Explainer: Not the best time to be a university student in the UK June 22, 2023 It hasn’t been a very cheerful week in the world of economic news. Today the Bank of England raised interest rates for the thirteenth time in a row. Mortgage payments keep on going up, as rates continue to rise. Everyone is affected – families, individuals young and old, and students too. It’s not surprising then [...]
For all the awards, consumers rarely care about the gold standard City exec June 22, 2023 We've got so obsessed with award ceremonies that they've ceased to be a reliable guide for customer choice and become more of a game of winners, writes Chris Hirst
Housing market a ‘ticking time bomb’ as prices slow amid mortgage mayhem June 21, 2023 The housing market has slowed amid the mortgage crisis, with experts warning it is like a “ticking time bomb” before it crashes. This morning’s House Price Index from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show average UK house prices increased 3.5 per cent in the 12 months to April 2023, but this was down from [...]
Gove warns against prioritising quantity over quality of new homes June 20, 2023 Michael Gove has warned against a “dash for quantity” as he faces calls to accelerate housebuilding in the UK and enable more first-time buyers to get on the property ladder. Backing a new tool by Policy Exchange to instil confidence in the planning process, the housing secretary said: “If we think of housing purely in [...]
The NHS has lost its edge for clinical trials, but private firms can pull it back June 20, 2023 An NHS choked by bureaucracy is losing ground-breaking clinical trials, and it needs to the private sector to help save its reputation, writes Elena Siniscalco
Explainer-in-brief: Can Keir Starmer cut planning times for onshore wind? June 19, 2023 Will scrapping the onshore wind veto help achieve Starmer's dream of the UK as an 'energy superpower'?
Explainer: Will Team Boris ever leave Rishi alone? June 16, 2023 Imagine you’ve finally made it to the top. For years you’ve been in second position, waiting for the right time, and now there you are: you’ve stolen the top seat and finally got rid of your blonde-haired, chaotic predecessor. He’s out of your way, and you can finally relax and focus on the things you’re [...]
Explainer: The story behind the “Never kissed a Tory” slogan June 15, 2023 British politics comes with its quirks and oddities, and one of them is the spat about the “Never kissed a Tory” motto. For some, it’s tribal politics; for others, it’s a fun joke. For Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, it is probably the second option. When he decided to post a picture wearing [...]
Explainer: Why we needed a Covid-19 inquiry June 13, 2023 The first evidence session of the Covid-19 inquiry in the UK begins today. The inquiry is colossal, both in terms of what it’s expected to cover and in terms of the amount of money that’s been spent to put it in place. It will last at least until 2026. You might think no one wants [...]
Our obsession with Johnson and other leaders of the past is ruining our politics June 13, 2023 The latest Boris Johnson's saga shows we're all addicted to our former prime ministers and presidents, to a kind of politics that favours drama and jokes rather than serious policy-making, writes Elena Siniscalco
