Thread 26 Starmer: Cats, Rebels and Orange Chaos

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5349605-thread-25-starmer-cheers-for-a-falling-out-among-thieves?page=40&reply=145224605

I think Reeves pushed this vote right to the edge. She is tamed by her party and now must raise tax. That is nothing to do with the Conservative Party though they will gloat.

These cuts were driven by her department, her decisions. The Chancellor holds control of all domestic spending. I would say that as an independent policy maker she is done, personal matter or not. That was done by her colleagues. Yes that is a very rough experience she has had from them and only them. It would upset anyone to know that your strategy has failed and your party has functionally decided you cannot execute your policies.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/02/matt-hancock-covid-inquiry-care-homes-hospital-discharge-policy

Hancock defends moving hospital patients to care homes during Covid pandemic

Ex-health secretary tells inquiry policy to free up hospital beds in early days of pandemic was ‘least worst decision’

Reeves needs to get rid of her fiscal rules and allow for tax rises.

No, I don't really want to pay more tax either but I do want this country to do well.

He should be behind bars, along side Bojo.

I imagine that Reeves correctly realises that given she cannot make any serious cut in spending stick, then she will have to increase tax, but that also, the markets will charge the UK Government more for its debt. That payment is around 109 billion a year. She cannot make 5 billion cuts so any tax rise she makes won’t touch the sides of what is needed. The country will continue to stagnate.

I don’t think she the right person for the job, but I think she sees the problems quite well. They are huge.

Who do you think could replace her?

I ve always liked Reeves, she understands the issues ie we need growth! but as far as i can see, she has been let down by Starmer, who i don't like!!

However, we don't know who decided not to drop this bill once the level of opposition was known, the level of roll backs was ridiculous, almost no reform as the bill now stands and a whole heap of problems ahead as it goes through Parliament!

Remember how I bang on about nothing really changing for women in 50 plus years ?

Case rested.

1 July 2025 – Bill passage

• Immediate repeal of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 and most of the Trade Union Act 2016 gov.uk+15gov.uk+15policymogul.com+15.
• New protections introduced so workers cannot be dismissed for participating in strikes thetimes.co.uk+3workplacejournal.co.uk+3yourpayrollteam.com+3.

Early 2026

• Launch of the Fair Work Agency to enforce labour laws and support workers gov.uk+13gov.uk+13workplacejournal.co.uk+13.
• Introduction of day-one parental and paternity leave rights gov.uk+14gov.uk+14thetimes.co.uk+14.
• Removal of lower earnings threshold and waiting period for Statutory Sick Pay, expanding access to around 1.3 million low-paid workers policymogul.com+6gov.uk+6workplacejournal.co.uk+6.
• Expansion of whistleblowing protections and doubling of the cap period for collective redundancy protective awards workplacejournal.co.uk.
• Strengthened trade union rights: easier recognition and electronic balloting assets.publishing.service.gov.uk+2workplacejournal.co.uk+2thetimes.co.uk+2.

October 2026

• Ban on “fire and rehire” employment practices gov.uk+15workplacejournal.co.uk+15thetimes.co.uk+15.
• Establishment of a Fair Pay Agreement body for adult social care in England ft.com+15workplacejournal.co.uk+15assets.publishing.service.gov.uk+15.
• Employer duties to consult on tip distribution and take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, including third-party incidents workplacejournal.co.uk+1thetimes.co.uk+1.
• Further enhancements to trade union representation and strike protection rights policymogul.com+7workplacejournal.co.uk+7thetimes.co.uk+7.

2027

• Ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts and right to contract based on regular hours workplacejournal.co.uk+1thetimes.co.uk+1.
• Day-one protection from unfair dismissal takes full effect ft.com+5workplacejournal.co.uk+5thetimes.co.uk+5.
• Improved flexible working rights, including easier access gov.uk+15workplacejournal.co.uk+15ft.com+15.
• Implementation of gender pay equity action plans, menopause support measures, enhanced protections for pregnant workers, and bereavement leave rights apnews.com.

So she can take the piss out off that, too?

The bookies have stopped taking bets on Reeves being replaced. My money would be on Torsten Bell.

The UK has huge problems in terms of its public spending. That will not change. However, rebellions when you do not have any money spend have a wider cost. Reeves may stay, but basically she’s been stripped of any power.

You can be in government but not have power. It happens. The Labour Party should be careful and realise that. Backbenchers included

I beg to differ.
Labour have a huge majority and a Tory party with just 120 MPs.

Reeves may not stay in position but regardless of who takes over, unless Starmer backs them, then they also will have no power, he has given into the rebels, rightly imho but if so, why was the bill put forward if it was so full of holes?
Starmer saying it is because he was focused on over seas matters is hogwash.

InTouch yesterday - R4's program for the blind - highlighted the issues, being blind would not have meant a PIP approval... i mean who the fuch let that one through??
Another was not being able to wash bellow the waist, again, PIP rejected....

If as a government you can’t manage public spending via cuts or tax rises, and Labour have restrictions on both politically, with increasing needs for services, then it’s a grim picture. I am not saying they will be beaten by the Tories. They will do themselves in

Indeed. I was not in the least bit surprised to see certain names popping up on there. So predictable.

Maybe 400+ MPs simply cannot be managed, whatever party you are ?

Anyone with a sense of science will know how many things in nature are exponential or logarithmic in progression. 400 MPs could be 4 times as much effort to manage as 200, not twice as much.

However (it all leads back to electoral reform) it's becoming clear that generally there is no single party for a lot of voters.

Bloody hell. Got on with some work and missed it all.
Had a message from a friend to say Telegraph was playing Reeves crying on a loop on its front page. Classy stuff.

Torsten Bell has to be the Bookies favourite as the next Chancellor.
Half of MN will expire.

There isnt £5 billion to cut because services are on a shoestring as is. Years of failure to invest means so much of the infrastructure/equipment is on its last legs - from courts to prisons to schools to 40 new hospitals etc.
(Not saying there isnt any waste anywhere etc blah - but certainly not £5 billion)

12,500 care home patients died of Covid between March to April 2020 alone.
They asked the impossible of those homes.

Gathering the evaded tax from the MegaCorps would plug all the gaps.

Also finances are quite so tight that MPs can't get a pay rise are they ?

As I recall the Tories big idea is that national finances are like a household. So if you need more money, you get another/better job.

Surely the national equivalent of getting another job raising more taxes ?

No PMQs verdict from Andrew Sparrow today.

There's certainly a lot of millionaires who are happy to pay more taxes.

I have a joke to tell you about trickle down economics. However 95% won't get it.

Well I dunno, a better job might include things like joining a trade bloc.

'I have a joke to tell you about trickle down economics. However 95% won't get it.'
😄

I hope there's a forthcoming charge against him.

Agree.

one of the problems the Toys had at times was the echo chamber.

Rather than Tory MPs challenging within Their own party they just played pantomime with the opposition.

It’s far better for a Labour MP who shares the same values to challenge from within that Badenoch just using her foghorn to make noise from the outside:

This Friday is Independence Day for those with family and diaspora in the USA.

Here in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it's a day to commemorate freedom from the tyranny of the Conservative Party.

Another four years. , 🎉 😀