Weekly Roundup: 11-17 July 2025 :The Honeymoon's Over: Labour's First Missteps

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Labour's new government introduces controversial policies while facing economic challenges and internal party tensions in their first weeks of power.

• Proposal to lower voting age to 16 criticised as potential electoral engineering to favour left-leaning youth voters
• UK-Germany friendship treaty signed covering defence, trade and migration with 17 joint projects
• Unemployment rises to 4.7%, highest in four years, with Labour's £25 billion employer tax hike blamed
• Over one million foreign nationals now claiming universal credit under Labour
• Data leak forcing relocation of Afghan refugees raises questions about housing resources
• Labour's internal struggles include Diane Abbott's suspension and MPs losing the whip over policy revolts
• Conservative opposition finding momentum with Kemi Badenoch forcing Labour U-turns on welfare

What do you think? Will votes at 16 change the game, or is it just window dressing? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Join us next week for more. Until then, stay informed and stay principled.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 0 (00:00):
Good evening listeners and welcome to Bob M's
News Roundup, your weekly diveinto the heart of UK politics
from a sensible, centre-rightperspective.
I'm your host, bob M, and todaywe're unpacking the key stories
from July 11th to 17th 2025.
It's been a bustling week forthe new Labour government under

(00:20):
Sir Keir Starmer, full ofambitious announcements but also
raising eyebrows aboutlong-term consequences for our
economy, democracy and nationalinterests.
We'll break it down with afocus on fiscal responsibility,
controlled borders andpreserving Britain's independent
spirit post-Brexit.
Let's jump in First up the bigheadline that's got everyone

(00:43):
talking Labour's push to lowerthe voting age to 16.
The government confirmed thisweek that 16 and 17 year olds
will be able to cast ballots inthe next general election,
framing it as a boost todemocratic participation.
From a centre-right viewpoint,this smells like electoral
engineering.
Why rush to enfranchise ademographic that's statistically

(01:05):
more likely to lean left,especially when many of these
young people aren't yet payingtaxes or facing the full weight
of adult responsibilities?
Critics, including shadowministers, have called it an
attempt to rig the system, andthey're not wrong.
Sure teens today are informedExperts note they're politically
engaged.
Sure, teens today are informedexperts note they're politically
engaged.
But let's be honest at 16, mostare still navigating school

(01:30):
exams, not economic policies.
This could backfirespectacularly for Labour if
disillusioned youth flock toparties like Reform UK which
offer bolder alternatives toStarmer's steady-as-she-goes
approach.
It's a reminder that truedemocracy thrives on maturity,
not just numbers.
Shifting gears to internationalrelations, prime Minister

(01:52):
Starmer hosted German ChancellorFriedrich Merz in London this
week, where they signed alandmark friendship and
bilateral cooperation treatyCovering defence, trade and even
migration.
It includes 17 joint projectsaimed at strengthening ties
between our two nations.
On the surface, this ispragmatic stuff.

(02:12):
Bolstering NATO alliances andeconomic links makes sense in an
uncertain world.
From a centre-right lens, it'sencouraging to see bilateral
deals that don't drag us backinto EU entanglements.
Starmer's also signalling areset on post-Brexit EU
relations, which could opendoors for trade without
surrendering sovereignty.

(02:33):
But let's watch closely Anyhint of compromising on
migration controls or defenceautonomy would be a red line.
This treaty could be a win forpractical conservatism if it
prioritises British interestsfirst.
Now onto the economy, wherestorm clouds are gathering.
Unemployment hit 4.7% this week, the highest in four years,

(02:56):
with Chancellor Rachel Reeves'£25 billion tax hike on
employers' national insurancetaking much of the blame.
Job losses are mounting,payrolls are shrinking and
businesses are feeling thesqueeze.
Shadow Business SecretaryAndrew Griffith nailed it this
is Labour's raid on growth,punishing the very engines of

(03:16):
our economy.
Add in criticism of the Bank ofEngland's loose policies under
Andrew Bailey, which haveallegedly enabled reckless
spending, and you've got arecipe for broke Britain.
Centre-right principles demandfiscal prudence, lower taxes to
spur investment, not heightsthat stifle it.
If Labour doesn't coursecorrect, we'll see more

(03:37):
stagnation, and that's bad newsfor hard-working families.
Immigration remains a hot-buttonissue, with fresh revelations
stirring debate.
Over a million foreignnationals are now claiming
universal credit, a sharp riseunder Labour, which one Tory MP
called absolute insanity.
Meanwhile, a data leakinvolving Afghan refugees,

(03:59):
including SAS details, has ledto thousands being relocated
here, raising questions abouthousing and resources.
We're already short on homesfor Brits.
Prioritising newcomers' risksresentment.
Interestingly, there's even aleft-wing case emerging for
controlled immigration toprotect wages from oversupply in
the labour market.

(04:20):
From our perspective, thisaligns perfectly with
centre-right valuescompassionate but firm borders
that safeguard economicopportunities for citizens first
.
Finally, labour's internaldramas are providing some
opposition fireworks.
Diane Abbott, the so-calledMother of the House, has been
suspended again, this time overcontroversial comments on racism

(04:43):
in an interview.
It's embarrassing for Starmer,who's also stripped the whip
from several rebel MPs overpolicy revolts.
This ruthlessness mightconsolidate power short term,
but it exposes fractures in aparty that's only weeks into
government.
On a brighter note for theTories, they're ending the
session on a high, with KemiBadenoch delivering upbeat

(05:04):
speeches and forcing LabourU-turns on welfare.
It's early days, but theConservatives could capitalise
if they unite around pro-market,pro-britain policies.
That's the wrap on this week'sUK Politics, folks.
Labour's honeymoon is showingcracks, but opportunities abound
for a centre-right resurgencefocused on economic freedom,

(05:26):
secure borders and sensiblegovernance.
What do you think?
Will votes at 16 change thegame, or is it just window
dressing?
Drop your thoughts in thecomments.
Join us next week for more.
Until then, stay informed andstay principled.