There is a bit of a debate going on at present on how many U-turns this Labour government have made since their landslide election victory on 5th July 2024. On LBC radio this morning the presenter mentioned 7 U-turns but The Times of 9th January states that there have been no less than a dozen. Here they are:
- The latest is currently being decided, namely the government’s climbdown on business rates that will crush many hospitality businesses such as public houses, restaurants and hotels. Pubs have made it clear that they cannot manage the huge rates increases, sometimes as much as 100%. The margins for pubs is paper thin. Reeves has signalled U-turn for rates on pubs but pubs now say that all hospitality businesses providing a similar service should be included in the U-term. And the government proposals do not far enough. The plan should be scrapped entirely if Reeves wants to genuinely promote growth.
- Labour relaxed the inheritance tax raid on farmers whose strong protests forced a U-turn. Once again the consequences of the tax was poorly researched. It remains an unfair tax as the larger farms have to pay it.
- The government dropped plans for day-one protection from unfair dismissal. The reason: it will add to the burgeoning rate of unemployment (5.1%) in the UK currently which is indicative of an economy which is not growing.
- They scrapped the two-child benefit cap. This will disproportionately provide about £5,000 extra per year to ethnic minority families. Labour claim that it will take 500,000 children out of poverty. But what does ‘poverty’ really mean in the real world in the UK? It does not mean poverty as many of us think of it.
- They have shelved plans to raise the main rate of income tax.
- Dropped welfare reforms because of backbench objections which would have saved a measly £5 billion per year.
- Agreed – after initial refusal – to commit to a national inquiry on grooming gangs.
- Increased national insurance.
- Reinstated winter fuel payments for millions.
- Dropped the claim that trans women are women.
- Watered down plans to limit academy freedoms.
- And dropped a pledge to act on Waspi women.
The Labour government defend their U-turns by saying they are listening to the long-suffering public and making adjustments. I say – as do most others – that the U-turns are a reflection of poor initial decision making which sometimes failed to take into account the full consequences. These failures could have been avoided with a more intelligent approach and better research.
More: government
