DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Poll shows pathway to a Tory victory
If Tory strategists require a template for their general election manifesto, they need look no further than the opinion poll we publish in the Mail today. It lays out in the clearest terms the overriding priorities and concerns of British families.
Ease the cost of living crunch, fix the crumbling NHS, get to grips with migration, take a realistic approach to climate change and tackle rising crime.
None of these should come as any surprise. But there is a widespread belief they are not being properly addressed. Rishi Sunak must change this perception – and soon.
Otherwise, hollow and untrustworthy though his Labour opponents undoubtedly are, they could win the next election by default. Thankfully, there are signs the PM is waking up to this fact.
In recent weeks he has begun to put clear blue water between himself and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on some of these key issues. Our survey suggests the people are behind him.
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Ease the cost of living crunch, fix the crumbling NHS, get to grips with migration, take a realistic approach to climate change and tackle rising crime
Pushing back the deadline for net zero emissions, sending asylum seekers to Rwanda for assessment and maintaining the pensions triple lock are all proving hugely popular.
On the economy, inflation and migration, Mr Sunak is now neck and neck with Sir Keir in terms of voter trust – a considerable achievement given how far the Tories had fallen behind.
He must now nourish these green shoots of recovery with a bold and unabashed restatement of Conservative values.
The abolition of inheritance tax would be an easy win. Our poll, carried out by Survation, shows a clear majority in favour of scrapping this levy on family aspiration, with just 20 per cent against.
Indeed, taxes overall are cripplingly high and must be cut. A report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies yesterday showed this parliament has raised taxes more than any other since records began.
All in all, Mr Sunak seems to be hitting his Tory stride. Our poll suggests if he can keep up the pace and show disillusioned voters he’s truly on their side, the election’s a long way from being a foregone conclusion
For a Tory Government supposedly committed to lowering the tax burden, this is shaming. Liz Truss may have botched the execution of her budget last year but her tax-cutting instincts were right.
There is also strong evidence that defying the Left over unrealistic climate change ambitions will pay big electoral dividends.
Tin-pot Labour politicians such as Sadiq Khan in London and Mark Drakeford in Wales have effectively declared war on the motorist, with punitive emissions charges, road closures and sweeping 20mph zones.
Having already extended the deadline on ending new petrol and diesel car production by five years, the PM has attacked Mr Khan over the Ulez extension in London and is promising to limit 20mph zones to places where they are genuinely needed.
Added to his recent decision to allow drilling in the Rosebank North Sea oil and gas field, he is injecting some much-needed pragmatism into the climate debate.
The apocalyptic green lobby howls in protest but Britain’s sensible silent majority welcomes it.
All in all, Mr Sunak seems to be hitting his Tory stride. Our poll suggests if he can keep up the pace and show disillusioned voters he’s truly on their side, the election’s a long way from being a foregone conclusion.
Laurence Fox apologised for his ‘demeaning’ rant about political journalist Ava Evans on a GB News programme
BBC beyond satire
The cruel and disgraceful insults hurled by actor Laurence Fox at female journalist Ava Evans during a programme on GB News were indefensible.
But to hear BBC presenters Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson haranguing the boss of the station over its lack of impartiality and tolerance of maverick presenters was almost beyond parody.
Are they unaware the BBC championed Russell Brand, Jimmy Savile and Rolf Harris? Or that even its former director-general admits it has a strong Left-wing bias? This was surely the day satire died.
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