I will keep saying this: They were warned about Starmer and his front bench, and the warnings from all they said and did were flying around like confetti, Stockholm syndrom can be the only answer to the 30% who voted for them, and those who don't vote are no better, when they moan things, I say tuf!
It's ridiculous to say there won't be austerity even as we watch it being implemented.
What's the point in saying it?
There's the makings of a reasonable government here with Rayner PM, Starmer foreign secretary and anyone but Reeves as chancellor, but in this configuration they're a joke.
Adam - I’m seriously questioning the language used by the journalists and the particularly, the Guardian on this atm .
I’ve mainly heard the word ‘freeze’ on expenditure - over 3 years - beginning with consultations with charities.
There seems to be MIXED MESSAGING - can you be clearer
DOGE, the department run by unelected Musk, is dismantling federal government in USA, causing chaos and misery to millions of people, some who rely on Social Security, Medicaid. With protests across 50 states, it won't end well.
Happy, healthy people spend money locally, so tax mega rich who don't.
This may or may not happen but it another speculative article. I'll wait until I hear from the Chancellor herself before passing comment, otherwise why bother with a Government at all.
It’s almost as is Reeves and Starmer are working for Reform. This just makes the electorate angry and sadly an angry electorate don’t tend to vote for the Greens or LibDems, when both Tory and Labour fails them.
Essentially then told we have too many crumbs under the table upon which lies a tremendous feast enjoyed by a handful of fat greedy bastards with gravy dripping down their chins and wondering if they have enough room for one last wafer thin mint.
It seems lying is 2nd nature with a large number of elected MPs in Govt.(big promises when they are after your vote!) I look around me and see crumbling infrastructure,no 'affordable' housebuilding,reduced social care,derelict community centres,closure of libraries,no future for our kids..a mess
This feels like such the wrong choice. We are all so weary of being told we have to manage with less, especially while the richest are richer than ever.
The failure to announce a 2% wealth tax on the top 1% - which would dwarf any of these savings and which those included wouldn’t even notice - will be seen as an absolute shocking error of enormous magnitude.
Yep, plus these dogmatic "red lines" that should have binned once Trump won power and spending had to change.
"we live in an ever more dangerous and uncertain world, we have to increase taxes (especially on the richest) to raise spending to counteract that" would be an easy sell!
Tell me over the last 24 years when
NHS waiting lists are down
More NHS appointments
More dental appointments
Renters have proper rights
Breakfast clubs in schools
120,000 extra pensions relieving pension credits
The 2024 budget delivered £40bn of additional cash into public service, including the largest real-terms growth in day-to-day NHS spending since 2010. Plus £100bn of investment into schools, hospitals and national infrastructure.
Quibbling about the exact definition of austerity is the least helpful route to take when, after 14 years of witnessing the same, we have a Labour govt doubling down on hurting the most vulnerable among us. Shameful.
Of course its austerity. Labour has only addressed the austerity inflicted by the Tories in selected area. And even then, not at levels that return it to pre-Tory levels. They are now imposing more austerity on top of the pre-existing austerity. That's "meaning" for you.
Austerity is cutting disability benefit not just to those who barely got on pip but those with severe disabilities,austerity is cutting ESA for those in support group,forcing them onto UC..austerity is cutting winter fuel payment for those who are few pounds short of being entitled to pension credit
Easy to say nah when it does not effect you.
As a labour member,and someone who voted Starmer as leader,I am telling you,this is austerity,on the poorest in society,no different to Camerons austerity...try asking the disabled if its any different.
Their economic policy was always based on austerity. You can't have year on year growth without it. What we really need us an economic policy based on need not want. What do we as a society need for a decent life. Tax yhe super rich
The welfare bill will still grow even after Labour’s £5 billion cuts (the Tories would have cut at least £12 billion) .
Unfortunately though, if people on the left withhold their vote from Labour next time, they will usher in a hard right Reform/Tory govt which slash public services to the bone .
This happened at the first budget too. Starmer insisting No Austerity and Reeves creating Austerity. It’s apattern… Starmer says “We’re not killing trans children or disabled people or starving young kids” and then his cabinet go out and do exactly those things.
I didn't think it was possible to disappoint this badly after the debacle that was the last Tory government. But somehow Starmer and Reeves have managed to take an unimaginably terrible situation, and compound it with more of the same shyte.
This is not a Labour government, it's not even close.
So one of the excuses I hear ad infinitum is that the media are hostile towards labour and are misreporting what they are doing. Here we have them reporting that starmer will not enact austerity, but also they are reporting austerity supporting policies. Which is the lie?
The city is cold on borrowing, Reeves ruled out tax hikes. Britain is skint, why does nobody tell the truth? The pretence is stupid and ends with Reform.
He has no mandate for any of the things he is doing.
We can't keep doing this, democracy needs to be fixed and to start with
-liberal, Neoliberal, Laissez-faire, fascism, neo Fascism, Thatcherism, Regeamomics, Blairism or Starmerism.
All Capital Based Capitalism should be made illegal.
Parliament turned into a tourist attraction.
Purpose built parliament in the middle of the country—Lancashire.
A weighted representation to reflect the 4 countries more accurately.
All boundaries redrawn as 50-50 constituency—UK Gerrymandering has been exposed the last 10 years.
Mandated policy only
MP Donations returned to small amounts, all corporate gifting & corporate donations banned.
A constitution to be written for the UK if it's still in a union.
All tax havens banned.
All tax haven use banned.
All taxes paid in the UK.
Laws and Rules are Manmade, and if they don't work.
There was absolutely no mandate given for public spending cuts. None. And if you’d directly asked the question… “protect Brexit or end austerity?”… end austerity would have won by a landslide. Well it did, didn’t it? Labour needs to stop punishing us for govt failure and change the bloody record.
I just don't GET how what MPs/prospective PMs SAY IN PUBLIC is not legally binding? how do they get to say one thing, & then another, and then do something completely different? HOW? we have recordings, video recordings with audio, & yet they're just mealy-mouthing their way through lie after lie...
I keep retreading the language. The savings are to Whitehall - which we know s*aff money in business consultants . How do you know these jobs wont turn into permanent positions ? I honestly think there’s a combination of poor communication and stitch up going on..
I loaned my vote to Labour to get the Tories out.
They can't rely on it next time.
They can't keep hiding behind the chaos of the conservatives and carry on with business as usual.
All problems are theirs now.
One in five of the electorate voted Red Tory.
Sir Scammer and his squires have absolutely no mandate for anything.
If Farage hadn't split the racist vote, England would have voted the vilest Tories in again.
It's a shite state of affairs, but "Faragism" is what England will inflict on us all next.
Regardless of the mandate the logic of this decision doesn't make that much sense. While reform of the system is needed it needs to be positive reform not this. They've made many mistakes that were unforced and this is one of them
Agreed.
Reform the tax system to end avoidance schemes, wealthy pay their way, windfall tax on utility and energy companies. Rejoin CM to boost economy, remove red tape, give more opportunity.
Austerity was never on the table.
There’s no mandate for rejoining the EU either though. Labour fought and won on very little. The ming vase has turned into a Chinese finger trap where they will be criticised for anything they feel they have to do from inside their own ranks. The result is nothing will get done. It’s very sad
I have no problem with taking out external consultants and those the Tories lavished. The problem the Government faces is that people are seeing public services continue to decline. People won’t see the benefits of Whitehall efficiencies. They have to change the mood.
Labour hasn't made public spending cuts. It has made massive public spending increases. Generationally huge, in fact, through both tax raising and borrowing. Biggest in 25 years.
The conversations about waste & getting value for money should be for all governments to do. Its our taxes. Doesn't have to be framed as blanket "austerity". Its almost like the exaggerations from the Brexit media. Lets leave the hysteria until at least there is more detail.
How's recovery of public funds stolen during Covid going? Jennifer Acuri, PestFix, Michele Mone? Or Dominic Cummings' family house planning permission? Or Tory contracts to newly set up shipping companies without ships or staff? Bibby Stockholm? Nightingale hospitals & biggest of all Brexit?
Starmer is noted for his Gaslighting.
Zionism was nowhere to be seen in his Manifesto 🙄.
Austerity is just another of the same.
Fundamentally, he's a City Tory.
I can remember Starmer during the election when he bragged about his dad being a normal geezer (rip) and his family working in the NHS….. penny for their thoughts
7% over 4 years? Isn’t that about four times smaller/slower than the 2010-2015 austerity cuts? And follows a huge spending increase in the last budget. Is that fair?
They didn't talk about 7% cuts only a few months ago. Indeed, they denied it. What's to stop another 7% in a year's time? Do you think Labour stick to their promises?
When will the penny drop that the net effect of this is the Tories (or worse- Reform) getting back in to destroy any wealth that Labour have been able to put aside??
There is s difference between intentional driven Austerity, and living within your means. Since Xmas Trump turned traitor and the National Security situation changed more dramatically than any time in last 80 years. Spending will and must change.
Comments
What's the point in saying it?
There's the makings of a reasonable government here with Rayner PM, Starmer foreign secretary and anyone but Reeves as chancellor, but in this configuration they're a joke.
I’ve mainly heard the word ‘freeze’ on expenditure - over 3 years - beginning with consultations with charities.
There seems to be MIXED MESSAGING - can you be clearer
“There will be no return to austerity”
https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Change-Labour-Party-Manifesto-2024-large-print.pdf
Playing sailor with nuclear submarines may impress the right wing media, but it's not going to impress most of those losing their benefits.
No return to austerity for them, it seems.
If Labour is doing even harsher cuts, it’s not called austerity.
Clear?
Happy, healthy people spend money locally, so tax mega rich who don't.
Next …… ?
Way whatever next
They had an open goal and blazed the ball over the bar!
"we live in an ever more dangerous and uncertain world, we have to increase taxes (especially on the richest) to raise spending to counteract that" would be an easy sell!
NHS waiting lists are down
More NHS appointments
More dental appointments
Renters have proper rights
Breakfast clubs in schools
120,000 extra pensions relieving pension credits
The 2024 budget delivered £40bn of additional cash into public service, including the largest real-terms growth in day-to-day NHS spending since 2010. Plus £100bn of investment into schools, hospitals and national infrastructure.
An achievement to boast about!
As a labour member,and someone who voted Starmer as leader,I am telling you,this is austerity,on the poorest in society,no different to Camerons austerity...try asking the disabled if its any different.
My point remains,this is austerity.
Unfortunately though, if people on the left withhold their vote from Labour next time, they will usher in a hard right Reform/Tory govt which slash public services to the bone .
This is not a Labour government, it's not even close.
The self-defeating idiocy of it, is staggering.
https://bsky.app/profile/implausibleblog.bsky.social/post/3lkr7qlgdjs2c
We can't keep doing this, democracy needs to be fixed and to start with
-liberal, Neoliberal, Laissez-faire, fascism, neo Fascism, Thatcherism, Regeamomics, Blairism or Starmerism.
All Capital Based Capitalism should be made illegal.
Purpose built parliament in the middle of the country—Lancashire.
A weighted representation to reflect the 4 countries more accurately.
All boundaries redrawn as 50-50 constituency—UK Gerrymandering has been exposed the last 10 years.
Mandated policy only
A constitution to be written for the UK if it's still in a union.
All tax havens banned.
All tax haven use banned.
All taxes paid in the UK.
Laws and Rules are Manmade, and if they don't work.
CHANGE THEM!
They can't rely on it next time.
They can't keep hiding behind the chaos of the conservatives and carry on with business as usual.
All problems are theirs now.
Sir Scammer and his squires have absolutely no mandate for anything.
If Farage hadn't split the racist vote, England would have voted the vilest Tories in again.
It's a shite state of affairs, but "Faragism" is what England will inflict on us all next.
Unshackle UK business, #RejoinTheEUSM!!
#NoToAusterity
( But I understand your point)
Reform the tax system to end avoidance schemes, wealthy pay their way, windfall tax on utility and energy companies. Rejoin CM to boost economy, remove red tape, give more opportunity.
Austerity was never on the table.
Let us breathe, ffs.
They smeared, suspended and expelled almost everybody who wasn’t a racist right-winger or a careerist empty suit
The few who are left who aren’t, are completely marginalised
Zionism was nowhere to be seen in his Manifesto 🙄.
Austerity is just another of the same.
Fundamentally, he's a City Tory.
In my opinion, Reeves has to go. As do the fiscal rules
When does the revolution start?