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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour MPs in despair at voters' verdict on government | Labour MPs in despair at voters' verdict on government |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| "We are losing to everyone, everywhere." | "We are losing to everyone, everywhere." |
| That could be a quote from a Conservative, as the previous party of government struggles to rebuild trust with the electorate. | That could be a quote from a Conservative, as the previous party of government struggles to rebuild trust with the electorate. |
| But it isn't. | But it isn't. |
| It's a despairing message from a new Labour MP, elected in last year's general election landslide. | It's a despairing message from a new Labour MP, elected in last year's general election landslide. |
| Labour had a terrible night when many of the county council seats up for grabs in Thursday's English local elections were last contested in 2021. | Labour had a terrible night when many of the county council seats up for grabs in Thursday's English local elections were last contested in 2021. |
| So far, today's results are even worse. | So far, today's results are even worse. |
| Labour should have been within shouting distance of regaining control of Durham -but their vote tumbled. | Labour should have been within shouting distance of regaining control of Durham -but their vote tumbled. |
| Before the result was announced, a former Labour MP texted to say - in colourful language – just how grim the political landscape was in the North East. | Before the result was announced, a former Labour MP texted to say - in colourful language – just how grim the political landscape was in the North East. |
| And where voters were determined to oust the Conservatives in Staffordshire, they turned to Reform UK not Labour to do so. | And where voters were determined to oust the Conservatives in Staffordshire, they turned to Reform UK not Labour to do so. |
| This has prompted calls for Sir Keir Starmer to change direction. | This has prompted calls for Sir Keir Starmer to change direction. |
| The Labour Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones - who had her majority slashed - blamed the withdrawal of winter fuel allowance from most pensioners, and urged a rethink on the forthcoming cuts to personal independence payments (Pips) for disabled people. | |
| Labour MP Richard Burgon – a shadow minister under Sir Keir's left wing predecessor Jeremy Corbyn – agreed. | Labour MP Richard Burgon – a shadow minister under Sir Keir's left wing predecessor Jeremy Corbyn – agreed. |
| He said the current party leadership needed to "change course" and suggested that these policies were "driving away our own voters, and letting Reform squeeze through." | He said the current party leadership needed to "change course" and suggested that these policies were "driving away our own voters, and letting Reform squeeze through." |
| The Labour leadership won't be quaking in its boots when attacked by the Left. | The Labour leadership won't be quaking in its boots when attacked by the Left. |
| But what is noteworthy is that - off the record - some MPs from across the party are making not dissimilar points, and have been contacting the BBC (and not vice versa) to make them. | But what is noteworthy is that - off the record - some MPs from across the party are making not dissimilar points, and have been contacting the BBC (and not vice versa) to make them. |
| Doncaster mayor Ros Jones was among the first to urge a change of direction | Doncaster mayor Ros Jones was among the first to urge a change of direction |
| One of the new intake of Labour MPs told me "this is not a verdict on our failure to deliver. | One of the new intake of Labour MPs told me "this is not a verdict on our failure to deliver. |
| "It is a verdict on what we have delivered. People on the doorsteps are using the word 'betrayal.' | "It is a verdict on what we have delivered. People on the doorsteps are using the word 'betrayal.' |
| "It's winter fuel. It's fear of Pips, it's a bit of immigration." | "It's winter fuel. It's fear of Pips, it's a bit of immigration." |
| "People voted for change – voted for Labour – but the government isn't looking Labour enough, and people are asking 'what's the point?'". | "People voted for change – voted for Labour – but the government isn't looking Labour enough, and people are asking 'what's the point?'". |
| Another new MP - very much not on the left of the party - described the withdrawal of winter fuel payments as "Labour's poll tax". | Another new MP - very much not on the left of the party - described the withdrawal of winter fuel payments as "Labour's poll tax". |
| And a longer-standing Labour politician said to me it was "more to do with uninspiring leadership". | And a longer-standing Labour politician said to me it was "more to do with uninspiring leadership". |
| "And it turns out that cutting disability and winter fuel payments comes at a cost – these are not Labour things to do," they added. | "And it turns out that cutting disability and winter fuel payments comes at a cost – these are not Labour things to do," they added. |
| Another said that fellow backbenchers tend to panic close to general election time if their party is behind in the polls but "we are panicking in less than a year". | Another said that fellow backbenchers tend to panic close to general election time if their party is behind in the polls but "we are panicking in less than a year". |
| A defeated Labour councillor from Lancashire, Matthew Tomlinson, described himself as "an extremely loyal Labour Party supporter". | A defeated Labour councillor from Lancashire, Matthew Tomlinson, described himself as "an extremely loyal Labour Party supporter". |
| But he told the BBC when certain policies were taken together – and he included national insurance increases for employers and the lack of compensation for some women pensioners to the welfare cuts - "it feels like a Labour Party that just isn't Labour enough." | But he told the BBC when certain policies were taken together – and he included national insurance increases for employers and the lack of compensation for some women pensioners to the welfare cuts - "it feels like a Labour Party that just isn't Labour enough." |
| I have also had reports of difficulties in motivating activists and a dearth of Labour door-knockers in some areas. | I have also had reports of difficulties in motivating activists and a dearth of Labour door-knockers in some areas. |
| So what changes do some of Keir Starmer's MPs wish to see? | So what changes do some of Keir Starmer's MPs wish to see? |
| Live: Follow latest on local elections | Live: Follow latest on local elections |
| Who won the local election in my area? | Who won the local election in my area? |
| Sir John Curtice: Reform challenging traditional party dominance | Sir John Curtice: Reform challenging traditional party dominance |
| What's happened so far and what's still to come? | What's happened so far and what's still to come? |
| Well, one former frontbencher predicted a "bloody battle" over the disability benefit cuts when MPs vote in a month or so. | Well, one former frontbencher predicted a "bloody battle" over the disability benefit cuts when MPs vote in a month or so. |
| It doesn't look like the government will back down on that issue. | It doesn't look like the government will back down on that issue. |
| But I have been told some potential rebels are being assured that they won't lose the party whip if they abstain – or make themselves scarce – when the vote comes. | But I have been told some potential rebels are being assured that they won't lose the party whip if they abstain – or make themselves scarce – when the vote comes. |
| Some are calling for a bigger rethink, with more focus on social issues and less on adjusting policies to meet economic forecasts. | Some are calling for a bigger rethink, with more focus on social issues and less on adjusting policies to meet economic forecasts. |
| And there are calls for Chancellor Rachel Reeves' "fiscal rules"- which restrict debt levels but also constrain investment – to be loosened. | And there are calls for Chancellor Rachel Reeves' "fiscal rules"- which restrict debt levels but also constrain investment – to be loosened. |
| The Treasury has already rejected this – arguing that it would lead to higher interest rates and therefore mortgages. | The Treasury has already rejected this – arguing that it would lead to higher interest rates and therefore mortgages. |
| The 40 MPs in Labour's Red Wall group want to see a tougher line on immigration but also more investment in "left behind" areas in the Midlands and North of England. | The 40 MPs in Labour's Red Wall group want to see a tougher line on immigration but also more investment in "left behind" areas in the Midlands and North of England. |
| That has prompted demands for the shredding of the "Green Book" – the Treasury bible used to assess the costs and benefits of new projects. | That has prompted demands for the shredding of the "Green Book" – the Treasury bible used to assess the costs and benefits of new projects. |
| The belief is that this document tends to emphasise the cost and downplay the benefits. | The belief is that this document tends to emphasise the cost and downplay the benefits. |
| Jo White from Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, who represents a group of backbenchers from 'Red Wall' areas in England, said the voices of "people from the outside" hadn't been listened to. | Jo White from Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, who represents a group of backbenchers from 'Red Wall' areas in England, said the voices of "people from the outside" hadn't been listened to. |
| She also called for schools and hospitals to be "lifted from the shackles of debt" so the party could deliver on its priorities. | She also called for schools and hospitals to be "lifted from the shackles of debt" so the party could deliver on its priorities. |
| One Red Wall MP has suggested that if the chancellor won't contemplate a "reset" then she should be reshuffled, "otherwise she'll bring Starmer down with her". | One Red Wall MP has suggested that if the chancellor won't contemplate a "reset" then she should be reshuffled, "otherwise she'll bring Starmer down with her". |
| The prime minister said today that he "gets" the message of the election results – to go forward faster with his plan for change. | The prime minister said today that he "gets" the message of the election results – to go forward faster with his plan for change. |
| I haven't got any sense that this involves a further change of direction. | I haven't got any sense that this involves a further change of direction. |
| The party has already cut overseas aid to fund an increase in defence spending. | The party has already cut overseas aid to fund an increase in defence spending. |
| This might have been expected to appeal to Reform-minded voters, but the election results don't tend to suggest that it has worked. | This might have been expected to appeal to Reform-minded voters, but the election results don't tend to suggest that it has worked. |
| An array of announcements and initiatives are on the way – an immigration white paper in a matter of weeks; a long-awaited industrial strategy; the outcome a defence review; more on workers' rights; one or more trade deals. | An array of announcements and initiatives are on the way – an immigration white paper in a matter of weeks; a long-awaited industrial strategy; the outcome a defence review; more on workers' rights; one or more trade deals. |
| Labour will seek to get on the front foot. | Labour will seek to get on the front foot. |
| But much is either outside the government's control or is difficult to control, such as a stubbornly stagnant economy and an international trade war. | But much is either outside the government's control or is difficult to control, such as a stubbornly stagnant economy and an international trade war. |
| Ministers point to progress on a number of fronts, from rising wages to falling NHS waiting lists. | Ministers point to progress on a number of fronts, from rising wages to falling NHS waiting lists. |
| Yet the election results were an expression of voters' "first impressions" of Labour back in power. | Yet the election results were an expression of voters' "first impressions" of Labour back in power. |
| Some of its MPs worry that it will be difficult to change the negative prism through which the government is viewed. | Some of its MPs worry that it will be difficult to change the negative prism through which the government is viewed. |