Mailwatch(ed) Forum

Malcolm Armsteen wrote: ↑Mon Jan 06, 2025 7:06 pm I was greatly impressed by Yvette Cooper.

If only we had chosen her instead of Magic Grandad.


Spoiler: I voted for her.

Me too.

A piece on the recent polling woes

https://labourlist.org/2025/01/labour-p ... -together/

Winter fuel cuts’ long-lasting damage
However, Tryl said there are three or four policies that have had high cut through with the public that are extremely unpopular, with the means testing of the winter fuel allowance being the “most totemic” of these, along with changes to farmers’ inheritance tax and national insurance rises for employers.

Polling by More in Common last month found that more than half of voters thought taking the winter fuel allowance from pensioners was more damaging than the Partygate scandal that engulfed Boris Johnson’s Conservative government.

Get the unpopular stuff out of the way first - it's basic politics

I'm not sure this is going to work borrowing is Liz Truss levels now and George Eaton at the NS says Reeves will impose spending cuts if the OBR finds she's breaking her own fiscal rules.

Jonathan Portes might put your mind at rest a bit.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... nding-cuts

Think it's fair to mention too that we haven't had the planning reforms yet. These ought to help with growth, plus there's the potential of modest EU rapprochement. Think George Eaton's over speculating there. And wouldn't be spending cuts anyway, would be spending growth but slower than intended at first.

Watching Newsnight and Nick Watt says they're going to be cutting spending top of the list welfare if the OBR points in that direction.

Sky News has more here.

I wouldn't be surprised. Sounding tough on benefits is the go to for any government in the shit and Labour won't be no different. Expect more articles in the Telegraph from Kendall and co about how people won't "have a life on benefits anymore".

Cutting spending on debt servicing is the priority. If Trump contracts the US economy with his tariff threats, the world will catch a cold and they'll be little room for growth opportunities.