Doom & bluster
WITHIN minutes of the release of the latest set of notoriously unreliable provisional growth figures, the doom-mongers were out in force.
The Remainer crowd and their cheerleaders at the BBC were positively gleeful at the ONS declaring the UK’s economy had flatlined.
That zero growth in April was plainly a one-off caused by the wettest April in decades, but that doesn’t fit the ludicrous narrative that Brexit Britain is bust.
The stats — as so often in recent years — will probably be revised upwards later anyway. But, frustratingly for Rishi Sunak and his pledge to cut taxes to boost the economy further, not until after the election.
The truth is that UK plc HAS been growing — and at a faster rate than almost all our G7 competitors.
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Even those notoriously negative number-crunchers at the IMF and Bank of England are still predicting decent growth in 2024.
Spending on the Grand National boosted the economy in April — and we now have an incredible summer of sport ahead.
High Street shops and pubs will be full as fans follow England and Scotland at the Euros. Then the feelgood factor is ramped up further for Wimbledon and the Olympics.
And while it’s not quite a new economic Era, Taylor Swift fans — from here and abroad — will spend tens of millions as she tours the UK.
So, ignore the negativity and endless rain. Or as Tay might say: “Shake it off.”
And pray that the bloody sun starts shining soon.
Debate, not hate
IN 1992, PM John Major took an old soapbox on a tour of towns across the country and stood on it to debate face-to-face with voters as they crowded around him to listen.
In today’s world of social media- fuelled hate, that would be unthinkable.
Depressingly, the Home Office has been forced to offer tax-payer funded security to Nigel Farage after two disgraceful attacks on him.
The Reform leader may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
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But like all our politicians he deserves to be heard, and debated hard, with respect.
Troops’ shame
THOUSANDS of troops caught using Class A drugs shame our military.
That so many are prepared to risk failing drugs tests suggests young squaddies are increasingly prepared to chuck away their entire careers for a few hours’ coked-up hedonism.
Top Brass must find ways of restoring their pride in the Army’s old maxim: “Be the Best.”