Just tuned in to BBC Breakfast to hear Jess Phillips absolutely mangling Aneurin Bevan’s “the language of priorities is the religion of socialism” quote - both in words and meaning.

Steve Coogan accuses Labour of paving way for Reform UK Exclusive: Actor says Keir Starmer’s party has caused a ‘derogation of all the principles they were supposed to represent’

Fair comment. Biden gift-wrapped his country for Trump. Stamer is performing the same service for Farage here.
www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

'Why We Must Call the National-Populist Far Right by Its Name' The centre left should stop being afraid of accurately describing and countering the global far right threat we now face, argue Jon Bloomfield and David Edgar

This article explains why it is correct and necessary to label the far-right as the far-right.

bylinetimes.com/2025/05/12/p...

It will never be enough.

Not a political strategist, but one lesson Labour might take from this litmus test of their platform is that the efforts they are making to lessen the political cost of doing difficult but necessary things aren’t, in fact, doing that. But it *is* muddling the message & stymying the pace of progress.

Why Don’t Starmer and Reeves try socialism? Part 2 Is it time for the Labour Party to return to its socialist roots? This writer argues that it should have done so long ago. Part 2 of 2

Is it time for the Labour Party to return to its socialist roots? This writer argues that it should have done so long ago. Part 2 of 2 | Colin Tudge

@westenglandbylines.co.uk

The Labour Party, Government and country are all weaker for not having @andyburnham.bsky.social in a position of leadership centrally

Andy Burnham: Labour mayor criticises cuts to disability benefits Veteran Labour politician Andy Burnham says the government's plan

Well said @andyburnham.bsky.social - speaking up as many MPs and councillors have too

Cuts to disability benefits are indeed "the wrong choice"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

To recap, the government’s own analysis shows its cuts would leave:

250,000 people in poverty by 2030—including 50,000 children.

1 in 5 families with a disabled member worse off.

3.2 million people £1,720 worse off.

They must abandon these cruel plans.

If, as Mr Starmer believes, AI is the magic wand that will solve our problems, why employ a human Chancellor blindly to follow a self-destructive algorithm, when a machine would do it just as well?

Quote from Tom Pollard, head of social policy: Today’s assessment confirms that ill and disabled people will see cuts to benefits amounting to around £6.5bn a year by 2029-30. Yet the Department for Work and Pensions and the Office for Budget Responsibility between them have not yet been able to forecast any impact on employment outcomes. The government’s narrative to justify benefit cuts for ill and disabled people has completely fallen apart – it is clearer than ever that the real driver has been pressure to meet an arbitrary savings target.

This government's attempt to justify cutting benefits has completely fallen apart. They're slashing support for ill and disabled people to meet their arbitrary fiscal rules.

@pollardtom.bsky.social reacts to the cuts announced in the spring statement

Ministers need to rethink their plans for social security reform.

These changes will mean many disabled people and their families are pushed into poverty.

Where there are pressures on the public finances those with the broadest shoulders must contribute more.

Rachel Reeves says Spring Statement will not 'tax and spend' In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, the chancellor opened up on the public finances and how she's finding the job.

Rachel Reeves: I will not 'tax and spend'.

That means cuts in some govt depts.

So far, two child benefit cap, winter fuel payment cut, freeze on income tax thresholds; proposed benefit cuts

Must ditch the fiscal rules. Tax the rich.

Can't grow economy without that.

If anyone can show me how you grow the economy by targeting people who need assistance to wash below their waist, please reply.

Hundreds of thousands will be affected by benefits changes These plans are more geared towards making budgetary numbers add up than fundamental welfare reform.

War on the poor and disabled

Around a million Britons will lose their entire £70 a week or £3,500 a year benefit.

Bureaucracy with a cliff-edge. Many will just miss out.

To enable the govt to meet arbitrary fiscal rules, avoid redistribution of income and wealth.

What are the victims to do?

Making economic growth the overriding purpose, to which all else must be sacrificed, not only trashes ecological and social values. It's also spectacularly bad politics. Governments can't control growth, but when it dips, this government, by its own criteria, fails. A rod for its own back.

Funnily enough im reading his book at the moment m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71t...

Here’s how Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement must offer hope 'The government needs to recalibrate policies'

To revive economy UK govt must redistribute wealth.

Bottom 50% of the population has 5% of wealth; bottom fifth has 0.5%. 1% have more than 70% population combined.

Median wage is £29,604. Real average wage unchanged since 2008.

Cut taxes on the bottom 50%. Tax wealth. End tax perks of the rich.

I’ve finally received my invite and it’s about time! I was starting to think that I was being a woke, metropolitan elite, climate change realist, pro vaccine shill for nothing.

‘Why trying to out Reform Reform would be a mistake’ – LabourList It’s 1964 and a newly installed Labour government are worried about anti-immigrant sentiment among its core voters. At the general election in October that year,…

"Labour is right to be worried about Reform. But seeking to dress up in Nigel Farage’s clothes is certain to end in failure."

Kieran Connell on why trying to out Reform Reform would be a mistake

I’m a Labour MP – but the government’s ‘growth’ mission reeks of panic | Clive Lewis The decision to expand Heathrow is just the latest evidence that my party is chasing policies that serve profit, not people Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s recent “big growth agenda” speech wasn’t just the expression of a vision for the economy. It was also a…

I’m a Labour MP – but the government’s ‘growth’ mission reeks of panic | Clive Lewis

🌿 Climate and Nature Bill's co-sponsor, @labourlewis.bsky.social:

“I don't want to see growth that comes at the cost of my daughter and her generation's future. You can not have growth on a dead planet—MPs need to understand that. Climate, biodiversity and growth are interlinked.” #CANBill

Music Venue Trust slams Welsh council over 'shocking' prosecution Anthony Lewis The owner of a former music venue in Merthyr Tydfil and a UK music charity have expressed their disappointment over council court action being taken despite it now being closed. The Scal...

The UK grassroots music venue charity has heavily criticised a Welsh council for what it describes as 'wasteful' and 'heavy-handed' action being taken against the owner of a venue - despite it now being closed

Labour hasn’t delivered growth or happiness. It needs an economic reset. Successive governments have tailored economic and tax policies to impoverish the masses

Poverty is political

Despite economic growth since 2010, 5.2m UK children live in poverty. Govts imposed two-child benefit cap.

Due to lack of good food, housing, healthcare, UK children upto 7cm shorter than comparable Europeans.

Must reset political discourse
leftfootforward.org/2025/01/labo...

Il Douché

Il Douché

#trumpinauguration