UK Politics General Discussion

[Matt N]

Interestingly, it appears as though Keir Starmer is taking an increasingly right-wing turn in terms of policy.

Firstly, the government recently announced the abolition of NHS England, and according to The Guardian, the government has radical plans to completely reform the civil service, cracking down on quangos and cutting jobs in the civil service, akin to Elon Musk’s actions with DOGE over in America: https://www.theguardian.com/politic...f-radical-government-proposal-to-reform-state

The government is also planning to make up to £6bn of welfare cuts, with the primary cuts coming from Personal Independence Payment (PIP), under the pretence that the benefits bill is currently burgeoning and forecast to rise to £70bn by 2030: https://www.theguardian.com/politic...-labour-divided-over-prospect-of-benefit-cuts

This is generating discontent within the Labour Party, and commentators are talking about how some of these moves are further right than Blair ever went, and how moves like the benefits cuts are further right than even George Osborne managed to go during the Tory administration.

With this in mind, could the Labour government potentially end up being a more right-wing government than some were expecting? I’ll admit to being surprised at some of the recent rhetoric coming from the government; the stuff about the civil service in particular sounds as though it could have come out of the mouth of Liz Truss, and the benefits cuts are not very traditionally Labour (even if I get the rationale behind them to an extent).

 

[rob666]

This isn't a right wing government at all, politically.
It is a realistic, skint government, that has to limit increasing spending to have any chance economically.
The days of the Labour magic money tree are over.
We have been underpaying in taxation for decades.
Reality hits home in the end.

 

[Plastic Person]

This isn't a right wing government at all, politically.

Economics is politics, and this is a right-wing government. The necessity of those choices can and will be debated, but Wes Streeting stood up in the Commons this week and proudly jeered that he and the Labour Party were making moves and cuts that the Tories had "only ever talked about." Some of these will take out people already on their knees. I understand the necessity for a sensible, realistic Labour party, but much of what is proposed here just screams cruelty. Having deservedly won some Tory voters over, the higher-ups in the party seem to be doubling down on impressing them with increasingly grim party tricks. It's a race to the bottom.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

With this in mind, could the Labour government potentially end up being a more right-wing government than some were expecting?

It's more leftie than I was expecting, from a leader who went in record about how much they admired Margaret Thatcher.

cracking down on quangos and cutting jobs in the civil service, akin to Elon Musk’s actions with DOGE over in America:

It's not akin to DOGE. We don't have the literal richest person in the world meddling in governmental departments, to ensure that his interests and companies win new government contracts.

The bonfire of the Quangos is something which started under David Cameron. That being said, it's not something I wholeheartedly disagree with. NHS England is a terrible entity, handing out healthcare contacts to private third parties left right and centre. There really isn't any reason why it shouldn't be under the direction control of the Department for Health and Social Care.

Highways England and Network Rail are two others which could be folded into direct control, under the Department of Transport.

Sone Quangos are unnecessary, and probably ought to be brought under direct Departmental control. It also makes ministers and departments more responsible. Some aren't. UK Film Council, RIP, was an excellent resource and the primary reason why our film industry started booming (it's now very much declining).

Essential government services should not be outsourced, they should be under direct control. The frilly stuff is a different discussion.

 

[rob666]

Economics is politics, and this is a right-wing government. The necessity of those choices can and will be debated, but Wes Streeting stood up in the Commons this week and proudly jeered that he and the Labour Party were making moves and cuts that the Tories had "only ever talked about." ...

I disagree completely.
Economic reality means accepting large scale tax increases, or cuts in a welfare bill that has massively increased since covid, with an ageing population costing the state even more.
There is an absolute need to make hard choices, or the nation goes bust.
The Tories were at fault for not acting sooner, in a desire to get re-elected.

Change has to happen.

 

[Benzin]

Streeting is an off-putting person to be in charge of the Health Department. Stuff he's come out with (especially relating to Trans) put me off actually voting Labour at the election.

Obviously at home the changes to disabled benefits is a concern. The Universal Credit changes are still recent in the memory, and it's not exactly like PIP and ESA help a great deal in the current economic climate.

Removing NHS England I'm not sure how to feel about it. However under it there's been some terrible decisions so it does seem very unfit for purpose, and Labour have made it clear that they plan on bringing a number of things under direct government control, for better or worse.