http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/10/conjuring-camerons-cap-trick/
Many sections of the press have inaccurately reported the Coalition's plans for changes to Housing Benefit.
What has not been put across accurately in most of the media is that the £20,000 cap on Housing Benefit for some families is only one of nine new measures being introduced and that this one change only accounts for 3% of the £2bn that has been set aside for Housing Benefit cuts.
In fact these cuts will only save £65m of what is needed.
What is significant is how many publications have reported the £20,000 cap as the 'Key Change'
Even the leftwing New Statesman has jumped on the bandwagon, saying: 'In London, where rents are significantly higher than in the rest of the country, the £400-a-week cap will force as many as 82,000 families out of the capital – the largest population movement since the Second World War'
The point to be made here is that it is not just this measure alone that will have this effect, it is all the nine changes together that will lead to 82,000 people possibly having to leave London. This is according to research carried out by London Councils. In reality, only 17,000 people could lose their homes; as a result of reductions to the Local Housing Allowance.
So, basically placing a £20,000 cap on Housing Benefit will not actually contribute very much to bringing the overall budget deficit down.
To me, what is so alarming is how the majority of the media - even those elements not traditionally Tory supporters - have been lured in to a cynical trap set by the Coalition and focussed their attention - and their headlines - entirely on one aspect of the proposals soon to be put before Parliament.
The media are clearly misleading the country on this issue.
And yet, Cameron, Clegg and the rest of the Coalition are happy to sit back and let them do it.
Saturday 30 October 2010
Friday 29 October 2010
Child Benefit Changes Branded Uninforceable As Well As Unfair.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11649453
The Coalition's much-maligned changes to Child Benefit have privately been deemed as unworkable by Treasury officials.
The Treasury have said that fines will be issued to parents who fail to declare their full earnings.
However, despite the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander dismissing such reports as nonsense, is believed that some civil servants believe that because claimants are under no obligation to declare Child Benefit, the changes recently announced affecting higher-rate tax payers will be very difficult to police.
Reports suggest that some in the Treasury think the plans are simply unworkable and will eventually be abandoned.
And Shadow Chancellor Alan Johnson said the row about the plans was "what you get when you stumble in, incompetently, into interfering with a universal benefit".
These proposals have been a disaster right from the start, beginning with the botched announcement at the Tory Conference and the revelations of how unfair they will be on single-parent households.
They really expose the inefficiency of a highly-incompetant government.
The Coalition's much-maligned changes to Child Benefit have privately been deemed as unworkable by Treasury officials.
The Treasury have said that fines will be issued to parents who fail to declare their full earnings.
However, despite the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander dismissing such reports as nonsense, is believed that some civil servants believe that because claimants are under no obligation to declare Child Benefit, the changes recently announced affecting higher-rate tax payers will be very difficult to police.
Reports suggest that some in the Treasury think the plans are simply unworkable and will eventually be abandoned.
And Shadow Chancellor Alan Johnson said the row about the plans was "what you get when you stumble in, incompetently, into interfering with a universal benefit".
These proposals have been a disaster right from the start, beginning with the botched announcement at the Tory Conference and the revelations of how unfair they will be on single-parent households.
They really expose the inefficiency of a highly-incompetant government.
Wednesday 27 October 2010
PM Sticks To His Guns On Housing Benefit Changes As Miliband Attacks Policy Shambles
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11633163
Despite earlier reassuring MPs that legislation would not be rushed through on this issues, the Prime Minister insisted that plans to change Housing Benefit would not be scrapped.
At a stormy PMQs, Labour Leader Ed Miliband accused the Coalition of introducing measures that would leave thousands of people at risk of losing their homes and called the policy a 'shambles'.
Despite his show of public defiance, Mr Cameron and some of his ministerial colleagues have privately conceded that many people will have to leave their homes as a result of the changes being proposed.
So much for the Prime Minister's promises during the election to protect the vulnerable and most needy.
Despite earlier reassuring MPs that legislation would not be rushed through on this issues, the Prime Minister insisted that plans to change Housing Benefit would not be scrapped.
At a stormy PMQs, Labour Leader Ed Miliband accused the Coalition of introducing measures that would leave thousands of people at risk of losing their homes and called the policy a 'shambles'.
Despite his show of public defiance, Mr Cameron and some of his ministerial colleagues have privately conceded that many people will have to leave their homes as a result of the changes being proposed.
So much for the Prime Minister's promises during the election to protect the vulnerable and most needy.
Coalition In Disarray Over Plans To Cap Housing Benefit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11633163
Planned changes to Housing Benefit appear to be in chaos today.
A Coalition spokesperson was swift to deny that they are planning to back down over plans to cap payments at £400 for a four-bedroom home.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is clearly under pressure from both Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs to re-think the idea, which many believe will drive those seeking work out of big cities because of high living-costs.
And the Secretary of State is facing further criticism over fears that the changes could be hurriedly implemented without primary legislation.
MPs were today seeking a meeting with Mr Duncan-Smith determined to force a vote on the issue. And quite rightly too - this is legislation that will fundamentally affect people's daily lives.
Of particular concern to MPs was the plan to remove the benefit safety-net for those under 35 suffering from a mental illness as such a move would force them out of their own homes into shared accomodation.
Do the Government really think that they can push through such important changes without a proper debate in Parliament?
Ministers are showing that they are not just arrogant but that they hold the electorate in complete contempt.
Planned changes to Housing Benefit appear to be in chaos today.
A Coalition spokesperson was swift to deny that they are planning to back down over plans to cap payments at £400 for a four-bedroom home.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is clearly under pressure from both Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs to re-think the idea, which many believe will drive those seeking work out of big cities because of high living-costs.
And the Secretary of State is facing further criticism over fears that the changes could be hurriedly implemented without primary legislation.
MPs were today seeking a meeting with Mr Duncan-Smith determined to force a vote on the issue. And quite rightly too - this is legislation that will fundamentally affect people's daily lives.
Of particular concern to MPs was the plan to remove the benefit safety-net for those under 35 suffering from a mental illness as such a move would force them out of their own homes into shared accomodation.
Do the Government really think that they can push through such important changes without a proper debate in Parliament?
Ministers are showing that they are not just arrogant but that they hold the electorate in complete contempt.
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Labour Repeat Warning That Spending Cuts Could Damage Recovery
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11627746
The Chancellor, George Osborne, was upbeat today following the release of new figures showing that the economy is continuing to grow steadily.
However Labour were quick to point out that these statistics proved that their strategy of continuing to invest in the economy during their last months of power was continuing to bear fruit and any forthcoming spending cuts would reverse this.
Shadow Chancellor, Alan Johnson expressed deep concern that Government plans to cut one million jobs would put enormous strain on the private sector, as these positions would not necessarily be replaced.
I'd say it is highly likely that any increase in growth and the accompanying optimism now is bound to be replaced by a huge drop in productivity followed by a long period of recession and deep economic hardship.
The Chancellor, George Osborne, was upbeat today following the release of new figures showing that the economy is continuing to grow steadily.
However Labour were quick to point out that these statistics proved that their strategy of continuing to invest in the economy during their last months of power was continuing to bear fruit and any forthcoming spending cuts would reverse this.
Shadow Chancellor, Alan Johnson expressed deep concern that Government plans to cut one million jobs would put enormous strain on the private sector, as these positions would not necessarily be replaced.
I'd say it is highly likely that any increase in growth and the accompanying optimism now is bound to be replaced by a huge drop in productivity followed by a long period of recession and deep economic hardship.
Hughes Signals Lib Dems May Vote Against Housing Benefit Reforms
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11616741
The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Simon Hughes, has given a clear warning that his party may not allow the Coalition's changes to Housing Benefit through Parliament.
After just a few months of power, Mr Hughes and many of his fellow MPs are clearly deeply unhappy with a number of proposals agreed with the Conservatives. In particular, he singled out the proposal to cut benefits to the long-term unemployed after twelve months.
For Labour, Douglas Alexander was quick to appeal to disaffected Lib Dems to join forces with them and vote down the new measures. As he as pointed out, if their own deputy leader is uneasy about the changes, then this does bode well for the future of the deal with the Conservatives and the Coalition.
The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Simon Hughes, has given a clear warning that his party may not allow the Coalition's changes to Housing Benefit through Parliament.
After just a few months of power, Mr Hughes and many of his fellow MPs are clearly deeply unhappy with a number of proposals agreed with the Conservatives. In particular, he singled out the proposal to cut benefits to the long-term unemployed after twelve months.
For Labour, Douglas Alexander was quick to appeal to disaffected Lib Dems to join forces with them and vote down the new measures. As he as pointed out, if their own deputy leader is uneasy about the changes, then this does bode well for the future of the deal with the Conservatives and the Coalition.
Sunday 24 October 2010
Coalition To Reject Browne Report On Tuition Fees
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11615212
The Coalition government appears to have rejected the recommedations of Lord Browne to scrap any cap on student tuition fees.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg confirmed this in an interview today.
No doubt many Liberal Democrat MPs are vehemently opposed to the move, which would effectively mean the creation of a two-tier higher education system.
The Coalition government appears to have rejected the recommedations of Lord Browne to scrap any cap on student tuition fees.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg confirmed this in an interview today.
No doubt many Liberal Democrat MPs are vehemently opposed to the move, which would effectively mean the creation of a two-tier higher education system.
Thursday 21 October 2010
Labour Claims Children To Be The Worst Hit By Spending Review
http://www2.labour.org.uk/ifs-confirms-children-hit-hardest-by-spending-review
The Coalition can hardly claim that the Spending Review is fair.
Labour today claimed that children will be hit very hard.
Cameron and Clegg have already broken so many promises in their quest to bring down the budget deficit, so this should not surprise anyone.
The Coalition can hardly claim that the Spending Review is fair.
Labour today claimed that children will be hit very hard.
Cameron and Clegg have already broken so many promises in their quest to bring down the budget deficit, so this should not surprise anyone.
Chancellor's Spending Review Allows Local Government To Wield The Axe
http://www.talktalk.co.uk/news/pa/uknews/2010/10/21/cuts-will-hit-poorest-harder.htm
It was the Chancellor, George Osborne, who yesterday stood up and announced the long-awaited cuts in public spending the Coalition insist are necessary to reduce the huge budget deficit they inherited from the last Labour Government.
Local Government appear to be the hardest hit, with a huge 7% cut in the grants they will receive from Whitehall. This will mean that it will be local councils and not the Chancellor, who are each left to decide what vital services they will cut, which will undoubtedly have a devastating effect on the most vulnerable and the least well off.
George Osborne has left it to :Local Government to do the Coalition's dirty work for them. But does he really think that voters won't ultimately blame him when they start to feel the effect of these draconian cuts?
Not only that, the reductions in spending will mean as many as 490,000 public sector workers will lose their jobs over the course of this parliament.
The Conservative-led Coalition once again have been driven by doctrine and their obsession with reducing the role of the state.
And in fact, some business leaders have said that by reducing the public sector so quickly and so drastically, this could in reality have a very detrimental effect on the private sector.
Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses, has said that the spending cuts annouced by the Chancellor could actually be counter-productive. Speaking in an interview with the BBC, he said that for every 100,000 jobs that will be lost in the public sector in the next few years, 60,000 will go in the private sector.
So far from being a recipe for promoting continued economic recovery, these spending cuts will surely lead us into a double-dip recession.
History has shown us that that is exactly what will happen.
It was the Chancellor, George Osborne, who yesterday stood up and announced the long-awaited cuts in public spending the Coalition insist are necessary to reduce the huge budget deficit they inherited from the last Labour Government.
Local Government appear to be the hardest hit, with a huge 7% cut in the grants they will receive from Whitehall. This will mean that it will be local councils and not the Chancellor, who are each left to decide what vital services they will cut, which will undoubtedly have a devastating effect on the most vulnerable and the least well off.
George Osborne has left it to :Local Government to do the Coalition's dirty work for them. But does he really think that voters won't ultimately blame him when they start to feel the effect of these draconian cuts?
Not only that, the reductions in spending will mean as many as 490,000 public sector workers will lose their jobs over the course of this parliament.
The Conservative-led Coalition once again have been driven by doctrine and their obsession with reducing the role of the state.
And in fact, some business leaders have said that by reducing the public sector so quickly and so drastically, this could in reality have a very detrimental effect on the private sector.
Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses, has said that the spending cuts annouced by the Chancellor could actually be counter-productive. Speaking in an interview with the BBC, he said that for every 100,000 jobs that will be lost in the public sector in the next few years, 60,000 will go in the private sector.
So far from being a recipe for promoting continued economic recovery, these spending cuts will surely lead us into a double-dip recession.
History has shown us that that is exactly what will happen.
Monday 18 October 2010
Alan Johnson Makes Confident Start |As Shadow Chancellor
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11565369
New Shadow Chancellor Alan Johnson has made a good start in his role as Shadow Chancellor.
His first speech was very impressive.
It will be fascinating to see him face George Osborne on Wednesday, once the much-anticipated reductions in public spending are announced by the Chancellor.
It will not be difficult for Mr Johnson to win support in the country at large as it is obvious how unpopular these spending cuts are going to be.
New Shadow Chancellor Alan Johnson has made a good start in his role as Shadow Chancellor.
His first speech was very impressive.
It will be fascinating to see him face George Osborne on Wednesday, once the much-anticipated reductions in public spending are announced by the Chancellor.
It will not be difficult for Mr Johnson to win support in the country at large as it is obvious how unpopular these spending cuts are going to be.
Saturday 16 October 2010
New Health & Safety Guidelines A Victory For Common Sense.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11546919
Regular readers will know that I am no fan of the Tories, Liberal Democrats or the Coalition.
However, like many people, I am painfully aware that the last Labour Government did make many mistakes during their thirteen years in power and there are many things that they failed to do as well.
I do believe that Labour did become health and safety-obssessed. In many areas of our everyday lives, rules were enforced at the expense of common sense.The regulations that are necessary in 'hazardous' jobs have been over-zealously applied to all other professions too and this is clearly wrong.
This was particularly the case in education. I recall hearing a case where a teacher was not able to put a plaster on a five-year old's knee without calling another member of staff into the room to act as a witness.
The emergence of the compensation culture in the UK has had a highly detrimental effect on children's development.
We have seen a big drop in school trips and other extra-curricular activities, as teachers are too frightened to take children anywhere in case there are accidents and for fear that they will be liable to pay compensation.
And adults are now frequently unwilling to take responsibility for children in other pursuits and even in simply transporting children to and from their activities.
Lord Young's review of the current health and safety legislation is therefore, a welcome step.
Of course today we live in a world where awareness of child abuse has made any adult a potential offender.
But a situation where a teacher is not allowed to physically restrain an unruly child in the classroom for fear of being labelled a paedophile is clearly unacceptable.
Therefore I also applaud the Coalition's pledge to abolish the 'no touching' rule in schools.
Labour did get it wrong on this issue and I hope that the new guidlines will allow common sense to prevail.
Regular readers will know that I am no fan of the Tories, Liberal Democrats or the Coalition.
However, like many people, I am painfully aware that the last Labour Government did make many mistakes during their thirteen years in power and there are many things that they failed to do as well.
I do believe that Labour did become health and safety-obssessed. In many areas of our everyday lives, rules were enforced at the expense of common sense.The regulations that are necessary in 'hazardous' jobs have been over-zealously applied to all other professions too and this is clearly wrong.
This was particularly the case in education. I recall hearing a case where a teacher was not able to put a plaster on a five-year old's knee without calling another member of staff into the room to act as a witness.
The emergence of the compensation culture in the UK has had a highly detrimental effect on children's development.
We have seen a big drop in school trips and other extra-curricular activities, as teachers are too frightened to take children anywhere in case there are accidents and for fear that they will be liable to pay compensation.
And adults are now frequently unwilling to take responsibility for children in other pursuits and even in simply transporting children to and from their activities.
Lord Young's review of the current health and safety legislation is therefore, a welcome step.
Of course today we live in a world where awareness of child abuse has made any adult a potential offender.
But a situation where a teacher is not allowed to physically restrain an unruly child in the classroom for fear of being labelled a paedophile is clearly unacceptable.
Therefore I also applaud the Coalition's pledge to abolish the 'no touching' rule in schools.
Labour did get it wrong on this issue and I hope that the new guidlines will allow common sense to prevail.
Wednesday 13 October 2010
Miliband Shines On PMQs Debut
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/blogs/talking_politics/terminator-miliband-ruins-cameron-p138906.html
Like many people, I was nervous about the prospect of Ed Miliband facing David Cameron across the despatch box for Prime Minister's Questions.
However, it was a very confident start. I loved the way Miliband put the Cameron in his place, telling him that he was the one who asked the questions and it was the Prime Minister who was meant to answer them.
Of course, when questioned about Child Benefit, the PM came out with the same tired old line, that the government was now having to clear up the deficit left by the last Labour government.
But the PM knows that this was a very competent start by the new Labour Leader, and the hardest PMQs he has had to contend with for a very long time.
Ed Miliband can only improve on this performance.
It won't be long before he has Cameron completely on the run.
Like many people, I was nervous about the prospect of Ed Miliband facing David Cameron across the despatch box for Prime Minister's Questions.
However, it was a very confident start. I loved the way Miliband put the Cameron in his place, telling him that he was the one who asked the questions and it was the Prime Minister who was meant to answer them.
Of course, when questioned about Child Benefit, the PM came out with the same tired old line, that the government was now having to clear up the deficit left by the last Labour government.
But the PM knows that this was a very competent start by the new Labour Leader, and the hardest PMQs he has had to contend with for a very long time.
Ed Miliband can only improve on this performance.
It won't be long before he has Cameron completely on the run.
Tuesday 12 October 2010
Browne Report Opens Door To Two-Tier Higher Education
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11519642
Lord Browne's long-awaited report into Higher Education funding has now been published.
As expected, he has recommended that the current cap on what Universities can charge students in tuition fees should be abolished.
Despite the fact that graduates will now not have to pay loans back until they are earning a salary of £21,000, an increase from the current level of £15k, there is no doubt what this change will mean.
We are heading towards a two-tier system of Higher Education; where those from lower-income backgrounds could have to settle for studying at less-well funded institutions while access to the more prestigious, better funded places will become the preserve of only the very rich.
And whilst financial help will be available for those students from the lowest-income families, it will be the middle classes that don't qualify for assistance who will lose out and most likely be put off from going on to Higher Education altogether.
Once again, as was the case with the Child Benefit fiasco, this Coalition government is hitting their core supporters the hardest and it is those in the 'squeezed middle' who will suffer most.
It will be a very sad reflection on this country if, in the years to come, one can only get a decent degree if they can afford it.
Lord Browne's long-awaited report into Higher Education funding has now been published.
As expected, he has recommended that the current cap on what Universities can charge students in tuition fees should be abolished.
Despite the fact that graduates will now not have to pay loans back until they are earning a salary of £21,000, an increase from the current level of £15k, there is no doubt what this change will mean.
We are heading towards a two-tier system of Higher Education; where those from lower-income backgrounds could have to settle for studying at less-well funded institutions while access to the more prestigious, better funded places will become the preserve of only the very rich.
And whilst financial help will be available for those students from the lowest-income families, it will be the middle classes that don't qualify for assistance who will lose out and most likely be put off from going on to Higher Education altogether.
Once again, as was the case with the Child Benefit fiasco, this Coalition government is hitting their core supporters the hardest and it is those in the 'squeezed middle' who will suffer most.
It will be a very sad reflection on this country if, in the years to come, one can only get a decent degree if they can afford it.
Sunday 10 October 2010
Ed Miliband Appeals To Disaffected Lib Dems As Clegg And Cable Ditch Promise To Oppose Tuition Fee Rise
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11510463
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11510466
During the recent General Election campaign, senior Liberal Democrat MPs - including Leader Nick Clegg and current Business Secretary Vince Cable - signed a pledge to oppose any rise in student tuition fees.
The Party campaigned for a Graduate tax instead, saying this would be fairer on those who have completed their degree studies and were looking for work.
Now, Mr Cable has gone back on his word and declared a Graduate Tax unworkable. He and Nick Clegg are likely to support the Tories and back a rise in Tuition fees.
And this comes just ahead of the publication of the Browne Report on Higher Education, which, reports say, will recommend that the current cap on student Tuition fees should be removed, thus allowing universities to charge what they like and effectively closing the door to students from less well-off backgrounds.
No wonder the Liberal Democrats grassroots are angry. Martin Shapland, of Liberal Youth said that this move would go against everything the Liberal Democrats stood for in the election.
Nick Clegg in particular made much of the need to keep Tuition fees at the level they are now.
New Labour leader Ed Miliband has been very quick to capitalise on the situation and appealed to Liberal Democrat MPs unhappy with this dramatic U-turn to support Labour in any parliamentary vote on the issue.
Once again the Liberal Democrats in the Coalition are showing that they are willing to sacrifice both their principles and their core supporters to cling onto power.
Up to now, with the public having been willing to give the Coalition a chance, Liberal Democrat MPs have been prepared to compromise with the Tories to make the arrangement work.
However, on this issue, I wonder if things might be different.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11510466
During the recent General Election campaign, senior Liberal Democrat MPs - including Leader Nick Clegg and current Business Secretary Vince Cable - signed a pledge to oppose any rise in student tuition fees.
The Party campaigned for a Graduate tax instead, saying this would be fairer on those who have completed their degree studies and were looking for work.
Now, Mr Cable has gone back on his word and declared a Graduate Tax unworkable. He and Nick Clegg are likely to support the Tories and back a rise in Tuition fees.
And this comes just ahead of the publication of the Browne Report on Higher Education, which, reports say, will recommend that the current cap on student Tuition fees should be removed, thus allowing universities to charge what they like and effectively closing the door to students from less well-off backgrounds.
No wonder the Liberal Democrats grassroots are angry. Martin Shapland, of Liberal Youth said that this move would go against everything the Liberal Democrats stood for in the election.
Nick Clegg in particular made much of the need to keep Tuition fees at the level they are now.
New Labour leader Ed Miliband has been very quick to capitalise on the situation and appealed to Liberal Democrat MPs unhappy with this dramatic U-turn to support Labour in any parliamentary vote on the issue.
Once again the Liberal Democrats in the Coalition are showing that they are willing to sacrifice both their principles and their core supporters to cling onto power.
Up to now, with the public having been willing to give the Coalition a chance, Liberal Democrat MPs have been prepared to compromise with the Tories to make the arrangement work.
However, on this issue, I wonder if things might be different.
Friday 8 October 2010
Ed Finalises His Team With Alan Johnson As Shadow Chancellor
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11499638
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2010/10/why_has_johnson.html
Ed Miliband has chosen safe pair of hands Alan Johnson as his Shadow Chancellor.
The announcement comes after much speculation over who would get the key post.
The new Labour leader has opted not to go for early favourite Ed Balls, thus avoiding any accusations that he is taking the Party to the left by having someone who has spoken up very strongly in favour of delaying spending cuts and was a prominent supporter of Gordon Brown in the last Labour Government.
This is a wise choice and shows once again that he is prepared to make bold decisions. He certainly cannot be accused of taking Labour back to the left. And Alan Johnson has a reputation for being a loyalist. He will be invaluable in taking the party's message out to the voters and persuading them to come back to Labour at the next election.
Yvette Cooper, who was also considered a strong contender for Shadow Chancellor, is now Shadow Foreign Secretary. She will no doubt be very competent in this role, but I am not sure whether it was a wise choice to give her the Women and Equalities brief as well. Foreign Affairs is a huge department, which needs someone's full attention and I think maybe the responsiblity for Women and Equalities should have been given to someone with a less demanding role - Caroline Flint, perhaps.
Shaun Woodward stays in the Shadow Cabinet as a wildcard, despite failing to make it into the top places in the MPs' ballot.
All in all, though, Labour now has a very strong and experienced team to take on the Coalition and take Labour back to power in 2015.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2010/10/why_has_johnson.html
Ed Miliband has chosen safe pair of hands Alan Johnson as his Shadow Chancellor.
The announcement comes after much speculation over who would get the key post.
The new Labour leader has opted not to go for early favourite Ed Balls, thus avoiding any accusations that he is taking the Party to the left by having someone who has spoken up very strongly in favour of delaying spending cuts and was a prominent supporter of Gordon Brown in the last Labour Government.
This is a wise choice and shows once again that he is prepared to make bold decisions. He certainly cannot be accused of taking Labour back to the left. And Alan Johnson has a reputation for being a loyalist. He will be invaluable in taking the party's message out to the voters and persuading them to come back to Labour at the next election.
Yvette Cooper, who was also considered a strong contender for Shadow Chancellor, is now Shadow Foreign Secretary. She will no doubt be very competent in this role, but I am not sure whether it was a wise choice to give her the Women and Equalities brief as well. Foreign Affairs is a huge department, which needs someone's full attention and I think maybe the responsiblity for Women and Equalities should have been given to someone with a less demanding role - Caroline Flint, perhaps.
Shaun Woodward stays in the Shadow Cabinet as a wildcard, despite failing to make it into the top places in the MPs' ballot.
All in all, though, Labour now has a very strong and experienced team to take on the Coalition and take Labour back to power in 2015.
Ed Miliband To Pick His Shadow Cabinet
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11498402
So the party has spoken. The Shadow Cabinet has been elected. There are more David Milidand supporters than expected and some surprising omissions - Ben Bradshaw, Shaun Woodward, and Peter Hain to name but a few.
Fellow leadership contender Diane Abbott unsurprisingly, also failed to make it.
This is Ed Miliband's new generation, where the Party has gone for youth over experience.
The big question is who he will pick for the key post of Shadow Chancellor. I am hoping it is not Ed Balls. He represents a strong link to the past and the conflicts of the Blair-Brown era, having been a major ally of Gordon Brown.
Yvette Cooper is the most obvious choice. She combines youth and experience and has topped the Shadow Cabinet election poll.
Ed needs a team that represents a party remaining on the centre ground. That is how elections are won.
So the party has spoken. The Shadow Cabinet has been elected. There are more David Milidand supporters than expected and some surprising omissions - Ben Bradshaw, Shaun Woodward, and Peter Hain to name but a few.
Fellow leadership contender Diane Abbott unsurprisingly, also failed to make it.
This is Ed Miliband's new generation, where the Party has gone for youth over experience.
The big question is who he will pick for the key post of Shadow Chancellor. I am hoping it is not Ed Balls. He represents a strong link to the past and the conflicts of the Blair-Brown era, having been a major ally of Gordon Brown.
Yvette Cooper is the most obvious choice. She combines youth and experience and has topped the Shadow Cabinet election poll.
Ed needs a team that represents a party remaining on the centre ground. That is how elections are won.
Wednesday 6 October 2010
PM's 'Call To Arms' Conference Speech The Calm Before The Storm
David Cameron today addressed the Conservative Party Conference for the first time as Prime Minister; the first occasion a Tory leader has done so as leader of this country for fourteen years.
His overriding message was, there are tough economic times ahead, but stick with us and we will get through it.
Really Mr Cameron?
Anyone from my generation who remembers 18 years of Conservative rule before 1997, can see history repeating itself.
The Prime Minister made much in his speech of the mess that Labour have left the country in after thirteen years of their misrule.
But those of us old enough have seen it all before, if not in the the thirties and fifties, but certainly the eighties: A long period of Labour in government, creating a huge budget deficit by spending money the country doesn't have. The Tories then come in and insist that the only way to clean up the country's finances is getting the budget deficit down very very quickly.
History has shown very clearly that reducing the deficit too fast by cutting public spending will actually take us back into recession, not further into recovery. That is exactly what happened in 1980-81 as a result of Thatcher's policy of reducing expenditure. I remember it like it was yesterday.
David Cameron is living in the clouds if he doesn't know that taking money out of the economy will only do a lot of damage.
The announcement by the Chancellor, of cuts to Child Benefit during the Tory Conference has not been received at all well by Party activists. They may have liked the Prime Minister's keynote speech, but many are very unhappy about the introduction of a policy that not only will hit many of them very hard but does not take combined household income into account.
I am reminded of how unpopular the Poll Tax was in the 1990s.
David Cameron knows, as do the rest of his party, that the Child Benefit changes are just a taste of things to come.
Everyone is holding their breath to see what will happen on October 20.
His overriding message was, there are tough economic times ahead, but stick with us and we will get through it.
Really Mr Cameron?
Anyone from my generation who remembers 18 years of Conservative rule before 1997, can see history repeating itself.
The Prime Minister made much in his speech of the mess that Labour have left the country in after thirteen years of their misrule.
But those of us old enough have seen it all before, if not in the the thirties and fifties, but certainly the eighties: A long period of Labour in government, creating a huge budget deficit by spending money the country doesn't have. The Tories then come in and insist that the only way to clean up the country's finances is getting the budget deficit down very very quickly.
History has shown very clearly that reducing the deficit too fast by cutting public spending will actually take us back into recession, not further into recovery. That is exactly what happened in 1980-81 as a result of Thatcher's policy of reducing expenditure. I remember it like it was yesterday.
David Cameron is living in the clouds if he doesn't know that taking money out of the economy will only do a lot of damage.
The announcement by the Chancellor, of cuts to Child Benefit during the Tory Conference has not been received at all well by Party activists. They may have liked the Prime Minister's keynote speech, but many are very unhappy about the introduction of a policy that not only will hit many of them very hard but does not take combined household income into account.
I am reminded of how unpopular the Poll Tax was in the 1990s.
David Cameron knows, as do the rest of his party, that the Child Benefit changes are just a taste of things to come.
Everyone is holding their breath to see what will happen on October 20.
Monday 4 October 2010
Why The Coalition's Benefit Cut Plans Are Unfair
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11464300
The Chancellor, George Osborne has announced that Child Benefit will no longer be paid to families where one parent is earning £44,000 or more.
This is an inherently unfair change, because if both parents' combined earnings are more than this, they will not be affected.
My view is that universal benefits should not be touched at all, but if the Coalition was going to reduce Child Benefit, then they should have made the threshold much higher and applied the cut in payments only to those parents earning more than £60000.
This measure will hit middle-income families very hard and will cost the Conservatives a lot of support. And it will not please many Liberal Democrats, who passed a motion at their Conference arguing against any cuts to Child Benefit.
With more cuts on the way, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
The Chancellor, George Osborne has announced that Child Benefit will no longer be paid to families where one parent is earning £44,000 or more.
This is an inherently unfair change, because if both parents' combined earnings are more than this, they will not be affected.
My view is that universal benefits should not be touched at all, but if the Coalition was going to reduce Child Benefit, then they should have made the threshold much higher and applied the cut in payments only to those parents earning more than £60000.
This measure will hit middle-income families very hard and will cost the Conservatives a lot of support. And it will not please many Liberal Democrats, who passed a motion at their Conference arguing against any cuts to Child Benefit.
With more cuts on the way, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Sunday 3 October 2010
Why Baroness Warsi Is Wrong About Labour's Policies Towards Ethnic Minorities
http://www.labourlist.org/tulip-siddiq-the-pessimism-of-baroness-warsi
Prime Minister David Cameron today tried to inject some positive spin on the effect the imminent cuts in public spending will have on the worse off in our country.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, he tried to allay people's fears by saying that the cuts won't be as bad as the public think.
Compare this tone with that of the speech from Sayeeda Warsi, the Party Chairman who struck completely the opposite note.
Her speech attacking Labour's record in helping ethnic minorities showed that the PM is saying one thing and members of his cabinet are saying another.
I respect Baroness Warsi.
She is one of the few politicians who is not afraid to say exactly what she thinks.
However, in her opening speech to this year's Conservative Party conference - the Party's first in government for 14 years - Baroness Warsi accuses Labour, whilst in power, of not looking after ethnic minorities in general and the Asian community in particular.
By saying this, the Conservative Party Chairman is actually being very divisive. Such negative comments will only serve to make the Asian community feel even more alienated from the rest of the British population than some do already.
Baroness Warsi is now in government. The negative rhetoric that may be acceptable whilst in opposition, will no longer sit easily with people looking to her to take the lead.
I would like to see some positive suggestions from the Conservative Party on how to further bridge differences between people of various backgrounds.
After all, isn’t this Coalition supposed to be working in the national interest?
Prime Minister David Cameron today tried to inject some positive spin on the effect the imminent cuts in public spending will have on the worse off in our country.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, he tried to allay people's fears by saying that the cuts won't be as bad as the public think.
Compare this tone with that of the speech from Sayeeda Warsi, the Party Chairman who struck completely the opposite note.
Her speech attacking Labour's record in helping ethnic minorities showed that the PM is saying one thing and members of his cabinet are saying another.
I respect Baroness Warsi.
She is one of the few politicians who is not afraid to say exactly what she thinks.
However, in her opening speech to this year's Conservative Party conference - the Party's first in government for 14 years - Baroness Warsi accuses Labour, whilst in power, of not looking after ethnic minorities in general and the Asian community in particular.
By saying this, the Conservative Party Chairman is actually being very divisive. Such negative comments will only serve to make the Asian community feel even more alienated from the rest of the British population than some do already.
Baroness Warsi is now in government. The negative rhetoric that may be acceptable whilst in opposition, will no longer sit easily with people looking to her to take the lead.
I would like to see some positive suggestions from the Conservative Party on how to further bridge differences between people of various backgrounds.
After all, isn’t this Coalition supposed to be working in the national interest?
So It's Ed....What Now For Labour In The Quest To Regain Power?
Ed Miliband is now the Leader of the Labour Party.
His narrow victory over brother David has surprised many people. I did think some time ago that he might edge it, but was convinced as the results were about to be announced that David had won.
David has done the right thing in not standing for the shadow cabinet. Had he stayed there, the press and media would have scrutinised his every move and word. Labour would have not been able to get on with the business of opposing this coalition and ensuring that Labour is returned to power in 2015.
However, it is not lost on me that perhaps it might have been better for David to leave Parliament altogether.
His spat with Harriet Harman following Ed's comments during his speech condemning Blair's invasion of Iraq was clear for all to see. Moreover, The headlines of 'back-seat driver' and 'David Carps From the Sidelines' could still appear in future, knowing just how keen the Tory press are turn politics into a soap-opera.
You could be forgiven for thinking that there were just two candidates in the recent Labour Leadership contest, rather than five.
Nevertheless, Ed's main speech to the Labour Conference was very impressive. He did very well in countering the charge by the Tories and their friends in the Daily Mail that he was wholly the choice of the Trade Unions.
Such hysterial headlines calling him 'Red Ed' because he received more votes from individual Trade Union members than his brother did totally ignore the fact that only a very small percentage of them actually voted. I was impressed with his plea to the media to engage in a more mature discussion about the issues that really matter to people.
Whilst the speech was by comparison with previous leaders' addresses, quite long, lasting an hour, I thought it was important that Ed introduced himself to the voters, having only had a very junior cabinet post in the previous Labour Government.
So what now for Labour?
The overwhelming feeling from attending their Party Conference in Manchester is, that, yes, it is disappointing to be back in Opposition after 13 years of power. However, as Harriet Harman said in her address to Delagates, Labour is 'fortified' and united in the belief that the focus should be on fighting the spending cuts of the coalition and not turning on each other. Those members who can remember 18 long years of opposition before Blair's stunning victory in 1997, will not want Labour to stay out of power for too long.
Labour needs to focus on the fact that, despite all the work David Cameron did to change the Tory Party since becoming their leader, he was unable to win a majority for them.
That says a lot.
Ed Miiband has the youth, energy and charisma to inspire people. I have seen him on the hustings during the leadership campaign and he has the ability to win back the millions of voters Labour has lost since 1997.
Labour have elected someone who, I believe, has the nous to wrong-foot Cameron at PMQs.
And as for the Liberal Democrats, they may be enjoying a taste of power for the first time in nearly seventy years, but they know they are the junior partners in this coalition. Nick Clegg and his lackies have abandoned just about every principle they held just to be in government.
Their supporters did not vote for this and the Party will be punished for it. My guess is the Liberal Democrats are now finished for a generation. Those voters who backed Nick Clegg's opposition to immediate cuts in public spending during the election campaign will undoubtedly come over to Labour, who is now the only main party on the side of the poorest in our society, as they are the ones who will be hit hardest by these cuts.
As long as Labour remains united and keeps their nerve, they should only have to endure a short spell in opposition. Come October 20 and the announcements of where the spending axe will fall, this ConDem Coalition will have an impossible task in recovering their popularity in time to prevent Labour from returning to power in 2015.
His narrow victory over brother David has surprised many people. I did think some time ago that he might edge it, but was convinced as the results were about to be announced that David had won.
David has done the right thing in not standing for the shadow cabinet. Had he stayed there, the press and media would have scrutinised his every move and word. Labour would have not been able to get on with the business of opposing this coalition and ensuring that Labour is returned to power in 2015.
However, it is not lost on me that perhaps it might have been better for David to leave Parliament altogether.
His spat with Harriet Harman following Ed's comments during his speech condemning Blair's invasion of Iraq was clear for all to see. Moreover, The headlines of 'back-seat driver' and 'David Carps From the Sidelines' could still appear in future, knowing just how keen the Tory press are turn politics into a soap-opera.
You could be forgiven for thinking that there were just two candidates in the recent Labour Leadership contest, rather than five.
Nevertheless, Ed's main speech to the Labour Conference was very impressive. He did very well in countering the charge by the Tories and their friends in the Daily Mail that he was wholly the choice of the Trade Unions.
Such hysterial headlines calling him 'Red Ed' because he received more votes from individual Trade Union members than his brother did totally ignore the fact that only a very small percentage of them actually voted. I was impressed with his plea to the media to engage in a more mature discussion about the issues that really matter to people.
Whilst the speech was by comparison with previous leaders' addresses, quite long, lasting an hour, I thought it was important that Ed introduced himself to the voters, having only had a very junior cabinet post in the previous Labour Government.
So what now for Labour?
The overwhelming feeling from attending their Party Conference in Manchester is, that, yes, it is disappointing to be back in Opposition after 13 years of power. However, as Harriet Harman said in her address to Delagates, Labour is 'fortified' and united in the belief that the focus should be on fighting the spending cuts of the coalition and not turning on each other. Those members who can remember 18 long years of opposition before Blair's stunning victory in 1997, will not want Labour to stay out of power for too long.
Labour needs to focus on the fact that, despite all the work David Cameron did to change the Tory Party since becoming their leader, he was unable to win a majority for them.
That says a lot.
Ed Miiband has the youth, energy and charisma to inspire people. I have seen him on the hustings during the leadership campaign and he has the ability to win back the millions of voters Labour has lost since 1997.
Labour have elected someone who, I believe, has the nous to wrong-foot Cameron at PMQs.
And as for the Liberal Democrats, they may be enjoying a taste of power for the first time in nearly seventy years, but they know they are the junior partners in this coalition. Nick Clegg and his lackies have abandoned just about every principle they held just to be in government.
Their supporters did not vote for this and the Party will be punished for it. My guess is the Liberal Democrats are now finished for a generation. Those voters who backed Nick Clegg's opposition to immediate cuts in public spending during the election campaign will undoubtedly come over to Labour, who is now the only main party on the side of the poorest in our society, as they are the ones who will be hit hardest by these cuts.
As long as Labour remains united and keeps their nerve, they should only have to endure a short spell in opposition. Come October 20 and the announcements of where the spending axe will fall, this ConDem Coalition will have an impossible task in recovering their popularity in time to prevent Labour from returning to power in 2015.
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