Sir Keir’s Labour government hasn’t been in power for long but already his administration is causing quite the stir. Pub owners have fears about Starmer’s outdoor smoking ban, food companies are concerned about the junk food ad crackdown and, it turns out, everyone is rather down about Labour’s ‘£22 billion blackhole’ narrative. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has insisted since her party got into power that the conniving Conservative government hid the true scale of Britain’s financial woes, and has used almost every opportunity available to her to harp on about it. But it seems as though the tactic has only weakened the public’s trust in Sir Keir’s lefty Labour lot…
Andy Haldane (ranked 44th in the New Statesman’s power list and onetime Bank of England governor candidate during the Corbyn era) was today interviewed on Sky News about the new administration – and the comments made by the former BoE chief economist were rather revealing. Haldane was fast to criticise the Chancellor’s modus operandi, remarking: ‘It would be much better to say nothing, until you provide solutions to filling the blackhole, as well as revealing it.’ Quite. The ex-economist went on:
That’s generated a fear and foreboding, an uncertainty among consumers, among businesses, among investors in UK plc – which is unfortunate, because just after the election there was a sense of refresh, a sense of renewal, a confidence about the UK both domestically and internationally.
Goodness. He’s not pulling any punches…
It’s yet another blow for Starmer, who is still battling backlash about his winter fuel payment cuts and fending off fears he will mount a tax raid on single people. At the same time, his popularity ratings hit a record low – only two months into the job. Hardly the best start, eh?
Watch the clip here:
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