‘BRITAIN has replaced Italy as Europe’s problem economy. Having left the EU, the new Conservative government led by Prime Minister Liz Truss faces almost no constraints. She was expected to be bold. She is turning out to be bonkers.’

These are not my words, but The Washington Post describing Brexit Britain.

I was in town on Saturday morning, using local shops (dry cleaners/Post Office/bank etc, use them or lose them!) and was pleased to bump into various friends and aquaintances who wanted to chat, which I am always very happy to do.

Clearly there is much concern about the state of the country and the mismanagement of the economy.

The cost of living crisis, soaring mortgage rates (even if you can get one) fuel bills and a ‘creaking’ NHS are all of huge concern. Sad to say, but we really haven’t seen anything yet.

It hardly seems credible that a new Prime Minister should generate such anxiety and loathing in such a short period of time.

It’s worrying to think that the Truss victory in the recent Conservative Party leadership election was heralded as a great result by the local Newton Abbot Conservatives (MDA September 8, page 14) who apparently are happy to acknowledge their support for our latest PM.

Perhaps they are all city bankers? The sheer injustice of the priorities being promoted leaves me reeling, but they shouldn’t have been a surprise if we look at Ms Truss’s voting record over the past few years (see TheyWork-ForYou the parliamentary tracking website).

The evidence is clear that she is a regular ‘U’ turner (a Remain voter who is now an avid Brexiter voting 18 times against Britain’s membership of the EU, but various other examples exist… something to do with advancing a political career perhaps?)

There are those in Westminster, a growing number apparently, who see her as a ‘chameleon’ politician who can change her stance according to the political wind of the moment.

Let’s spend a moment examining her voting record, prior to her attaining the highest political position in the land curtesy of, amongst others, the Newton Abbot Conservatives.

She normally voted against policies to combat climate change, including voting not to reduce vehicle emissions by 2030 and against reducing carbon emissions from new build homes (with mortgage rates sky rocketing thanks to her policies however, it’s unlikely many other than those city bankers and their chums will be close to affording a new home any time soon).

She is in favour of fracking. In 2015 she also voted to apply a new tax on electricity generated from renewable sources.

While Foreign Secretary Ms Truss seemed intent on upsetting allies, perhaps most famously by stating that ‘the jury is out’ on whether French President Macron is a ‘friend or foe’. Similarly, President Biden is clearly unimpressed and the promised favourable trade deal with America seems ever more distant, due in large part to Britain’s exit from Europe and the Conservative Party stance on Northern Ireland.

She doesn’t want an inquiry into the Iraq war. She supports (or supported?) the highly dubious ‘Rwanda’ policy for migrants crossing the channel, currently being challenged in the courts.

She has consistently voted against helping those in greatest need with a wish not to increase benefits for those unable to work due to illness or disability. She voted against a bankers bonus tax (no surprise there!) and the Mansion Tax, but for the reducing housing benefit (the so called ‘Bedroom Tax’) She voted against investment in training for the unemployed 16-19 year olds.

Her voting record on the NHS suggests favouring the private sector and encouraging the use of that sector by NHS GPs.

She seems keen to reduce democratic accountability by reducing the influence of local government and reducing the number of MPs. She similarly appears to want to reduce the influence of both the Welsh and Scottish Parliaments, while at the same time promising to push through a devolution deal for North Yorkshire and York, which doesn’t strike me as consistent thinking.

All this and much more was known during the drawn-out leadership election process, with her opponent Rishi Sunak pointing out the dangers of the economic proposals she was spouting. We haven’t heard much (anything?) from him since the result was announced, but he just might be allowing himself a wry smile, though surely no one can be other than concerned that we appear to have economically and politically illiterates running the country.

I fully understand that you may disagree with me, and still support Ms Truss, but she is doing much which is damaging the country. I accept the fluid nature of the current situation and hopefully things may change. We urgently need a General Election, which would require a vote in a Conservative dominated Parliament. I don’t see turkeys voting for Christmas.

There is a tongue in check tale about a railway worker (Stoker, 3rd class) falling in love with and marrying the Regional Manager’s daughter. They agreed to hold the wedding reception on the enclosed bridge above the railway, only for the bridge to collapse during the reception with unfortunate consequences.

The moral of the story is that one should be very careful about marrying above one’s station. It strikes me that the same applies to far too many who ‘marry above their station’ and find themselves in positions to which they are simply not suited.

I have seen it often, people rising beyond their capabilities… in education; retail; government local and national; our current Prime Minister being but one example.

How on earth did Liz Truss rise to the position she now holds? So much for the judgment of the local Conservative party leadership.