By Gary Sambrook, former Conservative MP for Birmingham Northfield
Politics is brutal – tough decisions like Liz Kendall’s welfare changes prove it. As a former MP, I’ve seen the Commons fracture over less. Her plan – tightening eligibility, tweaking payments – might sound pragmatic, but it’s got Labour MPs twitching. Some back it. Others see is as a betrayal of their roots. The WhatsApp groups are buzzing, and the whips are on edge. Party discipline is hanging by a thread. Will rebels fall in line, or vote their conscience?
Tough calls always spark division – think Universal Credit or the bedroom tax rows. Success hinges on handling it internally. Starmer, Kendall and the Chief Whip will be locked in endless meetings with their MPs trying to thrash out compromises and selling the Government line. Raw politics like this happens not in Chamber but in the side rooms of Parliament.
The Conservatives aren’t off the hook, though. They’ve spent years calling Labour soft on welfare – framing all their own reforms as “tough but fair.” Now Kendall’s turned the tables. But there is a lesson here for parties in Opposition. Be careful. Oppositions will often say things to make the Government’s life even more difficult, but all those protests, placards and awkward questions may come back to bite you when and if you suddenly find yourself in power.
Kendall’s got to hold her party together, or this gamble is sunk. The Commons is a bear pit – discipline is your armour. If she weathers the storm, it’s a win. If the backbenches blow up, it’s another dent in the armour. Politics isn’t about dodging the hard stuff – it’s about surviving it. Kendall’s rolling the dice. Let’s see if she’s got the grit.
