Rachel Reeves finally has a good idea – why has it taken two years? | UK | News

The distress felt by millions of families in Britain three months since the start of the Iran War is a stark reminder that this is Labour’s issue, not just a Middle East issue.

And if the news wasn’t already bad enough, we haven’t even begun to feel the full force of the economic fallout.

Still, it’s nice to know that Rachel Reeves has an answer: a few pence off a pepperoni pizza and a pack of chocolate digestifs, and a fiver off the already outrageously expensive admission to Legoland or Peppa Pig World. This should make the masses happy, right? Wrong.

Temporary – that’s right temporary – measures it has taken to help millions of families struggling with the cost of living crisis include reducing VAT on family events and children’s meals from 20 per cent to 5 per cent between June and September.

Customs duties will also be reduced on products such as chocolate and biscuits, despite the fact that one in three children in primary school is overweight or obese.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to help struggling families “make memories” during the summer holidays.

Think of the misery endured by these struggling families over the last two years and remember that unemployment is at 5%, the number of job postings has fallen to its lowest level in five years, and this is Labour’s gift to you.

The Chancellor has happily scooped up £66 billion in tax rises across two budgets, but feels the paltry proposal still rewards those struggling financially. This is another idea that has been woefully implemented, but it goes some way to showing the depth of the economic mess it has gotten the country into.

The VAT discount applies to cinemas, soft play centres, theatres, theme parks, zoos and other attractions, as well as children’s menus, but the catch is that it is the responsibility of businesses to pass the discounts on to customers.

For many it will be too late and, worse still, it is an insult to think that this ruse is anywhere near enough to satisfy a country stuck under Labour’s boot.

Ms Reeves even pleaded with supermarkets to help cut costs for customers asking them to limit price rises on essentials such as eggs, bread and milk. The idea was rejected as “completely ridiculous”.

This assessment may equally apply to lax and half-hearted attempts to persuade the public that Labor is helping to lift the financial burden.

It has taken the Chancellor two years to offer the country carrots, but while the “summer savings plan” is welcomed by some, it does absolutely nothing to address problems of major concern, such as rising energy bills and the high post-war tax burden caused by a multi-year freeze on personal income tax deductions.

Sir Keir said: “We’re making it easier and more affordable for families to get out, spend time together and create memories to last a lifetime this summer… the cost of a day out is falling overnight.”

Perhaps the Prime Minister will benefit from this; after all, he might find some free time for himself in the next few months.

In July, the energy price cap limiting the maximum unit price of gas and electricity is predicted to rise by hundreds of pounds a year as the choking global oil and gas supply bites with all its might. This will be a winter of discontent.

A few quid here and it is an insult that the UK’s welfare bill will rise by £73.2bn to £406.2bn over the next five years.

A look at the figures shows how dire the situation was under Labour.

The UK borrowed a further £24.3bn in April; this was well above the Office for Budget Responsibility’s estimate of £20.9bn.

Meanwhile, the ONS said our debt interest bill rose to £10.3bn last month.

This government is paying more than £100bn a year to service its debts, across its depth and borrowed time.

It will take more than a Margherita pizza and a trip to Peppa Pig World for people to forgive and forget the economic inadequacy of this setup.

To think otherwise shows that the Government lives in a parallel universe.