Life is tough at the top of the British state – so tough in fact that voters get asked to tighten their belts while Cabinet Ministers rake in freebies. First, Boris Johnson wasn’t able to afford the redecoration of his Downing Street flat. Now, we have Sir Keir Starmer unable to foot the bill for his own suits and specs.
Luckily, both men have mega-wealthy pals who are happy to sort the bill whatever the size. But isn’t it all just a bit, well, weird? The current PM is a millionaire in his own right who has had a ridiculously successful legal career. Does he really need someone with just a few more quid than he has to buy his clothes and glasses?
Now, I don’t know about you, but I get a little stressed at the thought of having to thank a family member for buying me the wrong jumper for a birthday, let alone a super-rich donor buying the specs I’d be wearing in front of a watching public.
Of course, it’s important to say that such clothing gifts come with no attachments. No, none at all. They are all just from the kindness of a filthy-rich donor’s heart. I mean, who doesn’t have friends like that? But aside from the scale of how weird and out of touch this all is, it doesn’t half stick in the throat right now. And here’s why.
Because when Sir Keir is showing off his gifted new suits and specs, he is doing so while telling the public that “things are going to get worse”. Actually, more than that, in recent months he has told children living in poverty that the two-child benefit cap can’t be lifted. Life is tough at the top of the British state and, whilst he would really love to help, he can’t right now.
And in recent weeks he has told OAPs living on just £13,000 a year they will have no support this winter with their heating bills. Worse still, it’s been proven that thousands of disabled pensioners will now lose out and that no assessment has been made of how many pensioners may now die from the cold this winter.
That’s before we even get on to the fact that if all the pensioners he now claims he wants to take up pension credit were to actually do so, any budget ‘savings’ would be completely wiped out. The Prime Minister is, in effect, gambling that pensioners in poverty will continue not to claim for the benefits they are due from the state. Shameful really.
But what does this all tell us about the values of the well-dressed man at the top of the tree? Well, I’ll leave you to decide that. But as you do, just remember that he has chosen not to increase the burden on the wealthiest in society, whilst at the same time taking away from those with the least. Is this the change that you expected? Is this the change that you were promised?
Irrespective, one thing has been proven beyond any doubt these last few weeks – we don’t all need a new set of specs to see right through Sir Keir Starmer’s version of the Labour Party.
Taken for fuels over Grangemouth closure
Since oil was first discovered our wee nation has seen some £400billion sent south to the UK Treasury. And now, when our heavy industry is needing some help, when the surrounding communities are needing support, our refinery has been allowed to close.
A day before the announcement, it was confirmed that Port Talbot in Wales was to receive £500million from the Labour Government. For months, it’s been known that a project in Belgium is to receive £600million from the Labour Government. Meantime, Grangemouth receives some £50million and vague promises.
Now I’ve been criticised at times for warning that there can no just energy transition without protecting the industry that we have whilst we develop our renewable future. The scale and opportunity of that transition is enormous, and it needs to happen at a much faster pace.
But, let’s not be blind to the glimpse this provides of an energy transition where warm words meet fiscal reality. To deliver a ‘just’ transition you protect your assets and the skilled workforce at their beating heart, whilst at the same time investing at pace in Net Zero tech. If you aren’t angry, I’m afraid you haven’t been paying attention.
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