In the Independent Roisin O'Connor looks at the astonishing comments by Rachel Reeves, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rachel-reeves-says-labour-does-not-want-to-represent-people-out-of-work-10114614.html
"We are not the party of people on benefits. We don’t want to be seen, and we're not, the party to represent those who are out of work" Ms Reeves is reported as saying.
This is of course a kick in the teeth for a significant sector of Labour's potential voters.
Why would she make such a remark?
Three reasons occur to me.
1 She is genuinely trying to take Labour up-market and make a pitch to a better quality of voters.
2 Private polling has told her that people out of work do not tend to vote, so there is nothing to be gained from representing them.
3 (this I think is the most likely) She knew full well what she was saying, wanted to make a populist gesture by aiming a kick at the unemployed, BUT intended from the start to claim her comments were taken out of context. That way she gets the best of both worlds. She has made a populist gesture (and the mud will stick) but will reassure the out of work people that she still loves them.
"We are not the party of people on benefits. We don’t want to be seen, and we're not, the party to represent those who are out of work" Ms Reeves is reported as saying.
This is of course a kick in the teeth for a significant sector of Labour's potential voters.
Why would she make such a remark?
Three reasons occur to me.
1 She is genuinely trying to take Labour up-market and make a pitch to a better quality of voters.
2 Private polling has told her that people out of work do not tend to vote, so there is nothing to be gained from representing them.
3 (this I think is the most likely) She knew full well what she was saying, wanted to make a populist gesture by aiming a kick at the unemployed, BUT intended from the start to claim her comments were taken out of context. That way she gets the best of both worlds. She has made a populist gesture (and the mud will stick) but will reassure the out of work people that she still loves them.
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