Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has defended leaked WhatsApp messages between Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden and Peter Mandelson, in which McFadden criticised Labour's focus on taxing to fund benefits. The messages, released on Monday as part of a tranche of information about Mandelson's aborted appointment as UK ambassador to the US, show McFadden writing: 'Every meeting I have is: ‘Who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others?’ They’re asking the wrong questions.'
Thomas-Symonds described the messages as 'embarrassing' but said they were made public due to the government's compliance with a humble address motion passed by MPs in February. He confirmed he had not released his own messages because his phone was stolen, but had verbally described their content to the Cabinet Office.
Asked about McFadden's comments, Thomas-Symonds said it was not his experience that Labour MPs were demanding tax rises for benefits, and stressed McFadden's commitment to helping people find work rather than relying on welfare. 'His view has always been about an emphasis not on the benefits side, but an emphasis on giving people opportunities,' he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, citing a recent report on youth unemployment by former health secretary Alan Milburn.
Thomas-Symonds also addressed the culture in the parliamentary party, saying: 'It’s not my experience... I don’t accept that Labour MPs, all of us together, are not determined to tackle the scourge of youth unemployment.' He attributed the rising welfare bill to increases in the state pension and the triple lock, which he said he was proud of.
On Mandelson's relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Thomas-Symonds said he was 'shocked, absolutely shocked' when details emerged last September, and had been unaware of the depth of their friendship. He added that his stolen phone contained congratulatory messages to Mandelson on his appointment, and that he had always been in favour of transparency.
