Chancellor Vows to Cut Benefits Bill ‘In a Labour Way’; Perth Asks What the Other Ways Were
John Healey wants welfare spending down before the election. Scottish voters request a diagram, and ideally a biscuit.
The Treasury: where 'in a Labour way' is a technical term. Photo: Jim Osley, “Westminster , HM Treasury building - geograph.org.uk - 6802743”, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Chancellor John Healey has said he will bring down the benefits bill before the next election, but “in a Labour way” — a phrase that has now been entered into the Perthetic Dictionary of Political Weather between “difficult choices” and “broad shoulders”.
Political experts in Perth could not agree what the Labour way was. One suggested “the same thing, but with a sympathetic face”. Another said it meant “the cut arrives with a leaflet explaining it’s for the best”. A third said it was “like the other way, but it says sorry”.
“I’d like to know which bit of my bill is in the Labour way,” said a Tulloch pensioner. “Because my gas is going up in every way there is.”
The Chancellor’s comments came during the second day of the Budget debate. The Perthetic will report on the Labour way the moment someone draws it on a whiteboard.
The real story: Healey on the benefits bill (BBC News)
Letters to the Editor
The views expressed are those of the reader, and frankly that's on them.
-
I’ve no idea what a Labour way is, but I’ve been told I’m doing it wrong.
— Bill C., Rattray, 29 October 2026 -
At least someone in London is thinking about anything. Even if it’s mostly about how to think about it.
— Anne-Marie J., Blairgowrie, 29 October 2026
Write to the Editor