“,”elementId”:”f5749ac6-c47c-4398-a0e5-fbcd4af09e7c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
The retreat from Labour’s £28bn green investment pledge will confirm workers’ scepticism of the endless promises of jam tomorrow and it will be ‘alright on the night’ rhetoric on the green transition.
\n
If different choices aren’t made Britain will again lag behind other nations. The German government investment bank already has in its funds equivalent to 15% of German GDP.
\n
The Labour movement has to stand up to the Conservatives’ false accusations of fiscal irresponsibility. There is a catastrophic crisis of investment in Britain’s economic infrastructure. Britain needs more not less investment.
\n
“,”elementId”:”7ecbceb0-221c-438c-8cde-6fe05412d87c”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1707385657000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.47 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1707385802000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”: “04.50 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1707385802000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.50 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”04.50″,”title”:”Britain needs ‘more investment, not less’ , says Unite, which is calling on the Labor Party. “Resist the Conservative Party’s ‘false accusations’”, “Contributor”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thursday 08 February 2024 04.50 EST”,”SecondaryDateLine”:”First publication date Thursday 8 February 2024 04.27 EST”},{“id”:”65c4a1d18f08ddaeb791ad8a”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The SNP claims Labour’s U-turn will damage the Scottish economy. This is from Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s leader at Westminster.
“,”elementId”:”8a6fc8b7-ef30-436b-9093-ff5bc4b4af12″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
Keir Starmer’s damaging decision to cut energy investment will destroy Scottish jobs, harm economic growth and hit families in the pocket by keeping energy bills high.
\n
It’s a weak and short-sighted U-turn, which shows Westminster is incapable of delivering the investment Scotland needs to compete in the global green energy gold rush and secure strong economic growth.
\n
As our partners and allies across the world press ahead with investment to attract jobs and secure economic and energy security, the UK has turned away. It’s as depressing as it is predictable.
\n
“,”elementId”:”ff49a7ed-36fd-4959-b0f0-7c35c4b35b11″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1707385297000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.41 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1707385401000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”: “04.43 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1707385401000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.43 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”04.43″,”title”:”Labour’s U-turn ‘will destroy Scottish jobs’, says SNP speaks”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thursday 8 February 2024 04.50 EST”,”SecondaryDateLine”:”First published Thursday 8 February 2024 04.27 EST”},{“id”:”65c4a1528f08ddaeb791ad87″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The Green party has described the Labour U-turn as a “massive backwards step”. This is from Carla Denyer, the party’s co-leader.
“,”elementId”:”c4959791-118a-4b2f-a864-4d32504e8164″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
This is a massive backward step – for the climate, for the economy and for good quality jobs. Both the security of our planet for future generations and the UK’s future prosperity is dependent on greening our economy and that requires large scale investment.
\n
Labour have chosen to wear their fiscal rules as a millstone around their neck. A different approach through tax reforms, in particular by introducing a wealth tax on the super-rich, could help pay for the green transition. There is more than enough money in the economy to pay for this. Indeed, the Green party would go further and faster, investing at least double what Labour originally pledged, so we can turbo charge the transition to a green economy.
\n
“,”elementId”:”ff31c53f-a84a-43ba-a946-5f6c8453e9f2″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1707385170000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.39 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1707385280000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”: “04.41 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1707385280000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.41 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”04.41″,”title”:”Labour’s U-turn on £28bn green investment pledge is a ‘major setback’ “, says the Green Party”,”contributor”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thursday 8 February 2024 04.50 EST”,”SecondaryDateLine”:”First published Thursday 8 February 2024 04.27 EST”},{“id”:”65c48ede8f08b8fa87cc80d0″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Good morning. It will come as no surprise to anyone who has been following Westminster news in recent weeks, particularly if they have been reading the Guardian, to learn that Labour is no longer committed to spending £28bn a year on its green investment plan. The soft U-turn, the informal abandonment of the policy as a firm commitment, happened some time ago. But the Tory attacks on the policy, and today we are expecting a proper, hard, bells-and-whistles U-turn – public confirmation that the £28bn target has been consigned to the policy dustbin.
“,”elementId”:”137dbd12-7664-465f-8557-ac1680bd9178″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Kiran Stacey and Pippa Crerar broke the news last night.
“,”elementId”:”c24339db-ba6e-48f8-9f82-c335168265d2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Starmer to announce scaling back of £28bn green investment plan”,”elementId”:”663c9369-2df5-45e4-8311-bec56901ce0f”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/07/keir-starmer-to-announce-scaling-back-of-28bn-green-investment-plan”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
As they explain, it’s a gamble. The case for getting rid of it is that it allowed the Tories to claim Labour would have to put up taxes to fund it, perhaps reviving the almost primordial fear felt by the British electorate that a Labour government would cost people more. With £28bn off the table, it is harder what policies the Conservatives would attack during an election campaign.
“,”elementId”:”856291f8-cc81-4e16-84f6-426e2a83b13e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
But, if the U-turn innoculates Labour against the “higher taxes” attack, it validates the other key message coming out of CCHQ, which is that you can’t trust Keir Starmer on anything because he keeps changing his mind.
“,”elementId”:”c264dde4-4e96-4a81-b56b-2f577d296705″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
It also makes it harder for Labour to argue that it is offering a distinctive alternative policy at the election because one of its main economic policies has, in effect, been redrafted at the behest of CCHQ.
“,”elementId”:”932179f8-c745-4ec6-b916-3e2f08dfe70f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
This latter point is one that Starmer’s critics on the left – both within the Labour party, and outside it – have been making vigorously this morning. There are strong statements to this effect from the SNP, the Green party, Unite and Momentum, but let’s start with the Labour MP Barry Gardiner, who served as shadow climage change minister under Jeremy Corbyn. This is what he told the Today programme when he was asked for his reaction to the U-turn.
“,”elementId”:”b0ea2a8f-54dd-493a-964f-ed29d5b8f236″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
It’s economically illiterate, it’s envirionmentally irresponsible and it’s politically jejune.
\n
“,”elementId”:”6d023ab8-c0ce-4c67-b1b5-13a689532a8b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Gardiner said he could understand why Labour wanted to minimise the risk of its policies being attacked. But he went on:
“,”elementId”:”25d73fd9-75ee-4eae-8e99-936b05bfdb67″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
If you make [your manifesto] It’s very bland, if you don’t support anything, the opposition and the government will actually write your policy, they’ll say, ‘Labour don’t tell us what we’ll do. This is how it will be, this is what will happen, this is what will happen.” Then they can draw their own picture. So I think politically it’s strategically incompetent.
\n
“,”elementId”:”45a275f0-db9a-42d0-8f73-d3132ffaa8ba”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
I will post more reactions soon.
“,”elementId”:”2b289874-7d72-4c44-80c2-0faaededd72e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
The agenda for the day is:
“,”elementId”:”00a3e6f5-6b7e-41f2-80fd-67dabfb82780″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
9:30am: NHS England publishes figures for hospital waiting times.
“,”elementId”:”c0e2c549-77cc-4bbd-b80a-bc8825b6e6e7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
9:30am: The ONS publishes murder figures for England and Wales.
“,”elementId”:”c28f7f66-f629-4c88-8bda-351f2141e507″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
morning: Rishi Sunak is visiting Cornwall and is expected to speak to the media.
“,”elementId”:”cf236dfe-abe4-4091-9726-80cc5d8fc64e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
11:30am: A lobby briefing session will be held at Downing Street.
“,”elementId”:”498a6cf8-be2e-460b-8120-fb8617e25736″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
noon: Humza Yousaf answers the Prime Minister’s questions on Holyrood Island.
“,”elementId”:”10a72e3a-4dad-4ec1-9870-46c9b65ccb9b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
afternoon: Keir Starmer is expected to make an announcement confirming a U-turn to his £28bn green investment plan.
“,”elementId”:”00de822e-36c2-4e11-8a4d-669cb88b03b1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
If you would like to contact me, please try the “Send Message” feature. If you are reading on your laptop or desktop, it will appear just below the signature line, on the left side of your screen. This is for those who want to send messages directly. I find it very helpful to have people point out mistakes (including typos) in messages. No mistake is too small to be fixed. I often find your questions very interesting as well. I can’t promise to reply to everything, but I’ll do my best to reply in the comments section below that line. Privately (if you feel it is appropriate to leave your email address). Or on your main blog if you think it’s a topic of widespread interest.
“,”elementId”:”5352db96-5a0e-4208-b762-07e1eb3de196″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1707384458000, “blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”04.27 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1707385580000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”04.46 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1707384458000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”04.27 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”0 4.27″,”title” :”‘Economically ignorant and strategically incompetent’ – Labor left criticizes Starmer’s £28bn green investment U-turn”, “Contributor”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Thursday, February 8, 2024 04.50 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”Initial publication date Thursday, February 8, 2024 04.27 EST”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key -events-carousel-mobile “}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>
important events
Unite urges Labor to resist Tories’ ‘false accusations’ that Britain needs ‘more investment, not less’
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary criticized Labour’s move on the basis that the UK needs more investment, not less. she said:
Labour’s withdrawal from its £28bn green investment pledge will confirm Labour’s skepticism about the never-ending promise of tomorrow’s jams, and the “night is fine” rhetoric around the green transition.
Unless we make a different choice, Britain will once again fall behind other countries. Germany’s state investment bank already holds funds equivalent to 15% of Germany’s GDP.
The Labor movement must confront the Conservative Party’s false accusations of fiscal irresponsibility. Investment in Britain’s economic infrastructure is in dire straits. Britain needs more investment, not less.
SNP says Labor’s U-turn will ‘destroy Scottish jobs’
The SNP claims Labour’s U-turn will damage Scotland’s economy.This is the body stephen flynnSNP leader in Westminster.
Keir Starmer’s harmful decisions to cut energy investment will destroy Scottish jobs, harm economic growth and hit families’ pockets with high energy bills.
This is a weak and short-sighted U-turn, demonstrating Westminster’s inability to provide the investment Scotland needs to compete in the global green energy gold rush and secure strong economic growth.
As our partners and allies around the world invest to attract jobs and ensure economic and energy security, the UK is turning its back. It’s as depressing as it is predictable.
Labor’s shift towards £28bn green investment pledge is a ‘major setback’, Greens say
The Green Party described Labour’s U-turn as a “huge setback”.This is the body carla denyerco-leader of the party.
This is a huge setback for the climate, the economy and quality jobs. The security of our planet for future generations and the future prosperity of the UK both depend on greening our economy, which will require major investment.
Labor has chosen to hang its own fiscal rules as a millstone around its neck. Alternative approaches through tax reform, particularly the introduction of a wealth tax on the ultra-rich, could help pay for the green transition. There is enough money in the economy to pay for this. In fact, the Greens will invest at least double the amount Labor originally promised to further accelerate the transition to a green economy.
‘Economically ignorant and strategically incompetent’ – Labor left criticizes Starmer’s £28bn green investment U-turn
good morning. For anyone who has been following the news from Westminster in recent weeks, particularly those who read the Guardian, it may come as a surprise to learn that Labor is no longer committed to spending £28bn a year on green investment plans. I don’t think so. A soft U-turn, an informal abandonment of policy as a firm commitment, has been occurring for some time. But the Conservatives attacked this policy and today we have public confirmation that a proper, tough, bells and whistles U-turn – a target of £28bn – has been consigned to the policy dustbin. I hope that.
Kiran Stacey and Pippa Creral The news broke last night.
As they explain, it’s gambling. The reason for abolishing it was that it would allow the Conservatives to argue that Labor had to put in taxpayer money to fund it, and perhaps British voters felt that a Labor government would put more burden on the people. It seems to have revived the almost primal fear that he had felt. With £28bn left unplanned, it will be more difficult to see what policies the Conservatives will attack during the election.
But if the U-turn inoculates Labor against “tax rise” attacks, it also vindicates another key message coming from CCHQ: The idea is that Keir Starmer cannot be trusted on anything because he keeps changing his mind.
It will also be difficult for Labor to argue that it is offering its own alternative policies at the election, as one of Labour’s key economic policies has effectively been revised at the behest of CCHQ.
This latter point is one that Starmer’s critics on the left – both inside and outside the Labor Party – have been making vigorously this morning. There have been strong statements to this effect from the SNP, the Greens and Unite and Momentum, but let’s start with Labor MPs. barry gardiner, served as Shadow Coat of Arms Change Minister under Jeremy Corbyn. This is what he said on the Today show when asked about his reaction to the U-turn.
Economically ignorant, environmentally irresponsible and politically incompetent.
Mr Gardiner said he understood why Labor wanted to minimize the risk of its policies being attacked. But he continued:
If you make it [your manifesto] It’s very bland, if you don’t support anything, the opposition and the government will actually write your policy, they’ll say, ‘Labour don’t tell us what we’ll do. This is how it will be, this is what will happen, this is what will happen.” Then they can draw their own picture. So I think politically it’s strategically incompetent.
I will post more reactions soon.
The agenda for the day is:
9:30am: NHS England publishes figures for hospital waiting times.
9:30am: The ONS publishes murder figures for England and Wales.
morning: Rishi Sunak is visiting Cornwall and is expected to speak to the media.
11:30am: A lobby briefing session will be held at Downing Street.
noon: Humza Yousaf answers the Prime Minister’s questions on Holyrood Island.
afternoon: Keir Starmer is expected to make an announcement confirming a U-turn to his £28bn green investment plan.
If you would like to contact me, please try the “Send Message” feature. If you are reading on your laptop or desktop, it will appear just below the signature line, on the left side of your screen. This is for those who want to send messages directly. I find it very helpful to have people point out mistakes (including typos) in messages. No mistake is too small to be fixed. I often find your questions very interesting as well. I can’t promise to reply to everything, but I’ll do my best to reply in the comments section below that line. Privately (if you feel it is appropriate to leave your email address). Or on your main blog if you think it’s a topic of widespread interest.
