Subsidies create distortions. They alter the natural balance of supply, demand and fair competition in the marketplace. The Government’s Net Zero target has resulted in millions of pounds of taxpayer money being spent on subsidising ‘green’ projects, and, unsurprisingly, the distortionary effects are enormous. In some cases, the subsidies are not simply distortionary, but they […]
As much as I hate to admit it, there is a lot to like in the Government’s water white paper. But there’s a reason for that: the best ideas are lifted straight from the Conservative Party. Stripped of the hollow slogans and performative toughness about tackling sewage that have dominated the debate in recent years, […]
In 2018, with ‘The Coddling of the American Mind’, Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt launched a sustained attack on what they called the culture of ‘safetyism’ in American parenting and on university campuses. Their target was the belief that children and young adults are fragile beings who must be protected from uncomfortable ideas and the […]
Rachel Reeves pulled out of an event at the London Stock Exchange yesterday at the last minute to join Keir Starmer in an emergency press conference, responding to Donald Trump’s latest gambit over Greenland. Reeves planned, in her abandoned address, to unveil newly revamped frameworks, which came into effect on Monday, designed to lead the […]
A Chancellor’s Spending Review is a chance to set out the Government’s fiscal priorities for the years ahead, and signal which political issues are most important. But there was one giant, gaping hole in the Review. No mention of welfare at all. It was barely an asterisk in the reams of documents and announcements. That is odd […]
In the latest episode of our weekly podcast, The Capitalist: Keir Starmer just hit the reset button on his struggling Government, but will voters buy it? We break down his six-hour crisis meeting, the economic warning signs, and whether Labour can regain control of the narrative. Plus: The Conservatives are staring into the political abyss […]
I have previously criticised the Starmer government’s NHS reform plans as reheated Blairism. They rediscover reforms that were already implemented 20 years ago, repackage them a bit, and pass them off as novel and bold. After the new plans announced today, I still think ‘reheated Blairism’ is a fair description – but I’m starting to […]
Now that the new Government has settled in, its intention to deliver fundamental changes to the education system is clear. However, it is crucial to distinguish between change and progress. In reality, some of Labour’s proposed reforms risk harming educational standards and diminishing opportunities for working-class children. The proposed reforms fall broadly into three categories: […]
Since the 1980s, council tenants in England have enjoyed the right to buy their homes. When they do, councils are required to offer them a discount from what the properties would cost if they were sold on the private market. This reflects the fact that social tenants already have lifetime tenancies of the properties with […]
A common refrain heard from ‘wellness’ influencers on Instagram and motivational recruiters on LinkedIn is that the key to a happy life is to surround yourself with positive people. One can only assume they’re referring to the sort of person who would tell you to slow down after your fourth pint rather than pat you […]
You can always tell a Conservative who is losing patience with our Prime Minister because they switch from calling him ‘Boris’ to ‘Johnson’. Johnson, unfortunately, is stretching many Tories’, and many voters’, goodwill to breaking point. His latest attempt to steal Labour’s clothes – and he’s already stripped the Opposition down to its vest and […]
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