When Jeremy Hunt opens his Budget red box on Wednesday we’ll hear why Tory MPs are happier to talk about Gary Lineker and asylum than the cost of living crisis and an NHS they’ve put on its knees.
Upbeat soundbites and back to work slogans can’t hide the mess they are making of the world’s only major G7 economy still smaller than before the pandemic three years ago.
Families and businesses struggling to pay higher bills with devalued incomes or queuing – with a record 7.21million for medical treatment – know the hard reality of Tory failure.
Hunt boasting that recession is so far narrowly avoided, sky high inflation is dipping and that hefty interest rate rises will see the cost of borrowing increase just a little bit more won’t deserve cheers.
Which is why shameless Hunt and Home Secretary Suella “invasion” Braverman scream about small boats while Conservative boot boys such as Jonthan Gullis and Lee Anderson profess to value impartiality at a BBC they would destroy.
Sign our petition to reinstate Gary Lineker as Match of the Day host here
Likeable Lineker is a political football for a Conservative Government that’ll say and do anything to stop itself being booted out of office.
Migrant-bashing is a Tory game but it’s dawning on them that they picked the wrong side by going up against the popular Match of the Day host.
Sunak issuing a statement that he hoped the dispute could be resolved was a No 10 tacit admission the PM realises this is a dangerous personal battle.
The BBC has damaged itself, of course, by bowing to Tory pressure, and Downing Street is eager to now distance itself as the crowd chants for Lineker’s return.
Pollster YouGov surveys find the economy and health care are issues number one and two for the electorate, with stopping small boats at number three.
Inciting hatred against asylum seekers and migrants remains the Tory goal in its bid to deflect attention from the economy and NHS.
The fight with Lineker is, a Tory MP told me, an own goal – yet too many on his own team won’t stop talking about the presenter.
Incompetence is at a fresh low when the Conservatives are incapable of dividing and ruling.
