Why is it okay for Labour to pledge cheap broadband now, when making it FREE under Corbyn was ‘communism’?
Keir Starmer online: his broadband usage is subsidised by his publicly-funded expenses claim, one expects.
Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is tying itself in knots again:
A Labour government would enforce a cheap broadband tariff for low-income families as well as taking action on mid-contract price hikes, the shadow culture secretary will announce.
Labour will say broadband is an essential utility and that figures from the regulator Ofcom show almost a third of households (8 million) are having problems paying their broadband, phone and streaming bills. That is double the number a year ago.
In a policy launched on Thursday, Labour will say there must be an industry-wide social tariff for low-income families, negotiated by industry players such as Openreach, which runs the UK’s broadband network, with Ofcom and consumer groups.
The party will say that a failure to agree a tariff would mean a Labour government setting one and legislating to enforce it.
Universal credit claimants can already qualify for some heavily discounted broadband deals from some providers but the schemes are not well publicised or understood. There is no requirement for telecoms providers to offer social tariffs for broadband products.
Labour analysis suggests customers who are eligible for a social tariff could save an average of £250.32 a year.
The party has said it will also reverse changes that now allow wholesale broadband prices to rise with the rate of inflation, rather than costs, meaning that providers have had a £1.7bn windfall.
So Jeremy Corbyn was right – again – but Starmer’s cronies, being right-wing profit-grubbers, want to make sure someone can still make a fast buck out of the rest of us.
So they say the poorest of us may have cheap broadband (because that way the providers will at least get something from people who have next to nothing) – and the rest can pay the full whack.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves got short shrift when she tried to big up the policy:
But nationalising and offering it for free it was communism eh Rachel…someone always has to make a profit…
— Damien Willey 🟢 🔴 (@KernowDamo) October 13, 2022
Damo is right.
If broadband is a modern necessity, then it should be provided by the state, in the same way that necessities like water, power, and public transport should be run by the state.
That’s what the Labour Party should stand for but Starmer’s crew doesn’t. That’s why they are such a poor alternative even to the Tories under Liz Truss.
Source: Labour pledges cheap broadband tariff for low-income families | Broadband | The Guardian
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when Starmer’s version of Labour (it ain’t TRUE Labour, obv!) are “such a poor alternative even to the Tories under Liz Truss”, it clearly says it all! 🤬
Dear Mike Sivier, Thanks for this information.
Have updated our new Over 50s (saves all ages) party manifesto, so social broadband tariffs are automatic for those on benefit, but also added Pensioners only on state pension (now can get it with Pension Credit but bettered state pension will end Pension Credit). Cut Social Tariffs to current lowest option for all but with best options for all such social tariffs for mobile data (up to 5G) and computer data (fastest).
And added free broadband for home workers by firms paying for that specific works computer / electricity for that home working room.
The free broadband for all is not til 2030.
And added Corbyn’s free superfast broadband (2019 not 2017 manifesto, so lost track of it) by nationalising BT Openreach and taxing rich high tech firms more.
www dot over50sparty dot org dot uk
I feel that history is repeating itself! The Tories have worked it so that Labour gets in next time but have to get rid of all their socialist supporters. Why else would they do what they’ve been doing for the last 2+ years? Making themselves unelectable. There must have been a pact between the right wing in Labour and the Tory government.
All the evidence that’s come out about the way they treated Corbyn, he was ousted on lies we know now. The press didn’t jump on all the evidence,dumbTruss has been put in for a few months while the rest fill their bank accounts before handing the reins over to a Tory light tribute act! They did it with Thatcher and Blair. Starmers useless, never gives out any policies, people are so sick of the Tories and will vote Labour! God help us!