Tax cuts are not enough to help the small businesses facing crippling energy bills Households facing soaring energy bills have rightly been front and centre of the political conversation. But, as both candidates to become prime minister have pointed out, ultimately our prosperity depends on economic growth. And it’s through prosperity that the government acquires the ability to finance public services and support families in need. And, with GDP [...]
Boris and Priti don’t quite grasp how complicated ‘ending free movement’ will be “Freedom of movement will end” if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31 October, according to the government. At one level, this is a statement of the obvious – in a legal sense, free movement is an EU concept. Under Theresa May’s deal, which provided for a transition period until December 2020, [...]
As Jean-Claude Juncker re-emphasises that Britain faces a “hefty” Brexit bill, should we pay it? Jonathan Portes, professor of economics and public policy at King’s College London, says Yes. Why is this even a question? The bulk of the “bill” relates to accrued pension liabilities of EU civil servants – pensions they earned while working for us. We – the UK public, via our democratically elected government – hired them, [...]
After meeting leading bankers in Davos, will Theresa May be able to limit job moves out of the City? January 20, 2017 Jonathan Portes, professor of economics and public policy at King’s College London, says Yes. Theresa May’s Brexit speech has been well received politically – but the implications for the UK’s financial sector are becoming apparent: banks are announcing the transfer of jobs out of London, the inevitable consequence of the government’s decision to leave the [...]
