We are very much seeing the alignment of MPs after the budget. Starmer opened up PMQs with a statement that the government were issuing new guidance which could cut the cost of baby formula saying parents should save up to £500 a year. I can only agree with Phil Moorhouse that "one of the most visible signs of the desperate poverty we've seen in Britain these past few years is security tags on baby formula in supermarkets."
Back to the Budget and the alignment of MPs. The main themes have been tackling poverty for the left and complaints about expensive "handouts" from the right. The budget boosted the incomes of those struggling the most with the cost of living with particular focus on children via the removal of the two child cap on Universal Credit. On the other hand, the right-wing has attacked the budget as giving handouts to the idle whilst charging hard working people for it. We can see the latter has been picked up by the MSM, read by far-right followers and poured over the pages of Gransnet.
This balance was how PMQs continued. Several Labour MPs asked about the government's moves on poverty, while several of the Tory questions asked why we should even care about poverty. Again, a balance reflected on Gransnet.
After a seated snipe from the Opposition Leader Starmer listed that:
Growth is up this year defeating and beating the forecast.
Wages are up more since the General Election than in 10 years of the Tories.
We've had five interest rate cuts.
NHS waiting lists are down.
We've had record investment into this country.
Badenocks latest reason why Reeves should resign was put forward (oh how they must fear her) and easily dismissed. She then set her aim on the two child cap. She must have thought it was an easy win. The cap has shown to be popular with a majority of voters at this time. But she seems to forget is that child poverty itself, is not popular. The right do try to categorise those on benefit as scroungers, but many work, earning their poverty, or are retired pensioners. The rest are trying to find work. What do these people expect children to do? Starmer's reply was that half a million children had been lifted out of poverty. And that was the answer to all three of her questions on this.
So, this is where the parties are after the budget has had a few days to be considered.
