Liz Truss was missing in action as the UK economy tanked thanks to her catastrophic mini-budget.
She finally broke cover yesterday to let the world know she was going to change nothing – and denied there was even a crisis as the pound sank and pensions tumbled. It would have been better if she had continued to say nothing.
The PM did a round of interviews with several regional radio stations. If listeners hoped to hear an honest explanation from Truss over what has gone wrong with the economy, they would have been left disappointed.
She faced a barrage of questions about how her government has sent the economy into a tailspin in less than a week. Awkward silences and stilted, pre-rehearsed soundbites were generally the response. There was no honest appraisal about the mess created by successive Tory leaders.
Truss was asked outright if she was ashamed of her actions – a question shrugged off by the PM. But she was quick to repeat time and again that the war in Ukraine was to blame for Britain’s economic ills. The Conservatives are trying to con the nation by claiming the economic crash is being caused by the conflict.
That terrible war obviously has a role to play in increasing fuel prices thanks to Putin’s weaponising of Russian gas supplies. She could have taxed the mega-profits of the energy companies to pay for a cap on soaring fuel prices.
But she refused to tax these profits – instead deciding to borrow billions and hand tax cuts to the super-rich. It is a typical Tory response to a crisis. We need a general election now to show them the door.
And instead of being missing in action, hopefully voters can make Truss disappear for good.
Fair over finance
GLASGOW City Council’s equal pay scandal has been a terrible stain on the city’s reputation. Female workers were discriminated against simply on account of their gender and cheated out of millions.
Successive administrations stubbornly refused to accept they were in the wrong. Most of the claims were finally settled in 2019 through a scheme which effectively remortgaged key city assets.
But outstanding claims remain and iconic buildings like the City Chambers are next in line to be sold. It is a sad moment for the city to see these landmarks sold off.
Leasing costs will burden Glaswegians for decades and will be a symbol of past mismanagement. But the most important factor is that the female workers get the money they deserve.
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