As Parliament resumed on Tuesday morning, Labour MPs returned in a noticeably somber mood. One previously loyal MP summed up the atmosphere: “It’s all depressing, to be honest.” The frustration following last week’s election losses remains widespread.
Many MPs blame the government’s decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance. Several cabinet ministers believe the policy hurt Labour’s appeal during the local elections. Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the criticism: “Of course winter fuel came up on the doorstep, and people were unhappy.”
Despite the growing discontent, government officials spent the morning denying any policy review. By the afternoon, the prime minister’s spokesman stated clearly, “There will not be a change to the government’s policy.”
Some MPs hoped reversing the decision might show that the prime minister “gets it,” as he suggested last Friday. But insiders now believe the damage is already done and a policy reversal would offer no political gain.
Attention is also shifting to another contentious issue: changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). These reforms, announced in March, still require parliamentary approval. A Commons vote is expected next month.
With Labour’s large majority, the bill is likely to pass. Still, many MPs see the issue as a rallying point for internal party unrest. One MP stated that both winter fuel and PIP reforms drove poor election results but warned that PIP was “a more acute problem.”
“When people complained about winter fuel, they often weren’t our usual voters,” they said. “But with PIP, they were our people.”
Even MPs who are frustrated rather than angry believe Keir Starmer must clarify his strategic vision. One MP commented, “There’s still a lot of goodwill. But if we don’t get a sense of the strategic direction soon, the Parliamentary Labour Party will become unmanageable.”
On Wednesday night, cabinet minister Pat McFadden will present an internal review of the election results to MPs. Strategic questions are expected to dominate the session.
While Reform UK gained the most from Labour’s decline, MPs are also worried about losing progressive voters to the Green Party. In the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, the Conservative vote dropped sharply. Many of those voters switched to Labour to block Reform. Yet the Green Party’s share still increased, showing a potential threat on the left.
Labour now faces pressure from both sides. Without a clearer direction and policy response, internal unity may begin to unravel.
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