Chris Gallon
@chrisgallon.bsky.social
Engineer with an unhealthy interest in politics. Have Watched far too much Science Fiction and spent too much time around horses.
The Labour Party has a set of core values that run through left and right wings. The party can be pushed to places it doesn't want to go but not really beyond those boundaries. Blue Labour like Lexit is outside the limits. The two child benefit cap is popular in the UK, but also beyond the limits.
November 16, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The Labour Party has a set of core values that run through left and right wings. The party can be pushed to places it doesn't want to go but not really beyond those boundaries. Blue Labour like Lexit is outside the limits. The two child benefit cap is popular in the UK, but also beyond the limits.
I think you are probably underestimating the utter contempt with which the PLP will treat this. She isn't winning any votes whatever the majority is. I doubt she will still be in post in 6 months.
November 15, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I think you are probably underestimating the utter contempt with which the PLP will treat this. She isn't winning any votes whatever the majority is. I doubt she will still be in post in 6 months.
You would think Blue Labour would learn the majority of MPs and about 90% of the membership really dislike them. I imagine the MPs will be happy to oppose her.
November 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
You would think Blue Labour would learn the majority of MPs and about 90% of the membership really dislike them. I imagine the MPs will be happy to oppose her.
Labour didn't want Corbynism, Long-Bailey was the candidate for those people. She got a good number of votes. Most of those members will have left by now.
November 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Labour didn't want Corbynism, Long-Bailey was the candidate for those people. She got a good number of votes. Most of those members will have left by now.
No she isn't. I don't agree with her on anything, especially her latest foray into impractical populist nonsense but this is not the objective.
November 15, 2025 at 9:20 AM
No she isn't. I don't agree with her on anything, especially her latest foray into impractical populist nonsense but this is not the objective.
I really don't buy this stuff. He polls negatively but he hasn't really done anything catastrophic. Although this budget might well achieve that. There is also quite a lot of quiet progress going on, that might actually yield results. I don't think it would take much to give people some hope.
November 15, 2025 at 12:25 AM
I really don't buy this stuff. He polls negatively but he hasn't really done anything catastrophic. Although this budget might well achieve that. There is also quite a lot of quiet progress going on, that might actually yield results. I don't think it would take much to give people some hope.
The man is the poster boy for Gammon USA.
November 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The man is the poster boy for Gammon USA.
If they touch pensions, the mistake Brown made back in the day, people will more than notice. From that day on Reeves will become one of the most infamous chancellors in history. This all lands on the same relatively small number of high tax paying comfortable but not wealthy group. Madness.
November 14, 2025 at 1:16 PM
If they touch pensions, the mistake Brown made back in the day, people will more than notice. From that day on Reeves will become one of the most infamous chancellors in history. This all lands on the same relatively small number of high tax paying comfortable but not wealthy group. Madness.
This will result in very large tax rises for a key Labour voting demographic of working people and will be seen as, a broken promise, unfair and massive gaslighting. This will let off pensioners (again) and the wealthy for whom income tax thresholds are just not relevant.
November 14, 2025 at 12:06 PM
This will result in very large tax rises for a key Labour voting demographic of working people and will be seen as, a broken promise, unfair and massive gaslighting. This will let off pensioners (again) and the wealthy for whom income tax thresholds are just not relevant.
If a bill can be avoided it won't on the whole raise revenue. Plus multinationals game the system so all you do is make smaller companies struggle. We cannot increase taxes on business in the current climate.
November 14, 2025 at 9:01 AM
If a bill can be avoided it won't on the whole raise revenue. Plus multinationals game the system so all you do is make smaller companies struggle. We cannot increase taxes on business in the current climate.
I have very little faith in Reeves. For a start who is leaking this stuff at all, secondly every measure they have trailed recently seems laser focussed on working people who are Labour's remaining core vote. Just raise income tax and stop messing with really unpopular stuff.
November 14, 2025 at 7:54 AM
I have very little faith in Reeves. For a start who is leaking this stuff at all, secondly every measure they have trailed recently seems laser focussed on working people who are Labour's remaining core vote. Just raise income tax and stop messing with really unpopular stuff.
Is it too late to vote for Chaos with Ed Miliband?
November 13, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Is it too late to vote for Chaos with Ed Miliband?
So she is going to screw over people's pensions and mess with crazy marginal tax rates (that everybody will absolutely hate, especially pensions which is punitive) while failing to do the one thing everyone accepts as fair - putting up income tax.
November 13, 2025 at 10:57 PM
So she is going to screw over people's pensions and mess with crazy marginal tax rates (that everybody will absolutely hate, especially pensions which is punitive) while failing to do the one thing everyone accepts as fair - putting up income tax.
The government doesn't seem to realise what is left of their voters long since left X. They are talking to bots and Nazis.
November 13, 2025 at 8:40 PM
The government doesn't seem to realise what is left of their voters long since left X. They are talking to bots and Nazis.
Yes the EU could learn a lot from Canada here.
November 13, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Yes the EU could learn a lot from Canada here.
That would be better done by adding it to road tax for EVs with zero interest monthly payments. Way less scary to people than pay per mile.
November 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM
That would be better done by adding it to road tax for EVs with zero interest monthly payments. Way less scary to people than pay per mile.
It would probably be less painful at this point to can the budget, sack Reeves and start over with somebody who has a clue. The segment she is targeting are Labour voters and arguably already the most heavily taxed people in the country relative to wealth.
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
It would probably be less painful at this point to can the budget, sack Reeves and start over with somebody who has a clue. The segment she is targeting are Labour voters and arguably already the most heavily taxed people in the country relative to wealth.
I believe the original story broke in the US, so somebody on their side flagged this.
November 12, 2025 at 11:16 PM
I believe the original story broke in the US, so somebody on their side flagged this.
I can see them doing that. But I would be surprised if they risked troops.
November 12, 2025 at 7:28 PM
I can see them doing that. But I would be surprised if they risked troops.
Population of Venezuela is 29 million, what are you going to do with 15,000 troops. If they don't fold in the initial attack you are in deep trouble.
November 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Population of Venezuela is 29 million, what are you going to do with 15,000 troops. If they don't fold in the initial attack you are in deep trouble.
Germany has been saying this since Scholz first gave his Zeitenwende speech. But very little seems to be happening.
November 12, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Germany has been saying this since Scholz first gave his Zeitenwende speech. But very little seems to be happening.
Well you are never entirely in control of what people say or do, however much you want to be. I would expect somebody will be shuffled out.
November 12, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Well you are never entirely in control of what people say or do, however much you want to be. I would expect somebody will be shuffled out.
Starmer hasn't done this, some idiot adviser in No 10 has done this. Probably because the media keeps talking it up, when the reality is the Labour constitution makes this almost impossible and certainly an outcome that is so wildly unpredictable that no sane person would try it.
November 12, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Starmer hasn't done this, some idiot adviser in No 10 has done this. Probably because the media keeps talking it up, when the reality is the Labour constitution makes this almost impossible and certainly an outcome that is so wildly unpredictable that no sane person would try it.
Not really 1997 to the US financial crash the UK was at the heart of Europe, relatively prosperous, the NHS was the best it had ever been, investment was high, peace had been achieved in NI.
November 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Not really 1997 to the US financial crash the UK was at the heart of Europe, relatively prosperous, the NHS was the best it had ever been, investment was high, peace had been achieved in NI.
This all seems rather overblown. But top tip if you are worried Reeves is going to stuff up the budget keep a close eye on her and make sure she doesn't. Maybe send in an actual astute politician to point out the massive bear traps she sometimes walks into because she has no political instincts.
November 11, 2025 at 10:13 PM
This all seems rather overblown. But top tip if you are worried Reeves is going to stuff up the budget keep a close eye on her and make sure she doesn't. Maybe send in an actual astute politician to point out the massive bear traps she sometimes walks into because she has no political instincts.