Let’s be honest, stamp duty is a terrible tax killing economic growth and productivity MATTHEW LESH Tomorrow’s mini-budget is turning into a super-budget. The changes were already looking drastic, from the energy price freeze and scrapping the bankers’ bonus to reversing the national insurance and corporate tax rises. The latest reports suggest the prime minister and her chancellor are even intending to cut stamp duty. “This is about growing the size [...]
Let’s be honest, reusable plastic bags are actually terrible for the environment MATTHEW LESH Since 2015, single-use plastic bags have declined by 97 per cent. There’s just one problem: this probably hasn’t helped the environment.
Let’s be honest, spending three years at university is a waste of time for too many bank holiday read As hundreds of thousands of students prepare for their first day at university, they should know: most of them are wasting their time.
Stop throwing around cash promises and cut red tape July 27, 2022 THE Conservative party leadership candidates agree that the British economy is in dire straits. Inflation is biting incomes, growth is stagnant while public services are faltering. In response, Liz Truss backs a bold new approach encompassing supply-side reforms, while Rishi Sunak promises a “radical set of Thatcherite reforms that will unleash growth and strengthen our [...]
Rest (hopefully) in peace: tech safety laws would have spelt disaster for free speech July 15, 2022 The Online Safety Bill has been pushed until the autumn, which hopefully means it will finally be dead in the water.
Conservative ideology is in turmoil as they cling to online speech crackdowns June 29, 2022 A little known internet safety green paper was the genesis of the Online Safety Bill. It was initiated by the Cameron government and published five years ago, with a focus on a voluntary code of practice and transparency requirements for social media. This would have been a relatively incremental step, a collaborative approach to addressing [...]
Elon Musk wants free speech on Twitter? Time to meet Nadine Dorries April 27, 2022 If Musk thought finding financing would be the most complicated part of the Twitter deal, he hasn’t met Nadine Dorries.
Relaxed subsidies rules are a free rein to pick winners without transparency March 16, 2022 Not too long ago the thorniest issue in the United Kingdom’s relationship with Europe was about the “level playing field” and “state aid”. It may seem crazy in retrospect, but there was a serious prospect in late 2020 that the UK would sacrifice a trade deal with our closest neighbour to be freer to subsidise [...]
Fears of privatising the NHS are stopping us from saving our health service – and lives December 2, 2021 The United Kingdom is becoming a health service with a country attached. The National Health Service is on track to command almost half of all state spending. For all that, British healthcare outcomes come in at the bottom of the pack among comparable western European countries. Waiting lists are the biggest issue facing the NHS, [...]
DEBATE: Should the government introduce legislation to ensure business is a force for good? April 21, 2021 Martin Bunch, Managing Partner at Bates Wells says Yes The Companies Act as it stands doesn’t get in the way of good corporate practice, but neither does it actively encourage corporations to embrace their responsibilities to wider society and the planet. The Better Business Act aims to amend the Companies Act and embed commitment to [...]
