Rishi Sunak is right, it’s not his fault – he can’t solve every problem

Much like Gordon Brown, this chancellor can point to global issues outside of his control that are driving Britain’s current woes, writes Salma Shah

To be fair to Sunak, he’s gone from Brexit to pandemic, straight into a European war (Getty)

Rishi Sunak is right. In recent days, in anticipation of the spring statement, he laid out the extent of the economic challenge and told us that he can’t solve every problem – and it’s true. Despite this, the expectation remained high; with demands to help one group or another continuing to get louder and more desperate by the day.

His speech today was certainly a reminder that his pandemic largesse is over. Even some usually-supportive backbenchers wondered when the chancellor sat down, “Is that it”?

A temporary 5p off fuel duty, VAT off renewables and a raise in the national insurance payment threshold was part of a smattering of help he offered to increasingly worried families.