Spendthrift government with wrong priorities

By Sir John Redwood on May 23, 2025

In the government battle between Angela and Rachel I am with Rachel in saying No to more damaging tax rises and Yes to the need to curb public spending. I am against both of them for signing up to some very bad ideas for increased spending.

It seems as if you need to be a foreign government or an illegal migrant to qualify for increased state spending. Why are we paying large sums to Mauritius to give away islands we legally own?

Why are we allowing a big increase in the numbers of illegal migrants coming by small boat?

Why will we pay money to the EU to impose regulations on us? Why are we considering joining the expensive Erasmus scheme so UK taxpayers can pay for foreign students to come here?

Why are we signing up to a more powerful and expensive World Health Organisation?

Why might we give money to the EU for their defence? Why are the government still recruiting civil servants when productivity is so weak?

Why is paying avoidable Bank of England losses such a spending priority?