The Budget

The Chancellor has delivered her budget - probably the hardest job in the UK right now. By seeking to appease every Labour MP and voter (particularly those considering switching to Reform), she has pulled off a fine juggling act. However, as the City digests the details, they will find that it was, in fact, too balanced, too considered and too safe.

The UK is in a dire situation, completely of its own making. The B-word, which must not be mentioned, has caused huge damage to our trading relationship with our closest market. It continues to cause food inflation, thereby suppressing living standards. Those who voted for it seem convinced that more chaos, through a Reform government, is just what the country needs.

The Labour government (elected on a huge majority) continues to display cowardice on an epic scale. Sir Keir Starmer looks more like the lion in The Wizard of Oz. At least his Dorothy had the nerve to blame Brexit.

The government appears to be sleepwalking into electoral defeat in 2029.

There is another way: the UK now needs to take serious, concrete steps to join the EU customs union, despite the obvious howls of betrayal from those without an economics degree between them.

This is the politically difficult step that must be taken to reduce inflation, restart our trading relationship with the EU, and prevent the UK from becoming a very junior state of the US.

Any Reform government will move the UK ever closer to the US, with all the pitfalls that come with that - privatised (and unaffordable) healthcare, greater income inequality, and reduced public spending. If you live in a forgotten town in the UK, this is the last thing you would want to wish upon yourself.

The government needs to use its majority. Sir Keir Starmer has shown a ruthless streak in reforming the Labour Party. He now needs to apply this hidden talent to the country. The Labour Party was not elected to keep the government benches warm - it was elected to make a real difference to the lives of UK citizens.

The government cannot keep taxing those with 2 pence to pay for those with 1 pence. In the end, everyone will have just one penny.

The political cowardice must stop.