Economic disaster and voter alienation – welcome to Truss’s Britain

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We should not lose sight of the fact that these events are facilitated by our constitution (AFP/Getty)

Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng continue to spout their meaningless “growth, growth, growth“ mantra, while simultaneously launching their fiscal missiles at a hapless population. It would appear that our only reliable shelter is offered by the hasty scrambling of the Bank of England. The discretionary U-turns give hope, though a general election is far too distant to offer relief.

There are two things being successfully cultivated by this government, and both are pernicious: firstly, the economic and social destruction wrought by their policies, and secondly, the alienation and related resentment of what must now be the majority of the population.

The government can only be forced to the ballot box by its own party. Should we entertain the faint hope of a rebellion from people who have amply demonstrated a willingness to pursue self-interest to the detriment of the country? In the meantime, the fathomless madness rolls on.

Once our immediate problems are resolved – and in the interest of the country, they must be – we should not lose sight of the fact that these events are facilitated by our constitution. In that area, profound changes are needed.

David Nelmes

Newport

Boris Johnson Ltd

How appropriate that Boris Johnston should create a limited company to support his post-prime ministerial activities, as an extremely limited PM himself.

Alan Mackay

East Lothian

Tax-funded coronation

I am astonished at how a society can sit by and witness its unelected government destroy its social fabric, its economic power and its future. And no, I am not talking about Syria or North Korea; I am referring to the UK.

Though on a positive note, we have a coronation to look forward to, financed by the taxpayer.

Gunter Straub

London

Witless wits

Graham Powell’s letter yesterday put me in mind of a heckle by Dennis Skinner to another old Etonian, William Waldegrave: “You’ve been educated beyond your intelligence.”

Meic Goodyear

Lewes

Black Britains deserve respect

I read Marcus Ryder’s article on Black History Month with sympathy.  Some years ago I was teaching adults English as a spoken language in Newport, Wales.  A colleague described one of my Somali students as someone living off benefits that were “unearned”.

This man had worked as a batman to a British officer as the army advanced from Kenya towards Egypt. He was then advised to make his way to Alexandria, and here joined the Merchant Navy.  During this period, he was torpedoed several times and survived the siege of Malta – among other adventures. 

After the war he continued to serve in the Merchant Navy and was working on one of the fleets that went to the Falklands. Poor spoken English? Yes. Illiterate in mother tongue? Yes. But my goodness, he had earned his pension and his right to benefits too.

Judith Marris

Bath

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More pragmatism, please

I agree with Marie Le Conte’s column. The prime minister is finally appreciating that her gung ho strategy has hit the fiscal skids big time. She thinks being “strong and forceful” will unite her imploding and fractured party.

Of course, this is patently not the case, and could never be justified. Ill-thought-out and vainglorious fiscal statements, without the necessary back-up from financial experts, was never going to work. This is a dire situation, and I think she transferred her hustings rhetoric to actual governance, without thinking first or drawing sane breath (along with her chancellor).

So no Marie Le Conte, I don’t mind at all that you as a foreigner are pointing this out; we need incisive brains to figure out this conundrum. Truss is standing alone, only backed up by a few cabinet cronies, and at this point in time it must be the loneliest place in the world. Being imaginarily ideological and not politically pragmatic is the payoff in this case.

Judith A Daniels

Great Yarmouth