The case for the defence of barristers’ wigs May 22, 2024 Barristers’ wigs are the latest front in the war on the eccentricity and traditions that make this country unique, says James Price “What do ties matter, Jeeves, at a time like this?” asks Bertie Wooster during one of his many misadventures. Jeeves, as omniscient and fundamentally right about everything as ever, replies, quite correctly: “There [...]
Memo to Sunak and Reeves: you can’t have security without prosperity May 16, 2024 Both Rachel Reeves and Rishi Sunak want to frame the next election around the question of who will make you safer, but both are missing the point
The City is a model of good local government (kind of) May 8, 2024 Local government in the UK is a mess, but the ancient system we have in the City is more accountable than most – and the whole country benefits, says James Price Mothin Ali, an accountant who also runs a gardening blog, declared his election as councillor for the Gipton and Harehills ward in Leeds a [...]
What would radically cutting immigration really mean for businesses? April 24, 2024 Getting the balance right in legal immigration is the key challenge of our time, and there are myriad medium- and long-term benefits to be seized
What would cigar-loving Churchill make of the smoking ban? April 16, 2024 Britain once fought for democracy with a cigar in hand, now we’re taking away citizens’ freedom to smoke. It’s enough to make you want to light up, says James Price If you’re reading this on your morning commute, you may have walked past an advert for Ed Gamble’s new show Hot Diggity Dog. You may [...]
It’s time to fight illiberal Scottish hate crime law with a Free Speech Act April 10, 2024 Scotland's new anti-free speech crime law is a wicked product of an increasingly censored society that must be woken up, writes James Price.
Lessons from Mrs T: Why we need more businesspeople in parliament April 3, 2024 As exemplified by Margaret Thatcher's inner circle, a bit of business nous can go a long way in Westminster, writes James Price.
In defence of men-only members’ clubs March 27, 2024 Barracking the Garrick for excluding women isn’t exactly clubbable – how about some healthy competition instead? Asks James Price Is the male-only Garrick Club a posh creche for old dinosaurs or a bastion of the patriarchy? It’s an interesting question because it engages a clash of principles. There is the right to freedom of association [...]
What the modellers don’t tell you about taxing private school fees March 20, 2024 The Institute for Fiscal Studies’ claims that the policy will raise money do not take into account the unintended consequences – economic models rarely do, says James Price I often tell people that the best way to make God laugh is to tell Him your plans. This is at least in part because the most [...]
Targeting non-doms was a cheap hit the Chancellor will regret March 13, 2024 The ultra-wealthy may be an easy target, but the government is sending a signal that playing politics matters more to them than securing investment, says James Price he temptation to play politics is often an irresistible one around fiscal events, and with the twin straitjackets of the Office for Budget Responsibility and a looming election, [...]
