How defence can lead growth through private investment June 9, 2025 The UK’s Strategic Defence Review outlines ambitious long-term reforms, but by leveraging its strengths in finance, AI, and commercial shipping, Britain can achieve rapid defence innovation and capability gains without immediate major spending increases, says Julien de Saint-Quentin The Strategic Defence Review (SDR), published last week, was presented as a ‘transformative’, ‘once-in a generation’ exercise. [...]
Can populists survive in public office? Ask Geert Wilders… June 9, 2025 Right-wing firebrand Geert Wilders has withdrawn from government in the Netherlands after discovering that governing is harder than criticising from the fringes. It’s a lesson Nigel Farage may learn too, say Eliot Wilson Last week, greeted by more weary fatalism than surprise, the government of the Netherlands collapsed. On Tuesday, radical nationalist Geert Wilders withdrew [...]
Reeves should use the Spending Review to make pay conditional on performance June 9, 2025 If the public sector had matched the productivity improvements of the private sector over the last 15 years or so, Keir Starmer would have £100bn more to spend this year. Instead of reheated policies, it’s time for real reform, says Tim Knox Keir Starmer, to his credit, has been making the right diagnosis. Six months [...]
This is what London needs in the spending review June 9, 2025 We need radical action if we’re going to hit the target of building 88,000 homes a year, more powers for the Mayor and improvements to productivity to get London out of the cycle of spending cuts and tax rises, says John Dickie In less than a week, the Chancellor will fire the starting gun on [...]
Spending review: Failure to back London will cost Reeves’s growth mission June 9, 2025 Failing to back London in the spending review could cost the UK's growth mission for years to come, writes Chris Hayward.
Free Thinking: Is Nigel Farage the real prime minister? June 6, 2025 With everyone in Westminster dancing to Nigel Farage's tune, we have to ask: is the Reform UK leader the real prime minister?
In Musk v Trump, the markets will win June 6, 2025 Morning Wire columnist Rainer Zitelmann has been predicting a rift between Musk and Trump ever since the two started working together. Now that this has happened, the French daily newspaper L’Express has spoken to him again. The interview was conducted by Thomas Mahler. “I never believed that the alliance between Elon Musk and Donald Trump would last,” [...]
Wise’s London listing snub shows the need for urgent City reform June 6, 2025 The loss of the primary listing of the fin tech Wise from London is another body blow to those seeking to reboot its fortunes as the international market where the best ideas find the best capital, writes shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith. Coming on the eve of London Tech Week it’s a real downer and [...]
AI and digitally-enabled healthcare could be revolutionary – but what about the fine print? June 6, 2025 AI and digital technology hold transformative potential for healthcare, but to fully realise their benefits, we must address public concerns around trust, misinformation, and regulation while ensuring the human element of care remains central, says Heather Smith As Sir Tony Blair said this week, there is enormous potential for digital and AI technology to reshape [...]
Russia is running rings around our sanction regime June 6, 2025 Vigilante hackers and rogue merchant vessels are putting Britain on the back foot, while our opponents run rings around our current sanctions list. A broader legal definition of conflict would give Britain the flexibility to catch these rogue actors and keep Britain secure, says Robert Buckland Earlier this week, the government released its Strategic Defence [...]