Neither candidate for UK PM has plan 'to tackle inflation quickly,' says economist 08:29
London (CNN)The United Kingdom is enduring a summer of misery as its beloved health service descends into crisis, inflation soars, taps run dry and strikes halt trains. Meanwhile, the government is nowhere to be seen.The sense of collapse is only mounting; health leaders on Friday issued the grim warning of a "humanitarian crisis" without action to stop energy prices increasing over the winter. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the National Health Service Confederation, said in a statement that many "could face the awful choice between skipping meals to heat their homes and having to live in in cold, damp and very unpleasant conditions ... These outbreaks will strike just as the NHS is likely to experience the most difficult winter on record."The highly unusual intervention comes after weeks of warnings that the UK is at only the start of the worst cost-of-living crisis for generations. Inflation passed 10% earlier this week, placing a greater strain on households who are already struggling to make ends meet. The country is on track to enter recession, with GDP expected to continue shrinking through the end of the year and beyond.On top of the economic pain, transport and dock workers are striking, and there are warnings of further industrial action across the public and private sector. Even some lawyers in criminal cases have gone on strike, causing disruption in the already clogged courts.
The biggest rail strikes in 30 years started on Monday night with trains canceled across the UK for much of the week.
Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, however, is on his second holiday of the summer. When pressed on why Johnson is not back in London coming up with an urgent action plan, Downing Street says that major spending plans should be taken by the next Prime Minister.