Kemi Badenoch’s reshuffle has refreshed the Conservative Party Opinion Sacking Mel Stride and promoting new faces like Katie Lam – along with appointing a shadow Chancellor who believes in private enterprise, is a signal of intent, says Oliver Dean For roughly two years, Kemi Badenoch had kept the same old team in place. Mel Stride as shadow Chancellor; Priti Patel as shadow foreign secretary. [...]
I’m a 21-year-old grad, why does the government want me to go on the dole to get a job? Opinion Oliver Dean was turned away from Job Centre because he wasn’t already on benefit. No wonder the welfare bill is ballooning Andy Burnham’s answer to youth unemployment has arrived. It begins with 14-year-olds, and the new technical pathways reach classrooms in September 2028. There is a great deal to be said for it and, as [...]
Anti-establishment? Reform’s triple lock pledge proves they’re more of the same Opinion If Reform is truly committed to being an anti-establishment party, a party that is serious about solving Britain’s economic woes rather than merely performing opposition then pledging to scrap the triple lock is not something that is optional – it is imperative, says Oliver Dean Just weeks ago, Reform were finally getting serious about the [...]
Bribing firms to hire us is an insult to young workers like me March 19, 2026 The government’s plans to subsidise companies to hire young workers is a sticking plaster over the self-inflicted wound that is youth unemployment, says Oliver Dean Pat McFadden, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, recently announced that the government will launch a £1bn scheme to shift young people away from unemployment and welfare and [...]
The many ways the system is failing graduates like me February 19, 2026 Graduates are facing a two-pronged attack from a shrinking jobs market and an expanding welfare state that actively incentivises us to live off benefits, says Oliver Dean In recent weeks, the graduate crisis has garnered significant attention. As someone set to graduate this summer, I am in the same boat as hundreds of thousands of [...]
Brits should thank Labour for saving us from Prime Minister Burnham – for now… January 26, 2026 Andy Burnham possesses an ill-founded, somewhat dismissive attitude towards any type of evidence. In the face of such glaring examples of failure, he pushes on – perhaps envisioning himself on a crusade to fix the Labour Party. But, the reality of the situation is that he is not the knight in shining armour that neither [...]
Reform defections mean Tories can get back to being the party of business January 20, 2026 With plans to nationalise key industries and even individual companies like Rolls-Royce, it’s clear that Reform are the party of the big state. Kemi Badenoch should reclaim the Conservative mantel as the party of business, says Oliver Dean On Sunday night, Andrew Rosindell became the latest Conservative to defect to Reform UK. He joined the [...]
Banning junk food ads is a big, fat mistake January 6, 2026 An absurd ban on advertising “unhealthy” food is nanny state overreach on steroids, says Oliver Dean Yesterday “adverts for less healthy food and drinks” were banned from being advertised on television before 9pm and online at all times. Supporters of the legislation have heralded it as a major step toward ending unhealthy eating habits across [...]
I watched Gary Stevenson debate a real economist. Here’s why he’s wrong December 9, 2025 All Stevenson’s arguments in favour of a wealth tax are based on personal anecdote. When you look at the actual evidence his case falls apart, says Oliver Dean Last week, I had the opportunity to host a debate between famed YouTuber and activist Gary Stevenson, and Dr Kristian Niemietz of the Institute of Economic Affairs. [...]
Rachel Reeves’s Budget is pushing Nick, 30, to breaking point December 1, 2025 Despite his above average income, Nick, 30 is living a below average life. And it's only set to worsen thanks to Chancellor Rachel Reeves's Budget, writes Oliver Dean.
