Starmer facing welfare rebellion

Coffee House Shots

The Spectator

News, Politics, Government, Daily News

4.4 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 11 March 2025

⏱️ 15 minutes

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Summary

There is a row on the horizon over welfare cuts. Yesterday’s meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) was packed, with many lobby journalists expecting fireworks. The Prime Minister got a positive reaction for his message on Ukraine, with MPs impressed by his strong response since Trump took office, but there was some scepticism in the room about his plan to make £6 billion in welfare cuts.

This is a difficult topic that cuts to the heart of the Labour Party and its position as the party of welfare – about 80 Labour MPs are said to oppose the government’s proposals. Can Keir Starmer weather the storm?

James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and John McTernan, former political adviser to Tony Blair.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of Coffee House Shots is sponsored by Alliance Witten Investment Trust. From the OPEC
0:06.0	oil crisis of the 1970s, the financial crash in 2008, to the COVID epidemic and Liz Truss's
0:13.1	doomed premiership. There has been no shortage of economic crises over the last 58 years. And yet,
0:19.6	throughout that time, every single year, without fail,
0:22.8	we've paid out an increased dividend to our shareholders. In fact, Alliance Witten's history
0:28.3	dates all the way back to 1888. And today, we manage around £5 billion in assets.
0:35.5	If you're looking for a less stressful way to invest in stocks and shares,
0:39.2	learn more about Alliance Witten and find your comfort zone.
0:46.3	Hello and welcome to Coffee House Shots. I'm James Heel and I'm joined today by the Spectators'
0:50.5	political editor, Katie Balls, and Tony Blair's former political secretary, John McTurnon.
0:55.4	Now, Katie, the big potential row looming over the Labour Party this week is about welfare cuts.
1:00.6	There's a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party yesterday, the PLP.
1:03.3	Tell us, what was the mood like there?
1:05.0	To be honest, the mood was pretty good.
1:06.6	I was one of a group of 25-plus lobby journalists sat outside on the committee corridor,
1:13.6	a very exclusive bunch.
1:15.7	And I think obviously whenever there are lots of journalists sat outside the PLP or the
1:21.2	9022 committee, I am not one of the ones that does every week.
1:24.7	There are dedicated figures.
1:26.4	Whenever it swells to a certain number,
1:28.6	you know it's because people think there might be some fireworks there.
1:31.1	So you had, during the Jeremy Corbyn years,
	...

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