By Andrew Pierce Editor
One particular minister should have known better than to underestimate hostility to the proposed benefits cuts last week.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall was mauled in the Commons over the disastrous welfare Bill, which sparked a major Labour rebellion and a humiliating 11th-hour U-turn.
But, back in 1998, Tony Blair’s government was rocked by a similar revolt when it cut benefits for single parents.
Although the controversial measure passed through Parliament, 47 Labour MPs voted against it and the plan’s mastermind Harriet Harman was eventually sacked as social security secretary a few months later.
Who was Harman’s political adviser at the time? Step forward a young Liz Kendall. Talk about history repeating itself.
To mark the anniversary of Sir Keir Starmer’s government, I took a look at his party’s manifesto. In the first paragraph, there is a pledge to ‘stop the endless Conservative chaos’ of recent years. In fact, there are no fewer than 38 references to ending Tory ‘chaos’ in the 136-page document. That looks to me like 38 broken promises and counting.
Who is doing Rachel Reeves’ make-up?
The Chancellor’s overnight transformation from her blubby, puffy-eyed PMQs performance to her laughing, fresh-faced visit to east London to unveil the ten-year NHS plan was remarkable.
I gather one product known to remove eye bags with such speed is haemorrhoid cream Preparation H. Time to get a prescription?
Lord Archer’s wise words
Sage advice from Lord Archer to would-be politicians: ‘When young people come to see me, I say, ‘For heavens’ sake earn a living, get some experience, then become an MP. Don’t go in until you’re 40′.’
The now 85-year-old became the Tory MP for Louth in 1969 at the age of 29. ‘I was thinking I was a god, I was bound to be Prime Minister,’ he admits. ‘I was an arrogant fool.’
Not that it worked out too badly for Lord Archer. He quit Parliament aged 34 because of financial issues – and went on to become a best-selling author.
The idea of Angela Rayner becoming PM has been backed by a most unexpected source – the 12th Duke of Beaufort. ‘People are terrified of Angela Rayner taking over from Starmer, but I think she is more pragmatic than one thinks,’ muses the 73-year-old duke from his 52,000-acre Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire.
Labour’s Department for Business and Trade paid six ‘digital influencers’ to promote the Minimum and Living Wage Campaign. Their fees are ‘confidential’. Sounds like the Treasury’s clampdown on wasteful spending has a way to go.
Speaking in Westminster Hall last week, Rishi Sunak made the somewhat underwhelming observation: ‘A lot has changed in the last nine years.’ Quite. How about eight chancellors and six prime ministers?