Paradoxes of politics are at play in the winter fuel payments debate

Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, snarled and frowned over her glasses as she summed up the case for the Government
Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, snarled and frowned over her glasses as she summed up the case for the Government - pixel8000

As Labour doubled down on its core vote of train drivers and career criminals, it comfortably saw off a backbench revolt over impoverishing the old. But the seeds of revolt are there.

Melanie Stride opened the Tory case for keeping the winter fuel payment in rollicking style, reading from the notes of a lunatic: a handwritten flow-chart, highlighted in yellow and circled in orange. To bankroll its “trade union paymasters”, he said with a flourish, the Government had consigned the elderly to penury.

“A punishment beating,” Edward Leigh called it. “Cruel,” said Esther McVey, which is like being labelled stingy by Scrooge. Such are the paradoxes of politics. Many Tories were against the universal winter fuel payment and now defend it; Labour invented it and now seeks to claw it back. And the TUC, which is being soaked in generous pay awards funded by welfare cuts it opposes, accuses Robin Hood of theft.

Good news for thieves, by the way: it seems they’re letting you out early! And so long as you don’t insult a police dog on the outskirts of a riot, you need never do porridge again.

Some elderly people will die,” said Tory Caroline Johnson. “Why? Because cold is bad for you.” Labour MPs listened to such wisdom with incredulity. It was the Tories, they said, who destroyed the finances – necessitating these cuts – and the Tories who formerly insisted the poor must pay their way.

The vote is passed in the House of Commons
The vote is passed in the House of Commons - pixel8000

Therein lies the rub. Many, many Labour MPs cut their teeth opposing the austerity of the Conservative administration, yet now they find themselves led by Oliver Cromwell and a Dalek who seem determined to repeat the same policies. No wonder they sat in silence, faces like a slapped arsonist.

The case for the Government was summed up by Liz Kendall, regarded as a dangerous Right-winger by the Left, who snarled and frowned over her glasses, waving her arms about like Evita on the balcony of the Casa Rosada – except she came to praise capitalism, not to bury it. We are “taking the long-term decisions” to “fix the foundations of the economy”. Yet again a Labour government has allowed the Treasury to set its agenda.

Now, if you’re a backbench Lefty sitting on a majority of 104 votes, if you know you’ve only got your seat of Home Counties West for five years tops, why not be a rebel? In the end 53 did not vote – a bigger number than expected – and one voted against the Government: Jon Trickett. Add Corbyn’s five independents, plus the seven Labourites who’ve been de-whipped, and the basis for a parliamentary socialist alliance emerges.

As for Stride’s speech, it turned out to be his swan song – good but not enough to keep him in the Tory leadership race. A handful of hacks and MPs gathered to hear the latest result in an election as well attended, and eagerly sought, as chairman of the Chernobyl Residents Association.

Kemi, Rob and Tom gained votes; Cleverly held steady despite fresh endorsements, which means he’s falling behind. The key thing to bear in mind at this stage is that absolutely no one cares.