Trussonomics doesn’t add up

I’ve been lucky enough in my working life so far to hold a string of jobs that have allowed me – if not actively encouraged me – to be critical of government. Coming up through Westminster thinktanks in my twenties, I had great fun putting out press releases that tore apart bad public policy. When I had the opportunity to speak to MPs, they’d remind me of the ‘political realities’ that tied their hands and prevented change. In other words, check your policy privilege. Thinktank wonks, commentators and journalists can make all the punchy points they want; they don’t face re-election.

But there was one politician who over the years consistently took the side of the wonks; who thought liberal reforms were possible, so long as one made a compelling case for change. This is how Liz Truss became the darling of the free-market right.

In response to sugar taxes and crackdowns on junk-food adverts, Truss labelled her own government the ‘banny state’.