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Author Archives: Matthew
Japan: are there lessons for other developed economies?
A while ago I wrote that the radical economic policies of Japan’s new government under Shinzo Abe would be an interesting experiment for the world. They were much lauded by austerity sceptics, such as Paul Krugman, who drew attention to … Continue reading
The battle for Britain’s political centre
The idea of a centre ground in politics, where elections are won and lost, is a persistent one, especially here in Britain (and England in particular) and in the United States. Winning politicians are said to “triangulate” a political position … Continue reading
Posted in Politics UK
Tagged Bill Clinton, Conservatives, David Cameron, Labour, Lib Dems, Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, Tony Blair
2 Comments
Understanding the case for Britain leaving the EU
The British Eurosceptics are on the march again. Much of this is the usual stuff and nonsense, based on Ukip’s good electoral performance last week, though that has more to do with an anti-politics mood, and worries over immigration, than … Continue reading
Will the Dark Forces save the Tories and crush Ukip?
My advice to Ukip is to savour this moment. After being repeatedly being dismissed and written off, their performance in last week’s local elections was the story of the day. They took over a quarter of the vote where they … Continue reading
How is Labour’s economic stimulus meant to work?
ON Monday at lunchtime Labour’s leader Ed Miliband was subjected to a fierce interview by Martha Kearney on the BBC Radio 4′s World at One. The main subject of contention was Labour’s economic policy, and in particular whether the party’s plan for … Continue reading
Posted in Economics & Finance, Politics UK
Tagged Ed Miliband, Labour, Paul Krugman, UK economic policy
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Time to think of England
This week it was St George’s Day, a time when we in England reflect on what it is to be English – a few of us do anyway, especially when St George himself was so un-English. There was also a … Continue reading
Posted in Politics UK
Tagged AV referendum, British constitution, English Assembly, Scotland, Scottish independence, UK politics
19 Comments
The private war of the jihadi terrorists
Last week’s bombing of the Boston marathon received blanket coverage here in the UK. In a world where there is still plenty of death and destruction, it seemed to be particularly shocking. But the strangest aspect of the episode to … Continue reading
Britain’s austerity policies under attack
Since the coalition government came to power in 2010 the British economy has been stagnant. Unlike other advanced economies, the United States in particular, national income has failed to recover back up to the level it reached before the crisis struck … Continue reading
Will Labour let the Tories win the 2015 election?
Margaret Thatcher’s death on Monday has distracted attention at rather an interesting moment in British politics. There is a vigorous debate about how Labour should fight the next General Election, which should be in 2015 (one of the very few … Continue reading
Posted in Politics UK, Public Services
Tagged Conservatives, David Cameron, Ed Miliband, George Osborne, Jonathan Freedland, Labour, Tony Blair, welfare reform
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Mrs Thatcher: the lightning conductor
Oh dear! The death of Margaret Thatcher yesterday has unleashed a flood of comment about how she transformed this or that. Mainly it is praise from the right (it’s everywhere and I can barely bear too read them, so I’ll … Continue reading
Posted in Politics UK
Tagged Conservatives, Dennis Healey, economics, EU, Margaret Thatcher
2 Comments