The Tories are clearly in a bad position. Their polling is now at around 17 per cent, behind Reform UK and Labour.

There are many causes for this predicament, but too often the blame is laid at the “mini-budget”, the plan I presented as chancellor in 2022.

I was at the heart of, and partially responsible for, that period of drama and chaos. I do not look back fondly on those days. I have done, on a personal level, my fair share of apologies.

But the current Tory front bench seems to be still apologising . In his speech at the Conservative Party conference, shadow Chancellor Mel Stride reiterated past comments about what a mistake he thought the mini-budget was.

He said: “We will bring taxes down, we must, but we will only do so when that is affordable. Just as Nigel Lawson did. Becau

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