A blog by Luke Akehurst about politics, elections, and the Labour Party - With subtitles for the Hard of Left. Just for the record: all the views expressed here are entirely personal and do not necessarily represent the positions of any organisations I am a member of.
1) Gordon in listening mode at the PLP on the 10p rate - now we need to know about the package to help people who have lost out
posted by Luke Akehurst at 8:13 pm
Labour MP for North Durham since 2024. Labour Party activist since 1988 - firmly on the moderate wing of the party. Member of Labour’s NEC 2010-2012 and since 2020. National Secretary of Labour Students 1995-6. Parliamentary candidate for Aldershot (2001) and Castle Point (2005). Hackney Councillor (Chatham Ward) 2002-2014, Labour Group Chief Whip 2002-09, Chair of Health Scrutiny 2010-2014. Dad. Unite and GMB union member. All views expressed in a personal capacity. The rest will become evident from reading the blog.
5 Comments:
Reason NOT to be cheerful ...
It has taken Gordon - and many others in the Labour Party - a year to get into listening mode on the 10p rate - we needed to know about the package to help people who have lost out in April 2006 - not "put it out to review" until September 2008 - with a view to fixing things in April 2009.
We see there's plenty of money to spend on the Iraqi conflict, the Northern Rock debacle and to smooth the way for the international banking industry.
Meanwhile we are hundreds of pounds worse off and our local post offices are being shut.
Oh - and Gordon shells out for a spin doctor who will try to curtail the publication of photographs that depict Gordon in a poor light.
Despite all the good work of party workers on doorsteps, if Labour is going to do well in the local elections I think Gordon needs to stop shooting himself in the foot and get his priorities in order, don't you?
Observer's friend
2:46 am, April 22, 2008
10p Tax moaners have never had it so good and I'm the right persom to tell you. My husband and me have to get by on wages of only £250,000 per year with combined expenses of £300,000 that only leave us able to afford a house in Stoke Newington. If things are getting that bad we'd be living in the Chatham Ward in Homerton!
8:50 am, April 22, 2008
anonymous, you are talking cobblers.
3:32 pm, April 22, 2008
Why not just reinstate the 10 pence tax rate. Surely it would be simpler than having to claim money back?
My experience of claiming money is that you never end up claiming it. For example I can claim for washing my snickers and work wear but I don't because it involves paper work and I can't be bothered.
Labour seem to be experts of making things complicated. Tax credits is a classic....surely easier to let people earn more without paying tax.
Personally I would love to know where all this money is coming from. £50 billion gamble on the banks, Northern Rock, Two wars and rising public expenditure.
Ticking time bomb and we're running out of time. By the end of the year this government will be broke.....I'll put money on it.
10:19 pm, April 23, 2008
Despite all the good work of party workers on doorsteps, if Labour is going to do well in the local elections I think even more good work is wanted.
10:58 pm, April 23, 2008
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