How Labour left has become Keir Starmer's worst enemy and a recruiting sergeant for Nigel Farage
Already unpopular enough, Keir Starmer finds himself under attack from all sides
The two-child benefit cap was always an unpleasant measure for a number of reasons, but particularly because it means children of the poorest families are pushed deeper into poverty for no other reason than they were born. Whatever you think about people who have large families while claiming benefits, their children are in no way to blame.
So abolishing this cost-saving measure would be a good thing to do – assuming the UK Government can afford the £3 billion cost. Amid calls to do just that from the left of the Labour party and the SNP, among others, Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have both now hinted that they agree.
Doubtless the left will celebrate any such decision. Following the Labour backbench rebellion over benefits cuts and the government U-turn over winter fuel allowance payments for pensioners, this may feel like another win for them over an unpopular government.
Income tax rises unlikely to be popular
However, they should be careful what they wish for. By repeatedly undermining Starmer and co, they are making Labour look even weaker than they already are. According to Politico’s Poll of Polls, the party is currently on 18 per cent, just ahead of the Conservatives on 16, and far behind Reform UK on 31.
The left’s demands are one reason why Reeves is widely expected to raise income tax to fill an estimated £50 billion black hole in public finances, a step that may well cause a steepening of Labour’s downward slide. Putting up taxes is seldom a vote-winner.
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With the Conservatives seemingly stuck in what could be a terminal slump, Reform are by far the party best placed to benefit. The situation could hardly be more plain, yet many on the left appear entirely oblivious.
Starmer, rightly regarded as the author of many of his own misfortunes, has been struggling to deal with criticisms, some justified, from the right. The addition of attacks from the ideological left see him beset on all sides.
These acts of disloyalty by admittedly unwitting recruiting sergeants for Reform have helped Nigel Farage’s party take second place from Labour in Scotland and may well hand him the keys to 10 Downing Street in 2029.
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