The Conservatives are laying traps for Labour, how will they respond? | The New Statesman podcast

With councils at risk of bankruptcy, the selling off of HS2 land, and the stop the boats scheme, the Tories are leaving Labour with a nasty inheritance.
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How will Keir Starmer handle the difficult circumstances facing the country if he takes over as prime minister from Rishi Sunak? Will voters see through the Tories attempts to pin a crumbling Britain on Labour?
Anoosh Chakelian and Freddie Hayward answer a listener's question.
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[@christopherh9938]

I think it will leave the country even more divided.The majority can see that the government are currently doing nothing long term the younger people will have a real hate for the Tories as result of the last few years.

[@richmaniow]

Yep there could be a swing of up to 5 million votes by the next election due to the high number of elderly deaths over the last 4 years and new younger voters being able to vote for the first time in 2024.

[@markvincent7419]

I want the Tories out but I'm not going with Labour. I went there in 1997 and never again. Please spare me comparing 1997 to now as they are both bad as each other

[@peterclarke7240]

Labour need to do three things: Re-open legal routes for refugees. All this lunacy started because the tories shut those routes down. Invest in council house building so councils can increase their income AND drive rent down, which will ease the cost of greed crisis MASSIVELY for the average non wealthy person. And finally, electoral reform. They HAVE to try to get rid of the fptp system so the tories stop being the only other option, and progressive parties stand more of a chance. I will also say that renegotiating brexit by being more friendly to the EU will also help the average person dramatically.

[@markzart33]

They also need to deal with the issue of media ownership, it in unacceptable that non-UK taxpayers own and control key newspapers and other media outlets. The US do not permit this and nor should we. Media ownership must be by UK-domiciled entities or entities with no overall controlling figure or organisation.

[@GeekfromYorkshire]

It's so cynical of Tories. They inherited NHS 1/3rd the waiting list of now, they inherited a national debt less than half of now, so are handing over a far worse situation than they received from Labour in 2010. They also gifted us Brexit of the worst possible form dragging our productivity down by 4%-7%. Whoever is in power will have to radically increase taxation to offset the Brexit harm and to pay down the debt. If it's a Tory win they'll tax workers and cut services more, if Labour in then not easy but they'll have to fight the non-dom newspaper owners throwing bricks daily at Labour. The only people better off are the Tory backers, inequality has increased, is a major cause of the lowering UK productivity as if you're not fortunate enough to be born to a rich parents your opportunities are vastly curtailed - more student debt, can't so easily get on housing ladder without the "bank of mum+dad" etc, if you enter middle/older age not rich you can't go private to fix health issues. Everything has been made worse for other than the rich. And the rich will fight back on every day of the Daily Mail, Express, Torygraph, etc.

[@SlowhandGreg]

I dunno the Tories p1ss billions away on trickle down cr*p I could raise 40-50 billion just by pulling some of the most egregious stuff out of their. 1st port of call is people like Sunak paying 21p on the £ then there's the likes of Mone how is it legal to fulfil a contract and have all your profits siphoned offshore in a tax vehicle? Also why is it fair that a detached in Burnley worth 250k pays more council tax than an 8 million terrace in Mayfair?

[@GeekfromYorkshire]

We could easily equalise opportunity in UK. Capital gains tax increased to match income tax so luck is taxed same as work. Dividends tax increase. I'd also increase tax-free allowance from 12K to 20K and the 40% from 50K to 75K and then add a 45% band at 100K and 50% at 250K so the lower half all better off and the top 5% worse off. The capital gains tax increase is the most important as it's just money for doing nothing useful. @@SlowhandGreg

[@mikecook1537]

Life is just easier with money & that's just life. It's up to people to find their niche & work hard. We live in a free market so we have lots of possibilities to earn wealth.

[@mikecook1537]

​@@GeekfromYorkshiredividend tax is a great incentive to set up a limited company. Why would you want to remove that? People are so much better off with a limited company as they only pay 8.75%

[@SlowhandGreg]

we don't live in a free market the government pics winners and loosers. If you give a fossil company a tax break your picking a winner if you pay for that by taxing working and middle class PAYE your picking a looser @@mikecook1537

[@garyfraserlewis]

They can pretend, promise and tinker for as long as they wish, but the plain fact is that the economic system we have is sending all the money to the top, leaving the rest of us with nothing. We either grow up and address this issue or prepare for more of the same. It really is that simple.

[@jonsmith5058]

Starmers Labour has zero interest in that, he wants to adopt basically all the Tory policies without the scandals. All the idiots who are huffing copium saying ‘he’s just doing it to get elected, he’ll be progressive in office’ will be eating their words. We have to vote Green if we want any improvement within our lifetimes.

[@mrD66M]

​@@jonsmith5058nice crystal ball you got there

[@jimclark3120]

A Labour government should not be short of money. A recent report claims that the billionaire class has increased its wealth and income fourfold during the last forty years. It is obvious that there has been a massive transfer of income from the middle and working class into the pockets of the rich and powerful. Put that situation into reverse.

[@jonsmith5058]

@@mrD66M tell me why then, Starmer is promising to explicitly NOT do a ton of progressive things, only to secretly be progressive? Why is he keeping it quiet and lying about his intentions?

[@jonsmith5058]

@@jimclark3120 A Labour gov ‘shouldnt be’ but Starmers Labour is just scumbag Tory pandering. They will not tax the rich, he’s proven his allegience in all he says and by refusing to condem Israel.

[@neurojitsu]

The Tory cynicism and complete abdication of any responsibility for future outcomes just disgusts me. There is "taking responsibility" and there is "being irresponsible" - I just hope the public sees what's going on. Labour needs to shine a light on the tactics here... though I guess it's hard without having some of that light reflect back on Labour's lack of specificity!

[@user-eg4dv1bm2e]

I really don't get why they would sell back the HS2 land and at a cheaper price. Just shows so much disrespect to Taxpayer wether or not you agree with HS2 itself :(

[@markzart33]

It is irrelevant as under a clause Gove had introduced into the Regeneration and levelling --up Bill in the Lords, land can be compulsorily acquired at existing use value subject to the approval of the SoS, so this trap is, in fact, nothing of the sort. This clause also allows Labour the ability to assemble land for the next generation of new towns similar to Milton Keynes, or possibly sustainable urban extensions of existing towns.

[@user-eg4dv1bm2e]

Thank you for that but wouldn't it still mean that if Labour get in they would have to pay for the HS2 land again at a higher price than the government just sold it for or have I misunderstood you. Thanks@@markzart33

[@kerryfry1857]

Yeah the tories really explained brexit and the pitfalls. Not!!

[@mrD66M]

VOTING & CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM must be priority 1 and 2 for Labour once they get into office Anything other than that just renders all the good they may do, pointless.

[@vongoethe111]

What a bunch of weasels the Tories are...this is why they will lose the trust of the young people for generations to come.

[@glostergloster6945]

I dont think some of them are traps though if Labour actually had the guts to lay out a proper vision for the country. e.g. tax cuts. All Labour needs to say is 'We are the party of investment in public services and NHS, we will reverse them to invest in the country'. The majority of every single voter group would prefer investment to tax cuts.

[@heem6619]

exactly, shift the conversation to living standards. the problem is they lack the courage and the intellect.

[@nigelhardy7218]

In doing so, Labour should spell out the benefits of investing in public services and NHS. A healthier and happier nation is a more productive nation, taking less time off work through illness. A university education opens up more life opportunities. If this were explained and had been all through Thatcherism the public might have been more receptive to the idea of fair taxes. Pay peanuts and get monkeys in return.

[@idoshulman6379]

Labour can't just do that though, the Tories and their media won't let it happen

[@heem6619]

@@idoshulman6379 If you cave at the first sign of opposition you won't get anywhere

[@Jon-hh3gz]

All us who could vote first time in 2010 hate them more than we did then. We're getting older but not turning conservative like traditions say we should 😂

[@kanedNunable]

shame so many of that generation couldnt be bothered to vote. the young need to get off their arses this time.

[@SlowhandGreg]

The Tories p1ss billions away on trickle down cr*p I could raise 40-50 billion just by pulling some of the most egregious stuff out of their. 1st port of call is people like Sunak paying 21p on the £ then there's the likes of Mone how is it legal to fulfil a contract and have all your profits siphoned offshore in a tax vehicle? Also why is it fair that a detached in Burnley worth 250k pays more council tax than an 8 million terrace in Mayfair?

[@emmajones7742]

Its not going to be easy for Kier starmer thats for sure and public services are crumbling by the day. The Tories have done massive damage already, its hard to know what the situation will be after the general election .

[@DrLogical987]

I don't think people expect much. All Labour has to do is offer to end nepo-cleptocracy. £Billions will instantly appear in services spending. It's not hard.

[@lheureexquise140]

That will not happen.

[@punditgi]

Anoosh is fabulous! ❤🎉😊

[@paultaylor7082]

The OBR is a reputable organisation, something the Tory Party could never, ever be accused of being.

[@rossspenser8314]

I don't care the Tory's are finished

[@kayedal-haddad]

They’ve ran out of steam!

[@alundavies1016]

Ignore them and carry on

[@petermewton1008]

Well I hope the Labour Party are listening to you or are already aware of the Tory traps you speak of. Surely if they are astute political operators they should be expecting deliberate destructive actions of the ruthless, self-serving sociopaths that seem to stack odds for their rich backers and against the whole of the rest of the country ?

[@reriuqne0-ny1er]

'Other governments do it' What other Governments?

[@martinmurphy9679]

Exactly. Using the trashing of the country to make life difficult for the opposition is treasonosus in my view.

[@jhonson7079]

People don't mind paying tax and national insurance if it goes into the things it's meant to go into why don't you mention the Tories selling the country off for pennies

[@bigbarry8343]

this country cannot survive without selling half a million of student visas a year.

[@miraladak2314]

Britain desperately needs a new, genuinely progressive party and a general overhaul of the current stale, past by its best by date system

[@bigblue6917]

Here's a thought. Instead of playing stupid tricks like this why doesn't Sunak actually govern.

[@moomin7461]

He's incapable.

[@gregprocter765]

what would you guys do if we just didnt do the whole red vs blue thing?

[@nicks4934]

something else?

[@Steviebond2]

I seem to recall Tories laying traps for Labour before 1997 came along, and how did that work out for the Tories exactly?

[@c.f.okonta8815]

Vote for the conservatives to control immigration

[@tatata1543]

@@c.f.okonta8815Yea, how’s that going? 😂

[@c.f.okonta8815]

@@tatata1543 labour is gonna drastically accept north of 1million new immigrants a year further exacerbating the cost of living crisis

[@tatata1543]

@@c.f.okonta8815 You know this how? Tell me, do you know how many the Tories have actually “accepted”? You talk as if they have stopped it. A suggestion that is frankly hilarious.

[@c.f.okonta8815]

@@tatata1543 the Tories are actively trying to stop it that’s better than putting a party in power that will only make it worse and rents will increase further

[@richardminter7451]

Old adage :- there is always a good time to loose an election.

[@aaronjaggard8287]

Not starmer, anyone else.

[@willemstaal5337]

The fact that you guys are reporting this makes clear that they already have their ducks in a row. In general labour have more recent people in their ranks, they dont have to lie or pull off political tricks to get what they choosen to do.

[@gunnergav]

'Other goverments aren't alone in this' We all remember the note there's no money left...Thanks Labour

[@trashman1358]

"there are endemic problems within the public realm (link between people and cities), uh that the brexit agreement isn't perhaps as good as it should be, um that local councils aren't performing as well as they should be." Good thing that illegal immigration, Ukraine war and funding, Israel, Iran, knife crimes, grooming gangs, woke, muslim terror attacks, is there such a thing as a woman, living crisis, America in general, interference in UK politics by America and the EU, WEF, WHO, ECHR, ICJ, dictatorial nature of 20mph and ULEZ... Whew! So it's just brexit, cities and councils. That's lucky!

[@paulgibbon5991]

Remember everyone, people like this poster with a head full of incoherent talking points can and will vote. Will you vote, or will you leave it to people like this to choose a government?

[@trashman1358]

@@paulgibbon5991 No new points made, just passive aggressive belittlement. Same old same old then from the liberals. No argument, just slander. You need a new strategy buddy, this one isn't working. See? Constructive criticism.

[@tatata1543]

They will respond with fear, that seems to be their default reaction.😊

[@jonathandnicholson]

Are the Conservatives laying traps or implementing policy the Conservatives agree with? Is the Brexit deal good enough or not? Well, the answer to that would be dependent on views about other issues.

[@MrTzimisces]

Starmer will drift more and more to the right

[@davidjupp961]

Garbage

[@craig3533]

Hmmm... Maybe if journalists were doing their jobs, they'd understand what's happening and the Tories would be getting called on their lies. You lot are a genuine embarrassment to what is left of your profession.

[@harryjh94]

NS only did a cover piece, multiple articles in politics section, and *ahem* the podcasts. Nailed it pal

[@DrEnglander1999]

The idea that Labour are reliable or trustworthy or will do what they say is a nonsense. Keir Starmer has reneged on every single pledge he ever made as leader of the Labour Party, and I simply do not know what he stands for any more. What I do know is that he and Wes Streeting have both taken donations from hedge fund owner with business interests in private health care, so the NHS is as safe under Labour as it is under the Tories.

[@strangetrip837]

Starmer is so close to the Tory policies it makes no difference!

[@davidjupp961]

Complete crap