When Rachel Reeves takes to her feet in the Commons to deliver her spring statement next week, she will try to pull off what her inner circle describe as a “re-education” exercise over how Labour has used its early days in power.

“We want it to be a re-education on all the good things we’ve already done in office,” said one, listing achievements including increasing the minimum wage, cutting NHS waiting lists and improving workers’ rights. “We want everybody to hear it.”

Few Labour MPs believe there is much reason for cheer, as there is little sign of the economy improving anytime soon, with growth forecasts expected to be downgraded again next week and Reeves announcing the biggest spending cuts since austerity.

The despair came to a head this week after Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, announced £5bn of cuts to disability benefits. Despite No 10 arguing that it had a “moral case” for welfare reform as well as an economic one, many Labour MPs responded with dismay.

  • davesmith@feddit.uk
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    3 days ago

    It has been Red Tory v Blue Tory for decades. The only difference between the two being the more or less thin veneer of socially liberal policy covering the hard fist of economic liberalism.

    The only alternative presented to the public for years and years, in spite of the fact they had no MP’s, was and is the pro Trump pro Russian Reform Party.

    Sound familiar?

      • davesmith@feddit.uk
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        3 days ago

        One person’s ‘almost’ is another person’s ‘no chance’. But seeing as how you are referring to something that didn’t happen, it is completely irrelevant. Meanwhile neoliberalism continues regardless.

        Humans’ inability to deal with reality is almost endless.

        It is because when presented with a fact that doesn’t conform to the reality that somebody has (co-)constructed, they have to reject the fact, because they can’t reject reality. Reality changes slowly.

        Deal with reality, as quickly as possible, because otherwise it is going to deal with us.

        • NotLemming@lemm.ee
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          3 days ago

          The facts contradict what you said. Reform aren’t the only alternative presented for years and years. There was corbyn’s labour party, and he almost won - twice. The only reason he lost is that his own party repeatedly sabotaged him (and gloated about it), and the mainstream media, which smeared him, so that the most celebrated anti-racist in British politics became a racist and an anti-semite overnight.

          • davesmith@feddit.uk
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            3 days ago

            Reform are the only alternative presented by the bbc and mainstream media to the red and blue tories. The Labour party smearing Corbyn, causing him to lose is precisely what I am talking about.

            Please don’t waste my time.

    • Z3k3@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      The only alternative presented to the public for years and years, in spite of the fact they had no MP’s, was and is the pro Trump pro Russian Reform Party.

      That’s a very English centric comment. I’ll stick to my own useless alternative party thanks.

      • davesmith@feddit.uk
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        3 days ago

        Well of course, I mean the thread is about UK politics, but please enjoy your useless alternative party suggested by neoliberals.

        • Z3k3@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          So your arguments is fuck the non English. Amd you wonder why were pissed off

          • n2burns@lemmy.ca
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            3 days ago

            I mean, by my count, <17% of the seats are outside England, so it’s not surprising people just focus on the main parties in England.

          • davesmith@feddit.uk
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            3 days ago

            What are you going on about? Go and take your anger out smoewhere else. I am not your punchbag.

            • Z3k3@lemmy.world
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              3 days ago

              You are correct i chose my words very poorly. I apologise

              However. In a response about people being fed up and feeling ignored by the system. Those outside of England have that plus the added feeling of the system not even pretending to fight for your attention