Sunak whistles in the dark

The Chancellor is groping his way, knowing well that the future is unknowable, trying to hold on to as much of the past as he can.

Ryan Bourne: Sunak shouldn’t try today to restore pre-virus Britain. It’s gone – and we must now adapt.

What normalisation should mean is the return to a functioning market economy where our wants and needs are met in today’s circumstances.

Sunak’s statement tomorrow. How much like the Old Normal can we afford to make the New Normal be – or try to?

Given the Coronavirus uncertainties, whatever he announces could be even more provisional than most schemes of most Chancellors. 

Andy Street: Our blueprint setting out the economic ambitions of the West Midlands

This ambitious business case is based on our experiences not only of recovering from the last downturn, but on the successes of the last three years.

“Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.”

The big picture is that Johnson is dashing for growth. We devoutly hope it works but the precedents aren’t promising.

James Heywood: Johnson – “Brexity Hezza” or liberalising Thatcherite? Our new report sets out how he can be both.

At the Centre for Policy Studies, we’ve teamed up with Sajid Javid to come up with a comprehensive set of ideas for tackling the challenges ahead.

Darren Grimes: Since we must use coal, why import it all – when we could instead create jobs by mining it in the North-East?

In 2018, just to transport 4.7million tonnes of Russian coal was equivalent to a whopping 130 jumbo jets whizzing, non-stop, around the globe for a year.

Iain Dale: Gandhi was racist against black Africans. So by the rioters’ own reasoning, his statue should come tumbling down.

Plus: Ferguson’s evidence, two metres distance, Desmond’s donation, Jenrick’s response.

Alex Morton: We need a Help to Build plan to save building new homes from collapse

By using the new grant as an incentiv those who are looking to buy would be more likely to buy a new build, enabling supply to continue.

Luke Evans: Covid-19 has put a stop to much. But not to one big local problem, which continues. Rows over planning.

I’ve been thinking about how we can make planning even more accountable and predictable too. I would love to hear your thoughts on my ideas.

This really is the time to let the deficit grow big enough to look after itself

If, that is, interest rates carry on at rock bottom rates. But we have to take a chance on growing our way out of this crisis.

James Frayne: More welfare spending. A business tax avoidance clampdown. The new economic policy that voters will want.

One area that has had relatively little attention, but could get much more, is the behaviour of commercial landlords across the country.

Why the Government really tripped up over Heathrow

The decision illustrates how previous parliaments have freighted the process of policy-making with an increasingly onerous lattice of ill-defined obligations.

Matt Kilcoyne: Tax cuts that Sunak should deliver in his first Budget

The author of the final piece in our mini-series identifies corporation tax, stamp duty, national insurance and investment allowances as targets for action.

Philip Booth: The planning system can be liberalised in a conservative way

Allowing developers to negotiate at a very local level to provide compensation directly to the community would factor in beauty, practicality and social costs.