Mail Online

Repeat the success of first 100 days, PM

WHAT a difference 100 days can make in the fickle, febrile world of UK politics.

On Thursday, it was that long since Rishi Sunak replaced Liz Truss in Downing Street. After the storm, the calm.

He promised to restore order following her ill- starred interlude, and to a large extent he has succeeded. He has settled the markets and calmed the internecine warfare ripping the Tories apart.

But rather than looking back, we must look forward. Mr Sunak’s challenge is to find a way out of this gruelling winter of discontent and look for the green shoots of spring.

On the plus side, even the gloomsters at the Bank of England think they’re appearing. Inflation is poised to drop quickly, interest rates may have peaked and the recession is forecast to be less brutal – if there is one.

Of course, he must deal with the strikes blighting the country. But falling inflation could torpedo the unions’ ludicrous pay demands. At some point, too, he must pull the levers of growth. For this, he should reach for the Tory textbook.

Cuts to the ferociously harsh personal and corporate taxes would give the economy a much-needed jolt.

Getting more people into work is vital, so making childcare easier and cutting red tape for businesses would be a good start.

So would making it easier for houses to be built – and for people to buy them.

At 20-plus points adrift in the polls, Mr Sunak has work to do. But there is no great clamour in the country for Sir Keir Starmer (aka Captain Crasheroonie Snoozefest).

If the PM can meet the challenges of the next 100 days as successfully as the last 100, he shouldn’t be written off.

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2023-02-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/281840057817233

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