Rish Sunak’s New Year message is full of optimism for 2024 as the economy steadies & an election looms
Keir not clear on funding eco plan
THE PRIME Minister’s New Year message is full of optimism for 2024.
With inflation halved, lower interest rates likely to follow and £60billion of investment in the past few weeks, Rishi Sunak has plenty of upbeat economic news to spread.
Even families who struggled during the cost-of-living crisis — brought on by the pandemic and Russia’s war in Europe — will soon feel the benefit of the PM’s laser-focused efforts to steady the economy.
A cut in National Insurance next week will put an average £450 in the pockets of 27million people, and more tax cuts are promised soon.
No wonder he is keen to tell all about his good news in Town Hall sessions with the public.
It is difficult to convince voters struggling with Christmas bills that better times are coming.
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But the PM must hit the ground running in an election year.
And he has a good story to tell.
In contrast, Sir Keir Starmer’s message is that his party is not the Tories.
In his Q&A sessions the first question should be how he plans to pay for the eye-watering £28billion he wants to borrow for green projects — one of his very few policies.
The Government last week proudly announced that Britain has become the first of the G20 countries to halve its carbon emissions — without saddling hardworking families with ruinous debt.
Sir Keir, by contrast, has been remarkably quiet on how the country could afford his reckless eco-splurge.
Tax rises is the likely answer. Or massive cuts to other budgets. Or both.
Red Sea warning
THE WORLD is a dangerous place, and the sponsors of terror in Tehran are fanning the flames of war.
Iran backed the Hamas attacks in Gaza, its Hezbollah proxies attack Israel from Lebanon and now, with Iran’s support, Houthi rebels in Yemen are attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps’ warning to the terrorists is ominous, but when global trade is held to ransom the West must make a stand.
Or things will only get worse.
Maple leaf us be, Dr
NEXT week’s junior doctors strike will cause mayhem, but the leader of the action clearly doesn’t care about patients or the NHS.
Militant Dr Rob Laurenson admits he would consider a move to Vancouver.
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Canada, which has its own healthcare strikes, needs him like a hole in the head.
But seeing him on the first flight from Heathrow really would make a happy new year.