Rachel Reeves delivering her spring statement in the Commons. Photograph: House of Commons
Labour is braced for a backlash from its MPs over welfare cuts called ‘appalling’ by a foodbank charity
Rachel Reeves was accused of balancing the books at the expense of the poor in her spring statement, as official figures showed three million households could lose £1,720 a year in benefits.
The chancellor confirmed welfare cuts of £4.8bn, but insisted the government’s priority was to restore stability to the public finances in the face of rising global borrowing costs.
Economists warned Reeves could be forced to come back with more tax rises in the autumn, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) saying that any tariffs imposed by Donald Trump may upend their forecasts.
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Ruth Curtice, the director of the Resolution Foundation thinktank, said while Reeves was right to balance the books, she was “wrong to do so on the backs of low- to middle-income families, on whom two-thirds of the welfare cuts will fall”.
Helen Barnard, the director of policy at the food bank charity Trussell, said: “The insistence by the Treasury on driving through record cuts to disabled people’s social security to balance the books is both shocking and appalling. People at food banks are telling us they are terrified how they’ll survive.”
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Keir Starmer confirms that he’s proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.Keir Starmer says pensioners can freeze to death and poor children can starve and be condemned to failure and misery all their lives.
Elon Musk attends U.S. President Donald Trump’s Cabinet meeting at the White House on March 24, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
“Wisconsin voters should get to decide this election, not the richest billionaire in the world,” said the Working Families Party.
Early voting is underway for the April 1 election to determine ideological control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and right-wing billionaire Elon Musk recently admitted why he is pouring millions of dollars into the close contest: It “will decide how congressional districts are drawn” in the state.
As Mother Jones‘ Ari Berman reported Tuesday, Musk—the richest person in the world and a key figure in Republican President Donald Trump’s administration—made that comment Saturday, while hosting the right-wing candidate, Judge Brad Schimel of Waukesha County, and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), for a discussion on X, the billionaire’s social media platform.
Musk said that if Judge Susan Crawford of Dane County wins, “then the Democrats will attempt to redraw the districts and cause Wisconsin to lose two Republican seats. In my opinion that’s the most important thing, which is a big deal given that the congressional majority is so razor-thin. It could cause the House to switch to Democrat if that redrawing takes place.”
Liberals have had a 4-3 majority on the swing state’s highest court since the 2023 election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz. Crawford and Schimel are fighting for a 10-year term filling the seat now occupied by 74-year-old left-leaning Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who decided not to seek reelection. In addition to determining the future of Republicans’ 6-2 advantage for congressional districts, next week’s election is expected to impact abortion care, labor rights, and voter suppression efforts in Wisconsin.
From @ariberman.bsky.social:Elon Musk revealed why he's spending millions to flip the Wisconsin Supreme Court It’s all about preserving gerrymandered districts that lock in Republican power.www.motherjones.com/politics/202…
Berman noted that if Crawford won and Wisconsin’s maps changed before the 2026 midterm elections, a Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Represntatives could “scrutinize the unprecedented role Musk is playing in shredding the federal government, accessing sensitive personal information on millions of Americans, and the $38 billion in federal funding his businesses receive.”
The billionaire also has a personal stake in the race related to one of his businesses. As The New York Times noted Saturday: “A conservative-controlled court could be in a position to issue a Musk-friendly decision in a lawsuit from his electric car company, Tesla, challenging Wisconsin’s law prohibiting vehicle manufacturers from owning dealerships. On social media, Mr. Musk began to show interest in the Wisconsin court election eight days after Tesla filed the lawsuit in January.”
Crawford campaign spokesperson Derrick Honeyman told The Associated Press on Monday that “this race is the first real test point in the country on Elon Musk and his influence on our politics, and voters want an opportunity to push back on that and the influence he is trying to make on Wisconsin and the rest of country.”
As of Tuesday, Musk has recently given at least $3 million to the state’s Republican Party, according to WisPolitics—which has also “tracked nearly $19.5 million in spending” on the race by two political action committees (PACs) affiliated with the billionaire.
GOP paid canvasser shows depth of support for Schimel. None.www.jsonline.com/story/news/p…
As Common Dreams reported last week, Musk’s America PAC is also offering registered Wisconsin voters $100 if they sign a petition opposing “activist judges,” which led critics to accuse the billionaire of trying to buy the state Supreme Court seat.
Those critics include the Working Families Party, which has sent a pair of emails in recent days highlighting how much Musk has spent “to install MAGA extremist Brad Schimel” on the court, and arguing that “Wisconsin voters should get to decide this election, not the richest billionaire in the world.”
Forbes reported Tuesday that “Musk is far from the only billionaire who is financially backing the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Among the other billionaires listed in public filings as spending thousands to support Schimel—either directly or through the Wisconsin Republican Party—are ABC Supply co-founder Diane Hendricks, Uline president Elizabeth Uihlein, Uline CEO Richard Uihlein, and Joe Ricketts, the founder of TD Ameritrade and owner of the Chicago Cubs. Crawford has also drawn significant billionaire support from the likes of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and Democratic megadonor George Soros, who gave the Wisconsin Democratic Party $1 million in January.”
WisPolitics noted Tuesday that “Crawford has now reported $26.5 million raised, a record for any judicial candidate in U.S. history,” while Schimel “has now raised $14.3 million.” However, according to Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice, dark money on the race is favoring the right-wing candidate.
“It’s already the most expensive judicial race in American history,” Waldman said in a Tuesday newsletter. “According to data collected by the Brennan Center and analyzed by my colleagues Ian Vandewalker and Douglas Keith, campaigns and committees have spent $81 million so far, with a week to go.”
“Much of the money being spent is untraceable,” he stressed. “As the latest data shows, Crawford’s campaign spending of $22 million is more than double that of Schimel’s $10.4 million. But independent groups like super PACs and nonprofits spending untraceable dark money favor Schimel by a much larger margin: $13.5 million benefiting Crawford compared with almost $35.5 million boosting Schimel.”
Only seven days until Wisconsin’s April 1 election.
Only one week to help elect Judge Susan Crawford and keep Elon Musk from buying a Supreme Court seat for Brad Schimel.
Schimel also got a boost on Friday from Trump, who endorsed him on social media, writing in part that “Radical Left Liberal Susan Crawford… is the handpicked voice of the Leftists who are out to destroy your State, and our Country.” The president added Saturday: “It’s a really big and important race, and could have much to do with the future of our Country. Get out and VOTE, NOW, for the Republican Candidate—BRAD!!!”
Meanwhile, Crawford is backed by groups like Wisconsin Conservation Voters IEC, which has invested more than $1.13 million to turn voters out in support of her.
“The stakes in this election could not be higher,” the group’s deputy director, Seth Hoffmeister, said in a Tuesday statement. “Judge Susan Crawford will defend our democracy and protect Wisconsin’s natural resources. She is a strong advocate for the values that make Wisconsin great—fairness, accountability, and a commitment to serving the people, not polluters. Judge Crawford will ensure that our State Supreme Court remains independent and dedicated to upholding the rights and freedoms of all Wisconsinites.”
Elon Musk urges you to be a Fascist like him, says that you can ignore facts and reality then.Orcas discuss Donald Trump and the killer apes’ concept of democracy.
TORY 2015/LABOUR 2025 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: (Above) Workers and disabled people protesting outside Norfolk County Hall against Norfolk County Council cuts to services on October 2015Photo: Roger Blackwell/flickr/CC
DR DYLAN MURPHY asks why Labour is continuing the Tory war on the disabled, when viable alternatives have been spelt out in detail
IN LATE February of 2025 the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights issued a damning report into the failures of Labour to address income inequality and the deepening levels of poverty in the UK.
The UN committee criticised Labour for failing to address “income inequality or reducing poverty,” which hamper “the progressive realisation of economic, social and cultural rights.’’
Ironically enough, the UN called on Labour to increase spending on housing, health, education and social security in order to reverse the huge damage caused by blue Tory austerity from 2010 to 2024. Since this call the red Tories in power have announced their intention to make massive cuts to public spending across all government departments except defence and maybe health.
On the issue of social security, over which Labour is determined to make killer cuts, the UN expressed serious concern about the impact of blue Tory austerity which had “resulted in severe economic hardship, increased reliance on food banks, homelessness, negative impacts on mental health and the stigmatisation of benefit claimants.”
Of course, food bank usage under Labour continues to grow as does the stigmatisation of benefit claimants which Starmer and company have engaged in with relish over the last few months.
Starmer, Reeves and Kendall seem to take a sadistic glee in attacking the disabled through the platforms of the Tory media using ultra right-wing rags such as The Telegraph and Sun to stigmatise the sick and disabled.
The biggest irony in this recent UN report is its call for Labour to actually increase the value of disability benefits such as PIP so that the UK can meet “the recommendations made by the special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.”
Keir Starmer says pensioners can freeze to death and poor children can starve and be condemned to failure and misery all their lives.Keir Starmer explains the moral case for cutting disability benefits. He says work will set you free.
Chancellor Reeves’ planned public spending cuts will ‘open the door’ for Reform UK, McDonnell warns as campaigners get set to rally outside the Treasury
TAX the super-rich instead of slashing services, Chancellor Rachel Reeves was told today, on the eve of her Commons statement, expected to announce more public spending cuts.
Campaigners from a range of charities and voluntary organisations are set to rally outside the Treasury this evening to demand a wealth tax instead of “austerity with a red rosette” in the words of a leading trade unionist.
And former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, presently suspended from the Labour whip, has warned that Ms Reeves was in danger of making Labour “just another austerity party” if she missed a last chance to change course.
The wealth tax option is growing in political popularity following recent announcements of a £5 billion cut in disability benefits and huge cuts to overseas aid to fund new arms spending.
It is backed by the TUC and a broad range of Labour MPs.
Just a 2.5 per cent tax on assets over £10 million could raise £36bn annually, according to Greenpeace’s research.
Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves wear the uniform of the rich and powerful. They have all had clothes bought for them by multi-millionaire Labour donor Lord Alli. CORRECTION: It appears that Rachel Reeves clothing was provided by Juliet Rosenfeld.Keir Starmer confirms that he’s proud to be a red Tory continuing austerity and targeting poor and disabled scum.
Activists protest against insurance companies underwriting the arms trade, migrant detention facilities and climate destruction, March 25, 2025
INSURANCE firms complicit in climate disaster, human rights abuses and Israel’s genocide in Gaza were stormed by protesters as marches were held across the country today.
Two were arrested for climbing one of the Corinthian columns in front of the Royal Exchange in the City of London, dropping a banner bearing the legend “Boycott.”
Other protesters “crashed” insurers’ offices and occupied foyers as marches took place in city centres as part of the Boycott Bloody Insurance (BBI) campaign.
Activists targeted the offices of Aviva, AIG, Allianz and Axa for investing more £1.3 billion in companies supplying military equipment used by Israel since October 7 2023.
Protests took place in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Lancaster, Guildford, Blackburn and Preston.
Groups involved in the protests include Coal Action Network, Palestine Youth Movement (PYM), Parents 4 Palestine, Energy Embargo for Palestine, Tipping Point UK, Youth Front for Palestine and Axe Drax.
Andrew Taylor of BBI said: “Insurers underwrite weapons, detention centres and fossil fuels, causing environmental destruction, human rights abuses and genocide.
“We are calling on organisations across the UK to boycott deadly insurance companies.
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy confirms that UK government and military are active participants in Israel’s genocides and that the F-35 parts that they suspended from supplying to Israel are instead simply diverted via the United States. He says see https://youtu.be/QILgUHrdWREOrcas comment on killer apes destroying the planet by continuing to burn fossil fuels.
