Sunak’s challenge

Spending Review is launched

CHANCELLOR RISHI Sunak has already intimated that the hardest part of his job is having to say ‘no’ to funding requests from colleagues. Yet, having shown significance benevolence over Covid-19, the greater test is the latest Comprehensive Spending Review that was launched at the Cabinet yesterday.

Delayed by 12 months due to negotiations with the EU over Brexit, and then the December election, its outcome will be another defining moment for the country – and Richmond MP. It will reveal the Chancellor’s political priorities as the budgets allocated to Whitehall departments will have to take account of Brexit, Covid-19 and the deepest recession in history.

Mr Sunak’s resolution, and willingness to end the Government’s unlimited borrowing, will be tested like never before and it is important that the Chancellor stands firm and challenges Whitehall to become more efficient. ‘More for less’ needs to be mantra while, at the same time, use the CSR process to begin the process of social care reform.

Put off by successive Chancellors and Health Secretaries, this one issue goes to the heart of the financing – and provision – of NHS and council services and ‘sticking plaster’ solutions only mask the failure by politicians of all parties to address this.

Supposedly one Theresa May’s priorities, Boris Johnson pledged to act during his Downing Street address on July 24, 2019, when he became Prime Minister. As such, any spending review will not be ‘comprehensive’ unless it begins to recognise the importance of social care as an issue and also the value of all carers to society.