Are the Tories in trouble over the economy?

<p>UK inflation has risen above 10 per cent for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/chart-of-the-day/2022/08/uk-inflation-rate-2022-vs-europe-g7-other-countries" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">first time in 40 years</a>, driving the fastest fall in real pay on record. The defining challenge for the next prime minister will be preventing millions from facing destitution this winter.</p><br /><p>Rachel Wearmouth and Freddie Hayward are joined by Emma Haslett, the&nbsp;<em>New Statesman</em>’s associate business editor, to discuss the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/business/2022/08/astronomical-uk-inflation-rate-can-interest-rates-reduce" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">economic downturn</a>&nbsp;and Britain’s “zombie” government. They also talk about&nbsp;<a href="https://sotn.newstatesman.com/2022/08/conservatives-win-fifth-term-general-election/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">recent polling</a>&nbsp;indicating the Conservatives are no longer seen as more competent with the economy than Labour, and examine public sympathy with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/transport-politics/2022/08/rail-strike-action-disruption-government-policy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">striking transport workers</a>.</p><br /><p>Then, in You Ask Us, a listener asks whether the leaked recording of Liz Truss saying that British workers need “more graft” and lack the “skill and application” of foreign rivals like the Chinese, will damage her chances of becoming the next PM.</p><br /><p>If you have a question for You Ask Us, email&nbsp;podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.</p><br /><p>Podcast listeners can subscribe to the&nbsp;<em>New Statesman</em>&nbsp;for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">newstatesman.com/podcastoffer</a>.</p><p><strong>LISTEN AD-FREE:</strong></p><p>📱<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2022/06/newapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Download the New Statesman app</a></p><br /><p><strong>MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:</strong></p><p>❓ <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/podcasts/2022/10/you-ask-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ask a question</a> – we answer them every Friday</p><p>⏰ <a href="https://morningcall.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Get our daily politics newsletter</a> every morning</p><p>✍️ <a href="http://saturdayread.substack.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enjoy the best of our writing</a> via email every Saturday</p><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>