I heard the interview with Ms Abbott on Mr Ferrari’s show on LBC this morning. In far less than the time she said “it will cost….it will cost…it will cost…about….£80m” I had done a quick calculation (10,000 new officers multiplied by £50,000 to include salary, training, pensions, etc.) to arrive at £500m per annum.
Amusingly, every time their political opponents announce some item of spend, Labour immediately rubbishes the idea, saying that the calculations “do not add up”. At least, usually, the basic sums are right and anyone prattling on about them on the TV or radio has the numbers to hand.
Anyone considering voting Labour should replay this interview once or twice before making their mark. It is quite clear why there was “no money left” at the end of the last Labour administration (and the one before that, and the one before that). There will be none left at the end of the next one either and nobody, least of all Ms Abbott, will be able to tell you where it’s all gone. Quite how she rose to become Shadow Home Secretary was hard to fathom until I realised she’s the best they’ve got.