LOUISE HAIGH: ‘Failed Tories flooding into Reform exhibits their true colors’
‘The number of Reform MPs in Westminster has doubled in size thanks to the proverbial rats fleeing the sinking HMS Tory’, the former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh writes
Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman have both defected to Reform(Image: Thomas Krych/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)
All eyes in Westminster have turned to the big Gorton and Denton by-election, which was called this week.
The result of the snap poll won’t affect the arithmetic in the House of Commons but voters in this Greater Manchester seat, just across the Peak District from where I’m from, still have a big decision to make. What’s got Westminster aflutter is the idea that Reform are the frontrunners to pick up another seat in the Commons.
We have to be honest, the Reform party are growing in strength. The number of MPs in Westminster has doubled in size thanks to the proverbial rats fleeing the sinking HMS Tory. But the threat is real. I know Mirror readers are really worried about the threat they pose to our NHS. Nigel Farage has said he wants us to scrap the NHS as we know it and “move to an insurance-based model”.
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The latest recruit from the Tories, Andrew Rosindell, said the same thing this week. But that’s not all: the Reform party wants to spend £1.7bn on a tax break for the richest by giving a whopping 20% tax relief on all private healthcare policies. These people are crackers. We can’t let them anywhere near our NHS.
Working with the national Labour government, Greater Manchester’s brilliant Mayor Andy Burnham has got the region buzzing. I was proud to help launch the “Bee Network” with him in 2024, bringing buses back under local, public control for the first time in 30 years, and he’s just announced that the trains will be under local control soon too. Huge sums are being invested in solar power for libraries, schools and leisure centres, saving energy and saving millions in bills that can go back into services.
Locals will be getting day-one rights at work like parental leave and protection from unfair dismissal, and loads of workers in the areas have had payrises thanks to the minimum wage hikes this government has enacted. The list goes on.
The difference with Reform? They’re against all of that. As more failed, right wing tories flood into Reform, we’ll see their true colours emerge more and more. They voted against new rights at work. They think the minimum wage is too high for young people. They voted against all of our measures to give public transport back to local people. And they’ve u-turned on their position to oppose the cruel two-child benefit cap.
A new poll out a few days ago showed Reform narrowly ahead of Labour, with the Green party in third. The Tories are nowhere to be seen – and that’s increasingly the case with politics today. It’s Labour versus Reform, and the choice couldn’t be clearer.
‘No victim of sexual harassment should be silenced’
No victim of sexual harassment should ever be silenced or pressured into signing away their voice in exchange for a cheque. But until recently, the law was on the side of the bad bosses who wanted to shut victims up. I’ve been campaigning alongside the formidable Zelda Perkins, who bravely broke her NDA when she worked for serial abuser Harvey Weinstein to speak up about what she had witnessed.
Thanks to her and countless other victims the Government has agreed to ban non-disclosure agreements in cases of sexual harassment and discrimination. NDAs have ruined too many lives, and overwhelmingly, they have hurt women. We are closer than ever to ending this vile practice once and for all.
‘Labour is backing homeowners’
Leaseholders had a huge win this week. The Government announced it would cap ground rents and scrap the outdated leasehold system. It’ll massively reduce costs for millions of homeowners. Governing is choosing, not spouting off. Labour is backing homeowners over financial parasites who siphon money out of our housing market. And this is alongside stronger protections for renters, because we want to support everyone who wants a secure place to call home.
‘Elon Musk forced to back down’
I used to be addicted to Twitter. Elon Musk has cured that. His AI tool, Grok, has been widely used to nudify women and even children on social media. Sick. No one should doubt Labour’s willingness to stand up for women and girls against Big Tech. This Government has forced even Musk to back down and end this despicable practice.
