UK Politics

"When a British politician discusses “tough choices”, they invariably reveal whose side they are really on. A tough choice tends to involve emptying the pockets of those with little, or slashing a service ordinary citizens depend on. When Labour committed to retain the Tories’ two-child benefit cap – which drives hundreds of thousands of children into poverty – this was styled as a tough decision. Note, however, that raising taxes on the thriving rich is never described as such, even though such a commitment inevitably triggers coordinated hysteria from Tory politicians, rightwing media outlets and wealthy interests. Refusing to do so is the easy way out: it is the very opposite of a tough decision."