GB News host Ellie Costello grilled Labour MP Heidi Alexander on the Government’s growing list of policy U-turns, asking how the public can have confidence in ministers’ decisions.
The Transport Secretary pushed back, insisting not all changes are U-turns and that course-correcting when new information emerges is the right thing to do.
The grilling comes after Labour has dropped plans requiring workers to sign up to its digital ID scheme.
The change of policy is the latest in a series of U-turns the government has made since it came to power, including climbdowns on welfare reforms, reducing winter fuel payments and inheritance tax for farmers.
“We’ve been talking this morning about the Government’s U-turn on digital IDs, following a string of other reversals including on grooming gangs, how debt is measured, trans rights, the two-child benefit cap, state pension age, Waspi women’s compensation, Winter Fuel Payment cuts, benefit cuts, National Insurance, income tax thresholds, workers’ rights, inheritance tax on farmers, business rates for pubs, and now digital ID cards.
“Counting the recent holding statement from the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, on support for pubs, that could make 14 in total. But so far, 13 U-turns in just 18 months. How can the British public trust a word your Government says?”
The Transport Secretary responded: “Look, I don’t accept that list you read out or the characterisation of these decisions as U-turns.
“Take, for example, our decision to lift the two-child cap in Universal Credit.
Heidi Alexander on the Government’s growing list of policy U-turns
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GB NEWS
“As soon as we came into Government, we set up a child poverty taskforce to look at how we could address the situation of children growing up in poverty in one of the richest countries in the world, that’s not a U-turn.”
“You also mentioned Waspi. I remember it wasn’t in our manifesto.
“I spoke very openly with people in the area well, they weren’t my constituents at that point because I was merely a candidate explaining the financial pressures the Government was under.
“Saying I didn’t think we would be in a position to pay compensation to those women.
Ellie Costello and Heidi Alexander clashed over Labour’s repeated u-turns
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GB NEWS
“I know there will be many watching who would have liked us to do that, but that was the reality at the time.”
“With respect to the point you raised earlier about digital ID cards, the Government is still rolling out digital ID. What we have said is that there will still be a mandatory digital right-to-work check.
“That could be done using the free digital ID the Government is introducing, or through a digital check on, say, an E-visa or a biometric chip on a passport.”
“It’s really important that we move away from the current paper-based system.
“Right now, it’s a complete mishmash. There are no digitised records, which makes it very difficult to target enforcement activity and carry out raids on businesses employing people illegally.
“That’s why the Government remains committed to a mandatory digital check on an individual’s right to work.”
Stephen Dixon pressed: “You rather unconvincingly said these 13 U-turns weren’t U-turns.
“Your colleague Wes Streeting says your new New Year’s resolution should be making the right decisions. He thinks they are U-turns. Why don’t you?”
“I just don’t accept that all of the things you read out have been U-turns. I think it’s right that a Government course-corrects if new information becomes available. If we can make a policy better, we will.”
“When it comes to the work I’ve been doing in the Department for Transport, a year ago, when I came into this job, I said I would re-nationalise the railways and bring train operating companies into public ownership. I did — three came in last year, and another four are coming in this year.
“I also said I would set up Great British Railways to provide better integrated management between tracks, signalling, and train operations and I’ve done that. I said I would invest in bus services and stop the haemorrhaging of routes.”
“I don’t know exactly what Wes has said in the last couple of days, you’re quoting something I haven’t heard.
“But I know this Government is totally united on delivering the priorities set out in our manifesto, including bringing stability back to the economy.”