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On a side point, about the welfare thing. Is there an assumption at HQ that being tough on welfare is always popular? Because when it tips over into perceived unfairness, I’m not sure it’s necessarily true
There is, and I think it's part of their problem of vulgar poll reading. People think that some nebulous (or indeed, specific) person is on the take and that there is wasteful spending on welfare. That doesn't mean they support the specific, arbitrary and cruel measures in the welfare "reforms".
Everyone wants welfare reform until their niece's PIP is cut. Everyone wants fewer universities until their grand kid's gets closed mid-degree.
May 9, 2025 16:11I think you’re underestimating how many voters know people who could and should be working! And it’s hard to argue that the last Tory government ballsed up everything apart from welfare specifically, and that what we need is an ever increasing number of the working age population to not be working 💀
Also, in as far as "performative cruelty" was a hallmark of the Sunak government (on benefits, Rwanda scheme etc), I don't think Downing Street has clocked the degree to which the sense of anything similar repels much of its own base
"We're only being cruel to look tough"
The base: "THAT'S WORSE!"
