Labour still has a big persuasion job ahead
By: | Published: 2025-07-01 01:17:00 | Source: www.bbc.com
“I’ve not had as much quality time with my colleagues since the Brexit wars,” a minister told me with a wry smile.
A remark that gets to the heart of this benefits row within the Labour Party: this is a government with a big majority, that has already performed a big U-turn and yet is still involved in a big persuasion job.
This is not meant to happen, one year into government, with a working majority of 165.
The prime minister himself will be getting stuck into some persuading today, making the case that these changes are, as he sees it, not only in keeping with Labour values but essential to ensure the long-term stability of the welfare state.
But if Monday’s Commons statement from Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall was intended to reassure Labour MPs, it is an open question as to…
