Rather than an ideological approach, these four ideals – pragmatism, stewardship, One Nation and empowerment – should be the foundations of Conservative economic policy.
Not since Lawson in his pomp has there been a Tory Chancellor who communicates such ebullient intellectual confidence, and such scorn for his critics.
Wrong-headed Treasury thinking will leave people paying unnecessarily high as the cost-of-living crisis strikes.
My instinct last week was that he tried too hard to please the Tory press. Nothing’s that’s happened since has suggested otherwise.
The criticism of him in the newspaper most read by Party activists took little account of the effects of war and pandemic on the choices he must make.
Our troubles will be compounded by Ministers’ import promotion policies, most pronounced in the Business, Energy and Agriculture departments.
The Chancellor extolled principles that point to the possibility of meaningful pro-growth reform of how revenues are raised.
Without it, we won’t be able to have better public services, less debt and lower deficits, or a fairer deal for younger people.
The second piece in a mini-series on ConHome this week on Net Zero and climate change.
Preventing as much long-term damage to the economy as possible now should be the Chancellor’s priority.
Plus: Johnson’s sub-optimal Brexit trade deal choice. I’m not dreaming of a normal Christmas. And: green jobs – overall, a cost not a benefit.
If we are to grow as a nation and pay for public services we need to encourage entrepreneurs and support businesses – not make life harder for them and kick them in the teeth.