Reversing the cancellation of 30 local council elections is set to cost the taxpayer tens of millions. One of Starmer’s biggest U-turns yet…
The BBC reports £63 million has been put aside to help councils with additional costs. Additionally the government will have to pay Reform’s legal costs…
A Reform source says of their legal costs: “It’s not at clear yet – we’ll need to take stock – but it will be over £100,000 for sure.” Adding insult to injury…
As recently as 22 January MHCLG had adopted a combative stance on the policy – attacking reporting which said elections had been ‘cancelled’ and providing a rigorous defence of the delays. Looks more than a bit stupid now…
Former Treasury minister and adviser to Burnham in the Makerfield campaign Lord Jim O’Neill, who has turned down a role in his government, said Burnham’s first statement Commons was:
“The last thing investors wanted to hear… gilt yields have risen by a 0.25% in one day, which is a lot. We’ve not had that since Liz Truss days… If your country is under the focus of ‘can they come up with a sensible fiscal strategy’ on a day when the markets think ‘well no, you’re not showing any sign of it’ you’re going to have a tough day…if it stays like this your mortgage rate is going up.”