By Thomas Turrell AM

During the 2024 Mayoral Election and General Election, Londoners were promised one thing by Sir Sadiq Khan: that a Labour victory in both elections would “put the wind in London’s sails” and unlock the potential of the capital in ways that the Conservatives hadn’t.

Now, more than 18 months on, it could not be more obvious that the so-called “wind” was just political hot air.

Last week’s benefits budget was the second in a series that is making our country increasingly poorer and worse off. Not content with bludgeoning businesses with the sharp rise in National Insurance Contributions, this time round, the Chancellor took aim at business rates, which further cut the fiscal headroom that British businesses have.

Suddenly, the backbones of our economy - which until this point had been struggling to keep their head above the water in the sea of rising energy costs,........

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