HSBC’s purchase of Silicon Valley Bank shows the power and limits of government March 20, 2023 We should commend the government facilitating HSBC’s decision to buy Silicon Valley Bank, but not all things can be left to government to solve and we need to shore up the financial system
Explainer: Why are the SNP losing members? March 17, 2023 The Scottish National Party is losing members: this is the reality that the contenders to replace Nicola Sturgeon had to grapple with this week. The party said the current membership stands at 72,186. These will be the people who ultimately get to decide who becomes the new leader of the party. At the beginning of [...]
Ten years of tightened control over London’s funding has stunted our growth March 17, 2023 For years we’ve been promised more devolution, but none of that has translated into more control over how we use money in London and it’s curtailing our growth, writes Paul Honeyben
Why childcare reforms probably won’t get parents back to work March 17, 2023 Jeremy Hunt and Rishi Sunak are betting big on childcare reforms to boost the economy, but many mothers will still choose to stay at home, writes Len Shackleton.
Joining the Pacific trade bloc will free us from our reliance on the European Union and China March 17, 2023 Rishi Sunak is pursuing a deal with Pacific countries to allow the UK to join the CPTPP, and reduce its reliance on trading with the EU and China, writes Jason Reed.
Explainer: Are Michael Gove’s threats to developers working? March 16, 2023 This morning, we broke the news that residential developer Telford Homes was ready to sign Michael Gove’s cladding pledge. Just hours later, the developer officially capitulated and signed. These developments indicate that Gove’s threats, after all, are working. Monday was the official deadline for signing the legally binding contract. Thirty-nine developers accepted their responsibility to [...]
Businesses were hunting among the slim pickings for fresh cash to boost growth across the UK March 16, 2023 There wasn't much fresh cash for businesses in yesterday's Budget. But it certainly showed a calmer approach after the political upheaval of only months ago, writes Tim Sarson
New chancellor, same story: London is always left out of Whitehall’s plan for growth March 16, 2023 London won’t always keep growing if it is continually ignored by government. What will the Chancellor have to say then?
Budget: Jeremy Hunt doesn’t want rabbits in hats, he wants all of us back to work March 15, 2023 Jeremy Hunt will spend more than £2.5m per new worker in the workforce through pension and childcare policies in five years time.
Explainer: Why Hunt extended energy support in the Budget March 15, 2023 One of the first announcements in today’s Budget was an extension on the energy price cap, keeping it at its current rate of £2,500 per household until the end of June. The cap was meant to expire next month, but Jeremy Hunt capitulated to the campaigners’ pleas and u-turned. He also probably realised he had [...]