Last March, Sir Keir Starmer warned the big spenders of local government that there was no ‘magic money tree’, copying Tory Theresa May‘s warning to Jeremy Corbyn.
It is now very interesting to revisit his speech, in which he asked: ‘Can I stand here and pretend to you that there’s a magic money tree that we can waggle the day after the election?’ and then gave the crystal-clear answer: ‘No.’
It is his explanation that is especially striking. Starmer stated that his hands were tied because the Tories had ‘broken the economy’.
Now, as Prime Minister, he says this all the time – but these days he claims the news is a total surprise, and that Labour had no idea until they walked into the Treasury that things were so bad.
The truth is that everyone has always known they were quite bad. But that did not stop Starmer from promising before the election that he would not load new taxes on what he called ‘working people’.
As Prime Minister, Keir Starmer says the Tories have ‘broken the economy’ – and that the news is a total surprise to Labour
Starmer has already taken – or tried to take – the winter fuel allowance from almost ten million pensioners, perhaps thinking that this would mainly hit Tory voters – but he was mistaken about that and faces angry denunciations from his own allies at the Trades Union Congress
It is clear that this promise was wholly false, and that he knew it was false when he made it.
Again, speaking before the poll, Starmer attacked the Tories for stealth taxation, saying: ‘They tell you they’re cutting your taxes, while at the same time they’re rifling through your back pocket.
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Angela Rayner squirms as she defends plans to scrap winter fuel allowance for 10 million pensioners – after slamming the Tories online for similar cuts while in opposition
‘Give with one hand, take even more with the other’.
Well, as PM, he has already taken – or tried to take – the winter fuel allowance from almost ten million pensioners, perhaps thinking that this would mainly hit Tory voters.
He was mistaken about that and faces angry denunciations from his own allies at the Trades Union Congress.
But where else can he turn to fill the ‘black hole’ he claims he has only just discovered?
Hiking up capital gains tax rates would not raise very much. Extra duty on petrol would risk a motorists’ revolt.
Huge numbers of people rely on cars to work, and they operate on very tight margins, counting each penny.
Inheritance tax is a direct attack on the millions of all political persuasions who plan to hand on hard-earned savings to their children.
Or perhaps he can find a way of twisting council tax into a ‘mansion tax’, if he can inveigle people into believing a three-bedroom semi is a mansion.
There really is not very much about this Labour Government that has so far been impressive.
There really is not very much about this Labour Government that has so far been impressive – it has nothing of substance to say about immigration
It has nothing of substance to say about immigration. Starmer’s carefully groomed reputation as a stern prosecutor is so much air.
His response to the criminal justice crisis (about which he must also have already known everything, given his experience) is to release dangerous criminals from jails.
And now Labour’s sums – as usual – don’t add up. Among those who fell for the claim that Labour had ‘changed’, there must already be quite a lot of buyer’s remorse.
Where is the justice?
The independent police watchdog has announced that it is investigating how shocking mobile-phone video footage of a fracas at Manchester Airport in July was made public.
The clip appeared to show two female police officers being attacked and hit to the ground before officers incapacitated a man with a Taser.
The independent police watchdog has announced that it is investigating how shocking mobile-phone video footage of a fracas at Manchester Airport in July was made public
Certainly, the scenes were deeply disturbing.
Four men remain on bail.
Two officers are under criminal investigation.
But why a probe into the leak of the video? What happened to accountability, the public’s right to know and the principle of open justice?
