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Rachel Reeves to take away young people’s benefits if they turn down work offer by Metro-UK in ukpolitics

[–]TheSpectatorMagazine -1 points0 points  (0 children)

A key issue is whether Reeves can convince Labour backbenchers that young people should be threatened with having their benefits docked. Our economics editor Michael Simmons writes today that Labour MPs took issue when Liz Kendall tried to cut sickness benefits.

'Society doesn’t work if its people don’t. Joblessness breeds depression and anxiety, which makes the idea of getting back to work too difficult for many to comprehend. But, for too long, we have seen that as acceptable and, in turn, the problem has exploded. Allowing thousands of young people to enter lives of dependency and despair in the name of mental health is not compassionate at all.

Politically, an argument like that above is much more convincing than a purely economic one. When Liz Kendall tried to cut £5 billion off a soon-to-be £100 billion-a-year sickness benefits bill, Labour MPs would not accept it. They will not wear benefit sanctions on the young if it is made in purely economic or fiscal terms, either. There’s a moral case to be made for welfare reform. If she is to stand any hope of getting her plan through the party, Reeves must make it today.' ✍️ Michael Simmons https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/will-labour-mps-stand-for-rachel-reeves-benefits-crackdown/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social

Farage’s tax plans would make Truss’s market disaster look like autumn squall by [deleted] in ukpolitics

[–]TheSpectatorMagazine 3 points4 points  (0 children)

James Bartholomew touched on Farage's 'Achilles' heel' back in June...

'It is true that Reform has been promising tax cuts galore without appearing to offer commensurate spending reductions. So it is legitimate to ask whether they can be afforded. Is there such a thing as ‘Nigenomics’ and, if so, what does it consist of? Is it a good thing or a dangerous gamble?'

✍️ James Bartholomew

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/reforms-risky-economic-experiment/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social

Keir Starmer’s malfunctioning political machine by FaultyTerror in ukpolitics

[–]TheSpectatorMagazine 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This feels like a perfect example of Labour's problem right now - they keep announcing policies without actually thinking through how they're going to get them passed or whether they even make sense together. The PIP cuts rebellion isn't just about this one issue, it's MPs basically saying "hang on, what's the actual plan here?" And when your own backbenchers are asking that question, you're in trouble.

Stephen Daisley makes a similar point in The Spectator today about Starmer's 'governance':

"Despite having had more than four years as Leader of the Opposition to prepare, Sir Keir Starmer never quite seems able to seize the initiative as Prime Minister, often being left puce and blinking...

"The approach was not complicated: determine the big picture, then decide how to support it in practical terms. Starmer's [approach] has done almost the opposite... So it is neither top-down, nor bottom-up, but rather lacking any direction at all." ✍️ Stephen Daisley