Which shadowy MoD figures are blocking London’s secret new town? July 14, 2026 Could creating a new town on a west London airfield be a welcome revelation for the new PM? If, that is, he can face down a shadowy opposition.
Why chilled red wine is the coolest thing to drink right now July 13, 2026 Rosé is a safe summer bet, but the coolest thing to be drinking right now, in more ways than one, is a chilled red. There was an inkling that this was going to be a thing last summer, but now that chilly glass of rouge has its feet well and truly under the table. I [...]
Andy Burnham is utterly delusional July 13, 2026 Andy Burnham has pledged to “value and respect” every member of the PLP and to favour consensus building over point scoring. We’ll see how long that attitude lasts once he faces his first backbench rebellion, says Eliot Wilson Andy Burnham’s premiership is only a week away. By Friday last week, he had received the backing [...]
Burnham has a chance to build trust in AI July 13, 2026 The biggest risk to the continued success of the UK tech ecosystem isn’t the plight of founders, it’s the risk of a backlash that comes from a lack of trust, says Euan Blair Andy Burnham wants to reset AI policy away from championing global scale ups and founders in favour of UK workers. As a [...]
City policy chair: Blocking skyscrapers is deeply disappointing July 13, 2026 Ministers’ decision to delay the City Plan over proposed skyscrapers near Tower Bridge is a blow to growth, says Chris Hayward Britain says it wants growth. Yet one of the country’s most important local plans has been sent back for further examination after already undergoing years of consultation, scrutiny and independent review. This delay, issued via a ministerial [...]
Burnham’s cheerfulness could turn the economy around July 9, 2026 Confidence is an elusive but essential determinant of the course of the economy ignored by Reeves' doomsterism. Burnham could change that.
Why the wealthy aren’t tired of London after all July 9, 2026 London may have dropped down the ranking of the most desirable cities for high-net-worth individuals to live, but its offering of stability, opportunity, lifestyle and long-term value still stands out, says Alan Hooks “No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” Samuel Johnson’s famous quote encapsulates why, despite dropping [...]
Fixing the £100,000 tax trap would be a bold first step – let’s not undermine it by taxing investment more July 9, 2026 Lord O’Neill is right to call for reform of the £100,000 tax trap, but taxing capital gains more heavily could end up costing the Treasury £8bn, says Michael Healy This week, a group of leading economists led by Lord O’Neill called for a fundamental overhaul of the UK’s tax system. Their argument that Britain has [...]
Singapore on Thames or the Sick Man of Europe?: The Economics of Brexit Ten Years from the Referendum July 9, 2026 Paul Johnson, former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Robert Johnson of the Centre for Cities analyse the economic impact of Brexit and its promise of deregulation and growth Since the Brexit referendum of 2016, and since actually leaving the EU in January 2021, the UK’s economic performance has been feeble. On a [...]
London doesn’t need more social housing, it needs more housing full stop July 9, 2026 Andy Burnham’s plan for a huge social housebuilding programme will be expensive and won’t solve the root cause of the housing crisis: we just haven’t built enough houses, says Emma Revell Andy Burnham isn’t letting a little thing like constitutional reality get in the way of starting his premiership with some big announcements. The de [...]