The presentation this week of the Economic Plan of the Labor Government of the United Kingdom has confirmed the growing turn of the Prime Minister, Keir Starmertowards the right -wing policies. Starmer has opted for a strict fiscal policy To avoid an increase in debt interest and announced important cuts of public spending, including 6,000 million euros In social benefits, with the aim of quoting the accounts without the need to approve new tax increases. The tendency towards austerity adds to a immigration policy increasingly dura and to the growing Abandonment of the green agenda in favor of economic development.
Labor’s commitment to a rigid fiscal policy has its origen In the disastrous budget of the former conservative minister Liz Trusswhich caused a earthquake in markets In October 2022 and opened in the surveys to the Starmer party. Since then, both the prime minister and the Minister of Economy, Rachel Reeveshave insisted on the need to show credibility at the financial level With strict public spending control, despite the fact that Labor deputies closer to left of the party have warned that recent cuts will affect families with less income.
Social cuts
Despite criticism, the government has avoided passing new tax increases to the richest and has opted to limit access to disability aid and long -term diseases to encourage return of millions of Inactive labor workersmany of them young. Starmer assures that programs to foster employment They are part of the historical values of their party, but it is not yet clear if your strategy will give short -term results. Meanwhile, the forecasts of the government itself suggest that the number of people in situation of poverty will increase in 250.000 Due to the cuts.
Eunice Goespolitics professor at the Richmond University in London, acknowledges that the government is making efforts to Protect workers’ rightsbut points out that, at the same time, you are setting a “DIVISORY LINE” Among the people who work and those who do not. “This is a sign for capture attention of voters in the marginal constituencies [aquellas en las que los laboristas ganaron por un escaso margen en las pasadas elecciones]which support mostly Social benefits cuts. There is the idea that many people receive these aids without really needing them, ”says Goes.
The concern in labor ranks for the threat of the Populista reform uk party, especially in the marginal constituencies of the northern and in Galeshas contributed to this right turn not only in economic terms, but also in Migratory matter. The government has launched measures to stop the arrival of immigrants In recent months, including an increase in the number of deportations and new limitations to obtain British citizenship. “They want to show that they are being hard in this matter because they know that They must achieve results Before the next elections, ”says Goes.
Climate objectives
He Posture change of the Executive in the Fight against climate change It has also been evident. Starr He already reversed, a few months before the elections, to his plan of invest 28,000 million of annual pounds (33,000 million euros) in projects for the Ecological transition. A figure that It was reduced less than 6,000 million of annual pounds. From their arrival to power, the Labor have defended the construction of a third landing track at Heathrow Airport and the reduction of protected areas To facilitate the development of nuclear energy and housing construction, despite criticism of Ecological organizations.
“There is one internal fight within the government among those who are concerned about the bass economic growth and those who defend measures environmentalistincluding the Minister of Energy, Ed Miliband”, He says Richard Johnsonexpert in the Labor Party and Policy Professor of Queen Mary University in London. A fight that The Labor Minister – Exlude of the party and member of the so -called “Soft Left”, the faction that is between the most moderate sector and the most leftist sector – it seems be losing for now. “Most likely, Miliband Abandon the government In the next 12 months for internal disagreements, ”adds the teacher.
The recent decisions in economic, migratory and climatic matters are causing an increase in tension both within the Executive and in the Labor Parliamentary Group. But Johnson sees unlikely that internal rebellions reach sufficient magnitude to do Starmer shakewho continues to have the support of a large majority of deputies In the House of Commons. “Many of the Labor Deputies elected in the last elections were finger by the most centrist faction of the party. I do not think that Starmer faces great challenges in that regard,” he says.
