A Lunchtime Political Speech By Riddley McDermott about the current Government 13 Years old

Riddley proposed that he gave a politely speech to anyone who came to listen. He prosed it would be about the current labour Government. What follows is a transcript and recording of his oratory.  In this speech, Riddley McDernott delivers a passionate critique of the current Labour government, accusing it of betraying its founding principles by embracing austerity-era policies such as benefit cuts and broken promises on climate investment and wealth taxation. McDernott argues that Labour is bec

Riddley McDernott – Speech Transcript (Cleaned Version)

In the past—and everywhere in the campaigns—there was hope. However, this Labour government is not delivering change.

During the Spring Statement, the Chancellor and the Prime Minister made massive cuts to benefits, including Universal Credit and PIP (Personal Independence Payment). They claimed that these measures would help get people back into work.

They have not worked.

People are not suddenly getting back into work. They are not finding amazing new jobs at great companies just because the government has cut their benefits. More people are now going into poverty, and the government refuses to recognise this.

This is what the previous government did. These were the policies of austerity that wrecked the country over the last 14 years. Because of these policies, people lost their homes. People lost their jobs. Some people even lost their lives.

And when Labour was in opposition, they rightly attacked these terrible policies. And now—they want to bring them back. They want to cut benefits again.

This will not get people back into work. Studies show this will not get people back into work. And Labour MPs know this. Many Labour MPs do not want to cut people’s benefits. Many in the Cabinet do not want to cut benefits. But they are being forced to. Forced by the party whips.

And the few who dare to stand up and say “I do not want to cut benefits”? They are silenced—shut down by the whips, by the Prime Minister.

But this is not a one-off incident.

The Labour Party was founded by socialists. It was founded by workers and by unions. And now, when Keir Starmer was in opposition, he fired a member of the Shadow Cabinet. Do you know why he fired that member? Because they stood with workers on a picket line.

The leader of the Labour Party firing someone from his Shadow Cabinet for standing with workers.

Can you imagine if the Green Party kicked out an MP for saying, “I think we should try and stop climate change”?

And Keir Starmer and his Cabinet have been slowly going back on the promises they made. They went back on the Green New Deal. They went back on the promise to invest millions into renewable energy. They went back on the promise to tax the wealthiest earners. And now—they are cutting benefits.

There are plenty of people in Britain who could pay. Who could pay for so many programs. Who could pay for nationalising services, for massively funding those services. But the government isn’t doing that. They think the way to get money is to cut benefits.

This is not the Labour Party. They are not delivering radical change. This is the Red Tory Party. They are implementing almost exactly the same policies as the Conservatives did ten years ago.

They are slowly going back on the promises they set out. Promises they said they would keep. Progressive promises: not to cut benefits. To tax the highest earners. To invest in renewable energy.

These are the promises a member of the Labour Party should make. That the Labour Party used to make. A party that once stood by its principles.

This is no longer a party that stands by its principles. It has abandoned those principles.

If the founders of the party—if the many great Labour Prime Ministers—could see what the party has become now, they would be ashamed.

This is no longer the Labour Party that gave us the NHS. That gave us the welfare state. That gave us the minimum wage.

This is no longer a Labour Party.

It is no longer a party that will deliver automatic change. No longer a party that will stand by its principles. This is a party that is almost identical to the Tories—in policy, in principle. They just refuse to admit it.

And there is no opposition to these policies. Labour has a supermajority in Parliament. The Conservatives won’t oppose these cuts. And the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats don’t have enough power. Don’t have enough of a voice. Even if they did, Labour still has a supermajority.

But let’s be honest: people didn’t vote for Labour. Labour only got 1% more of the popular vote than they did in 2019—which was one of their worst elections in history.

People didn’t vote for Labour. They voted for other parties.

And here’s the thing: Labour are not delivering change. No other parties can oppose them effectively. But there is a growing threat.

Because of Labour’s failures—because of the failures of the opposition—Reform UK and Nigel Farage are gaining ground. Gaining ground with voters who did vote Labour. Who wanted change from Labour—and aren’t getting it.

So they look to Reform. And they see a chance for change.

It doesn’t matter if that change involves deporting thousands of innocent people just seeking refuge. It doesn’t matter if that change involves cutting regulations, letting billionaires exploit workers and bust unions.

People want change. They want radical change. And Reform is offering that. It’s not good radical change—but it is change.

And if Labour doesn’t step up—if they don’t deliver the change British people voted for on the 4th of July 2024—then Reform will form the next government.

And Reform will destroy Britain.

Labour needs to step up and deliver the change they promised. Which probable means they will have to Oust Kier Starmer.

Riddley McDermott 14/5/25