This week, the Office for National Statistics informed us that the economy grew by 0.3 per cent in November. Not only was that above the 0.2 per cent expansion expected by analysts, but it was a recovery from a 0.3 per cent contraction the previous month.
Blaming the OBR is easier than acknowledging that some elements on the right have had a central tenet of its thinking rejected. Tax cuts don’t always pay for themselves.
“Just over a year ago we were forecast to have the biggest recession in a 100 years, we have managed to avoid that,” Trott declares.
Many Irish policymakers make the reasonable point, if it’s a simple matter of tax rates, then why haven’t more countries simply adopted this approach? It has been in place for decades, there’s been plenty of time.
The key problem is stagnation. Margaret Thatcher’s reforms promoted mobility and opportunity. Now we are an economy which doesn’t change enough.
We all like lower taxes and backing British business – but that is no excuse for not delivering on getting inflation down and delivering on economic growth.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury accuses Labour of “fiscal irresponsibility on steroids” for pledging £28 billion of extra borrowing.
Monday’s speech and today’s announcement show them choosing their ground for the next election. And since Hunt may find no money for further tax cuts next spring, the option of a May general election is opening up.
That is the mission of ARC, the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, which is holding its inaugural meeting in London. The public want a better, more productive and dignified economy, and a politics and a public culture which honours their values.
My hunch is the next generation of aspiring leaders will have a firmer grip on the meaning of conservatism than the current crop. Or, at least, I hope so — otherwise there might not be a party to lead.
At my selection meeting I was asked to choose, without doing the question, between building houses and protecting green spaces. I said houses, and got selected.
The goalposts cannot be moved. We have a moral, legal, and economic duty to cut our emissions by 68 per cent of 1990 levels by 2030 and reach Net Zero by 2050.
The second part of our series on reducing demand for government, in which we set out a programme for change – focused on families, civil society and government.
The demographic tide can’t be turned back, but its advance can be slowed – by the self-reinforcing triangle of stronger families, better schools, good jobs, and the stronger society that these help to build.
He will probably judge it better to keep a conservative spending message and dial down on the more radical green growth programme. Which would require her to make a painful U-turn.