LABOUR’S INTERNAL DISAGREEMENT WITH HARMAN’S REACTION TO TORY CUTS

 

The Labour party is currently at odds over the issue of Harriet Harman’s decision to tell her colleagues not to oppose Tory cuts – including plans to limit child tax credits to two children. People in her shadow cabinet opposing her theory include mayoral possibility Diane Abbott, who has said, “I do not believe the Labour Party can support welfare measures that will force thousands of children into poverty”.

Harman’s  opposition comes from the fact that Labour is not winning votes and this is partly because its economic theories are possibly too extreme and dated. The lowering of the benefits cap to £23,000 in London and £20,000 outside London is another scheme which Harman wishes not to oppose. Liz Kendall is one of her backers. Rival Yvette Cooper said “There’s no point having a situation where families with children are better off out of work than in work”. Jeremy Corbyn – leftwinger, has said they are “brutal” cuts.

Harman has said in defence of her position, “I mean, what we’ve got to do is listen to what people around the country said to us and recognise that we didn’t get elected, again, and this wasn’t a blip”.  Liz Kendall added, “I want to support what Harriet said – we have to listen to what people have said to us, that they didn’t trust us and we have to change”.