Kwasi Kwarteng is clearly a believer in animal spirits, or more specifically, the animal spirits of the UK private sector. The term ‘animal spirits’ was used by the economist J. M. Keynes to describe the spontaneous forces of vitality that drive human action. Apparently these animal spirits have been held back by too much taxing and … Continue reading Animal Spirits, Taxing and Borrowing — Editorial
Sunak
Gas Must Be Rationed—But Not By Price
Editorial 1 There is a substantial difference between gas supply and gas demand in Europe. The shortage in supply is not due to any physical shortage of gas as a natural resource but rather because European countries have decided to support attempts of the United States to weaken Russia by imposing sanctions on the import of … Continue reading Gas Must Be Rationed—But Not By Price
Cost of Living
The cost of living — Parliament Notes What Labour MPs are saying in Parliament to address the cost of living crisis. Early day motion on the cost of living Motion text (presented by John Trickett; supported by John Cruddas, Diane Abbott, Kim Johnson, Bell Ribeiro-Addy; also Tony Lloyd, plus one Independent and one Green MP) 24th May … Continue reading Cost of Living
Rishi Sunak’s Financial Statement
Editorial 1 Early on in his dismal Financial Statement Rishi Sunak said: “At a time when the OBR has said that our fiscal headroom could be “wiped out by relatively small changes to the economic outlook,” it is right that the central fiscal judgement I am making today is to meet our fiscal rules with a … Continue reading Rishi Sunak’s Financial Statement
Sunak’s Agenda is Labour’s Opportunity
Editorial The party which wins the next general election will be the party which presents to the electorate, in the clearest and most convincing way, a view of the role of the state in the society. No one knows what the position of the Labour Party is on the role and size of the state. Keir … Continue reading Sunak’s Agenda is Labour’s Opportunity
Editorial 1 — Labour Must Exploit Tory Divisions
The most important political battle in British politics is currently taking place in the Conservative party. There is, of course, also a political battle taking place in the Labour Party, but it is of a different kind. In the Labour Party, the party machine is being used to suppress the discussion of any radical ideas. In contrast, in … Continue reading Editorial 1 — Labour Must Exploit Tory Divisions
The Levellers — Editorial 1
Keir Starmer repeats, at every opportunity, that his main objective is to win the next general election. This is a welcome change of objective. In 2019 Starmer seemed determined to lose that general election. Labour lost the 2019 general election because they attempted to reverse the result of the 2016 Brexit referendum. Starmer was the main architect of … Continue reading The Levellers — Editorial 1