UK Economy

Calls for Rachel Reeves to quit as chancellor are overblown – but they highlight what her real problems are

— Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces calls to resign amid economic woes, media scrutiny, and opposition claims. However, her credentials match past chancellors, and Britain’s longstanding structural issues, not her policies, fuel criticism.

UK Politics

Keir Starmer’s party conference speech – What he said and what it meant

— At his party conference speech, Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Britons to embrace difficult politics, rejecting populism’s “easy answers.” He promoted collective responsibility, serious governance, and long-term solutions, appealing for public trust in a national renewal.

UK Politics

Did Starmer have to be so miserable? The doom and gloom may be more political than economic

— Keir Starmer has warned the UK will endure short-term pain before recovery, blaming Conservative mismanagement. Labour faces tough decisions on spending cuts and tax reforms to address public sector needs and a significant funding gap, with political consequences looming.

2024 General Election

Why doesn’t economic good news shift the polls for Rishi Sunak? An analysis of 27 past elections explains the problem

— Despite falling inflation, which should boost the Conservative government, voter intentions remain unchanged, with Conservatives trailing Labour by over 20%. This suggests other factors, like the NHS and immigration, overshadow economic improvements.

2024 General Election

What the economic data told Rishi Sunak about the best date for a general election

— Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a general election for July 4 surprised many. Citing economic stability, lower inflation, and GDP growth, it aims to benefit Conservatives against Labour’s call for change. Voters seek evidence-based policies for economic growth and security.

UK Politics

Liz Truss: What she got wrong (and what she’s actually right about)

— Liz Truss’s short 49-day tenure as UK Prime Minister is marked by her controversial £45 billion “mini-budget” that led to economic turmoil, prompting her resignation. Despite criticism, she remains defiant, blaming independent institutions for hindering radical economic reforms.

2024 General Election

Labour’s economic plan is finally taking shape – but will it be enough?

— Labour’s surge in polls since 2022 prompts Rachel Reeves to unveil the party’s economic vision. Focusing on stability against Brexit and geopolitical challenges, she proposes “securonomics”, akin to Bidenomics but with smaller-scale ambitions.

UK Politics

Jeremy Hunt’s budget: The problem for Labour explained

— Jeremy Hunt’s pre-election budget prioritises short-term political gains, aiming to appease voters with key measures. However, this strategy delays crucial investment, sparking concerns about potential public service cuts. The budget also contains multiple traps for Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves.

Analysis

If you follow the degrowth agenda, it leads to an economy that looks a lot like the sickly UK

— Degrowthers advocate cutting investment as a way to reduce the use of precious resources, which is exactly what the UK government has been doing for the last 40 years.

Budget 2024

Budget 2024: Experts react to the UK government’s last roll of the economic dice ahead of a general election

— The 2024 spring budget aimed to boost UK economic optimism before the general election. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt cut national insurance, but it only partially offset rising tax burden. Mixed reviews indicate the budget fell short of high expectations for pre-election economic moves.

Budget 2024

Budget 2024: What to expect from Jeremy Hunt’s pre-election tax giveaway

— Jeremy Hunt faces challenges in delivering tax cuts before the election due to a weak economy and a reduced budget deficit. The political impact remains uncertain. Can the chancellor move the dial on the Tories’ grim polling?

Banking

UK banks are reporting huge profits – but there are many reasons why this may not last

— High interest rates have been a big earner for the last couple of years.

UK Economy

The collapse of The Body Shop shows that ‘ethical’ branding is not a free pass to commercial success

— The Body Shop, a UK high street icon for nearly 50 years, faces closure as its British arm enters administration. Its ethical branding didn’t evolve with market changes, contributing to its decline.

UK Politics

Should we believe Rishi Sunak’s hint that the election will be in October?

— Rishi Sunak has hinted at a general election in the second half of the year, giving the Conservatives time to narrow Labour’s lead. Sunak hopes for signs of economic recovery, with anticipated tax cuts in the spring potentially boosting the polls.

UK Economy

Why the UK economy is in such a state – and even the Labour party doesn’t seem to get how bad things are

— Keir Starmer acknowledges spending constraints in a potential future Labour government, citing economic challenges after 13 years of Conservative rule, while his Shadow Chancellor promotes “securonomics” for economic security, though funding details are unclear.

UK Politics

Autumn statement: What to expect, what they’re not saying, and the traps for Labour

— The budget aims to address the Tories’ economic strategy and the cost of living crisis ahead of the general election. Given the challenging economic outlook, the budget may include tax cuts and measures to boost growth, but challenges like inconsistent policies and pressure to cut benefits persist.