The Chancellor announced the Autumn Statement this week, which attempted to fix 12 years of Conservative cuts and economic failure. The good news is that benefits and pensions will be uprated in line with inflation but otherwise the maths just doesn’t add up. The money announced for the NHS is, in fact, a real terms cut and will not be enough for it to even stand still. See me press the Chancellor on this here.
The Prime Minister that promised integrity, professionalism, and accountability chose to appoint Gavin Williamson, who this week resigned after evidence of his bullying emerged. He also re-appointed the Home Secretary despite her resignation six days previously for leaking sensitive information. It’s clear this government really has come to the end of its days and that we need a change. We need a General Election now.
© Gary Manhine
Small Business Saturday will take place this year on 3 December. This is an opportunity to give our support the many excellent small businesses that serve our community.
I pressed the Prime Minister during Prime Minister’s Questions about the chaos in the Home Office (see here). In all my years as an MP, I’ve never seen worse treatment of people who are trying to get visas or other documents through the Home Office. The delays are unacceptable and having a real impact on people’s lives.
The Home Secretary leaked sensitive information and is overseeing inhumane conditions at the asylum processing centre in Kent. She needs to go.
Read my Monthly Report for October 2022 here.
The new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, was chosen this week by just over 300 Conservative MPs - a diminishing electorate. He announced that his government will be based on honesty and integrity but then immediately re-appointed the same Home Secretary who was forced to resign last week for breaching security rules. This is unacceptable. We need a General Election now.
Prime Minister Liz Truss has resigned. At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday I asked who has confidence in her (see here). By Thursday it became apparent that nobody did and she resigned. She’ll remain in office until the Conservative Party picks a replacement by the end of next week. This will be the third Prime Minister in a year and the second imposed on us by Conservative Party members. We need a General Election now.
The Prime Minister's policies have caused chaos in the markets and wrecked the economy. How can anyone in the country have confidence in the Prime Minister?
© Institute for Government
I spoke at a panel event at this year's Labour Party conference on how a future Labour Government would work with the civil service. I stressed that turnover is a huge problem. In the seven years that I have been Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, only one permanent secretary is still in post.