To think there won't be any major changes to benefits today

[Viviennemary]

I think the government panicked when they realised the benefits bill is unsustainable. But they won't have the courage to make the necessary changes and cuts.

I think Starmer’s a clever man and he’s doing it now as it’ll give time for the dust to settle before the next GE. The changes may not look big on paper but they’ll be designed to continue gathering momentum on their own. Essentially he’s targeting both new claimants and existing ones.

They always bring up the most unpopular vote losing ideas early on in their term because they know nobody will vote for them again if they wheel these policies out when we are approaching a general election. Remember what Starmer said before winning the last election about how certain things were not a part of their manifesto, like raising taxes?

Everybody knows the benefits bill is unsustainable.

I had a really interesting conversation with 3 GPs I met in an airport a couple of weeks ago. They were saying that there are definitely a lot of people who are swinging the lead and should not be in receipt of disability benefit but it's not their responsibility. They're not the politicians or the police, and they give the patient whatever they want and send them out the door.

It was a really interesting conversation. I don't envy the people who are trying to tackle the issue.

Regardless I will never vote for them again.

I can no longer justify supporting a party that went for pensioners and disabled people while allowing the wealthy to get away with paying little tax, failed to address utility bills rip off or to stop water companies from polluting sea and rivers.

I think it’s ridiculous to speculate when we’ll know in a few hours’ time.