A new ThinkLabour survey of 788 Labour members shows they rank health, the economy, cost of living and climate change as top issues, while expressing sceptical views on welfare spending and strong support for higher defence spending.
Tony Blair criticizes Labour leaders for abandoning the centre ground, risking the party's future and likely leading to election loss, advocating for welfare spending crackdown, oil/gas policy reversal, and improved US relations.
Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson has called on the British government to prioritize defense spending over welfare, arguing that government responsibility for population safety must come first. Speaking at a parliamentary committee, Robertson warned that the UK's welfare budget is five times larger than defense spending and criticized the government for not investing enough in rearmament. He was an author of last summer's 114-page defense review outlining threats to UK Armed Forces.
George Robertson has joined Reform and the Tories in making the case. Look welfare recipients in the face and say thatThe benefits budget is now a magic money tree. Whenever Conservatives or Faragists make wild promises – tax cuts, more police, more punishment, more bonuses for marriage – and are asked how they would pay, the answer is always “welfare”. The sums are enormous. “Only the Conservatives will cut welfare spending by £23bn and get Britain working again,” the party insists.More unexpected was the klaxon from the Labour peer George Robertson this week, demanding a cut in benefits to finance defence. “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget,” said the ex-Nato chief, wanting to pluck this juicy plum to fund defence. Good to see him slapped down sharply by the government: there is no “zero-sum game” between these two budgets, said the chancellor’s deputy, James Murray.Guardian Newsroom: Can Labour come back from the brink?On Thursday 30 April, join Gaby Hinsliff, Zoe Williams, Polly Toynbee and Rafael Behr as they discuss how much of a threat Labour faces from the Green party and Reform UK – and whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader. Book tickets here or at guardian.livePolly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
