A major target of Government policy in respect of the domestic and trade economy ought to be the rebalancing of our unsustainable balance of payments deficit.
He was the most formidable Chancellor of the Twentieth Century and a titan of the modern Conservative Party – voting for Sunak and endorsing his approach in last summer’s Tory leadership election.,
While no-one should be complacent, the initial evidence is that current problems are specific and not systemic.
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.
Even though she won a big majority of the Conservative members plus the largest number of MPs declaring, there was a feeling from the very outset that she would not be allowed to govern in the way she wanted.
A pro-green agenda can complement a pro-growth one rather than contradict it, and the two can work together hand in hand – making progress on levelling up as they do so.
Some Tory members would see such a development as nothing less than an establishment coup: as a conspiracy of bad actors working together to win revenge for Brexit.
In addition to the broad question about the Chancellor’s political judgement, I think he faces three specific problems.
Higher interest rates may slow the world economy later this year and early next. Recession is even possible for the UK.
Britain’s calling is to lead the Anglosphere, a great power almost no one has given nearly enough thought about.
I was surprised to see Daniel Hannan argue that the Government is failing to distance itself from the EU.
The UK needs a fresh, robust template. Central to it should be a differentiation between strategic and non-strategic areas.
The concept of ‘respect’ is all too open to abuse. In the current climate, it risks importing ‘cancel culture’ into political debate.
The importance of competitive taxes cannot be understated. And retaining high standards is not incompatible with growth.
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.