The aftershocks caused by Kwasi Kwarteng’ s disastrous mini-Budget continue to be felt across the country.
The Chancellor’s botched intervention has caused the price of mortgages to spiral, damaged confidence in Britain’s economy and increased the cost of government borrowing.
To try to repair the hole in the nation’s finances he is now looking to cut public spending and freeze benefits.
This would mean the most vulnerable paying the price for Liz Truss’s decision to hand tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy.
Downing Street said yesterday it had yet to decide whether or not to raise benefits in line with inflation.
It should not be a matter for debate.
When food inflation is set to rise by as much as 20% and when families are struggling to feed their children and heat their homes, households need all the help they can get.
To freeze benefits would cut the webbing of an already frayed safety net and condemn hundreds of thousands more people to poverty.
Stand with Kyiv
Vladimir Putin yesterday responded to the sabotage of the Kerch Bridge by unleashing a wave of missile attacks on Ukrainian cities including capital Kyiv.
The wilful targeting of innocent civilians in this way was yet another war crime by the Russian President.
The Ukrainian people have continued to show remarkable courage and resilience.
Their resolve must be matched by the country’s allies as the war enters a dangerous stage.
Ukraine will be tested as never before if, as reported, Belarus joins the Russian operation.
The West must stand firm in its determination to confront Russian aggression.
Tide of history
On this day 40 years ago the wreck of the Mary Rose was lifted from the seabed.
The amazing rescue operation saved a piece of our history which would otherwise have been left sunk without trace.
