THE AMERICA ONE NEWS
Jun 4, 2025  |  
0
 | Remer,MN
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge.
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge and Reasoning Support for Fantasy Sports and Betting Enthusiasts.
back  
topic
The Economist
The Economist
22 May 2024


NextImg:Rishi the rash
Britain | Bagehot

Rishi the rash 

A snap election befits an impulsive, illogical and often odd prime minister 

Over the patter of the rain and the sound of protesters’ speakers blasting “Things Can Only Get Better”, an anthem of New Labour, it was almost impossible to hear Rishi Sunak outside 10 Downing Street on May 22nd. The words were close to inaudible but the message was clear: the prime minister had spoken to the king, Parliament was to be dissolved and an election is coming on July 4th. The decision is impulsive, illogical and entirely in keeping with the manner in which Mr Sunak has governed.

Calling an election earlier than many had expected has some small merit. The inflation figure for the year to April, released earlier in the day, was slightly higher than expected, at 2.3%. Although Mr Sunak claimed victory (“inflation is back to where it should be”) hopes of early interest-rate cuts by the Bank of England, which would relieve pain for mortgage-holders, had gone. Higher borrowing costs also leave little room for another round of tax cuts in the autumn. The main benefit of waiting, at least in the eyes of the government, had disappeared. So why do it?