We all know the Labour government won a large parliamentary majority this summer, but we knew next to nothing about what they would do in government.
Their campaign was effective. They employed what has been termed “the Ming case strategy”. This was what Labour did before 1997. In that election, Labour was desperate to be elected after 18 long years in opposition.
The campaign then was likened to carrying a valuable Ming vase across a highly polished floor. Extreme caution was the order of the day. Nothing was revealed about how they would govern. In this year’s election, Labour used the same strategy .
Four months in, the government has revealed its true colours. Inflation-busting pay deals for their union paymasters, removal of the Winter Fuel Payment, the release of thousands of prisoners, some of whom celebrated by drinking champagne and smoking weed openly outside their prisons.
The war against the middle class really began with the pay hikes for the unions, within a couple of weeks of Starmer becoming Prime Minister.
In a deal which was clearly struck before the election, but which the government kept very silent about during the campaign, more billions have been committed to more public spending.
To pay for this, Starmer and Reeves clobbered pensioners. To pay for more spending, the government has announced that taxes will go up.
When you add in the purely spiteful imposition of VAT on private school fees, you can see the shape of the class war. This last measure is vindictive as it seems likely that it will cost the Treasury, since many parents are already pulling their kids out of private schools and into state schools where places are already tight.
This is a consequence of immigration levels presided over by the Tory government, which Labour has shown no desire to reverse. The pressure on places will increase and be paid for by the government. This will absorb the revenue raised by this policy.
More remarkably schools like Eton – full disclosure, I was educated there – will be able to claim back millions because of the capital expenditure they’ve made over the last ten years.
By contrast, smaller less wealthy schools will be penalised and some are already closing. This is the war on middle Britain. Many aspire to send their kids to private education. Others work at or teach at these schools. Their livelihoods may be under threat .
More broadly, the government remains committed to keeping the income tax thresholds. More people will be paying higher tax by being dragged into higher tax brackets when they get a pay rise, often only in line with inflation.
Meanwhile, poor productivity and, most depressingly, woke culture will continue, no doubt, encouraged by the government. Poor productivity may actually be legislated for as the government wants to enshrine the “right to work from home” in legislation.
People will literally have the right not to turn up to work on the grounds that they are allowed to work from home. That’s all very well, but such arrangements should be reached by mutual agreement between employees and their employers. Where people work should not be dictated by government decree.
MORE FROM GBN MEMBERSHIP:
- ‘Living in a country with 100 per cent inheritance tax is a good thought experiment’ – Hilary Salt
- ‘Reeves will tax middle Britain – people shouldn’t be punished for investing in their families’ futures,’ says Sally-Ann Hart
- ‘Delaying the Budget has helped the Conservatives – Sunak will launch a forensic attack on plans’
Other plans include the right to maternity leave from day one and the prospect of a mandatory four day working week has even raised its head.
I remember this last idea was proposed under Jeremy Corbyn. It was seen as a barmy idea then, but there are reports that the government is considering this.
Where will this end? How long will Middle Britain tolerate this march towards socialism?
There is a limit to how much British people can put up with. We are tolerant and fair but people will react with horror and dismay, if pushed too far. There is a limit to our patience.