2025: Week 41 - Budgets, UK-EU reset and Gaza

There is lots of speculation in parliament about what might, or might not, be in the next budget recently. The choices that the government make will impact us all in one way or another.  I am increasingly worried about the price of food, which appears to be going up much faster than the general inflation rate.  As a county we must be more aware of food security in these uncertain times, and I don’t yet see any sign of the government thinking that way.

Recently we heard that the Government have no plans to reverse the controversial farm tax in November’s budget.  I support our local family farmers in their campaign to reverse this tax, but despite being warned that it could lead to a lost generation of farmers, the Government has not budged.  This year farmers have seen their worst harvests for decades, yet the Government are determined to carry on with this tax, showing no care for our vital food producers. 

It was shocking to hear that Government borrowing has hit the highest level for five years, according to the ONS.

Alarm bells should be ringing for the government, ahead of the budget. The Conservatives left the economy in a terrible state, paying tens of billions every year on debt interest after they crashed the economy with their mini budget. This government has also made mistake after mistake, leaving our economy failing.

To balance the books and bring down borrowing, we need growth. The best route would be to strike a new, bespoke UK-EU customs union, bringing down energy prices and investing in skills.  The Chancellor does agree since she has confirmed that Brexit is to blame for the UK’s productivity downgrade by the OBR, in remarks made to the IMF.   

It is a relief that the Government is now putting an end to their 'mum's the word' approach to the economic disaster that is Brexit. The botched Brexit deal - dreamt up by Farage and delivered by the Conservatives - has delivered nothing but extra red tape, extra costs, and crushed opportunity.

The Chancellor must now turn words into actions. The Government must ignore the naysayers in Reform UK and the Conservative party and deliver on its “EU-reset” - starting with a better deal for our fishers, farmers and food traders, adding billions to our economy and helping keep food prices down for families.

Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas have both accused each other of violating the ceasefire in the Middle East. 

It has been good to see all the remaining live hostages returned by Hamas, but the recent outbreaks of violence and the stopping of aid is extremely concerning.  It was short lived as pressure has been applied, but no one can afford for the fragile ceasefire to fail. 

All sides must fulfil their obligations under the ceasefire agreement. This means both the Israeli Government allowing aid into Gaza to alleviate the famine and humanitarian catastrophe there, and the Hamas terrorists immediately returning the remaining bodies of hostages killed during captivity.