The market’s confidence in the UK financial system has been suffering for a considerable amount of time. It began with the Bank of England’s indecisiveness over tightening monetary policy, as Monetary Policy Committee members were unsure of the effect of higher interest rates on economic growth.
Faced with concerns over rising prices coupled with the prospect of lower growth, they tried to manage both, which has proved impossible. Ten months after they first raised rates, the country is still facing a recession and a rate of inflation that is continuing to rise.
Under Rishi Sunak, the Treasury may not have been correct in every decision it made, but he was clear and decisive in his processes, wasn’t afraid of making tough decisions and inspired the confidence of the Cabinet and the Country.
When Sunak hiked National Insurance rates last April, it was an unpopular decision, but he explained that the rise was needed to supply added funding to the National Health Service. The current Chancellor did away with the hike, but apparently remains committed to the NHS.
Kwasi Kwarteng has been Chancellor of the Exchequer for about six weeks now. He came in all guns blazing, making promises he couldn’t possibly keep, and was quickly found out.