Rishi Sunak is out of time | Andrew Marr | The New Statesman

As a question mark hangs over the future of HS2, it is too late for the Prime Minister to unite a divided and directionless Conservative Party before the next general election, says Andrew Marr.
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We have lived through the socially liberal, globalist Toryism of Cameron and Osborne, wedded to austerity; then the social and civic conservatism of Theresa May - what you might call heartlands Toryism; then the pumped-up ego-populism of Johnson; the crack-Thatcherism of the Truss experiment; and now the tech-bro, balance-sheet idiosyncrasies of Sunak. Is it a surprise HS2 wasn’t tightly managed through that?
Read Andrew Marr’s full piece here: www.newstatesm...
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Andrew Marr is Political Editor for the New Statesman, and is one of the UK's most senior political journalists. He spent over 20 years at the BBC where he was Political Editor and hosted the wildly successful Andrew Marr show. He is now based in Westminster where he brings his deep experience of political reporting to his analysis of the most important events in UK politics. He also hosts Tonight with Andrew Marr on LBC Radio.
Watch more videos from Andrew Marr in this playlist: • Andrew Marr
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[@maxhobbs5512]

'Long term decisions for a brighter future' - as though 13 years wasn't long enough

[@fang_xianfu]

Yup, and if he tries to disown his predecessors and claim that what matters is what his government does, that just puts the lie to any claims about long-termism. If it's not 13 years, if it's 5 leaders with just a handful of years each, and everyone disowns everything that came before, then there can be no long-termism

[@loopwithers]

Yes. Furthermore, the short-term profitability demands of banking investors of three years as a general rule. Transportation infrastructure projects pay off only after decades and bring measurable 'social benefit' whenever they do. Bankers are not particularly interested in societal benefit because they don't get a direct slice of cash

[@josephhughes1498]

It’s like Gatsby and the green light 🤣

[@themsmloveswar3985]

"Long term decisions" - that belongs beside a photograph of Boris (serial philanderer) Johnson.....

[@airingcupboard]

Like a tragic form of self parody.

[@avakholwadia1420]

Anyone that voted tories after the damage they have done in 13 years needs to really reflect on the lies, money wasting and scandalous behavior of the tories.

[@andrewwalsh2755]

anyone that votes Zionist Labour should reflect on Tony Blair, and his illegal war... his mate Peter Mandelson... and his former mate Jeffrey Epstein... and Kier Starmer still hasn't said who sponsored his membership of the Trilateral Commission...

[@audreymcgready4329]

And the needless deaths due to their policies and decisions.

[@avakholwadia1420]

@@audreymcgready4329 💯

[@zxbzxbzxb1]

If you get most of your information from say the Telegraph, you wouldn't even know 🙁🙁

[@MrVaug]

People who believe the press and the rhetoric from the Tories will still vote Tory and always will believe Boris was a good prime minister. Sheep.

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

Isn’t it sad that they’ll do anything to stay in power. Nothing to do with serving the public. Just power. That’s all they want.

[@mytimetravellingdog]

and for 6 months as well. Just call an election now.

[@gruntymchunchy1527]

"The public" as if some separate species , Where does that term even come from? How about the term "the people" like normal countries use, it even includes the elected politicians too.

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

@@gruntymchunchy1527 Never heard of public service? Public servants? The word public is used a lot in English. It’s interesting how you take annoyance at the word I used rather than the point made. Petty and silly member of the public aren’t you?

[@gruntymchunchy1527]

You mean the civil service? civil servants? I take annoyance with term itself, not you, or you using it. It's constantly used by journalists and politicians alike in Britain. "The public", as in not them.

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

@@gruntymchunchy1527 it’s a word. Get over it.

[@timgray5373]

Far too generous about Sunak. He's a cardboard cut-out who's prepared to go along with any position, no matter how nasty or backward-looking.

[@SlowhandGreg]

This is why Sunak and the Tories will be totally fked and the longer they delay the worse it will get I'm betting on a low of 20 points Quote With the energy price cap below £1,300 throughout 2021, UK households spent around £30 billion on energy during the year. In 2023 the projected spend is around £170 billion. This is equivalent to more than doubling the basic rate of income tax from 20% to 45% or almost doubling VAT from 20% to 38%. Just over 6% of GDP

[@mischabloor7194]

I totally agree

[@debb6393]

@@SlowhandGregI’ve just had a petition through because he’s talking about taking the winter fuel payment away from pensioners

[@TerriObrien-mi5rx]

Andrews on another planet with his comments about Sunak, honest and coherent don’t apply to him.🤡🤡🤡😊

[@travis1759]

Totally agree, the veneer of patronising competence masks a moral and ideological vacuum, he’ll support anything that wins votes, no matter how heinous.

[@noplace3571]

As someone who lives in Wales, and whose country hasn't voted for a Tory government in its history, the fact that we're beholden to the decisions of a party we don't even vote for infuriates me beyond belief

[@Proteus_Ridley]

You have a Welsh Labour devolved gov and it sure helped you with much lower tuition fees and no prescription fees for example

[@spacebound1522]

There are those of us in England itself that have never and will never vote Conservative, but are still 'beholden' to their rule. It's called a democracy. Unfortunately that means not always getting what you want. Still better than living in North Korea I guess?

[@spacebound1522]

@iscadean It's precisely inward-looking nationalist sentiment like that that allowed Brexit to happen in the first place. Time to think differenty, come together, and strive for better for ALL parts of the UK.

[@Jourifouler]

The fact anyone is still considering voting Tory is beyond belief

[@MartinSmith-qt3cc]

Sheeple

[@bye-72]

Still better than labour. Khan ruined London Drakeford ruined wales Starmer will ruin UK.

[@melgrant7404]

@@MartinSmith-qt3cc you that's the sheep. Tories are over.

[@djtomoy]

I am

[@paulwilson7234]

Unfortunately some people will always vote for them a three or four word slogan equals five more years. 😢

[@piccalillipit9211]

*I HAVE NOT LIVED IN THE UK FOR 14 YEARS* And its been total hell for me just watching - God knows what it must have been like living it...

[@Whiskah]

It has sucked, progressively worse year on year.

[@velisvideos6208]

I fully agree. I lived in the UK in the 1980s, and my family is very closely attached to England. Observing the increasing political and social dysfunction in England is truly depressing. Every prime minister seems to be better than the next. Great political theatre is provided in the Commons to no practical benefit. Absolutely no long term thinking, planning or execution is possible. A welfare state is supposed to be possible with low taxation. The whole country north of Cambridge is pretty much equal to the state of Mississippi, without the benefit of the warm climate. Perhaps the citizens of the UK should start considering why their political system produces such poor outcomes, almost continuosly. Would it not be time for a fundamental reform of the system?

[@piccalillipit9211]

@@Whiskah I can't begin to imagine how worn down people must be, just relentless sh!t that never ends.

[@bakersdozen3216]

I don’t recognise the country anymore! Under funded mess

[@edchonam4906]

@@velisvideos6208 you nailed it! The system needs complete overhaul

[@janeknight3597]

Why did they not start building HS2 in the North?? It was clear that the need was at the northern end.

[@fang_xianfu]

You know why, they couldn't care less about the north. It was a big shiny project to make them look good and funnel cash to their allies. As soon as the going gets tough they leave you out in the cold, that's their way.

[@parametr]

Tory "donors" own more land in the South. The more expensiv ethe project is, the more Tory consultants make.

[@ausbrum]

Ignorance of history? The northern line was built originally to link Birmingham to London, not vice versa. It was the north which linked itself up in the first place

[@cliffhughes6010]

An East - West line would have been more relevant.

[@kitkat253]

​@@parametro

[@shogun2215]

I think Marr is being far too kind to Sunak here, giving him the benefit of the doubt. He's a man woefully out of his depth, with the personality and intelligence of a dustbin. The latest in a 13 year line of "Worst Prime Ministers in British History."

[@MontyCantsin5]

I used to quite enjoy listening to Marr's insights (he was good on LBC not too long ago), but the views he's now espousing on both Sunak and Starmer are just odd. What happened?

[@paulcopsey6573]

Sunak is typical of an issue many companies & corporations fall into fueled by Sunak's own assumptions, & it always fails. The financial controller of the company, or chief accountant always thinks they can run the company as a CEO. At certain times tha board also believe having the accountant run the company is a good idea..... & it always fails. In my experience it fails because the promoted accountant has no management skills, no people skills, no agile business skills, no customer service skills, no leadership skills & a general lack of vision for the company as a whole. Seen it, done it, got the tee shirt & watched the companies fail.... & so it will come to pass for the terrible Tories.

[@PazLeBon]

@@paulcopsey6573 kinda nonsense tho , it obviously depends on the particular accountant

[@chrismoiser6477]

Sunak doesn't lack intelligence - he has worked at the highest levels in finance and made some very timely decisions as chancellor to save the UK economy during COVID. However he is not a strong leader or man of vision and has inherited the mother of all shitstorms after 13 years of Tory misrule. Even the most gifted politician would struggle in his situation.

[@LiamBar2010]

I agree, I'm not sure if he genuinely believes it or is simply stirring the pot to make a more interesting story. Take the poll data - a cursory search showed labour still ahead by around 20 from most pollsters, with the smallest gap I saw 17 points. Sunak couldn't turn around a tricycle.

[@CovidIslandDiscs]

What depresses me is how with the news cycle of the last few weeks, there are individuals in this country who think after all that: "hmm I think I will now start voting Tory"

[@jonathanveale119]

Yes, Andrew, incoherence is the word for the muddled and contradictory announcements currently spewing out of Downing Street. I would add that serial incompetence should be added to the charge sheet. This shambolic crew must be ditched as soon as possible.

[@fang_xianfu]

Rishi: Long term decisions! Also Rishi: I'm not going to comment on future things Also Rishi: I won't speculate about the future of HS2 Also Rishi: potholes!

[@debb6393]

He’s talking about taking away the winter fuel allowance now for pensioners.

[@davidhatton6858]

Absolutely agree 100%

[@arthurscargill8010]

Andrew has proved himself to have been a great signing for the NS. Always look forward to these end of the week monologues where he runs through his column as he manages to pick up on things that I, a huge consumer of political content, don't see being picked up elsewhere. Thanks all.

[@jamesharris5707]

Agree. To be honest I prefer listening to him than reading him; his enthusiasm is compelling

[@arthurscargill8010]

@@jamesharris5707 Clearly we have the same tastes, which is why, I suppose, I shouldn't be surprised to discover that I'm a long-term subscriber to your Substack. Enjoy Brussels.

[@cybertrade7908]

Andrew has been very good for years. However, these days i find him to have a very negative attitude (Grumpy old man syndrome). I would prefer him to put his thinking cap on and use his talent to provide positive suggestions / agenda. Then he could make an actual contribution to what is going on.

[@l33jcm]

Good grief! This Government is years past it's "best by" date. I have more faith in Larry to manage our Country more effectively. Give us a GE so we can put this one to sleep, and end our suffering!

[@fang_xianfu]

They took the best before dates off most fresh food. Now you won't notice how bad the freshness is with the food being shipped later from further away.

[@grimnir8872]

@@fang_xianfu They took the best by dates off most food because people were throwing away fresh food because they can't be bothered to look at their own food quality and just go by a number.

[@adamdublin]

Is it even possible to love your country and vote Tory at the same time ?

[@audreymcgready4329]

NO.

[@TheSurrealWolf]

It is if you're racist

[@audreymcgready4329]

@@TheSurrealWolf I am pleased to say. I am not.

[@TheSurrealWolf]

@@audreymcgready4329 well guess you gotta vote UKIP then

[@joeblogs6598]

The same could be said for voting labour.

[@paultaylor7082]

Another poll show the gap is still 20 points, too soon to tell. If someone gets something wrong for 13 years, why trust them for another 5 years? Coming to Manchester and denying HS2 will or won't be coming there is going to take some explaining, something that Sunny boy is woefully poor at doing.

[@ogribiker8535]

Deltapoll have a history of getting it wrong !

[@fang_xianfu]

Also the balls of him to say "I'm not going to talk about future things" when he's also talking about his supposed long-term decisions. He's the Prime Minister, if he's not going to talk about the future, who will?

[@fang_xianfu]

​@@ogribiker8535 YouGov's latest poll shows that the Tories immediately lost that bump and it's back to 23%. The Lib Dems also picked up a point.

[@ParcelOfRogue]

Mark Pack Polls shows all of them and there's nothing less than a 15% lead for Labour. The main two are Yougov and IPSOS which show 20 & 21% leads

[@SlowhandGreg]

This is why Sunak and the Tories will be totally fked and the longer they delay the worse it will get I'm betting on a low of 20 points Quote With the energy price cap below £1,300 throughout 2021, UK households spent around £30 billion on energy during the year. In 2023 the projected spend is around £170 billion. This is equivalent to more than doubling the basic rate of income tax from 20% to 45% or almost doubling VAT from 20% to 38%. Just over 6% of GDP

[@ericclacton]

We can't allow these clowns back in power again surely.

[@ericclacton]

@@BM-rr1ir Here's one for Mother.

[@davideyres955]

Are you talking about the conservatives or labour? Personally I think we need to see the tories go but I dread Starmer getting in to power. The man can’t keep his story straight for 2 minutes let alone 5 years. “Jeremy Corbyn is a friend” “no he’s not I haven’t spoken to him for 2 years” I didn’t like Corbyn’s policies but as a person at lest he had integrity, something that Starmer doesn’t have an ounce of. Then again what’s he up against, tories who only care about the Uber rich. Seems that every politician is a puppet of the WEF.

[@ericclacton]

@@davideyres955 We just can't afford to have the Tories lining their pockets in government again.

[@petermorris3665]

Certainly not Gordon Clown, Please!

[@jmshrrsn]

I’ll probably top myself if we end up with the Tories for the “long term” future. Seriously, that party has done NOTHING to improve my life.

[@23merlino]

how come france, germany, spain etc. can all build high-speed rail networks but britain can't...?

[@isotropisch82]

Regarding Spain, the country is much much less densely populated than the UK, and it is easier to buy up barren fields... and the UK is governed by incompetents who have no idea how to do anything except funnel public money to private hands, and make headlines in the telegraph.

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

Led by donkeys is the short answer.

[@simoningate2056]

some nimbyism, some issues with getting planning done, but mainly incompetence and corruption, if the projects were state controlled they could do it more efficiently, cheaper and without the massive increase in costs - the money has been spent and the job has not been done. Perhaps we should get in the Spanish contractors to get the job done - their high speed network is excellent and prices are cheap (for example travelled from Madrid to Alicante - return (one week in the south of Spain) for €39 (from a private company) - the journey takes 2 1/2 hours on a very comfortable train with decent seating, wifi, electricity for my laptop and a guaranteed seat. Took a trip from Cambridge Southampton (lot closer distance) last November - it took more than 4 hours and cost £77 one way, the trains were quite frankly crap and had to stand up all the way from Cambridge to Kings Cross - along with dozens of others on a very overcrowded service. UK rail system is rotten to the core and privatisation is one of the reasons.

[@ausbrum]

@@isotropisch82 Paris has ,I think, the best urban transport of any city, and France the best railway , the SNCF. A large part of the TGV track has been built alongside existing rail corridors, eliminating gradients and curves.Much of the network is based on prefabricated track, costing a fraction of highway building (two lanes instead of eight). Amsterdam/Paris is reduced from 5 hours to three, the new line is level and runs next to the roadway. HS2 is a mammoth engineering undertaking in comparison, with involved tunnelling. It could have been built along the Chiltern line. It could have passed through Oxford, guaranteeing patronage

[@TheMercifulKnight]

Because of Labour mind control! Look it up! They control the Tories and it's not the Tories fault!

[@tjr-007tt]

When you get a compliment from someone like Donald Trump you know you’ve truly gone off the deep end.

[@einseitig3391]

In all honesty, given I voted Conservative for most of my life, it would be a tragedy for the country and the Conservative party were they to be voted back in. Lots of things in life need renewal. A number of years in opposition would allow for fresh blood to enter and a sharper focus on what it means to be Conservative; save clinging on to power and making the country a worse place to live. The past 13 years have shown them to offer very poor stewardship and that this is getting worse with ministers obviously not up to the job taking on briefs for which they are not suitable. HS2 is just the latest debacle. Sunak appears to have backed himself into a corner. If he abandons the Birmingham to Manchester phase we will have just a London to Birmingham line or rather Old Oak Common to Birmingham line which will be a white elephant. And a costly one to boot.

[@methanedirigible]

So basically: this is all your fault

[@mickjohnston499]

"what it means to be a Conservative" is to be a corrupt talentless sociopath that revels in destroying the country's culture infrastructure and prospects. The tragedy has already happened mate. Thanks for voting for it.

[@FrozenHero2010]

Agree with your remarks about HS2. No-one has mentioned the cost of a train ticket should this service ever run (very expensive, I should think). Vanity project. Bite the bullet - pull the plug.

[@jameslyons532]

​@@methanedirigiblethere are many decent reasons people voted for Johnson over corbyn. Saying it's all his fault is a silly comment.

[@tjr-007tt]

I admire your honesty in voting for such a dishonest group for the past 13 years and most of your life.

[@mattinterweb]

Rory Stewart outlines in his new book how ineffective government is because of this ministery merry-go-round and how ineffective the system is.

[@nicks4934]

Rory who ran away

[@matthewcoombs3282]

To be fair he stuck at it for 10 years, then had the whip withdrawn from him for not supporting a hard Brexit. I think he feels he can do more good working for an NGO rather than be in Westminster.@@nicks4934

[@MrCherryJuice]

@@nicks4934 Rory who was honest enough with himself to admit that the machinations of politics were not good for his health. Some people make better coaches than players. Unfortunately, too many how a no good at either currently walk the halls of Westminster.

[@MHopLEY2028]

A guy who weaponises net zero into a "war on car" is not honest. Marr is giving Sunak a massively easy pass here

[@tompearce3610]

"fundamentally honest himself..." signing the cheques on overpriced PPE from donors and mates, not declaring an interest before introducing a new policy that benefited his wife's business, going back on last Tory manifesto (lots), boasting about moving money from poor inner cities, pretending that more oilfields would help UK energy pricing and resilience, claiming inflation drop was achieved by govt policy, etc, etc.

[@skinwalker_]

I can’t imagine a single normal person wanting to vote Tory. It’s been 13 years of going backwards in every aspect.

[@andrewwalsh2755]

40+ years, under Labour and Conservative... both "borrowing to invest"... reducing (debt/gdp)... creating Magic Money (QE)... increasing national debt... diverting public funds to their dubious supporters, donors and friends... (Labours 2005 Gambling Act... £ straight from public to rogue)... It's legalised theft. At least the Tories didn't lie to us to take us into an illegal war... (Boris just lied for personal gain)... Vote Green Party!🇬🇧

[@Mandy-dy7nj]

The Tories main fear mongering is that we'll all pay more taxes. That puts the fear of god into some people even though, looking at other higher taxed European countries, higher taxes and better social services mean a happier society. In fact I was listening to an American woman who lives in Germany and even though her salary is lower AND her taxes are higher, she has more disposable income because she doesn't have to pay out of pocket health expenses, her car doesn't need constant repairs because a) the roads are in better nick and b) she can walk a lot more to places than she did in her US city. She gave some other examples too. And it's not as if the US is particularly low taxes - they just use it for different things, like their defence industry.

[@stevec6427]

​@Mandy-dy7nj under tory rule, we have already got very high taxes but it's all going to corporate subsidies instead of public services.

[@Mandy-dy7nj]

@@BM-rr1ir The last big house price crash was in 1989/90 - that was during the Tory years - Blair got in in 1997. House prices stayed static for 10 years then have been rising steadily since around 2000 (some might say out of control compared to the increase in salaries). It looks like we're heading for the next big housing price correction - under the Tories again. There's lots of criticise about Labour under Blair - so I wonder why people feel they have to make things up?

[@skinwalker_]

@@BM-rr1ir I had a dinner party and there was this Tory joker who tried to explain that Brown sold the gold reserves. So a well-intentioned trade which you can never time perfectly lost about £600m from an optimal outcome. The Tories are set to waste almost £200 billion and yet these Tory jokers still reference the gold. You wonder at what point people stopped thinking for themselves? Enlighten us, please

[@nicknorton3867]

Andrew thinks Rishi Sunak is "fundamentally honest"... To say this a poor judgement of character/evidence over the past four years is a phenomenal understatement 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@stevengreenhough4232]

"Roll back legal pledges whilst enriching the family quaffers" is one of the examples of fundamental honesty given in the dictionary isn't it?

[@KernowFishy]

Yep, he's been spraying out constant bilge ..proving the opposite of what Marr says.

[@Boghopper9999]

Everything is relative; look at his predecessors

[@jillybe1873]

Even if Rish! would secretly wish to be an honest man, his wife's family won't let him.

[@billycan8852]

I have never disliked a political party so much as this lot .

[@thomasmoore1499]

Seems very convenient that this poll comes out just as the Tory forces are meeting for their conference and Sunak will shout about it to the roof tops.

[@KernowFishy]

You gov poll shows it widening again since that week old poll too.

[@bucyrus5000]

The problem for any UK party is the intense pressing need for constitutional reform. The union of nations needs reform. Parliament needs reform. The position of MP needs reimagining. And your financial culture needs reform after some soul searching. If you are going to protect wealth, then do so in a way that works, that taxes the rich without loopholes, builds wealth for other Brits, and funds the government.

[@PazLeBon]

thats corbyn, no way they let things like that happen, most tory mp's have shares in big oil etc

[@grimnir8872]

@@PazLeBon No, Corbyn wanted to tax everyone heavily, spend it on foreigners and nationalise everything so the only thing produced would be what his left wing middle class voter base wanted.

[@mohassan1581]

Salute to AM, for a succinct clear explanation...!

[@davidpeppert9168]

Great presentation, Andrew, and a very good in-depth analysis of the state of the Tory party.

[@olivierbeltrami]

As someone who has regularly travels to Singapore for work since 2002, I am always amazed at people who think of Singapore as an unregulated wild west. Singapore is one of the most regulated societies that I know but, and it’s a big but, Singapore regulations are smart and seem to make sense to the average citizen.

[@matthewcoombs3282]

Yes it annoys me how they use the term "Singapore on Thames" to describe how the hard right want to de-regulate London markets. They just dont understand how Singapore is governed. Certainly better governed than the UK!!

[@MrTARDIS]

Remember when Andrew Marr held his book launch in 2014...in No. 10 Downing Street? It's worth acknowledging that he is part of the systems that broke this country in the first place.

[@TheAtual]

Andrew Marr is the son of an investment trust manager, went to prep, then public school, a prefect, studied at Trinity College Cambridge, and has been the editor at The Independent as well as political editor for The Economist and columnist with The Observer, The Guardian and New Statesman as well as being a presenter with the BBC. Marr is an intellectual and credits the general public with a reasonable level of intelligence, sadly, Brexit should tell him that’s not the case and all the Conservatives have to do to win the next general election is to keep blaming foreigners for all our social and economic problems. It’s what Enoch Powell did, it’s what Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson did and guess what the average voter falls for it every time.

[@nicks4934]

We can’t afford hate anymore

[@dfd7376]

Exactly right. The naivety around his points surrounding net zero for instance are astounding. It’s clear as day it’s being leveraged in this fatuous culture war, and the polls indicate that it’s working.

[@andrewrobinson2565]

At least you're not an intellectual 😂🎉.

[@PJ-om2wq]

Marr is a champagne socialist.

[@andrewrobinson2565]

@@PJ-om2wq As opposed to a red-wall Prosecco Tory, you mean? 🤔

[@christoguichard4311]

This is the best comedy channel on KZbin...😂 And...Marr is wonderfully deluded.

[@mauricetucker8754]

If they have no answers to the economic crisis and debts now ? No promise policy or directions we are in dangerous place!

[@grahampeters7297]

Have I looked in a mirror and been transported to a parallel universe of British sitcoms. Is he honestly going to stand behind 'Long term decisions for a brighter future,' and then cancel another section of HS2 for short term savings. Who owns these construction companies and where has the money all gone. The section that has been constructed is probably only designed to last twenty years. It's farcical.

[@Dom-fk3te]

Nothing has been constructed yet, even in the parts that are going ahead. Theyve spent 50 billion on planning (nothing) hiring and then paying release clauses for cancelling contractors. The most ironic thing is that the proposed line of HS2 is so thoroughly untouched by humans it's functionally a nature reserve

[@Fredric_Cedrich]

How can the Conservatives talk of long term decisions when their ideology since 1979 has been all about making choices in the here & now, focussing on short term investments & making things up as they go along.

[@crackerbarrel210]

After this Conservative Government gets removed, there will be even more chaos. Labour will not be able to turn it around, and will have to move closer to the EU. So slowly, we're getting close to the EU again and will have to re-enter the EU which is a good positive to come out of this. This is good, once the UK enters the EU again the good times will slowly come back.

[@FrozenHero2010]

Be careful what you wish for in rejoining the EU.

[@memusic-]

The Tories will lie them selves back in…

[@annepoitrineau5650]

NO!!

[@FrozenHero2010]

Just as Labour will lie to gain power.

[@petermorris3665]

Liebour are pretty good at lying too! The clue is in their name!

[@flemmingmorgan1929]

From everything he has done I could never consider Sunak as honest.Too many lies, too weak to control Braverman etc, overturning principles for cynical motives Otherwise an excellent piece as usual from Andrew Marr

[@djtomoy]

Obviously in an ideal world the population would collectively get together and program a computer to represent their needs, interests, aspirations and philosophies and let it run everything for 100 years, then get back together and make some updates or fix it if it starts to many wars.

[@deadtotheworld22]

'Fundamentally honest'? I'm sorry, are we talking about the PM or someone else?

[@pakpala1]

Blair to Cameron to May to Boris to Truss to Rishi.. Enough is enough...

[@ohgosh5892]

Sage remarks indeed. Trust. It's all about trust.

[@Kiltking]

I’m a Scotsman. Get me out of here.!! ⚖️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@nomercygaming3703]

Always voted labour. I have no idea what labours plans are, just a lot of wishy washy, lots of Ermmms and look how badly the tories are… still not HEARING WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO?!?!?!?!?!? or are all there policies the same as the tories just don’t want to say?

[@geraldbutler5484]

After all they are really for the few not the many. The problem is in convincing enough of the many to let them get their claws on the levers of power once more.

[@davidhall7744]

Rishi Rich has been a caretaker PM since the day he walked into No.10. For ‘Long Term Decisions’ read ‘Reversing Tory Policies’ 😂

[@RichardFraser-y9t]

'Sorting out our next jobs'

[@nomore2863]

The lead shrinks a bit and everyone loses their minds 😂😂😂

[@banshees9]

Maybe Andy can explain why quadrupling the national debt from 500 billion in 2010 to around 2 trillion now is perfect budgeting

[@alexfeeney4776]

Remember how they were supposed to be reducing the deficit? What a joke.

[@conorwhitworth5182]

Everyone: Cost of living crisis. Creaking infrastructure. Rail crisis. Soaring childcare costs. Raw human sewage in waterways. Climate crisis. NHS crisis. Housing/rent crisis. Tories: Potholes, migrants and 20mph zones.

[@momo8200]

Taxes are now higher than what the Tories said it would be under Corbyn, without the additional services that Corbyn was proposing. Many people are seemingly unaware that the fiscal and economic mismanagement currently is obscene.

[@FrozenHero2010]

Corbyn wouldn't have coped with Covid, would have ignored Ukraine's pleas for help.

[@momo8200]

@@FrozenHero2010 Why wouldn't Corbyn have coped with COVID when European governments on the left and right had similar measures to support jobs. My comment was related to domestic economic policy.

[@davideyres955]

Of course Corbyn would’t have coped since his policies were to spend a ton more with a ridiculous 1% extra on the top rate of tax to pay for it which wouldn’t generated anything like the amount of revenue. There would have been a ton of borrowing and then covid would have hit. He wouldn’t have changed course but would have kept to his dogma. You only have to look at what Liz Truss did to see how it would have gone, but because he thoroughly believes in socialism he would have kept with the disastrous policies despite the inevitable turmoil.

[@paultaylor7082]

As regards Conservative policy, they're pretty well always on the wrong side of the argument. Don't get carried away with inflation falling yet again Andrew, average earnings are increasing at an annual rate of 7% in the UK, you'll be in for a long wait before inflation is back to the BOE's 2% target, 2025 at the earliest, more likely 2026. You need to read up more on what's happening with price rises, petrol prices are on the rise again and supermarket prices are still increasing at a near double digit inflation rate, indicating the battle against inflation is nowhere near over.

[@salzach353thomas8]

UK should get the Spanish to build their high speed trains. They are everywhere now in Spain and not expensive.

[@nagitarze62]

A brilliant, and let's hope prescient, analysis.

[@dreamingspires2319]

Time for an independent organisation to step in and protect the people in this country from its politicians.

[@jonathanfell688]

Fascism you mean...

[@kabl00muk94]

The fact this political podcast is sponsored by a company that helps the rich avoid taxation on their money is the litteral definition of irony 🤣

[@nicks4934]

Did it affect the content?

[@kabl00muk94]

@@nicks4934 I'd say it speaks more towards the ideological leanings and integrity of whoever runs the show tbh

[@catherinemartin6258]

I hope the Tory’s get what they deserve

[@Dom-fk3te]

There has been more transport secretaries than there are miles of HS2 that are completed in 10 years

[@parametr]

Why do people think Sunak knows about economy? He is a hedge fund guy (aka speculator), who is alleged to obtain high-paying jobs AFTER marrying the daughter of the richest dude in India... Rich kid who was handed money. That's it.

[@KAZUYADOG]

They are .......DONE.

[@rolstonholas333]

When did Sunak become an accountant? Just because he isn't as bat sh*t crazy as his two predecessors doesn't actually mean he is a good PM. What big projects has been involved in that helps him understand HS2? I'm failing to see where the evidence is for anything that AM has said in this video. The Tories have been incredibly successful at getting elected but it helps when you are the only real party of the right & you are prepared to lie to the electorate & break electoral rules.

[@annepoitrineau5650]

Andrew, your analysis of Sunak's character is much too kind.

[@f4bric-termor465]

I would never vote for the tories, take a look around us, we are going backwards, food banks,rising cost of everything across the board, good prices are scandalous, has and electric fuel, (Gas) taxes, there is so much poverty, they can say whatever they like to the run up of the election they will never convince me, get rid I say.

[@BrightonandHoveActually]

We will not see a springboard but a plank, along which Captain Hogwash is walking.

[@herbypumpkin1256]

The problems of the UK are too deep for anyone to solve. It is a bust little island somewhere off the coast of Europe. Went bust in 2008 Banking Crash and has printed and borrowed money ever since. In 2008 National Debt was 43% of GDP. Now its 101%. It may be the 6th largest Economy in th World but its 27th when you divide GDP per person living there.

[@herbypumpkin1256]

It will get worse whoever wins. And I can buzz back off to Ireland but it is just as bad over there now as well.

[@FrozenHero2010]

​@Mantastic-ho3vmHow can it get better? The last Labour government took money from everybody, gave money to nobody, all money wasted, no money left.

[@jameshill4911]

No matter how bad Labour might and probably will be, the Conservatives are exhausted. For their sake and above all for Britain they need a couple of terms out of government.

[@alansdorsetfossils4028]

Sunak fundamentally honest??? What planet have you been on Andrew? Is somebody telling you to say this?? I can't believe you said that....

[@Vocela]

Wonderful analysis from Andrew.

[@jamesnicoll8415]

Andrew, you’re not really selling the Tories to me!

[@PC-of7lw]

It's okay because they'll win the GE without your vote. They have deep pockets and many media friends :)

[@nicholasjagger6557]

Our political system is in its death throes and few can really think either party is now fit for purpose. People like Andrew Marr try to whip up enthusiasm for Westminster, but whether you look at Corbyn or Johnson, our political landcape is a desert and our economy continues to shrink as calls on the public purse increase.

[@jonathanfell688]

They are going for the Clarkson vote. Problem is there's no ummmphh to it beyond 'cars' and cruelty.

[@mwmds]

“Rishi Sunak is a joke”

[@melgrant7404]

Especially as he was considering scrapping the winter fuel payment to fund the triple lock.

[@SlowhandGreg]

What Car does Sunak Drive A Ford Fiasco Boom Boom

[@buzzukfiftythree]

I would suggest that the reason why the Labour lead is diminishing is because Labour are doing so many policy u-turns. I am a more centrist Labour Party member and, while I recognise the difficulties in formulating the Labour Party manifesto in the current unstable political climate, even I feel that Starmer seems to be rowing back on so many policies that are attractive to floating voters that it could yet turn a landslide Labour victory into ignominious defeat.

[@peterteagleteagle9958]

Given the chance, I wouldn't vote Labour or cons

[@BboyCorrosive]

The main parties are done. Time for some of the smaller ones to have a go

[@colincampbell4261]

Need to have PR first.

[@jonmortermusic]

They are smaller for a reason

[@MaxDamageTV]

It's was an outlier poll. The lead has already been reversed by more recent polling. 😂

[@trevorspottiswood985]

Out of time, out of ideas and more importantly, out of money.

[@kincaidwolf5184]

I would vote for the Labour Party if they supported election reform.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

Of course, it is potentially dangerous to democracy if a party remains in power too long. The 13 yrs from 1951 to 64 proved that. Sir Kier is more than a little underwhelming as the prospect for an alternative, however. It seems as if late 2024 in the UK and in the US both offer choices between two individuals few people truly want.

[@stuartcunningham7666]

Whats it like to be a victim of political Stockholm syndrome.

[@nicks4934]

Please tell us 😂

[@dextercool]

Are these polls based on likely voters? What the general public thinks is almost irrelevant if they don't vote.

[@brianduguid6721]

Long term decisions for a better future. WellJRM did say I believe that Brexit would take 50 years for us to benefit. Will all their decisions take so long!!

[@grimnir8872]

I'll vote for anyone who is going to tackle the rapid influx of foreign people who seem to be priortized in every sector from Jobs, health and housing compared to the native Briton. Why is the native Briton paying more in taxes while more and more people who don't pay them are allowed in on the budget we have? Fact is the Government spends alot of money doing nothing and not a single major party is going to change that or stand up for the rights of native British people. They're all more concerned about global apperances than the well being of the British people.

[@kenbushnell5943]

Rishi Sunak is taking the British people for complete fools. It just isn’t credible for him to distance himself from the Tory governments that came before him. He was the Chancellor for two years. He held roles in successive governments for five. We just can't let him get away with this desperate posturing. To turn the page on this chaos, the country needs the election of a Labour government committed to ending the Tory decline and rebuilding Britain.

[@Greenpoloboy3]

Poor Sunak. Doing everything for us, out of love, but running out of time. x

[@Aw4183]

On what planet is Sunak fundamentally honest? I've never seen him give a straight answer to any question.

[@LookDeeper]

Rearranging chairs on a sinking ship. The economy and political system needs a fundamental change, rebuilt from the ground up. It would/will take decades.

[@crayontom9687]

These nobs were out of time in 2010, it’s just you and your mates in the media gave them a free pass. For 12 years

[@malcolmfraser7939]

Rishi is facing existential problems : Public sector spending is notoriously ineffectual . The evidence is clear at the outset the estimate for HS2 was not realistic. The amount of planning , not detailed enough.

[@miakeogh6844]

The only philosophy the torie believe in is money money for themselves

[@EnolaK]

This country has been delsiouanl for the last 13 years and this man has been a leader in spreading and enriching such delusion.

[@domaldursigurdsson3974]

Frankly, our Pharaoh was never really generously endowed with time.

[@alanwhiplington5504]

Yes, it is possible to have big projects without stable governments. We have much to envy the superb and affordable Italian rail system for. And they have plenty of high speed trains. Our problem is incompetent government. We are run by a Westminster subsidised eating and drinking club.

[@modrevival168]

I hope so

[@johnderrick2501]

Given the choice between the Tories and Labour - amazingly - I'm becoming a Monarchist !

[@nicks4934]

Eh?😂

[@johnderrick2501]

@@nicks4934 I know - 😩😩😩

[@Taporeee]

Sinking Sunak.

[@BroughPaul]

Was that a deliberate “erosion of the Conservative lead” because that’s an egregious ‘mistake’ to make.

[@johntaylor3940]

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 5 PRMEMINISTERS CAN YOU FIND ONE THAT WAS ACUALLY ANY USE AT ALL , ALL FILLED THERE OWN POCKETS OFF THE TAX PAYERS

[@bbbf09]

Let's remember 1 in 3 people. ONE IN THREE. ...will still vote Tory despite everything that happened. Plus firm majority of over 60s. Incredible! And such figures mask reality that people who actually vote Tory are much higher. Let brexit be a lesson. Sunak can still win.

[@sergecasasus6421]

Just flatter the electorate who fears change, who fears the dark future of climate and environmental crises, put a massive load of demagogy and you will win any election.