LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new left-leaning government said Sunday that the nation is “broke and broken,” blaming the situation on its predecessors ahead of a major speech on the state of the public finances that is widely expected to lay the groundwork for higher taxes.
In a sweeping assessment three weeks after taking power, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office professed shock at the situation they inherited after 14 years of Conservative Party rule, while releasing a department-by-department analysis of the perceived failures of the previous government.
The critique comes a day before Treasury chief Rachel Reeves is expected to outline a 20-billion-pound ($26 billion) shortfall in public finances during a speech to the House of Commons.
“We will not shy away from being honest with the public about the reality of what we have inherited,’’ Pat McFadden, a senior member of the new Cabinet, said in a statement. “We are calling time on the false promises that British people have had to put up with and we will do what it takes to fix Britain.”
Starmer’s Labour Party won a landslide election victory earlier this month following a campaign in which critics accused both major parties of a “conspiracy of silence” over the scale of the financial challenges facing the next government.
Nah, just cut more benefits from those struggling. /tories
You know damn well that after they go for the poor billionaires’ money, they will come for ours! /rightwinger.
And you know, I’m a bit of an optimist. Might as well vote in billionaires’ interests on the odd chance I become one.
Would be a shame only being able to afford 3 yachts instead of 5.
The funny thing is, lots of luxury goods are not priced based on costs, but on demand. That means that if the rich get lower taxes, the values of expensive art and fine wines just go up to match the extra money they have. They can’t buy more.
It’s the opposite with things the middle class needs. If more people can afford a washing machine, costs can actually decrease because of better manufacturing. There are many washing machine manufacturers, so there’s actually some competition.