Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt cannot afford to be too severe with cutbacks and tax hikes

THERE is a wry saying among medics: “The operation was a success — but the patient died.’’

Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt must be very careful that their crucial budget this week does not result in the same outcome.

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Clearly Britain’s wheezing economy needs a strong dose of medicine.

But the PM and Chancellor cannot afford to be too severe with cutbacks and tax hikes or they risk scaring investment away from this country for good.

Without initiatives from British and foreign business we will end up paying off debt forever without ever creating enough growth to get rid of it.

Mr Hunt paints a very bleak picture on this page today.

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After the fantasy politics of Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng his honesty is welcome.

But just because Ms Truss failed, that doesn’t mean that aiming for long term growth is wrong.

This week’s budget will be a very delicate balance.

Yes, there does need to be some surgery to cut out inflation.

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But the country must be alive and kicking at the end of it.

By all means stem the wounds, Chancellor.

But please don’t leave Britain’s economy dead on arrival.

Angela reins herself in

NOBODY could accuse Angela Rayner of being a shrinking violet.

Least of all the Deputy Labour Leader herself.

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You may remember her apologising after hitting out at “Tory scum.’’

Or hearing her boast: “I’m incredibly proud to be here as a ginger northerner who promises to always be outspoken.’’

Ms Rayner has also revealed how “people like Barbara Castle inspired me to say what you mean and mean what you say.”

So what does this left-wing firebrand with an opinion on everything think about the single most divisive issue in British politics?

In an interview this weekend she says of Brexit: ‘’I didn’t have a particularly strong view either way.”

This vacuous comment revives memories of Labour’s tortuous fence- sitting in the dark days of Jeremy Corbyn’s disastrous leadership.

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The party’s weasel-worded contortions were exactly why Red Wall voters deserted Labour in droves.

With the likes of Ms Rayner at his side, don’t expect things to be any different under Keir Starmer.