Tory leadership election, three words which you are heartily sick of.
I am regarded as an expert on elections and the promulgation of democracy in Barons Court and beyond on the strength of being an election observer in Eastern Europe four times in 2019. In fact I know nothing as Manuel says in Fawlty Towers but I don’t let on. However, I do know one thing, namely it’s most undesirable to allow people to vote more than once. There may be countries not admired as cradles of democracy where such a practice is cordoned and even encouraged but I never thought the United Kingdom to be among them.
The Conservative Party were bonkers to allow their members to vote for a leadership candidate and then change their minds and vote again. It took the intervention of GCHQ to correct this egregious mistake. Now there is a choice of voting by post or online. “If you decide to vote by post – don’t forget the stamp.” Patronising or what? By the way stamps in the UK have got bigger.
When the candidates set out their policies there is a lot about the NHS, defence, education, climate change, environment, housing, foreign policy and so on; all things we can relate to. Much more important is the economy but its hard to understand. Charles Stewart-Smith had a letter in The Times yesterday.
“In 1971 the chancellor, Anthony Barber, introduced a policy of cutting taxes at a time of great economic hardship with a view to securing a Conservative victory at the next election. The so-called Barber boom resulted in rampant inflation, high interest rates and a Labour government. Ten years later Geoffrey Howe introduced his 1981 budget, the second of Margaret Thatcher’s administration. Widely criticised by the economic establishment, it raised taxes at a time of high inflation. Within two years inflation had fallen from almost 12 per cent to less than 4 per cent. A period of dramatically improved prosperity for almost all in our society followed, as did a string of Conservative election victories.
The 1981 budget was the more successful one for our nation. I hope that Conservative Party members learn the lessons of history, as Rishi Sunak seems to have done. Charles Stewart-Smith, Brompton Regis, Somerset.”
Liz Truss’ siren words will steer the economy further onto the rocks but, offering jam today, they may appeal to party members. Incidentally it is depressing that both candidates are pitching to party members, hardly a cross section of the UK population, instead of setting out what is best for voters of all political persuasions and the country. In particular I disapprove of bribes offered to cushion the cost of living crisis that will benefit the middle classes more than those in poverty.
“For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good” St Matthew’s Gospel 18:20.