Years of government intervention have shifted public expectations in a dangerous direction for any centre-right programme.
It allows politicians to squeeze voters whilst lying about being tax-cutters at election time.
Sunak brought Californian sunshine to the rainy skies of Manchester, while preaching Thatcherite morality.
Preventing as much long-term damage to the economy as possible now should be the Chancellor’s priority.
We are in danger of losing sight of the simple truth which has been a favoured phrase of Tory politicians through the ages: borrowing today is simply taxation deferred.
Today’s pledge of a swift Tory National Insurance cut is welcome, but more importantly it sets the stage for an attack on Corbyn’s tax grab.
Corbyn has made it safer to indulge the Tory leadership’s willingness to spend. But there are signs of at least some restraint.
The heated debate about fiscal policy a decade ago is often forgotten. It matters that the former Prime Minister now acknowledges he came down on the wrong side.
“Austerity” has been blurred and misused as a term. If everyone takes its end as a promise of whatever they fancy, it will soon get costly and risky.
The Comprehensive Spending Review has to be seen as a way to reset the narrative. Government need to focus on reform as a positive – not expenditure.
British commentators who jumped to condemn his decision as a travesty of democracy failed to understand the country’s constitutional traditions.
It might please nurses, but provokes new pay demands from teachers, doctors and soldiers. Nor would a hypothecated ‘NHS Tax’ make the issue go away.
It’s later than Osborne planned, but good news nonetheless. Now Hammond must hold the course, and resist siren calls to start splashing the cash.
No council has ever held a referendum on tax rises over five per cent. Javid’s decision to raise the cap means taxpayers will be hit without the democratic chance to object.
The sixteenth article in a new series on ConHome about how government might be made smaller, taxpayers better off and and society stronger – through strong families, better schools and good jobs.