The only thing that’s growing in Britain is the civil service Opinion The salary bill for the civil service rose to £21bn last year, up more than seven per cent in a year when economic growth was anaemic at best. The private sector is funding a pay bonanza while businesses are ground down with higher taxes and more regulation, says John O’Connell While Britain’s businesses struggle with [...]
City watchdogs balloon despite deregulation drive Regulation Calls for the Chancellor to accelerate her City-wide deregulation push grew on Monday after freshly obtained figures revealed headcount at financial regulators has ballooned by over 50 per cent in the past decade. According to data shared exclusively with City AM, nearly 4,500 more staff work at the City’s five largest regulators than did 10 [...]
The ‘university for all’ rhetoric is hurting students and the taxpayer Opinion Decades of “university for all” rhetoric is hurting students whose degrees no longer pay off, and taxpayers who are stumping up the cost.
Tax, tax and more tax. Does Rachel Reeves not know there’s another way? July 9, 2025 Wealth taxes, pension raids, inheritance tax, does Labour really not know there's another option, asks John O'Connell.
Renters’ Rights Bill raises ‘significant questions’ for tenants, industry leaders warn April 21, 2025 Industry leaders have expressed concerns about the knock-on effects of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which entered the committee stage on 21 April. The bill, which aims to give renters greater security and stability, will abolish Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, as well as ban landlords accepting offers above the advertised rent and prohibit pre-tenancy rent payments. [...]