Turning complaints about headline figures into a detailed programme to bring them down would teach us a lot about whoever tried it.
Over this period, the UK’s economic growth was level with the US’s and exceeded the other five members of the G7. In other words, on international comparisons, we did well.
The old, simplistic idea of ‘learn, work, retire’ is badly out-of-date – but 20th-century thinking is preventing the UK from moving on.
A lower tax burden will be impossible without less supply of government. And for there to be less supply, there must first be less demand.
As a former Brexit Secretary, I know that we can use our Brexit freedoms to achieve incredible things. Changes to EU regulations in our five growth industries will mean that we can deliver the very best for our great country,
the risk is that the fiscal errors made by the Truss administration tarnish the vital goal of improving the UK’s sluggish long-term growth rate.
A basic rule of thumb comes to mind and seems universally accepted: you should be able to keep at least half of every extra pound you earn.
The overseas aid and Universal Credit decisions suggest that, for the first time in a while, the cause of fiscal conservatism is gaining the upper hand.
By reminding backbenchers of manifesto commitments on debt control, he is squaring up for battles to come over the spending review.
We should base it on an index of cumulative change in wages.
The problem is that spiralling spending demands quickly use up the options which voters don’t notice. Eventually you need other big sources of revenue,
But this electoral Titan has an Achilles heel – tax rises which, rather than planning or HS2, are the real threat to future Chesham & Amershams.
Our manifesto couldn’t reasonably be expected to predict the freak consequences of Covid in terms of rapid wage growth.