Will Keir Starmer meet his pledge to improve living standards? December 5, 2024 Before the General Election Labour was proudly proclaiming its commitment to generating economic growth. The first ‘mission’ in the party’s manifesto was to secure the highest sustained growth rate in the G7. After Keir Starmer’s speech earlier today, that mission has been downgraded to an ‘aim’. The new pledge, heavily trailed before the speech, is [...]
‘A clear thumbs down’: UK business confidence slumped post-Budget November 22, 2024 The UK’s business optimism “slumped” in a downturn after the Autumn Budget, according to a closely watched survey of the private sector. S&P’s ‘flash’ purchasing managers’ index (PMI) came in at 49.9 in November, now below the neutral 50.0 threshold, down from 51.8 last month, and the lowest since October 2023. Firms reported a fractional [...]
Nvidia and Softbank team up to build new AI supercomputer November 13, 2024 Nvidia announced its partnership with Softbank to build a Blackwell-powered AI supercomputer, as Japan seeks to get ahead in the AI arms race.
Badenoch wants a battle of ideas – we should wish her well November 4, 2024 One week before emerging victorious in the Conservative leadership race, Kemi Badenoch was asked by Sophy Ridge on Sky News whether she wanted to be Prime Minister. “I don’t think it’s about wanting to be prime minister,” she said, adding, “I think it’s not an award. It’s not like winning a competition. It’s actually a [...]
Autumn Budget 2024: All the key announcements October 30, 2024 After weeks of speculation, Rachel Reeves has delivered her first Budget as Chancellor to the House of Commons. The Budget was the first from a Labour government in 14 years and the first one ever by a female Chancellor. The 77-minute address to MPs featured a wide range of announcements which Morning Wire has summarized [...]
Tory leadership: Jenrick warns of ‘big task’ to restore economic credibility October 1, 2024 Robert Jenrick has warned it will be a “big task” for the next Conservative party leader to restore the party’s “economic credibility” following Liz Truss’s calamitous mini-Budget. The leadership candidate, speaking at a Q&A for party members at the annual conference in Birmingham, told the audience he was “not happy” about the current levels of [...]
UK growth revised down to 0.5 per cent in second quarter September 30, 2024 Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics, said the updated figures included new survey data, VAT returns and updated information about the size of different industries.
Has Labour overdone the doom and gloom? September 24, 2024 Many economists and City business groups have argued that this risks damaging growth. After all, why would households spend and businesses invest in a climate of fear?
Keir Starmer: Policies that inhibit growth will be in the ‘no column’ September 17, 2024 “If it promotes economic growth, it’s in the Yes column — if it is inhibiting growth, it’s in the No column,” he reportedly said.