05 June 2024 , 00:10
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Whoever comes out on top after this year's general election, Labour or Conservatives, will have to deal with "tough" public finances, while tackling the wide range of problems facing Brits after 14 years of Tory rule, with record NHS waiting lists, a barely functioning social care system, and the high price of heating and eating making life harder for people up and down the UK.
Finance expert Martin Lewis was left unimpressed by the first televised leaders debate of the general election, which saw more of the leaders clashing over claims and counter-claims than it did substantial policy discussion. While the Prime Minister defended calling Sir Keir Starmer, former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, a threat to national security, the Money Saving Expert founder pointed out that the "real question" was not being answered.
However, with the Labour and Conservative leaders clashing over taxes, the NHS, and social care, Martin Lewis pointed out that some of the huge challenges facing Britain had gone unexplored in the debate. He said: "Both parties are going to face really tough public finances over the next few years - the real question is 'how will you manage the black hole in the public finances, what'll give - more debt, more tax, less spending?"
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The personal finance guru, along with much of the rest of the country that had tuned into ITV at 9pm (June 4), was left wanting after the ITV debate saw each leader given just 45 seconds to provide answers to the massive problems facing the UK. With the cost of living squeezing Brits on all sides, the Money Saving Expert was scathing at the lack of scrutiny faced over their plans.
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Election debate Starmer V SunakMartin Lewis said: "We need a question on renting. The situation is dire for renters. The costs are rocketing, their rights are limited, renters need better." After Rishi Sunak called the general election, key legislation that would have given more rights to renters was scrapped to make way for the poll. Meanwhile, UK rents have soared by around £103 per property this year.
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Keeping a focus on issues that affect a key Labour demographic, younger and university-educated voters, Martin Lewis added: "I wonder if either party will agree to uprate student maintenance loans in line with inflation? The real term cuts the living loans is a real hit to access to those from non-traditional university backgrounds."
But, Martin Lewis did verify that Starmer's challenge as to whether inflation had really been brought under control by Sunak, was a correct one. He said: "It is correct to say that energy prices are predicted to rise this year at the moment, though its not set in stone. Current prediction is energy price cap to rise 12% in October, which will mean paying more than we do right now (even after the 7% july drop)."