Politics at Westminster | BREAKING: UKIP

throw in an affable chap like boris (though I think they will go with gideon) and they could walk the next election with a tonly blair 1997 style majority... (unless they scupper themselves over the eu referendum - or labour see sense and move back to the middle)
No.
 
This isn't just about 2020, there is also the succession to be considered here. Osborne is not only tied to these reforms of tax credits but a pro-EU position as well (plus a dash of Heathrow), this contrasts with his rivals for the leadership can manoeuvres around these obstacles and stake a claim as the centre-right candidate. As Bloomberg's Stephanie Baker pointed out the other day, the status as heir apparent could soon begin to work against him.

Would you put this down as Osborne's first significant political mistake then? Is there any way he can escape from this without his leadership chances being damaged (reversing them would look weak to some within his party, but pressing ahead is just as damaging)
 
throw in an affable chap like boris (though I think they will go with gideon) and they could walk the next election with a tonly blair 1997 style majority... (unless they scupper themselves over the eu referendum - or labour see sense and move back to the middle)

Johnson isn't overly affable, though. He's fairly capable of cultivating that joker personality in public, but a lot of people are fully aware of his nasty shenanigans which have gone on behind the scenes. Or in the case of his shouting at the taxi driver...not even behind the scenes, but in full view of the public.
 
Would you put this down as Osborne's first significant political mistake then? Is there any way he can escape from this without his leadership chances being damaged (reversing them would look weak to some within his party, but pressing ahead is just as damaging)

Omnishambles?
 
It is either a necessary cut to be prudent and deficit reducing or it isn't. Given that he is the one who introduced the cuts who is he supposed to be listening to. Its not like he hadn't calculated exactly who the losers were going to be before he introduced the measures.

As I understood it its a large amount of money, so if he gives way what else is he going to cut to make up the difference?
 
:lol: How could I forget? he managed to escape real damage from that one though
Jon Cruddas makes a decent argument that that budget helped them in the end politically, it gave Labour a bounce in the polls that proved to be based on hot air but nonetheless stopped Labour fixing its two main weaknesses, namely the leader and their economic position.
 
As much as I hate the idea of the house of Lords, following the debate today has left me wishing the commons conducted themselves in such a manner. It's like the adult well mannered version of PMQs
 
Johnson isn't overly affable, though. He's fairly capable of cultivating that joker personality in public, but a lot of people are fully aware of his nasty shenanigans which have gone on behind the scenes. Or in the case of his shouting at the taxi driver...not even behind the scenes, but in full view of the public.
Perceptions though...
As much as I hate the idea of the house of Lords, following the debate today has left me wishing the commons conducted themselves in such a manner. It's like the adult well mannered version of PMQs
Certainly makes a change from a virtually empty chamber with a few old timers having a nap
 
It is either a necessary cut to be prudent and deficit reducing or it isn't. Given that he is the one who introduced the cuts who is he supposed to be listening to. Its not like he hadn't calculated exactly who the losers were going to be before he introduced the measures.

As I understood it its a large amount of money, so if he gives way what else is he going to cut to make up the difference?

He won't cut it entirely but he may change the transition timetable or the cutting off taper, or one of several other adjustments that calms the issue down while still getting the bulk of the cuts through.
 
Have to say, as satisfying as that defeat was, I do feel somewhat uncomfortable about the Lords overturning something was voted on and carried in the Commons three times.
 
Have to say, as satisfying as that defeat was, I do feel somewhat uncomfortable about the Lords overturning something was voted on and carried in the Commons three times.

I'm the same. But when the Tories have consistently support the House of Lords for generations, it's quite sweet to see it backfiring on them. I don't have any support for the Lords, but to be honest, if we are going to spend money on maintaining their system then why should parties who support them suddenly be shocked when they do something?
 
Have to say, as satisfying as that defeat was, I do feel somewhat uncomfortable about the Lords overturning something was voted on and carried in the Commons three times.
I'm more of the view that this is what the chamber's there for. Bearing in mind we're only a few months after an election campaign in which the government said they wouldn't be doing what they're now insistent upon, and have chosen to put it through as a statutory instrument which can be voted down by the Lords, arguments they make over legitimacy and convention aren't going to cut through much. They haven't killed the bill, they've tried to mitigate the damage done to those affected, so I think they've struck the right balance.

Obviously though, the sooner it can be replaced with a fully elected body, the better.
 
Osborne complaining about unelected lords impacting decisions, and the constitutional problems that arise. Not as if his party fully supports this House, of course. Not at all...
 
Have to say, as satisfying as that defeat was, I do feel somewhat uncomfortable about the Lords overturning something was voted on and carried in the Commons three times.

In principle me too but it was largely passed through by the whip of a prime minister who lied to the electorate. So you know. ..
 
Would you put this down as Osborne's first significant political mistake then? Is there any way he can escape from this without his leadership chances being damaged (reversing them would look weak to some within his party, but pressing ahead is just as damaging)

Not the first, no, but this one has the potential for consequences for him within the party. It is also worth remembering that his office is planning cuts ranging between 20-40% (which will hit its own bumps in the road), so being seen as conciliatory on an issue which affects people directly wouldn't be a bad piece of PR in the short term.
 
Andrew Lloyd Webber, who hasn't lived in the UK for god knows how long, flew in from New York to vote for these cuts. A journey across the Atlantic with the sole purpose of making poor people poorer, disgusting cnut.
 
What a truly horrible cnut.

That said, I've got an ongoing excuse to not have to watch one of his musicals for the next X years. Silver linings and all that.
 
Andrew Lloyd Webber, who hasn't lived in the UK for god knows how long, flew in from New York to vote for these cuts. A journey across the Atlantic with the sole purpose of making poor people poorer, disgusting cnut.

It's an absolute embarrassment that he has any say in the political decisions of the country when he's neither an elected politician, nor one at all. He may have done a lot within his field, but what expertise can he claim to have on tax credits? Absolute joke.
 
Erm wiki lists his residence as hampshire and to the best of my knowledge he is a UK resident for tax purposes.

He's still a resident, yes. But travelling across the pond to batter the poor leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
 
It's an absolute embarrassment that he has any say in the political decisions of the country when he's neither an elected politician, nor one at all. He may have done a lot within his field, but what expertise can he claim to have on tax credits? Absolute joke.
In fairness one of the advantages of the Lords is that you can bring specialised expertise into it that wouldn't otherwise get in and have a say in legislation - for instance scientists, who contribute massively when that kind of bill is being passed through. You can't then stop them voting on matters that aren't within their field.
 
Not the first, no, but this one has the potential for consequences for him within the party. It is also worth remembering that his office is planning cuts ranging between 20-40% (which will hit its own bumps in the road), so being seen as conciliatory on an issue which affects people directly wouldn't be a bad piece of PR in the short term.
We're seeing here that people surely don't have the stomachs for the promised (and especially, unpromised) future cuts when it comes down to it. Even the likes of Gove and IDS aren't going to let Osborne's plans decimate the departments they're trying to improve.
 
Have to say, as satisfying as that defeat was, I do feel somewhat uncomfortable about the Lords overturning something was voted on and carried in the Commons three times.
Much as the left loathe the Lords, it can provide checks and balances, as seen here. If Osborne was Blair/Brown, he'd ram tge cuts through via the parliament act.
Happy days though. God forbid we reduce the benefit tab.
 
Much as the left loathe the Lords, it can provide checks and balances, as seen here. If Osborne was Blair/Brown, he'd ram tge cuts through via the parliament act.
Osborne says the Lords has acted unconstitutionalaly and will be "dealt with"
Will be interesting to see if they put a similar proposal back there as a finance bill almost daring the Lords to back down or start a fight they can't win... Or if they just add a few hundred conservative Lords to walk legislation through.
Personally I hope they take the nuclear option and call for abolition and replace it with a second house elected under pr though I doubt they will
 
It's going to be amusing to see them play out the "listening" line while at the same time slagging off the House of Lords for making them listen.

Can't wait to hear what Jeremy Hunt has to say.
 
The Conservative reaction to the Lords is hilarious and also reveals how little regard they have for the views of the public. Openly lie about a policy and then start criticising the Lords for obstructing their elected platform.
 
So Grayling publicly airs the view that Labour/Lib blocked the bill out of revenge for losing the election.

Do these people really not understand the concerns? It's so very depressing
 
So Grayling publicly airs the view that Labour/Lib blocked the bill out of revenge for losing the election.

Do these people really not understand the concerns? It's so very depressing

He also said that the action was in their manifesto three times, and three times he was challenged by the host because it wasn't. He still managed to sneak in the lie one last time before the end of the interview. It's that classic "say a lie enough times and eventually it becomes truth". Modern media politics is like 1984 except without the sex and gin.
 
There's a horrible chance that the Tory response to this is to flood the Lords with Tory peers, and therefore spend a horrendous amount of public money on the future expenses of rich old men to push this bill through, with the aim of taking away money from working families who need it most...

The mind boggles. How did they win the election? :(
 
this is why the labour party is f**ked
they need to win back the votes of moderate people who chose the conservative party this time
not insult them
Exactly, comments like Rowem's are the exact opposite of what Labour requires, instead of insulting they should engage, learn & try to educate.
 
Exactly, comments like Rowem's are the exact opposite of what Labour requires, instead of insulting they should engage, learn & try to educate.

So they need to educate people who vote Tory? This backs up my initial assertion.

I'm not speaking for what the Labour party needs to do I'm pointing out the challenge of cultural narcissism that they face. Emotional intelligence and awareness is the only way people can change and avoiding the prevailing issue will achieve nothing.