
Labour warned to fix trust as well as raising living standards to defeat Reform
Labour hasn't made its first year count when it comes to restoring trust, campaigners say on the anniversary of Keir Starmer 's general election victory.
The government has so far followed through on only 1 in 3 of its pledges to rebuild trust in politics, according to a new report from campaign group Unlock Democracy.
Released as Labour marks its first year in office, the 'report card' follows the British Social Attitudes survey finding trust in government has fallen to new record lows in the last year.
Tom Brake, Director of Unlock Democracy, commented: 'Trust is the lifeblood of democracy - and right now, it's almost entirely drained away. What limited action the government has so far taken has failed to stem the bleeding.
'Labour must move beyond rhetoric and deliver on its pledges to rebuild public trust in full.'
Unlock Democracy gave Labour's move to scrap hereditary peers full marks against promises made in its manifesto.
But the group expressed disappointment that the government's Elections Bill - which presents an opportunity to fix much of the issues around trust in the political process - has been delayed, possibly into next year.
The report calls for Labour to act on tightening restrictions on MPs second jobs, gifts and freebies and lobbying rules.
And it warns Labour's prospects of re-election may hinge on restoring public trust - with improvements to living standards not being enough to halt the rise of Reform UK.
Mr Brake added: 'Without urgent, visible action to clean up Westminster and modernise our institutions, Labour risks deepening the crisis in mistrust it promised to solve.'
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South Wales Guardian
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Rhyl Journal
42 minutes ago
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Shona Robison urges Prime Minister to follow Scotland on taxation
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The Guardian
an hour ago
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Deborah Taylor, a Conservative councillor and leader of the opposition who was the previous cabinet member for children and families in Leicestershire, questioned their qualifications to hold roles overseeing services that account for more than 70% of the council's £616m budget. 'I am a huge champion of young people and young councillors but what really concerns me is that new young councillors should be nurtured rather than being thrown in at the deep end to what can be a quite full-on role where there is exposure to some real trauma and difficult decisions,' she said. 'Rather than age, it's about political and life experience, whether that's as someone who has worked or even as a parent with knowledge of household pressures.' The concerns were echoed by social workers at the council. 'There is some confidence that much of what is being delivered can't be changed because it is statutory and underpinned by legislation. But there are areas where resources are being allocated on a 'spend to save' basis, such as early interventions for families who may, for example, have had multiple removals of children,' said one. 'It's an area where that spending has really paid off and there would be great concern about that being tinkered with or even cut.' Julia Ross, the chair of the British Association of Social Workers, said: 'Lead members for children's and adults' social services in local authorities are very important roles that carry the responsibility of handling hundreds of millions of pounds. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion 'While we recognise and value the fresh perspectives that youth often brings, ideally, candidates should have experience in administrating such complex departments, as well as a working knowledge of their statutory duty to support what are often the most vulnerable people in our society.' Pugsley and Boam have come into their roles as Reform has pledged to deliver Elon Musk-style efficiency savings at councils even though many services have been cut to the bone over recent years. Neither responded to requests to comment although they have used their X accounts to answer critics. 'Some say I'm young. I say that's exactly what this role needs. I understand the challenges young people face today because I've been there. Now I'm making sure young voices are heard,' Pugsley tweeted. But this was questioned. Naomi Bottomley, a Green councillor, said: 'I know that Charles Pugsley has alluded to the idea that he knows more about what children need because he is young. But he also went to a private school and is a landlord, so I'm not sure he has quite the same experience as many vulnerable young people.' Pugsley, a computer science student at Nottingham University, is registered at Companies House as a director of two companies that list their business as the letting or operating of real estate. He and Boam, along with Finch in Warwickshire, also reflect a drive by Farage to leverage support among gen Z voters, with the party's popularity surging among 18- to 24-year-old men. Preet Gill, a Birmingham Labour MP who has voiced concern about Finch's role as leader at Warwickshire, said the appointments indicated how Reform would approach government. 'It's a carbon copy of the way in which Farage operates. They have made a lot of noise from performance politics and from being disruptive, rather than actually saying or doing anything of substance when it comes to delivery, or knowing how to deliver adult social care or children's services.'