Speaking from the Downing Street Rose Garden, the Prime Minister promised no more “business as usual” and his intention to “reverse a decade of decline”. But voters will be wary of more rhetoric and rather more keen on results. Since assuming power, Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have highlighted the fiscal challenges this country faces. The riots this summer show there are social issues that must be urgently addressed as well.
It is not wholly unreasonable for Sir Keir to blame his inheritance on the previous Conservative government. The fiscal black hole is not a figment of the Chancellor’s imagination. Taxes will rise to plug it, with Labour for months refusing to rule out hikes in areas such as capital gains tax or pensions relief.
But the challenge is not simply whether the public will accept it is all the Tories’ fault. It will be to demonstrate in five years’ time that Labour has made things better. That will require more than cutting NHS waiting lists, as important as that might be. A truly radical new government would break with convention and put the investment into capital spending and the infrastructure projects that help lay the foundations of a vibrant economy, capable of generating more and better paying jobs.
Together for Carnival
Feathers, sequins, all the colours of the rainbow: almost two million people descended on Notting Hill to celebrate Caribbean arts and culture this weekend. Set back from the official parade route were the enticing smells of food on the barbecue as well as vast sound systems playing music and revellers dancing along.
After months of electioneering and violent disturbances across the country, Carnival was an opportunity for coming together. Chief executive Matthew Phillip described it as people “from all walks of life, different backgrounds, essentially at ease with each other and enjoying themselves.”
Sadly, there were also less savoury aspects to the long weekend’s party atmosphere. The Metropolitan Police arrested more than 330 people as a mother was among three left fighting for their lives following stabbings.
Live forever
Oasis fans: forget the receding hairline or your rather rounder shape, the brothers are back. Perhaps it was for the love of the music or a pay day unlike anything they have seen before, but the band are touring next summer, including four performances at Wembley Stadium.
Britannia may not be as cool as it once was, but for an entire generation this could well be the Beatles reunion their parents never got to see. Let’s hope Noel and Liam can stay on good enough terms between now and next July.
