Labour Government

  • Labour loss at Grangemouth

    Ed Miliband MP (Doncaster North/Labour) sympathised with Grangemouth yesterday on X citing the closure of its oil refinery. It’s not a great look for a community to lose its largest employer.

    Brian Leishman MP (Alloa and Grangemouth/Labour) was elected on the back of a strongly socialist party manifesto, but Sir Keir Starmer’s election wish doesn’t look like it’s coming true any time soon.

    “Over the past few months, the campaign to keep Grangemouth working has spread the message of extending the life of the refinery, investing in the workforce and making sure there is no gap that would see workers lose their jobs. I have stood in solidarity with the refinery workers, and I will continue to do so.”

    In a Common’s speech, Leishman argued for a transition between a closure of the refinery and opening of alternatives. He said it would save jobs but it’s clear the government has an issue doing it.

    The difficulty is working out interim solutions to problems. It’s the same with a winter fuel allowance and it’s the case in a small town in Scotland. In spite of reassurances the future is uncertain.

  • Starmer hits back

    Sir Keir Starmer said some strong words over the weekend. He said rioters will be arrested, charged, and imprisoned.

    “The police will be making arrests.  Individuals will be held on remand. Charges will follow. And convictions will follow.”

    After all, a news story like this is not what Starmer needs right now. It doesn’t fit well with his pledges overseas, at least.

    He’s claims he’ll restore law and order by setting police on thugs, but by when?

    Surely we’ve heard this before.

    Our record on protests is a grey area particularly in London, where it really counts.

    It all spills over, and frankly we’re done crying about it.

    It’s where most of our investment goes after all, and the rest of the UK is where the staff come from.

    There has to be law here or there’s nothing left, surely? It’s not looking good for a hopeful Prime Minister.

    Maybe things will change.

  • Homes for who?

    The government has announced a house-building plan to add 1.5 million new homes to the national housing stock.

    As usual, local authorities are expected to take on the burden of ensuring Labour’s affordable housing component is kept high on the agenda in their local areas.

    It leaves the issue of who gets what so far unaccounted for.

    It’s not clear what will end up in whose hands. After years of delays, b&b’s filling up, and hotels given over to the Home Office for their asylum work this core part of the strategy is still left unanswered.

    It’s a bewildering issue, but there’s no guarantee any single family in need of a home will get one by a Labour government anytime soon. It isn’t exactly made clear who will be relieved of their homelessness or sub-standard accommodation by this plan as yet.

    If it were simply a “build, and move in” policy it would have been achieved by now.

    However, as politicians dither the waiting list only grows longer.