May Cameron’s Wellbeing Unit rest in peace, money can buy happiness after all
Last month, the government announced that the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, set up with great fanfare by David Cameron in 2014 with the mission to boost national happiness, is to be shut down. Ever since the concept was first launched after the Second World War, the main focus of the policy of governments of […]
Tougher borders won’t stop Britain from being overwhelmed by illegal migration
Last weekend, at his meeting with the Italian prime minister Georgia Meloni, Rishi Sunak claimed migrants were threatening to “overwhelm” countries like the UK unless drastic action is taken. Sunak’s Italian counterpart is currently considering a similar scheme to the now highly controversial plan to send refugees to Rwanda. But the PM’s comments sparked a fresh wave […]
The vast social costs of Covid lockdowns are clear, so why is the inquiry silent?
The liberal establishment appears to remain wedded to a narrow and blinkered view of the Covid pandemic and its consequences. It has been on full display during the Covid inquiry, especially during the cross-examination of Boris Johnson. Hugo Keith KC, the lead barrister at the inquiry, made a great effort to establish that the UK […]
Seven years on, we need to finally stop blaming Brexit – just look at the numbers
Two quite contradictory messages have been given about Brexit over the past few days or so. First, Makoto Uchida, the chief executive of Nissan, a company originally very critical about the UK’s exit from the EU, pronounced that the impact of Brexit on its UK operations is now negligible. He urged the country to be […]
We can’t subsidise or incentivise away the pain of a transition to renewable energy
The Scottish Nationalist Party has become notorious for their inconsistency. The latest example is its hapless health minister, Michael Matheson, who submitted a bill for £11,000 for the use of his iPad whilst on a family holiday in Morocco. He first claimed it was all incurred on official business between Christmas and the New Year. […]
Sluggish global growth cannot be an excuse for Britain ignoring opportunities
With Labour currently looking to win the next election by a mile, the centre-left think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is growing in both influence and attention. But did the IPPR set a new world record last week for the speed of getting its recommendations translated into actual policy decisions? Last Friday […]
From Alison Rose to water exec bonuses, massive payouts are killing productivity
The last week has been momentous on various fronts. The decision by the NatWest board to scrap £7.6m of former chief executive Alison Rose’s potential leaving payout was almost buried in the avalanche. But it offers a glimmer of hope amidst the overall gloom. The decision itself has all the hallmarks of a classic corporate […]
Brits are afraid of failure, and the flop of WeWork will deter future entrepreneurs
The conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, on multiple charges of massive fraud last week throws the spotlight once again on the risks of investing in high-tech ventures. FTX attracted vast amounts of investment from venture capital and grew spectacularly. But from being feted in the financial press and courted by […]
What lessons can Labour learn from Conservative housing policy since 2010?
After what will have been fourteen years of Conservative rule, there is an increasing likelihood that a Labour government will be elected in 2024. Recent polls indicate that Labour are currently 20 points ahead of the Conservatives.[1] This shift in public sentiment signifies a significant moment for change, diverging from the continued Conservative leadership that has […]
We’re fighting over-regulation with yet more regulations in an insane spiral
The policy of the Welsh government to impose a 20mph speed limit in towns and villages across the country has been controversial, to say the least. One of its impacts has been completely contrary to the aims of Mark Drakeford’s government, which is very keen to promote public transport. The new speed limit has led […]
