Rising above tribal instinct to deliver equality under the law is the foundation of civilisation. It is a habit hard to learn, and easy to forget.
While no-one should be complacent, the initial evidence is that current problems are specific and not systemic.
Labour like to say we are the only major economy whose GDP has not recovered to prepandemic levels. But looking at GDP at constant prices in national currency the UK economy in 2022, according to the IMF, was one per cent bigger than in 2019.
There are growing fears that promising growth companies won’t actively consider listing in London, and that the current drip-drip of companies moving to New York may become a flood.
A pro-science and technology agenda requires political decisions no-one is currently pursuing. Taking on some public sector trade unions. Engaging constructively with the EU. Reforming planning law. Embracing the Oxford to Cambridge arc.
This year 36 government ministers and other representatives will bring Dublin’s message to 74 cities in 44 countries around the world.
This isn’t the time for ambiguity, but clarity: now give them the tools so they can finish the job and free all their territory, including Crimea.
We don’t have time to waste. During 2025 and 2026 the TCA, the UK/EU fisheries agreement, the EU’s decision on UK data adequacy and its current policy on derivatives trading all come up for review.
As I vote on legislation passing through Parliament, I notice a steady stream of laws that we could not have passed were we still in the EU.
The universally hawkish attitude of British elites rests on shaky assumptions about the progress of the war and America’s priorities.
Commentators focus their attention on the Red or Blue walls, but the Conservatives shouldn’t turn their backs on the green bridge of voters in both camps, especially when we have a strong record on climate and the environment.
The shift to subsidies is more than the timely, targeted and temporary measures that we saw during the pandemic, and signifies a bigger change in global public policy.
In the geo-political battle of ideas, between an open, liberal vision of government and society, and a more authoritarian template, the continent, overwhelmingly, is in the right column.
Maybe the best way to aggregate opinion is to say that there is a high degree of confidence that 2023 will be a year of recovery, but there is low degree of confidence as to the shape and course of events.
The Tories of the 2030s will need to make a complete clean break with the 1980s. We can think new ideas – and return to older ones to conserve and protect the institutions that make up the social fabric of this country.