Thurscday 13th October 2022:
Do the math. It appears to me that for some months, since the Conservative Party chose to hold a leadership election, Ms Truss has been on a single trajectory following a single note - cutting taxes equals promoting economic growth. She repeats this mantra at every opportunity and utters the phrase as if it is a given. For her, it is as solid a theorem as any mathematical equation like X x X = X2. She refutes every contrary argument, or question as to her certainty, with the same statements and repetition as if by repeating the formula it will come to life before our eyes. It is as if “She had won victory over herself. She loved Big Brother”.
“Growth, growth, growth” and “Wrong, wrong, wrong” are calls for applause. She does not hear her own voice and remains transfixed by the refrain. She is deaf to the rumbling beneath “Do the math, show us your work”.
She believes that her plan will generate increases in the overall income of large corporations and small businesses, to such an extent, that the tax revenues derived will allow for dramatic rises in salaries and investment in the NHS, in Education, in transport and infrastructure, and every facet of public and private enterprise. Steady growth will bring inflation down to acceptable levels within the next two year. There will be no waiting lists for treatment, ambulances will wiz round so fast you’ll hardly see them. So many homes will be built at affordable prices that homelessness will be at an end. Schools and universities will turn out graduates brimming with new ideas and entrepreneurship. Anti-social behaviour and protest will become redundant and a carbon neutral environment will save the planet. How good is that?
I gaze at her Tinkerbelle face. It has taken only two months to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the blank stare, cruel, needless misunderstanding. O stubborn self-willed exile from the loving breast. Two claret scented tears trickle down the side of my nose. But it is all right, everything is all right, the struggle is finished. I have won victory over myself. I love Tinkerbelle.
Have you noticed that she doesn’t so much walk as hop. As to her Chancellor, he sort of slopes. His slow approach to the podium and the Party Conference in Birmingham was almost Groucho like, as Rufus T Firefly in Duck Soup. Kwasi Kwarteng’s plan, as endorsed by her, would fit in well with the politics of Freedonia.
As to a considered view from Gillian Tett, editor at large of the Financial Times in the United States, herewith is her view of the situation from New York. (go to web site: https://www.channel4.com/news/uk-has-become-like-italy-in-terms-of-financial-risk-and-political-instability-says-ft-editor-at-large)
Friday 14th October 2022:
We now have today'as press conference:
Deliver – Growth - Economic Stability – Decisive action - words Ms Truss feels she can repeat ad nauseum to enable her to continue as Prime Minister –
Herewith a bit of analysis from Andrew Marr before the press conference:
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