David Cameron to curb powers of House of Lords after tax credits defeat

[Denzil_DC]

2. Yup. It's carts and horses.

For a start, the "living wage" levels need to be precisely that, for decency's sake. Even the paltry increases Osborne's proposed need time to establish and work through the system, which could take a few years and no doubt much wrangling. That's the horse.

Then it becomes possible - and an easier political sell all round - to taper off the state subsidies. That's the cart.

But that demands political actors in good faith, which I doubt we're talking about here.

The Tories got such an easy ride during the election among all the Miliband and SNP and immigration etc. hysteria that I think they've kidded themselves they have a mandate for whatever they choose to do. A few defections, scandals or untimely by-elections for other reasons and that slim majority's gone.