Imagine that every day a British Minister dealt with their counterparts in Germany or France, they observed that their own living standards were 25 per cent lower (the gap for Britain’s poorest compared with those two countries).
People need a sense of hope and optimism about their prospects. And one of the best ways for the new Prime Minister to deliver that credibly is indeed to show how they will grow the innovations which will make life better.
There is a lot of rhetoric about boosting vocational training, but we need to do more to deliver it in practice.
Of the main tax cut candidates urged on the Chancellor, the best available is a VAT fuel reduction.
It will, for one, open the door to numerous other interest groups, who will demand for such a policy to be maintained or used again in the future.
When it comes to helping working people, a tax cut to hand would be the cancellation of the Health and Social Care Levy.
We are the party of mobility and enterprise. But we are also the party of community and belonging. What is it to be – roots or wings?
How have think-tanks and campaign groups responded to the Chancellor’s fiscal and economic initiatives?
How have think-tanks and campaign groups responded to the Chancellor’s fiscal and economic news?
It’s baffling why think-tanks are taking the OBR assessments as truth, given its prediction record.
A dedicated body could focus on scrutinising the economy and effectiveness of future plans. Australia and New Zealand already have similar models.
And when it comes to paying for the crisis measures, as we must, taxes must not fall on younger workers.
Modest consolidation over decades is one thing; large increases over a Parliament would be quite another.
The present social contract was written when the number of taxpayers well outstripped the number of retirees. But times have changed.