It stands to reason that lives will have been needlessly lost due to the Government’s seven-year failure to outlaw machetes and so-called zombie knives.
Had they been outlawed earlier, some parents may not be mourning lost children and Suella Braverman would not be unveiling yet more plans for a ban.
Four previous Tory Home Secretaries – Theresa May in 2016, Amber Rudd in 2017, Sajid Javid in 2018 and Priti Patel in 2021 – did the same and never followed through.
What are used as trophy weapons by maimers and murderers have no place on our streets and in our communities.
We have waited too long – it is time to ban them immediately.
We will not tolerate more false promises.
Heavy-handed
Allowing energy suppliers to resume breaking into people’s homes to forcibly install pre-payment meters does not tackle the fuel bill problem.
Some of these customers could be up to the age of 84, they may have disabilities or they could be looking after young children.
Energy regulator Ofgem’s voluntary code protects some homes but is so full of holes that vulnerable people will still be left at risk of the cold and dark because they won’t be able to stop the companies doing what they want.
Soaring electricity and gas bills combined with high inflation and the falling value of wages illuminate the real problem.
Letting firms fit pre-payment meters is a heavy-handed answer that will worsen money problems of those with the least in our society.
Relight my ire
Take That’s Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are more of a middle-aged man band than a boyband these days.
Prince Harry will miss their performance at next month’s Coronation concert at Windsor Castle as he flies home to California.
Perhaps he’s skipping it because he’s worried they might sing: “I want you back for good.”
