Time To Get Unpopular George

 

 

There has been the tax credits fiasco. The threatened strike by junior doctors. The last rites for Britain’s steel industry at the same time as a state welcome for the biggest contributor to it (China). An upsurge in immigration. Anger at David Cameron’s timid EU renegotiation strategy. Weaker than expected job numbers. Faltering performance on deficit reduction. Slower economic growth.

 

And the result?

 

The Conservatives lead has increased in the opinion polls by 15% (source: Independent on Sunday). The Tories could be forgiven for thinking that they might be able to get away with almost anything as long as Jeremy Corbyn is leader of the Labour Party – and they just might be right.

 

At the top of that list must be deficit reduction. Although spending has been slashed on housing and community amenities (by 22%), transport (minus 11%) and public order and safety (down by 15%), public spending is actually going up in real terms……health is up by 4.5%, international aid by 27% and the huge social protection budget (including pensions) has risen by 4.4%.

 

This lopsided spending performance explains why the deficit (although down from a peak of more than £150 billion a year) is still close to a humongous £80 billion. This is around £10 billion more than George Osborne’s endlessly revised projections had promised.

 

The Tories need to use their current opinion poll status to do the things that might kill them politically if they were facing a half decent opposition.

 

Osborne will be remembered in twenty years time if he succeeds in this key mission.

 

Time to get busy in your statement on Wednesday George.