Labour's hasty U-turn on business rates has sparked debate over whether the government is truly learning from its mistakes, or simply repeating old Treasury errors.
While some Labour MPs may welcome the swift reversal of policy as a sign that the government is listening to concerns, others are questioning why these U-turns keep happening. The latest change comes just weeks after similar reversals on inheritance tax for farmers and changes to benefit reforms, both of which were forced by strong pressure from campaigning groups.
The decision to revisit business rates valuations was initially met with resistance from the hospitality trade, who warned that it would lead to major increases for pubs and hotels. However, Labour MPs had planned to table an amendment to the finance bill if nothing was done, suggesting that they were willing to take action to prevent these rises.
One MP noted that while the U-turn is a positive sign, "it would have been better if we hadn't done it at all". Others see a pattern emerging in which Treasury decisions are made without proper consultation or consideration for the consequences.
This raises questions over whether the government truly has a mechanism in place to prevent these sorts of policy errors. One MP suggested that there is a lack of "political nous" and "sense-checking" within the Treasury, with many decisions being made without thorough consideration of their impact.
The debate highlights the ongoing struggle for effective communication between policymakers and those affected by their decisions. While some may welcome the government's willingness to listen and adapt, others are calling for more engagement and consultation to ensure that policy is developed in a way that takes into account the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.
While some Labour MPs may welcome the swift reversal of policy as a sign that the government is listening to concerns, others are questioning why these U-turns keep happening. The latest change comes just weeks after similar reversals on inheritance tax for farmers and changes to benefit reforms, both of which were forced by strong pressure from campaigning groups.
The decision to revisit business rates valuations was initially met with resistance from the hospitality trade, who warned that it would lead to major increases for pubs and hotels. However, Labour MPs had planned to table an amendment to the finance bill if nothing was done, suggesting that they were willing to take action to prevent these rises.
One MP noted that while the U-turn is a positive sign, "it would have been better if we hadn't done it at all". Others see a pattern emerging in which Treasury decisions are made without proper consultation or consideration for the consequences.
This raises questions over whether the government truly has a mechanism in place to prevent these sorts of policy errors. One MP suggested that there is a lack of "political nous" and "sense-checking" within the Treasury, with many decisions being made without thorough consideration of their impact.
The debate highlights the ongoing struggle for effective communication between policymakers and those affected by their decisions. While some may welcome the government's willingness to listen and adapt, others are calling for more engagement and consultation to ensure that policy is developed in a way that takes into account the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.
. If we look at the stats, since Labour took power, they've had 17 U-turns on policies, with an average delay of just 2 weeks between announcement and reversal 
. That's pretty fast for any government! 
. The rest are more met with skepticism or even outrage. Maybe it's time to reevaluate how the government is making policy decisions? 
. That's a lot of folks! It's crazy that only 15% of those affected are even consulted on the changes before they're made 
.
If Labour MPs were so keen on pushing this change through, why didn't they stick to their guns if it meant major increases for pubs and hotels? It sounds like they're playing the politician's game of wait-and-see.
And what about all those other reversals on inheritance tax and benefit reforms? Are we just seeing a pattern of policy flip-flopping? It's hard to trust that the government is really listening to concerns or making informed decisions.
It's like they're trying to avoid making a decision altogether. And honestly, I'm not sure if they even need an amendment from MPs to tell them what the problem is 
. I mean, cant we have some foresight for once? 
. And another thing, whats with all these changes happening at the last minute? cant we have a proper consultation or something? 
this whole system feels so backdoor and secretive 
. I wish they'd take the time to consider how their decisions will affect real people's lives, not just the groups that are already vocal about it 
. They're so quick to change their minds it's like they can't make up their own bloody minds! But seriously, have you seen the Treasury in action? It's like a one-man show where that one guy makes all the decisions without anyone else telling him what not to do 
Give me a break! This is like the government playing a game of whack-a-mole – every time you think they've fixed one problem, another pops up.
. And what about the consultation part? Are we just supposed to assume that the Treasury is doing its job without any checks and balances? I don't buy it 
just think about how much time and resources those U-turns must be costing Labour 
... it's like, can't they just get it right in the first place? 
. And what's with this lack of "political nous" and "sense-checking"? 
. It's like they're trying to check off the right boxes without really thinking through the consequences of their actions 
. If Labour's willing to do an U-turn on something as big as business rates, that means they didn't get it right in the first place 
. It's not like they're intentionally trying to mess things up (although that does sound kinda plausible too 
).
& now we gotta question whether gov is really listenin or just repeatin old mistakes 
It's like they're just flipping a coin and hoping it lands on the right side of policy 
. If the gov't wants to make things right, they need to get their act together and have a real consultation process in place 
.
. Transparency is key, people! Let's see some real commitment to change here 
.
. It's like when you're trying to cook a new recipe and everything is coming together fine, then suddenly you add too much salt and BAM! 
The question is, how do you avoid that salt from ruining the whole dish? In this case, it seems like there's still some work to be done on getting policymakers and stakeholders on the same page 
.
#GovernanceFail? Some ppl think it's a good sign that they're listening & adapting, but others are all like "why not have done it right in the 1st place?" 
#Politics101
.
.