DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Don’t be turkeys, Tories – stick with Liz Truss
When Liz Truss was crowned Tory leader just 26 days ago, the annual party conference was meant to be a victory parade.
But instead of burnishing her credentials with the party faithful and the wider public, the Prime Minister will be fighting for her political life.
Her mini-Budget bombed, triggering a week of turmoil in which the pound plunged, pensions almost imploded and mortgage costs soared.
Labour has, one poll says, opened up a 33-point lead – which would lead to electoral annihilation.
And rather than rallying round her, several Tory MPs are plotting to topple her. Rather than a celebration, the conference will feel like a wake.
Yet the Government is right not to U-turn on the controversial mini-Budget. Leave aside that to do so would be a catastrophe, leaving Miss Truss’s authority in tatters.
In fact, the policies – from protecting firms and families from ruinous energy bills to one of the biggest tax giveaways in history – are commendable. And, crucially, defendable.
But instead of burnishing her credentials with the party faithful and the wider public, the Prime Minister will be fighting for her political life
So it’s vital Miss Truss puts the communication failures behind her. With the right messaging, she can reassure the public and markets that she will jolt our sclerotic economy back to life responsibly, and that everyone will ultimately be better off.
Of course, she and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng blundered by not having an OBR forecast on the impact of the cuts on the nation’s finances, or a viable plan to pay for them besides borrowing.
But an initial report will now be presented next week. With luck, that combined with more details on reforms to planning, energy and workers’ visas will persuade the City that UK growth will accelerate.
The economic turmoil is global. But already, Britain’s financial skies are brightening – sterling is back to pre-budget levels, the stock market has rallied and we have avoided dipping into a recession.
And, remember, this is a long-term plan – results were never expected instantaneously. So rebellious Tories must either hold their nerve – or prepare for five years out of power, watching Sir Keir Starmer destroy everything about Britain they cherish.
Labour has, one poll says, opened up a 33-point lead – which would lead to electoral annihilation
Before conspiring to dethrone Miss Truss, they must remember they are MPs – not turkeys voting for Christmas.
Shut these vile sites
It would be reassuring to think social media giants would locate their moral compass after being found responsible for Molly Russell’s death, but we won’t hold our breath.
The vulnerable 14-year-old schoolgirl was bombarded with harrowing images glamorising self-harm and suicide on sites such as Pinterest and Instagram.
A coroner pointed the finger of blame at the tech companies for giving a platform to pictures a ‘child shouldn’t see’. Yet five years since Molly died, the firms still aren’t doing enough to stop a repeat of the tragedy.
The vulnerable 14-year-old schoolgirl was bombarded with harrowing images glamorising self-harm and suicide on sites such as Pinterest and Instagram
Yesterday, a Mail reporter posing as a teenager took seconds to uncover a torrent of gory material on TikTok.
Given that tech giants are so adept at tracking every aspect of their users’ lives for profit, it beggars belief that they can’t purge their sites of such pernicious filth.
Regulation cannot come soon enough. No more children should suffer Molly’s fate.
Tagging burglars
The news that all burglars jailed for three months or more will be fitted with an electronic tag on release will be welcomed by every law-abiding citizen.
The blitz by Justice Secretary Brandon Lewis is a sensible initiative because keeping a closer eye on housebreakers will, in theory, stop them reoffending.
Burglars jailed for three months or more will be fitted with an electronic tag on release
Yet because many police forces refuse to send an officer to the scene, 97 per cent of burglars get away scot-free. Before the tagging scheme is hailed a success, perhaps it would help if officers caught a few more.
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