On the economic front he should look at the triple lock – it is ridiculous that I should get a rise in my pension above average wage increase. We have computers nowadays so let us see a sensible support for those in need who have paid their taxes and NI all their lives. Actually having just written this I am now uncertain! Barclay’s Bank have just announced a £2 billion profit for the last 3 months – tax it, it is due to rising interest rates not efficiency or cleverness. Presumably other banks have the same profits so there should be scope of £5 billion windfall tax. Do the same to energy companies (including those who trade in gas and oil) and possibly other commodity companies. Their share holders should not expect dividends above inflation during this crisis.
Home Office – Braverman must go again if there is to be any semblance of honesty and transparency. The HO pays £4.7m a day housing migrants in hotels and refusing to let them work. I would suggest a thorough security check and then offer them 2 year visas to enable them to work which could become permanent. They would then pay taxes rather than be a cost.
Defence – yes. we should continue to support Ukraine but I am sure the Ministry of Defence needs an upgrade to 2022. Many of the rules and perks are at least a century old!
Northern Ireland and Brexit – the DUP seem to think they still have a hold over the government. If they do not cooperate in talks they should be kicked out. I am sure there are many funding schemes that favour them as relics of the past?
Scotland – Whilst I have sympathies for the Scottish Nationalist detestment of the tories, I do not think there would be benefits in the long run. Which leads to a conundrum. In the USA the House of Representatives gives 2 seats to each state regardless of size, economic wealth or population. This is now blatantly stupid! However there is a nugget of justification. Could the UK reform with a federal system over certain elements. I have not thought this through yet. Apparently Johnson and Truss basically ignored Scotland, which was plain stupid. It could also allow discussion about making Britain more democratic? Just for interest London has 73 MP’s – Scotland 59, Wales 40 and NI 18. Statistics for thought?
Education – can we leave our obsession with league tables in the past. Basic communication and literacy and numeracy skills are obviously a prerequisite for any education system. I would add another one of critical thinking. We have for too long fixated on 16 and 18 + academic success. Skill has for too long been denigrated. Truss went to a school which was successful (but she says it was not), and achieved some academic success which allowed her to fuck the economy for £60billion. A skilled electrician or plumber or whatever can charge the same or more than e.g. a teacher. Yet schools do not promote these skills and are judged on boring academia. Maybe a 4 day apprenticeship scheme, and 4 day week in schools could be set up with the 5 th day doing what the students can really make progress with?
Health – 132000 vacancies, waiting list 7 million. Investment urgent, Reorganisation probably urgent, but not now. Health care avoided by Johnson will need sorting – possibly not in November Budget but in April for sure. And the cost will be billions.
Environment – surely a win-win situation for Rishi? Firstly he needs to increase protection (which costs nothing and wins brownie points) then divert funds from mega farms to conservation based agriculture. Cost is minimal if not a saving., He could also claim it as a Brexit bonus!
Levelling up – just is not going to happen. It must be rather demeaning for the “North” to have to ask for money to upgrade Victorian infrastructure? I wonder for example how many homes in Bolton have poor insulation – what the boost to the local economy would be? HS2 is being installed by MNC’s? I think. I wonder how much an upgraded rail line fro Leeds to Manchester would cost if the contract was given out and managed locally? Levelling will never happen, but discrepancies in health and education could be?