McFadden Rows Back on Labour Manifesto Tax Promise

Before Starmer gives a pitch-rolling speech for what’s predicted to be one of the largest tax-raising budgets in history Pat McFadden had the morning round. Some of the focus was on Labour’s manifesto pledge: “Labour will not increase taxes on working people”…

Since the election Labour completely changed the definition of “working people” and on the Today Programme McFadden suggested Labour wouldn’t be keeping to its pledge at all:

“We made promises in the manifesto about income tax, about National Insurance, and VAT. We will keep to those promises when the Chancellor gets to her feet on Wednesday.”

McFadden repeated the suggestion that the “working people” bit doesn’t count over on Sky. Voters seem to have thought Labour’s pledge was wider than those three taxes. Wonder what gave them that impression…

Emma Barnett pointed out that Labour’s “wordplay” and dishonesty over their pledges has “alienated and annoyed a lot of people.” To which McFadden hit back:

“If people are annoyed what they should be annoyed at is the fiscal fiction the the fictions that we inherited that have forced us to face up to this situation.”

Tetchy. The public might not see things his way…

mdi-timer 28 October 2024 @ 09:32 28 Oct 2024 @ 09:32 mdi-twitter mdi-facebook mdi-whatsapp mdi-telegram mdi-linkedin mdi-email mdi-comment View Comments
McFadden Admits Gray Set To Get Super Severance Package

Everyone has followed Guido’s story yesterday revealing that Downing Street is still locked in a bitter row over Sue Gray. She’s demanding a mega severance payout and salary…

Veteran Pat McFadden was sent out on the morning round to face questions over whether Gray will be grabbing a golden goodbye after leaving Number 10. After much probing, McFadden eventually told Times Radio that she probably would be entitled to severance pay:

“Whatever contractually is there, I’m sure she would be but, you know, I can’t comment on anybody’s individual circumstances.”

Gray had been on a probationary contract for four months, just like the other SpAds, though it’s unclear whether her departure qualifies for a golden goodbye. Meanwhile, she’s already giving her new “made-up job” the cold shoulder, skipping the first Council of Nations and Regions meeting in Scotland today…

mdi-timer 11 October 2024 @ 10:08 11 Oct 2024 @ 10:08 mdi-twitter mdi-facebook mdi-whatsapp mdi-telegram mdi-linkedin mdi-email mdi-comment View Comments
Reeves and McFadden Most Powerful Cabinet Ministers as Rayner Snubbed

The list of Cabinet Committees and who’s bagged a seat at each table is out, and it’s bad news for Angela Rayner. She’s been unceremoniously snubbed after missing out on a permanent seat at the high level National Security Council. Guido was inspired to make a list of the most powerful cabinet ministers in order of how many committees they have permanent membership to:

Out of the ten committees, Reeves is on 8 of them, McFadden is on 7 and Cooper’s on 6. As it stands, the following are currently on more than one committee:

  • ⁠Rachel Reeves: 8
  • ⁠Pat McFadden: 7
  • ⁠Yvette Cooper: 6
  • ⁠Jonathan Reynolds: 5
  • ⁠Nick Thomas-Symonds: 5
  • ⁠Angela Rayner: 4
  • ⁠John Healey: 5
  • Ed ⁠Miliband: 3
  • ⁠David Lammy: 3
  • ⁠Peter Kyle: 3
  • ⁠Hilary Benn: 3
  • ⁠Richard Hermer: 4
  • ⁠Wes Streeting: 2
  • ⁠Bridget Phillipson: 2
  • ⁠Lucy Powell: 2
  • Jo ⁠Stevens: 2
  • Ian Murray: 2
  • ⁠Darren Jones: 2

The Red Queen only managed to scrape in on 4 committees – just one more than ‘Red Ed’. Deputy Prime Minister in name only?

mdi-timer 10 October 2024 @ 15:10 10 Oct 2024 @ 15:10 mdi-twitter mdi-facebook mdi-whatsapp mdi-telegram mdi-linkedin mdi-email mdi-comment View Comments
Pat McFadden on Israel and Hezbollah Strikes: We Urge All Parties to De-Escalate Tensions
mdi-timer 25 August 2024 @ 11:02 25 Aug 2024 @ 11:02 mdi-twitter mdi-facebook mdi-whatsapp mdi-telegram mdi-linkedin mdi-email mdi-comment View Comments
McFadden Lays Foundations for U-Turn on Promise Not to Raise Additional Taxes

Reeves is preparing to deliver a speech on the supposedly “surprise” £20 billion black hole Labour have found after looking at the books. Reeves is still pushing the narrative that Labour is “shocked” by the numbers, despite the head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies blasting the claim as “not credible”. Now key ally and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden is paving the way for surprise additional tax rises, u-turning on their “no ifs, no buts” election promise not to do so…

Speaking on Times Radio this morning, McFadden said:

“We also said there was nothing in our plans at the election that required increases in taxes. That was the case during the election and today what you will hear is how we are going to have to respond to that opening of the books and I think what people should expect today is not tax measures but a Chancellor that is prepared to take some very tough decisions in spending.”

It looks like cuts in infrastructure spending – despite claiming to be ‘pro-growth’ – and increases in taxes on savings and investment will be the theme of this Labour government. They can’t blame the Tories forever…

mdi-timer 29 July 2024 @ 10:30 29 Jul 2024 @ 10:30 mdi-twitter mdi-facebook mdi-whatsapp mdi-telegram mdi-linkedin mdi-email mdi-comment View Comments
Sue Gray’s Turf War Turmoil Rocks Starmer’s Inner Circle

It’s trouble in paradise for Starmer’s top team. Chief of Staff Sue Gray is said to be throwing her weight around, already clashing with Starmer’s Head of Political Strategy Morgan McSweeney. The Sun reports that ‘McIavelli’ has been made to move desk twice, each time further from the Prime Minister. Sue’s been getting her claws out…

Despite Downing Street trying to understate the reported ‘turf war’ between the two Number 10 staff, there’s persistent talk of Gray’s actions causing a stir within Starmer’s inner circle. Guido hears the delays in appointments of junior ministers and SpAd selection blockages are more due to Gray than reported. It seems Gray isn’t just grinding the gears of McSweeney either, with whispers that her ways are also sending  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden into a spiral of frustration, who was overheard saying: “this won’t end well”. Grumbles from others seem to be met with a ‘Keir knows how I work‘ justification from Gray. Though notably she didn’t go to last week’s NATO summit with the Prime Minister. Madness in her method?

mdi-timer 19 July 2024 @ 14:30 19 Jul 2024 @ 14:30 mdi-twitter mdi-facebook mdi-whatsapp mdi-telegram mdi-linkedin mdi-email mdi-comment View Comments
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