Would it be sensible to write about UK politics to a readership based in the UK? I have been asking myself this question,
ever since minister after minister resigned from the cabinet of Boris Johnson. The resignation of the prime minister in the UK represents a triumph of democracy. A leader elected with an unprecedented majority just three years ago had to leave the office for one mistake too many! He leaves an interesting legacy behind. He achieved Brexit, though the most ticklish question remains unresolved: keeping Northern Island’s links with the rest of the UK while maintaining the terms of the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to the region after decades of ‘The Troubles’. The new prime minister of the country will have the almost impossible task of finding a solution satisfying all stakeholders!
These turbulent developments have been more than adequately covered in both the British and the Indian media.
The debates amongst the candidates motivated this comment. At one point, it seemed that the debate was focused on the state of the UK’s economy and high taxes and was between Rishi Sunak and the rest. The one possible exception seemed to be Kemi Badenoch, who repeatedly maintained that the UK faces a difficult economic situation and every concession would be a trade-off elsewhere! Liz Truss was the most assertive in questioning Rishi Sunak on Sunday night’s debate. Perhaps this was to be expected after Rishi Sunak told her spontaneously in the first debate, “borrowing your way out of inflation is not a plan, it’s a fairy tale”. There was also discussion about the state of the UK’s economy and insinuations, with occasional questioning, of Rishi Sunak’s performance
as Chancellor of the Exchequer,
That last comment made me think that it's not just a fairy tale, but a fairyland that some candidates seem to come from! The world is in the grip of an unprecedented economic crisis following a brutal pandemic which is not yet over. There is a war in Europe involving an erstwhile superpower. The Euro is trading below par with the US Dollar. As I write, $100 can only get €99.1414! Though not in serious trouble, the Chinese economy is struggling, growing by just 0.4 per cent in the second quarter, compared with a year earlier, threatening China’s annual growth target. The developments in Sri Lanka have been too well covered to have escaped even those who live in the fairyland!
The distress caused by high taxes and inflation was also discussed during the debates. It is convenient to insinuate that Rishi Sunak is insensitive to the plight of the common man given his own personal wealth. However, it is the same Sunak as the Chancellor who came up with billions of pounds worth of support for small businesses and families hit by the impact of the lockdown and consequent economic challenges. Even as recently as March 2022, he unveiled a package of measures amounting to 37 billion pounds of government support to try and ease a cost-of-living crisis for the public.
Every housewife knows that some belt-tightening is required after heavy unforeseen expenditure. How many of us have postponed our vacation plans after a sudden family emergency leading to a heavy outflow of funds?
Running to the money lender for meeting everyday expenses instead of cutting down, is the surest way to higher indebtedness. This is the common sense economics that every sensible household follows. It is only a prosperous country with a well-performing economy that can care for its citizen’s welfare. In these hard times, the UK needs to focus on putting its economy back on the rails. A recent survey showed that people of the UK acknowledge this to be a pressing issue in the country.
Unintendedly, this column has become a defence of Rishi Sunak and support for #ReadyforRishi. I also wished to write about the other candidate whom I count as a friend, Tom Tugendhat, who has been holding his own in the debates. Tom has seen many Bollywood movies on his way back from Afghanistan to London. While in transit in Dubai, he would go for the longest movie, which would always be an Indian movie! He knows South Asia well and has taken up several important issues in Parliament. At times, he has managed to make a dent in policy by his stewardship of an issue. We didn’t agree on everything, but Tom was always forthright in presenting his positions.
I do not know the other candidates, but rate Liz Truss as the one with the most gracious bearing in Sunday’s debate.
Perhaps I misheard when she listed India as a country that she would ‘talk down to’ (my words) on the Ukraine war. India’s position has been more than adequately espoused by the Indian leadership including during her visit to India, which came side by side with that of the Russian foreign minister.
Let me conclude by wishing that the best candidate emerges as the prime minister of a friendly UK. April 2022, the World Economic Outlook of the International Monetary Fund, titled ‘War sets back the global recovery’, concluded that economic damage from the conflict will contribute to a significant slowdown in global growth in 2022 and add to inflation, with fuel and food prices have increased rapidly, hitting vulnerable populations in low-income countries hardest. The IMF has also lowered its global growth projection. The UK needs a steady and competent hand at the helm to guide the nation through these difficult times.
