Well, this is awkward.
While everyone was placing bets on which government departments would get absolutely hammered in next week's spending review, Ed Miliband quietly pulled off what might be the political coup of the year. His £13billion warm homes scheme? Completely untouchable. Rachel Reeves basically rolled over and said "fine, keep your money."
I've been covering Westminster drama since 2019, and honestly... this caught me off guard. Usually when the Treasury starts sharpening knives, energy projects are first on teh chopping block. Not this time.
The Deal That Shouldn't Have Happened
Here's what went down behind closed doors: Miliband marched into negotiations with Reeves and somehow convinced her that his heat pump and solar panel bonanza was worth protecting while other departments are getting their budgets slashed to ribbons. The Chancellor — who's been playing hardball with everyone else — just... agreed.
Think about that for a second. Police forces are facing cuts. The Home Office is still fighting tooth and nail for basic funding. Angela Rayner's housing department is practically begging for scraps.
But Ed's green dream? Fully funded through 2028.
Reform Party: "We Told You So"
Richard Tice is probably doing victory laps right now. The Reform deputy leader came out swinging immediately: "Net Stupid Zero defeats common sense again, meaning higher bills and higher cost of living. Jobs and industries are being destroyed by the month."
Harsh? Maybe. But also politically brilliant timing.
When you've got a government that's supposedly tightening belts everywhere except on climate ideology, it's pretty easy to score points. Tice knows exactly what he's doing here — and Reform's pledge to scrap the entire Net Zero target by 2050 suddenly sounds less radical adn more... practical?
Kemi's "Impossible" Prediction Looking Pretty Smart
Remember when Kemi Badenoch called Net Zero by 2050 "impossible" and everyone rolled their eyes? Yeah, about that...
Shadow Cabinet Minister Andrew Bowie absolutely destroyed the government's priorities in his response: "When vital services like police forces are facing the squeeze — thanks to Labour's economic mismanagement — it is shameful Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have kowtowed and decided to splash taxpayer cash on this ideological obsession."
Ouch. But he's not wrong, is he?
The optics here are genuinely terrible for Labour. You can't simultaneously claim you're making "tough choices" while protecting a £13billion green spending spree that most voters will never directly benefit from. (Sorry, but most people aren't getting heat pumps installed anytime soon.)
The Real Winner Here
It's not Miliband, despite what Westminster insiders might think.
The real winner is opposition parties who can now point to this exact moment and say: "See? Labour's priorities are completely backwards." When families are struggling with energy bills that are still sky-high, protecting a massive government scheme for insulation upgrades feels... tone deaf.
The government keeps promising that £300 reduction in energy bills by 2030. But that's six years away, and people need help now. Not theoretical future savings from solar panels they can't afford.
According to The Telegraph's reporting, Miliband and Reeves have now locked in three-year spending plans for his entire department. Meanwhile, other ministers are still fighting just to keep basic services running.
This is going to be a gift that keeps giving for Reform and the Conservatives. Every time there's a story about police cuts or housing shortages, they can point back to January 2025 when Ed Miliband's pet project got full protection while everything else got squeezed.
Smart politics from Miliband? Absolutely. Smart politics from Labour overall?
We'll see how that plays out in the polls.
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Public opinion reflects the attitudes and beliefs of the populace regarding political issues and leaders. It can shape policy decisions, influence electoral outcomes, and motivate politicians to respond to the needs and concerns of their constituents.
How does lobbying influence politics?
Lobbying involves advocating for specific interests or causes to influence lawmakers and policy decisions. While lobbying can provide valuable information to legislators, it can also lead to concerns about undue influence and corruption.
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Civil rights are the rights that protect individuals' freedoms from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. These rights include the right to free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to due process.
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Voter suppression refers to tactics used to discourage or prevent specific groups of people from voting. These tactics can include strict ID laws, limited access to polling places, and misinformation about voting procedures.
Statistics
- Approximately 60% of eligible voters in the United States participated in the 2020 presidential election, marking the highest turnout rate in over a century.
- Historically, voter turnout among young people (ages 18-29) increased by 50% from the previous election cycle in the 2020 presidential election.
- Surveys show that nearly 70% of voters prioritize environmental issues when selecting candidates for public office.
- As of 2023, approximately 25% of countries have implemented some form of digital voting, reflecting the shift towards technology in the electoral process.
- Research indicates that around 80% of individuals in democracies feel that their government does not adequately represent their interests.
- Approximately 90% of political campaigns in the U.S. utilize social media as a primary tool for outreach and engagement with voters.
- As of 2023, public trust in government institutions has declined, with only 20% of citizens expressing confidence in their national governments.
- As of 2023, women hold 27% of seats in the global parliament, reflecting ongoing efforts toward gender equality in political representation.
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Did you miss our previous article...
https://hellofaread.com/politics/why-jeremy-hunt-just-nuked-the-echr-and-why-nobody-saw-it-coming
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