Readers of previous blogs will have gathered that I am not particularly fond of the UK Labour Party. Indeed, I have mentally re-christened them the Welfare Party.
However, I feel compelled to offer them advice on where they are going wrong and what they might do to turn things around. Of course, this blog being open to all, it is just possible that the Conservatives will consider and then implement these.
Welfare - Labour is seen as the Welfare party - the party that values providing excessive welfare to a minority of people more than valuing the efforts of people who actually work for a living. They opposed the Welfare Cap, even though it still provided an over-generous level. They have opposed the idea, even the mention, of benefits that are regionally set. They have constantly placed themselves on the side of the claimant rather than the taxpayer.
Labour's own private polling shows that support for welfare reform is a major vote winner and yet the left-wing cabal that controls the party, sticks to it's failed and unpopular policies.
So, my advice to the two Eds is be bold - 'out-Tory' the Conservatives - set the welfare cap below the UK national average wage - let's say at 80% - so £20,000 - show that you have heard the people and understand that it is important to recognize that in order to get people into work, they need an incentive. Similarly, grasp the nettle of regional benefits. If people are on benefits and genuinely in need of help, why should those living in a low cost areas get the same level of benefits as those in London, say? Of course, this still requires the national 'cap' of £20,000!
Energy is much more problematic. Ed Miliband's conference pledge to freeze energy prices is unraveling. People see it as a cheap and essentially meaningless offer. That this harks back to Labour's soviet-style obsession with control, doesn't help either. Nowadays it isn't just people that have long memories, so do social media sites and blogs. People dredge-up and post all those comments made by Miliband when he was part of Gordon Brown's disastrous administration, when he insisted that energy prices had to rise for a decade. When he initiated so called green taxes that do far more to push-up energy costs for families and businesses, than do the profits of energy companies.
So,
Of course the Conservatives just might beat you to the punch on these - after all, they finally did on the EU Referendum (though Labour still have time to jump on this popular bandwagon) but you still have time!
However, I feel compelled to offer them advice on where they are going wrong and what they might do to turn things around. Of course, this blog being open to all, it is just possible that the Conservatives will consider and then implement these.
Welfare - Labour is seen as the Welfare party - the party that values providing excessive welfare to a minority of people more than valuing the efforts of people who actually work for a living. They opposed the Welfare Cap, even though it still provided an over-generous level. They have opposed the idea, even the mention, of benefits that are regionally set. They have constantly placed themselves on the side of the claimant rather than the taxpayer.
Labour's own private polling shows that support for welfare reform is a major vote winner and yet the left-wing cabal that controls the party, sticks to it's failed and unpopular policies.
So, my advice to the two Eds is be bold - 'out-Tory' the Conservatives - set the welfare cap below the UK national average wage - let's say at 80% - so £20,000 - show that you have heard the people and understand that it is important to recognize that in order to get people into work, they need an incentive. Similarly, grasp the nettle of regional benefits. If people are on benefits and genuinely in need of help, why should those living in a low cost areas get the same level of benefits as those in London, say? Of course, this still requires the national 'cap' of £20,000!
Energy is much more problematic. Ed Miliband's conference pledge to freeze energy prices is unraveling. People see it as a cheap and essentially meaningless offer. That this harks back to Labour's soviet-style obsession with control, doesn't help either. Nowadays it isn't just people that have long memories, so do social media sites and blogs. People dredge-up and post all those comments made by Miliband when he was part of Gordon Brown's disastrous administration, when he insisted that energy prices had to rise for a decade. When he initiated so called green taxes that do far more to push-up energy costs for families and businesses, than do the profits of energy companies.
So,
- Abandon the green taxes - wins votes across the country from grateful voters who see this as a real and sustainable cost of living reduction.
- Remove VAT from energy bills - see above
- End the subsidies for wind farms - as well as taking money from 'rich' landowners (core labour policy) also garners rural votes from people who oppose the despoilation of the countryside.
Of course the Conservatives just might beat you to the punch on these - after all, they finally did on the EU Referendum (though Labour still have time to jump on this popular bandwagon) but you still have time!
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