After two decades on the government benches, MP Simon Hoare’s new role in opposition shows him Labour’s alarming lack of preparedness for power
The General Election result of 2024 created a new environment not just for our country but also for me. Since serving in elected office as either a district or county councillor or as your Member of Parliament (2004 – to date), I have only sat on the majority/government benches. This parliament is my first time in opposition.
Of course, the day job of representing my constituents remains the same irrespective of which side of the House I sit. The role of government – to govern and make laws – is a clear one. But what is the job of opposition?
In essence, I see it as being two-fold.
The first job of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is to oppose the Government. That does not mean opposition for opposition’s sake, but opposing authentically and constructively where there are real bones of contention and dividing lines (this government has already provided us with plenty, and looks to be the gift that keeps on giving). It also means standing shoulder to shoulder with the Government of the day on issues of national security – Mr Corbyn learned the electoral downside the hard way when he remained uncommitted following the Russian poisonings in Salisbury.
However, the second and bigger job in opposition is to prepare policies that establish you as a ‘government in waiting’, with a deliverable programme umbrella-ed by a clear overarching objective, and a philosophical bedrock focussed on making positive change. That takes hard slog – and timing is key. Launch an excellent policy too early and the Government pinches it. Launch a not-too-excellent policy and it is torn to shreds while simultaneously further undermining your standing in the eyes of the voter. But whatever the timing or external circumstances, it is a job that cannot be ducked: it has to be done.
Safety net not straightjacket
Which begs the question: what on earth was Labour doing, those 14 long years in opposition? They won the Government crown last year on a message of: ‘It’s time for change – we are not the Tories’. With every day that passes, it becomes increasingly clear that no indepth policy work was undertaken in opposition. In government they are all pie crust and precious little filling. A blend of incompetence, inexperience and inflexibility is producing a not very appealing cocktail – think toilet duck and pond water, laced with a little bile.
Trumpian Tariff madness, a bonkers Chagos deal and the Chancellor’s ‘Doom and Gloom’ made what was already a very bad Reeves first budget a whole lot worse. Business confidence is on the slide, job creation in freefall and economic policy headroom obliterated by anti-business policy. So, into the crosshairs of the Chancellor comes the Welfare Budget.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Welfare needs constant reform. It is not static. BUT the guiding principles of it are always that it is a safety net below which no one can fall (particularly those who cannot work) but NEVER a straightjacket from which one can never escape.
Any welfare reform requires deep thinking, impact assessment and a clear destination vision … not so with this government, apparently.
Instead we have seen a grab for the easy, low hanging fruit, with no prospectus for the grand vision. Cash has undoubtedly been saved, but the question is (and for this government it remains a rhetorical one) is it the right cash? Removing disabled benefits already being received is an … ahem ‘novel’ approach.
What I cannot see is any strategy for breaking the cycle of inter-generational worklessness through choice, rather than necessity, or the sculpting of a coherent suite of policies to face into the new post-pandemic epidemic of worklessness.
Instead, the Chancellor’s approach is the equivalent of a smash and grab raid – a Supermarket Sweep of the vulnerable, delivered without thought but merely ‘what can we save fastest’ as the prime motivator. I support the principle of welfare reform. I remain to be convinced as to Labour’s version in practice.
