UK: Crisis and inaction

The biggest rail strike in 30 years began on Monday night, causing many train cancellations. Photo: Getty

The sense of impending collapse is growing, with health leaders warning on Monday of a “humanitarian crisis” if no action is taken to stem rising energy prices over the winter.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the National Health Service Federation (NHS), said in a statement that many people "could be faced with the terrible choice of skipping meals to heat their homes or living in cold, wet and uncomfortable conditions... This will come as the NHS faces what is likely to be the toughest winter on record".

Weeks after warnings that the UK was only at the beginning of its worst cost of living crisis in generations, inflation topped 10% earlier this week, adding to the strain on households already struggling to make ends meet. The UK is sliding into recession, with GDP set to continue to shrink until at least the end of the year…

Adding to the economic pain, transport and dock workers are on strike, and there have been warnings of similar moves across industry, both public and private. Some criminal lawyers have even gone on strike, causing disruptions in the already gridlocked courts.

Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, however, is enjoying his second summer break. Asked why he had not returned to London to set out an urgent action plan, Downing Street said the big spending plans would be left to the next Prime Minister.

Mr. Rishi Sunak or Ms. Liz Truss will replace Mr. Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the UK. Photo: Shutterstock

Mr Johnson’s replacement – ​​either current foreign secretary Liz Truss or former chancellor Rishi Sunak – is not expected until September 5. That is nearly two months since Mr Johnson announced he would step aside, ignoring calls for him to leave office immediately and allowing a new leader to take over.

The next prime minister will not be elected by the British people, but by members of the ruling Conservative Party, which is estimated to number around 200,000 in a country of around 67 million.

Constitutionally, this is true. In Britain, voters elect local representatives to Parliament. Whichever party wins the most seats, and is fortunate enough to gain the majority needed to pass laws in Parliament, asks the monarch for permission to form a government. And usually, the leader of that party becomes prime minister.

In 2019, Mr Johnson won a majority of 80 seats in Parliament. Although the number of seats has been reduced, the Conservative Party still has a majority and can therefore still govern.

So why are Mr Johnson’s allies saying the next prime minister will act to provide financial support for those hit by the cost of living crisis, given the urgency of the situation and the fact that a dedicated public service, if directed, could solve so many of these problems?

A government spokesperson told CNN that while "fiscal decisions for the coming months will be for the next Chancellor, we are continuing to provide direct support to people under the existing £37 billion support package, which will be further allocated over the coming weeks and months to help as many people as the cost of living increases."

But critics across the political spectrum say that is not enough and that stronger action is needed now.

Daniel Kawczynski, a Tory MP who backed Truss in the leadership race, said the severity of the situation meant the party should end the race and choose a new prime minister, or give Mr Johnson the power to act now.

"The race has gone on for too long and we need leadership now. There is no time to waste when important decisions need to be made. So we must empower the current leader to act, or we must end the race. The British people are counting on us to solve this crisis," he told CNN.

The opposition Labor Party this week called for parliament to be recalled so lawmakers can take immediate action to freeze energy bills, which are set to nearly double in October, after the regulator raised its price ceilings from suppliers.

In a letter to Mr Johnson and the two leadership contenders, Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire urged the Conservatives to “bring Parliament back early on 22 August so we can freeze the energy price cap now”.

She added that next week the UK energy regulator will "announce an increase in the energy price cap. With inflation rising to 10.1%, this will not only send households into a spiral of anxiety, forcing them to save even more ahead of winter. It will also deliver another shock to the economy. With businesses and households on the brink, we cannot wait any longer and must act now."

Energy price caps are a government-imposed emergency plan to prevent energy companies from overcharging customers.

Many Britons have had to rely on food banks to survive the cost of living crisis. Photo: Getty

Neither candidate has given concrete examples of what policies they would implement to deal with what has been a hellish winter for many. One might argue that any solution would require massive public spending, something that the traditionalist Conservatives who will vote for the new prime minister are not keen on.

Or it could be that public spending on such a scale cannot be explained alongside pledges to cut taxes immediately and refuse to raise taxes on big businesses, including energy companies, to find a way out of the crisis.

However, it will not be long before Mr Johnson’s successor has to answer to a wide range of critics. First, from his political opponents in Parliament, then from the wider public at the ballot box…

Failure to act amid weeks of dire warnings could be a mistake that could cost the Tories the next general election. And after more than a decade in power, it seems a tall order for the public to forgive them for sleepwalking into the crisis.