What I’m about to say isn’t in any way motivated by party politics. It’s out of sheer exasperation at the incompetence of the current and recent Governments. As someone who passionately believes in our country and wants us to succeed, it is beyond frustrating that the current PM and his cabal of senior ministers appear to be completely inept and constantly marred by sleaze and scandal. I’m not saying that because they belong to a different political party to me, I’m saying it because it’s true, and for the sake of our country we need to put an end to it.
The Autumn Statement, for example, fell short of anything resembling a responsible plan for our economy. During the Statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt boasted of tax cuts to help family finances and said that he was reducing the tax burden – when in reality the overall tax burden continues to rise.
The Government’s contempt for working people was also highlighted in the recent comments by the Home Secretary. His words have rightfully sparked outrage as he was heard using a word, not appropriate to use in the Barnsley Chronicle, to describe the town of Stockton. Not only was it a disgraceful comment to make, but it highlights a complete disregard for the challenges faced by communities in the North.
Shortly after the Autumn Statement, record-breaking immigration figures—745,000 to be precise— were revealed. The magnitude of these numbers shows the Government's complete inability to manage and control our borders, with their flagship response to these figures being to press on with the Rwanda Plan which has sent more Home Secretaries to Rwanda than it has asylum seekers. In their 2019 election manifesto, the Conservative’s pledged to reduce immigration numbers – but on their watch, it is now at the highest amount on record.
As with immigration, the Government have also proven themselves completely unable to tackle NHS waiting lists with more than 7.8 million people waiting for treatment. Since 2010, waiting lists have tripled and continue to grow each day, and to further show his lack of ability to tackle waiting lists, Rishi Sunak officially abandoned his pledge to reduce them by the end of the year.
As if all of this wasn’t bad enough, a report recently found that 64 Conservative MPs have been awarded knighthoods and damehoods since 2010 – showing how the Government’s priorities are, and have been for 13 years, based on self-interest rather than service and duty.
Meanwhile this week the Prime Minister chose to get into an entirely needless row with the Greek Prime Minister about the Elgin marbles. You couldn’t make it up! Perhaps he should spend a bit less time floating about in a helicopter and more time actually talking to normal people.
There are no signs that this incompetence and chaos will end anytime soon, but putting party politics to one side, our country desperately needs it to.
