How the Labour rebels are self abusing

There's a huge paradox about the latest Labour rebellion.

Those who have been pressuring Gordon Brown on the 10p tax rate change may now be experiencing a nice, warm glow of self-righteousness. But don't they see that each successful revolt undermines the authority of this government and increases the chances of David Cameron, not Gordon Brown, becoming the next Prime Minister. By winning the vote on the 42 Day Bill they would be making that outcome almost certain.

The result will therefore be to end any further help for the poor and to destroy any possibility of Labour rebels being able to influence government policy in the medium term future, at least.

Well, it was always said that self-abuse leads to blindness.

Incidentally, how is it that when you listen you are accused of doing a U-turn and when you don't do a U-turn you are accused of not listening? Anything for a negative story I suppose!

Comments

[Miller 2.0]

Hm. Half agree, though I think you're being alarmist about 42 days.

I think that the solution to issues like the tax fiasco is to make sure that lines are agreed in advance; lines to which as many Labour MPs as possible can stick.

"The result will therefore be to end any further help for the poor"

Devilling your advocate here Stan, but surely when Cameron agrees that the poor should pay half the tax rate that Labour says they should, they'd be better off with him?

"and to destroy any possibility of Labour rebels being able to influence government policy in the medium term future"

The whole point is that it had t come to this before the government was ready to listen to the PLP... which is worrying, as the PLP itself is to the right of the rest of the party.

Why should rebels stop rebelling to be listened to, when the whole point of the rebellion is that the government refuses to listen to them in the first place?

"Incidentally, how is it that when you listen you are accused of doing a U-turn and when you don't do a U-turn you are accused of not listening? Anything for a negative story I suppose!"

I could not agree with this point more. Further, the retraction of the ten p band and the cut in basic rate are both staying, so I don't understand how this is a U-turn anyway. In my view, this shows that the government are listening to MPs constituents, which is not a bad thing at all; especially as we're talking about the more vulnerable ones.

[Michael]

Rubbish. The politics of self righteous lesser evilism are not worth fighting - voter apathy agrees. You guys need to read 'reform of revolution' by Rosa Luxembourg... even though I know the labour party has no time for, oh i dont know, theory and all that!

[Graeme Kemp]

So, the 10p tax rebels are "self-righteous"? A threat to the Labour at the ballot box - and a boost to David Cameron?

Frankly, we need more rebels like this! Why should they remain silent when the least well-off get a kicking? It is those who lost out who would vote for other parties because of this!

[Stan Rosenthal]

Graeme, the rebels should be more accommodating (not silent) because the less well-off will get even more of a kicking under Cameron. It's not THEIR votes that will turn the election but perceptions of Gordon Brown's failings and weaknesses which have been exaggerated by his opponents on the left as well as the right.

[Graeme Kemp]

I think individual comments have got muddled up with different names! My comments are listed as Michaels!

[Robert]

This is a good way of looking at Labour and the Tories.

In 1990 I was plastered all over TV as rescue crews fought to get me out of a serious accident at work, I ended up with doctors at the accident talking about cutting off my legs and me screaming no you bloody do not. They got me out and I was sent to a hospital who mixed me up with another patient who was drunk I got sent home he was placed into intensive care.

Later that night at home I suffered a massive fit and stroke rushed back into hospital and doctor did not believe that I had actually had been sent home with a fracture of my back massive internal injuries and a lesion of the spinal cord.

Now then from 1991 I had benefits incapacity benefits under Thatcher, it was not much but each year it went up it covered the major rises like Gas electric water and council tax so the normal rise was about £3.to £4 a year.

Labour came to power and I noted my council tax went up 15% under Labour, Labour said it was needed for this that and everything else. My benefits went up by 75p the same as the pensioners all hell broke out and the pensioners had extra heating allowance we disabled had sod all.

My council tax has now doubled, this year my benefits went up by £2.25 the highest ever under Labour, my rent alone went up £3.25.

Now Labour will say yes but work is the only way we will get you out of poverty. Now with no legs no bladder no bowel it's highly unlikely I will find a job.

So Labour has said under the new benefits we will pay you extra because we will reduce other payments, the other benefits are £12 you get for long term disability. So I will lose £12, Labour has said thats OK if you cannot work we will give you extra money of £10, but you took £12 off me.

Now Labour says look if you canny pee, or use your bowels you cannot walk because you have no legs, thats fine because you can move a computer mouse, hence we are going to put you onto JSA a drop of £40.

You will find a job, if your starving you will find a job, where where will I find a job, when every time I go to get one I have to fight immigrants seeking the same job.

I'm sorry I cannot wait for Labour to go, and I've been a member for 30 odd years, I've had enough.