Bevan at al must be spinning in their graves.

 

 

 

.

[sir roger]

I'd like to put Streeting on a springboard over the Grand Canyon