Show them the book: why politicians need to read more novels Opinion Leading historian Dominic Sandbrook has said declining reading habits of our politicians tells you everything you need to know about why they’re so inadequate. William Atkinson couldn’t agree more… Would Keir Starmer be a better Prime Minister if he went to bed with a good Trollope? That was the suggestion of Dominic Sandbrook – Britain’s [...]
Britain deserves better than our cabbage patch politicians Opinion It’s easy to forget how little most people pay attention to politicians. The only thing that really matters to the public is the cost of living, and no politician seems to get it, says Tom Harwood I was carrying a cabbage in my hands on the way into work on Monday. Yes, a cabbage. In [...]
Is Japan about to have a Liz Truss moment? Opinion Japan’s upcoming election could trigger a global economic crisis similar to the UK’s “Liz Truss moment” due to the country’s high debt, plans for fiscal expansion by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and the potential for a bond selloff, says David Stritch The Japanese election this Sunday may seem remote to British observers – especially with [...]
Investors on alert after Japanese market jitters January 26, 2026 Japan continued to preoccupy traders at the start of the week after the country’s prime minister suggested that the government was ready to support the yen, pushing the currency up to its strongest level against the dollar in two months following market turbulence that has been described as a “Liz Truss-lite moment”. The yen marked [...]
‘Liz Truss-lite’: Is Japan in the midst of a sovereign debt crisis? January 22, 2026 Japan’s long-dated bonds suffered their worst sell-off this century on Tuesday. Ali Lyon asks whether the rout could spark a full-blown debt crisis? For decades, the world’s fixed income investors have been sucked in – and spat out – by an alluring trade on Japan’s government bonds. Secure in their belief that the securities’ unfathomable, [...]
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 [...]
Rachel Reeves’s caution could prove as damaging as Liz Truss’s recklessness November 18, 2025 Reeves is trying her best to avoid any comparisons to Truss's infamous mini-budget, but her excessive caution could prove just as damaging.
Lord Frost to head up IEA think tank November 7, 2025 David Frost has been made the director general of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in a move the right-leaning think tank has said will herald a “new chapter” for the organisation. Lord Frost, the former cabinet minister best known for spearheading the UK’s Brexit negotiations under Boris Johnson, will be responsible for driving the [...]
Investors: brace for a breakdown in UK gilts July 23, 2025 Because the UK government is politically unable to pass necessary fiscal reforms, a bond market crisis is now the most likely catalyst to force the essential but painful spending cuts required to stabilise the nation’s finances, say Peter Spiller and Emma Moriarty In the aftermath of the euro area debt crisis, Jean-Claude Juncker, then Prime [...]
Starmer urged to ‘be honest’ about tax plans as business confidence slumps July 10, 2025 Business confidence has slumped to a three-year low as a “cocktail of costs” including higher taxes and tariff threats pour cold water on Keir Starmer’s claims of rising corporate optimism. The prime minister told MPs on Wednesday afternoon that business confidence had hit a nine-year high, citing a recent Lloyds Business Barometer, which typically reveals [...]