No future: is Britain losing hope? December 4, 2025 Britain faces a deep, decade-in-the-making crisis of hope, as rising costs, stagnating opportunities, and widening structural failures leave both young and middle-class people feeling trapped, disillusioned, and asking if a viable future in the UK is still possible, says Eliza Filby Throughout my conversations in recent months it’s become clear to me that the country’s [...]
Reeves has instigated a wealth and talent exodus: welcome to REXIT December 4, 2025 This year has seen the biggest single wealth exodus ever recorded, and they are taking an estimated $91.8bn USD out of the country with them, writes Jamila Robertson Rachel Reeves’ now historic Budget carried on where her last left off – bruising business, threatening jobs and further squeezing working people. It raised taxes by £26bn; [...]
How to keep the wheels on private rail? Bring back first class service December 4, 2025 The era of rail renationalisation is an opportunity for the remaining open access operators to compete with a luxury offering, says Simon Hunt Amid all the Budget chaos last week, one big government announcement was drowned out: the transport department is freezing rail fares. Most commuters would gladly favour a freeze over a repeat of [...]
The big question for wealth creators: is there a future in Britain? December 4, 2025 A tax-raising Budget has completely undermined confidence in the UK’s ability to remain competitive, says Philip Harris A Budget that prioritises tax rises heightens investor friction, accelerates capital flight and weakens the UK’s competitiveness. It undermines the foundations of long-term prosperity and forces families, entrepreneurs and wealth holders to ask a serious question: is the [...]
Don’t like the OBR? Then stop borrowing so much December 4, 2025 The left and the right have found a common enemy in the OBR, but if governments don’t like having their headroom wiped out by forecasts they should try running a surplus, says Tom Harwood Voices on the left and the right have found an unlikely common enemy in recent weeks: the much maligned Office for [...]
Britain is missing out on pharma investment thanks to medicine rationing December 3, 2025 A subtle version of fiscal drag has seen the amount the NHS is prepared to spend on treatments reduce in real terms, meaning patients are missing out on life-saving treatment and the economy is missing out on investment, says Gareth Lyon The UK government has spent decades testing the limits of just how far industry [...]
The Debate: Should you get drunk at the Christmas work party? December 3, 2025 Should you get drunk at the Christmas work party? It's a question as old as time. We get the case for and against in this week's Debate.
Here’s what should really bother Chancellor about the OBR December 3, 2025 An unprecedented row has broken out between the Chancellor and the OBR about short-term productivity forecasts, but what should really worry Reeves is the long-term projections for debt, says Paul Ormerod The row – no, the furore – between the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is unprecedented. The resignation of [...]
Has Sadiq Khan laid the groundwork for Mayor Zack Polanski? December 3, 2025 According to a recent YouGov survey, just under 20 per cent of Brits think London is in a bad state and worse than the rest of the country. Only 14 per cent of actual Londoners share that view, while 22 per cent of voters in the North think it’s definitely the case. Just under 20 [...]
Labour’s war on pensioners punishes people for doing the right thing December 3, 2025 The government wants to mandate how pension funds should invest – a clear breech of fiduciary duty that puts people’s life savings at risk, says Helen Whately and Mark Garnier Labour is waging a war on savers. This should be a big story, but it’s been drowned out in the cacophony of the Budget unravelling. [...]