The Guardian view on Labour’s welfare rebellion: Starmer must learn from his mistakes | Editorial

A The clash between the government and the representatives of work was due to the expected deficit subsidies before the rumors rebellion this week. This does not mean that the crisis was inevitable. A compromise may have been reached before climbing at 11 o’clock Avoid defeat In Parliament.

The fire that burned a lot of Sir Kerr Starmer authority was greater because confidence collapsed. The twin causes were the failure of the political rule in Downing Street and the bad policy. The Prime Minister reduced the force of deputies to withdraw the payment of personal independence (PIP) from the disabled, and exaggerate the estimation of his lame capacity and wandering in his party to accept changes.

These errors flowed from a more fundamental defect – mixing public sector reform with financial unification in ways that raised the justified doubts about the motive behind politics. Most rebels realize that there are problems in the current benefits system. The dramatic increase in PIP claims has witnessed in recent years the feeling of deeper social distress. This is an issue that must be addressed and in ways that cost, over time, less.

But this argument was blocked due to the requirements of finding 5 billion pounds in saving in a short notice until the Treasury is on the right track to honor the financial rules. It was not credible to say that PIP discounts were developed with a compassionate intent The system “reform” When it was announced days before the counselor, Rachel Reeves, under pressure to find an additional budget space in her expectations, was announced. Spring statement.

No one was deceived and Sir Kiir was a fool to believe that they might be. Prime Minister defenders note that he has many demands for his attention. It was separated from the slim and inflammatory Backbench complaints with “noise” in a NATO summit The Prime Minister focused on persuading Donald Trump not to abandon the coalition.

But the violation note was not the slip of the tongue. He expressed his patience with any criticism that is supposed to arise from the left -wing faction of exhaustion party. This habit was learned in the opposition when the Sir Kiir’s strategy for winning an executive power included the discipline of messages and the opposition of the opposition. This reflection is prohibited from the prime minister from realizing that his critics may descend from a wide show of work and society, and may have valid points.

As a result, the conflict over interest changes has escalated into a crisis of confidence in leadership. The result is a chaotic compromise that raises the question of how to correctly repair PIP, while the financial puzzle of the Ministry of Treasury has become equal More intense. The issue of disability benefits has always been uniquely sensitive to work representatives, who see the protection of vulnerable citizens and the strengthening of the social safety network as basic functions for their parties. But it is unlikely that the rebellion on the PIP will be the last confrontation of this, especially if the Downing Street does not learn the correct lessons.

The use of public sector reform language as a camouflage on the non -judgment budgets was a serious mistake, exacerbated by the arrogant rejection of the objections of deputies. The Prime Minister now has a difficult task to reform his authority and rebuild relations with his party. If he does not understand the origins of the crisis, he condemns himself by repeating it.

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