"My worry is that she will not only make the wrong choices, but fail to challenge the dangerous orthodoxies that forced her to see these as the only choices in the first place. Labour's political rhetoric gives the impression that working people need not worry. Its 2024 election manifesto committed the party to rebuilding the country so that it once again serves the interests of working people."
"Labour's attempted cuts to disability payments earlier this year were an effort to re-enact the discredited logic of austerity cutting support from those who need it most, and undermining our economic health in order to save the Treasury money. Labour's backbenchers successfully challenged the social security cuts, and the chancellor has since recognised the damaging legacy of austerity. Surely it's time we drew a line under this dangerous economic ideology."
Fiscal constraints and self-imposed debt and borrowing rules have led the chancellor to frame the budget as a choice between cutting benefits for those unable to work, raising taxes on already struggling workers, or increasing charges on wealthier non-workers. Political rhetoric emphasizes serving working people, yet policy moves — including attempted cuts to disability payments — mirror austerity logic that reduces support for the most vulnerable and damages economic health to save Treasury money. Parliamentary pushback forced reversal of some measures, and the chancellor has acknowledged austerity’s harms. The government remains reluctant to pursue radical wealth taxation, despite talk of limited reforms.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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