View from Westminster

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Monday, January 22, 2024 How do you answer the Reagan Question?  Welcome to the new-look View from Westminster newsletter.   I have been thinking about the Ronald Reagan Question. He asked in the 1980 US presidential election campaign: "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" The equivalent question at the coming British election would be: "Are you better off today than you were 14 years ago?"   I tried to compile a list of ways in which people might think that their quality of life was better now than in 2010. I came up with quite a few, but not many of them are to do with the Conservative governments' decisions.   Disposable income per person is up 12 per cent, which is not a lot over such a long period, although there are tech improvements that have made most people's lives better in ways that are not measured by GDP: video streaming being the most significant.    Send your good answers on a WhatsApp channel to Conservative HQ. They will need them.  Quiz question What was the US court case called Dobbs about? Answer at the bottom of today's email Daily briefing Keir Starmer condemns Tories' 'McCarthyite' attacks on 'woke' charities Labour leader attacked Rishi Sunak's party for 'waging war' on bodies such as RNLI and National Trust 'I was in Mr Bates vs the Post Office – it raises a question about unaccountable power' James Naughtie on his part in the Horizon scandal drama  New Brexit checks mean 'existential' crisis, say food and flower firms Fresh produce businesses warn of 'huge' costs and delays from controls coming into force in April What else you need to know today Rishi Sunak has admitted his childcare pledge has hit "practical issues", but insisted that the first phase of the plan will go ahead in April; The Independent warned last month that the promise sounded "too good to be true"  MPs will vote at 10pm on the Offshore Petroleium Licensing Bill, a pointless law designed to create a divide between the parties over how to get to net zero I wrote at the weekend that, although Labour is not ready for government, the Conservatives could be out of office for a long time – the next Tory prime minister might not even be an MP yet The Independent View Grant Shapps is right – the world must do all it can to avoid a global conflict Politics explained Which groups of voters can the Tories still hope to win over? Undecided voters could be open to persuasion, and more women say they don't know how to vote than men, hence the planned expansion of free childcare...   Read more MOST COMMENTED Rishi Sunak considers plan for 99% mortgages to 'help' first-time buyers Tomorrow inside the Westminster bubble Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for tomorrow Rishi Sunak will chair the cabinet's weekly session and will later hold talks with Alexander De Croo, the Belgian prime minister. The Commons will sit at 11.30am for health questions, followed by a debate in opposition time on a subject chosen by Labour. Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, will appear before her departmental select committee at 10am. Richard Hughes, chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility, will be quizzed about public debt by the Lords economic committee at 3pm.   David Cameron will deliver a speech to mark the Foreign Office's annual Holocaust Memorial Day. John Glen, the Cabinet Office minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, the former chancellor, and Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, will address the Institute for Government's annual conference from 9am.   The Covid inquiry, sitting in Edinburgh from 10am, will hear from Jason Leitch, national clinical director for the Scottish government. The public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal will continue to take evidence from senior managers at Fujitsu from 10am. QUOTE OF THE DAY "Yes, and I've said that multiple times before – that's not new information."  Rishi Sunak provides new information in answer to a question from Sam Coates of Sky News: "Will Jeremy Hunt be the chancellor at the time of the election?"  And finally... If you don't know any constellations at least learn Ursa Minor – that's the bear minimum – Andy Ryan Quiz answer: Abortion rights – it was the 2022 case overturning Roe v Wade; its full name is Dobbs v Jackson, after Thomas Dobbs, the Mississippi state health officer, and Jackson Women's Health Organisation The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Join the conversation or follow us Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our privacy notice and cookie policy