Andy Burnham will be ‘in hock’ to the bond markets whether he likes it or not June 24, 2026 With the highest gilt yields in the G7, more borrowing is no longer an option for the next Prime Minister. That leaves the traditional options: raise taxes, cut spending or embark on more ambitious supply-side reforms in areas such as planning, says Daniel Mahoney Governments needing money usually have three options: tax more, spend less, [...]
What if Andy Burnham had become Labour leader in 2015? June 24, 2026 On his third try, Andy Burnham looks all but certain to become Labour leader. But what if he had taken the reins of the party eleven years earlier? Matt Kenyon imagines an alternative timeline… 2015 It’s a world that looks a lot like our own. There’s just one, seemingly minor, difference: A cluster of well-meaning [...]
London homeowners should stand up to Burnham’s property tax grab plans June 24, 2026 Andy Burnham has previously a ‘proportional property tax’ which would mean Londoner’s taxes going to pay for leisure centres in the North, says Charles Amos When it comes to the question of Britain’s most hated tax, council tax is only beaten by inheritance tax. Yet for Andy Burnham its reform and increase of the upper [...]
Tax the robots to fix our jobs crisis June 24, 2026 Starmer leaves parliament with a jobs crisis in his wake. I urge his successor to tax tech rather than humans, writes James Reed.
The fallacy of blaming rich footballers for inequality June 24, 2026 There is a persistent belief that the high pay of the few has suppressed that of the many. The data says differently, writes Paul Ormerod.
Has Brexit been a success? It’s too early to tell June 24, 2026 Ten years ago today the country woke to the news that the UK had voted to leave the European Union. Campaigners for Remain were horrified, pro-Brexit activists were jubilant, markets were panicked and in Westminster the Prime Minister, David Cameron, resigned. The magnitude of the Leave campaign’s victory – of their achievement – was sinking [...]
10 years on from Brexit, traders shouldn’t forget the power of comms June 23, 2026 A decade on from Brexit, and its Big Short style market swing, traders should remember the importance of comms, writes ex-rates trader Oliver Blower.
The next Prime Minister can change the conversation on the fiscal rules June 23, 2026 Since the defenestration of Liz Truss, the OBR has become an obsession in British politics. It need not be this way. Independent fiscal institutions are supposed to inform politics, not rule it. Other countries use them as sources of transparency, not as judge, jury and executioner, says Helen Thomas The next Prime Minister and Chancellor [...]
On this day: Brits vote in referendum that changes everything June 23, 2026 The Brexit referendum was 10 years ago today. A decade on, very little has been resolved, says Eliot Wilson There have only ever been three UK-wide referendums. Appealing directly to the electorate on a single issue through a plebiscite fits awkwardly with parliamentary government, as Enoch Powell told the House of Commons in 1972: “The [...]
Thames Water is Burnham’s first big test: will he do what’s right or what’s popular? June 23, 2026 Thames Water will run out of money in a matter of months, but the government rejected a plan to save it. Now, Burnham’s talk of renationalisation is already scaring off investors and reducing the tax revenues available to fun public services, says Natascha Engel Now that Keir Starmer has announced his departure, the question is [...]