And I’m not talking about the stunts – which are a bit of a necessary evil. This is may Substack following the recent conference, which I did not attend.
Author: Matthew
The crisis in politics is about the ineffectiveness of government not lack of growth
The lack of economic growth in Britain and elsewhere is a recurrent theme for those trying to explain public dissatisfaction, and especially the nationalist-right backlash. It is hoped that this backlash can be addressed by finding ways to return to economic growth. This analysis is completely off-point when it comes to the nationalist-right, which is driven by a reaction against pro-growth policies. It is also a diversion away from a shocking lack of effectiveness in government – which will be hard to address.
My latest Substack
Britain’s fiscal plight stems from excessive caution
My latest Substack tries to take a step back from the chatter around the next budget, and look at the fundamentals of fiscal policy, which the current debate muddles. I suggest that a bolder approach to tax reform might present a stronger narrative than the desperate scramble to comply with self-imposed fiscal rules. Perhaps personnel changes at the Treasury and the Prime Minister’s office will aid this?
Ukraine: dancing around the Donald
Here is my latest Substack: link. I consider the latest moves to achieve peace in Ukraine. Alas I’m not hopeful. The main game is to try and avoid the blame when the process collapses.
Zack Polanski and Zarah Sultana on manoeuvres
My latest Substack, just posted, considering the efforts to turbo-charge the populist left. Alas I failed to make anything out of the fact that the two protagonists’ first names both start with Z.
One good thing and two bad things about the government’s welfare fiasco
My most recent Substack is now a little old but as salient as when written. Labour backbenchers were doing their job but have exposed the government’s lack of strategy.
Three courageous things liberals should do
In my previous Substack I suggested that the demographic crunch was the dominant issue of our time (leaving aside world security…). I bewailed a lack of courage amongst our politicians. What if they did have courage. My next Substack explores.
Demography, not productivity, is the issue of our time
My latest Substack past, here, has seen more engagement than anything I have posted recently. It’s impossible to guess what will evince a reaction, and what a yawn!
These theme may be a familiar one to my regular readers, but I seem to have presented it in a more engaging way.
How to fix public services
My latest Substack post is here
I regard this topic as central to any successful progress in the political economy. But it requires a rethinking of what is required across departmental horizons – which reminds me of highly successful trends in business management in the 1990s.
Labour’s immigration policy
Here is my latest Substack published last week. The government pleases nobody as it confronts one of the central themes of British politics.