Join the Labour Party and save your country!

Not exactly a neutral perspective, but a much better reason for rethinking than 'won't someone think of the poor business owners'. As you say, if it's going to create a net decrease in revenue then what's the point?

There's something a little fishy about quoting those job losses to so many significant figures.

Absurd comparisons from Labour backbenchers.

Coz ignoring years of public information is just like being trapped in a burning building or crushed to death.

The BBC had the same story this morning but with an additional note that the service sector saw modest growth in December, presumably nothing much is happening so you can spin it either way.

30 year gilt rate has hit a 27 year high today.

Reeves and Starmer ain't doing very well so far.

10 year gilt rates have hit their highest level since the GFC today. More bad economic news.

Because it makes Government borrowing more expensive, mortgages more expensive, loans and other debt more expensive. Reduces disposable income, and therefore is bad for the necessary growth. There is no 'headroom' left in the treasury's budget calculations, so spending cuts may be required.

27 years ago would be 1998ish, I was under the impression that that was the start of a decade when the UK economy did very well (early New Labour I think)

So the previous high was followed by good times economically? Am I wrong about the post 1998 economy or is something else going on there?

Not trying to start an argument, I'm genuinely interested if there is any link between the two (until it gets into detailed economics, at which point I will get confused an bored 😄)

I agree to an extent but the Union members tend to reflect their leadership and some are far more keen to go for strikes than negotiation (or maybe the leadership reflects more miliant membership I suppose).