The UK Election

A few years ago I was visited by the Labour candidate here in Chester following the resignation of the previous MP. One of my major concerns I discussed with her was the EU and the prospect of the UK joining the Single Market and Customs Union. Her response turned me away from the party I had supported for over 50 years. The implication of her response was that the Labour leadership would not say anything that might threaten their forthcoming election victory, and this included the prospect of a closer commercial relationship with the EU.

Previously I had questioned Labour’s support for the Conservative governments’s reductions in National Insurance levels due to the parlous state of our public services, and the money needed to retain and improve them. During the July election Labour painted themselves into a tight corner by promising not to increase National insurance, VAT or Income Tax. And this in the sure knowledge that the country and its public services are in dire straits.

Labour dropped its proposal to spend 28 billion per year for environmental protection. However, this proposal was dropped shortly after the promise made they say due to the poor financial state of the country. Soon after Labour was elected Rachel Reeves decided to drop the Winter Fuel payment for pensioners because the country couldn’t afford it. So they knew then…Immediately after Labour’s enormous landslide victory its chancellor declared that the economic and financial legacy left by the previous government was far worse than it had thought. Now I’m no economist but even I knew that the situation was critical. In addition, during the election, important authoratative voices declared that both political parties were hiding the true financial situation and tax increases would be inevitable.

Then came the first budget after Rachel Reeves declared that growth was the government’s primary objective. So what do they do? Increase employer costs through National Insurance contribution increases - surely a tax on jobs and inhibitor of economic growth. The ill-thought-out Inheritance Tax increase is now known to badly effect farmers and, by implication, the volume of home-produced food. Labour misread the public mood and their knowledge of the country’s poor economic state.

The wealthy, the highly paid senior executives, the banks, major online sellers and others must have breathed a sigh of relief when their income remained intact. A major simplification of the tax system which negated the possibility of tax avoidance, the change in income tax rates to make the system fairer and more equitable (by making high earners pay more). There is so much that could have been done to avoid penalising businesses which generate growth. Labour’s timid and damaging attitude towards Israel’s collective punishment of the Gazan and Lebanese populations is shameful. As with every other hing the government must be brave, unafraid and committed. I have yet to see this.

Teacher vacancies have increased by 20% to 2,800 in November 2023 from 2,300 in November 2022, and more than doubled in the last three years from 1,100 in November 2020. Temporarily filled posts also increased; from 2,100 to 3,700 over three years. As a result the 6.500 extra teachers to be recruited by the new government is reduced by the number of teachers leaving and existing shortages.

The UK needs a revolution and not a range of diverse, unconnected measures which make little strategic sense. It needs a fairer and more democratic election system. It needs the banks to be forced to provide tangible long-term loans to businesses large and small. It needs a radical change to the tax system. It needs to back back in the closest economic relationship with the EU and allow free movement of labour to fill the gaping skill gaps in the UK that will hamper growth.  And the UK must stop following the USA model (several  problems are duplicated in the USA). Thus far the government is failing with no signs of real and effective change.

The USA Election

The prospect of Trump becoming president is a concerning thought for the USA and the world. It shocks me that Trump is able to secure such loyal support with his nonsensical rhetoric and downright lies. It shocks me that a proven criminal (with more trials in prospect and guilty verdicts probable) can occupy the White House. It worries me that Trump admires authoritarian leaders like Putin and believes he can somehow stop wars in a matter of hours…And I thought that the UK democracy was in trouble…