Rural realities
There was an extraordinary mini summary in one of the Sunday newspapers about the 22% Conservative poll lead over Labour – saying this was despite David Davis’s resignation and economic gloom deepening. All a bit odd.
Of course the latter is one of the main reasons why people are fed up, and no wonder. On my way back to London at the weekend I filled up my car with petrol. It cost £78. Every weekend sees a bill for at least £60, after driving to and from Suffolk, and driving around the constituency. The way people lead their lives, and where they live, is in many instances determined by the road transport system.
In a rural area like Suffolk, people need cars to get their children to school in many instances, or to get to work. There is simply no alternative. Petrol, household heating and food prices are all on the rise, and people are suffering, most notably those in rural areas.
Yet, of course, unlike in other industrialised countries, where the tax burden has been going down, ours continues to go up.
It is Alice in Wonderland economics and deeply resented by the people of this country at this difficult time. No wonder the Tories are ahead by such a large margin.