Reeves can’t tax Britain out of the gloom September 3, 2025 With growth stalling, inflation rising, and fiscal headroom gone, Chancellor Reeves must resist the urge to raise taxes and instead make government leaner, smarter and more efficient to keep the economy from sliding into darkness, says Brandon Lewis Winter in the UK is a normally sunless affair. The one we’re headed for will be gloomy [...]
Don’t let France overtake Britain in tech September 3, 2025 To maintain its economic leadership, the UK must learn from the proactive policies of competitors like France and urgently reform its own R&D and investment schemes to better support innovative start-ups and scale-ups, says Gregor Poynton As the UK faces up to the economic challenges we confront as a country, we should remain optimistic about [...]
Tube strikes would be outrageous – where is the Mayor? September 3, 2025 Bob Crow, the late leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, once said “It’s an old media myth that the RMT union resorts to industrial action lightly.” These days, we’d call such a claim “trolling.” Indeed, as the historian Dr Jim Moher points out, Crow “cherished” a signed shirt from Millwall player Dennis Wise [...]
Reform is gathering in Birmingham this week – with plenty to celebrate September 2, 2025 Amidst widespread economic pessimism and the rising salience of immigration, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government faces a collapse in public support as polls show Nigel Farage’s Reform UK surging to a commanding lead, writes Matthew Lesh Last month, Keir Starmer’s family summer escape to Scotland was abruptly cut short by an urgent dash across [...]
Judges can’t save Britain from bad politicians September 2, 2025 It is deeply depressing that the British state has failed so comprehensively to police the nation’s borders that local councils find themselves with no other recourse than asking whether the hotels housing new arrivals have the requisite planning consents to do so, says Andrew Lomas Amidst the sound and fury surrounding the court case brought [...]
After a year as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has flunked her growth mission September 2, 2025 Rachel Reeves may not get an official exam transcript, but the numbers categorically show she's flunked her growth mission.
Employers now less likely to hire ex-offenders than in 2013 September 2, 2025 Hiring ex-offenders has been proven to be good for employers and society, so why have hiring rates dropped, asks James Reed.
Keir Starmer has humiliated Rachel Reeves September 2, 2025 What is the Chancellor if not the Prime Minister’s economic adviser? We now know that she no longer performs that function, after the PM’s brutal move to bring economic policy into his office, rather than her’s. After little more than a full year in office, Keir Starmer’s government appears to be circling the drain. Support [...]
Kemi is right: markets not ministers should determine energy policy September 2, 2025 The UK’s policy of using massive subsidies to support politically-favored green technologies has resulted in some of the highest energy prices in the developed world, and the government should instead foster a competitive, technology-neutral market to drive down costs and encourage innovation, says Matthew Bowles “We are in the absurd situation where our country is [...]
Pepys Day: Raise a toast to London’s best diarist September 1, 2025 As the City prepares to celebrate its second annual Pepys Day, Michael Mainelli tells us why the diarist is worth celebrating.