Imagine sweeping through green fields, floating five feet above ground, sun on your face as you slide by on track to your destination, not a car in the world, as you simply lean back.

And before you know it, you're there.

This is how travel should feel, and on our trains, it does.

Avanti West Coast, feel good travel.

Hi, I'm Anouche.

And I'm Rachel Conneleff, Senior Associate Editor.

And I'm Emma Hazlett, Associate Business Editor.

And on today's episode of the New Statesman Podcast, we'll be discussing the cost of living crisis, and you ask us.

Is the Bank of England being blamed for the government's mistakes?

Thanks so much for joining us, both of you.

And we may sound a little different today, because we're not actually in our studio, which is being even more refurbished, as if it wasn't fancy enough.

I mean, it's like a brutalist kind of bunker for the listeners who can't see it.

But yes, thank you so much for joining me.

And it's an important week, because inflation has hit 9%, and the cost of living crisis is at the top of the agenda, not least, because...

I mean, we're just being spoiled with gaps from conservative MPs and ministers.

I can run through them. I'm sure listeners have seen most of the main ones.

Boris Johnson boasting that the freedom bus pass means that pensioners can go back and forth on the bus to avoid spending money on energy.

That was a classic Rishi Sunak.

He buys different breads, but you can't, because of technical problems with universal credit, which means he can't put their benefits up, which isn't true.

George uses has recommended that handy tip of buying value-range products, as if people haven't already thought of that.

Rachel McLean, a home office minister, said that you can get a better paid job or work more hours.

Jackie Doyle Price suggested everyone should build and rent out a Grammy flat in everyone's back garden, that they all have.

...