Business is the wealth generator of the UK, and small and family businesses are the often neglected heart of the UK economy, with family businesses alone employing nearly four in ten of the UK’s workforce. We propose ways to make the UK an economy all businesses can thrive in.
Time to seize the moment: “À la carte Europe” is the future for the EU
The failure of, and acrimony at, last week’s summit has only added to the feeling that the EU is in a state of crisis.
A failure to act inspired by political cowardice?
It cannot be ignorance. Ministers and officials know the score about Britain’s precarious energy supplies. If their failure to act – as distinct from appointing inquiries – is because of complacency, it is risk-taking to the point of recklessness. Many suspect the real reason that prevents them from “selling” the need for nuclear power to safeguard future supplies of electricity at a reasonable cost is political cowardice born of political correctness.
An overview of the flat tax
There has been much welcome discussion in recent months concerning a flat tax.
Seeking the common ground
The Centre for Policy Studies is facilitating a series of meetings, gathering together Conservatives from all points of view within the Party along with representatives from interested think tanks, to discuss the future of Tory philosophy and strategy.
Take poor families out of tax!
Amongst advocates of a lower (and simpler) tax economy, there is increasing support for the notion that one of the most effective and socially desirable targets for tax reduction would be to raise the thresholds at which poor families start paying income tax.
Tax and spend: no way to run an economy
There is no doubt that the current Government has increased the size of the public sector significantly.
Pollyanna, not prudence the Chancellor’s finances
On 2 December 2004, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is due to present his next Pre-Budget Report – his eighth. Political commentators will, doubtless, be listening for any hints concerning any election giveaways that may be announced in next year’s Budget – probably the last before the next election.
Reforming the Private Finance Initiative
Philippa Roe was in at the beginning of PFI at the Treasury, and now works in the City of London in the financing of PFI deals. She is particularly well placed to have produced this excellent survey of the development of PFI over the last 12 years and of the problems and issues that need to be addressed, with recommendations for their solution.
Mr Blair’s Poodle goes to War – The House of Commons, Congress and Iraq
Britain became a democracy in the twentieth century, but in the twenty-first it still retains a Parliament more appropriate for the nineteenth. While politics has changed out of all recognition, in many respects Parliament looks and feels as it did at its Bagehotian zenith: impressive, authoritative, gothic, labyrinthine.
Gordon Brown’s Boasts How well has the Chancellor Really performed?
As his time in office lengthens, Gordon Brown appears increasingly proud about his achievements as Chancellor of the Exchequer. At the same time, he is happy to denigrate the performance of his rivals and predecessors. But how sustainable are the Chancellor’s claims?
For the economy’s sake, we cannot afford not to cut taxes
The world economy is changing significantly. Low cost and highly competitive developing countries are having an increasing impact on all developed Western economies, not least of all here in Britain.
Backing the wrong horse
The UK conducts its internal and external trade through the European Union’s Customs Union/Single Market. That model, which was originally designed in the 1950s for economic and geopolitical conditions that were different from today’s, is emulated nowhere else in the developed world.
Why britain can’t afford not to cut taxes five tax cuts to make now
A belief in the importance of low taxes is axiomatic for those who put their faith in the power of markets, enterprise and personal responsibility as the foundation of a free society. Yet, today, much of the debate on tax starts by taking the current tax burden as a given. The question most often asked is whether or not the government of the day can afford to reduce taxes.
What if we say no to the EU constitution?
If agreed, this will replace all the current intergovernmental Treaties establishing the European Union with a new European Constitution that creates the EU as a legal entity in its own right.
The Stock Market under Labour For New Labour read Old
A feature of the London stock market since the Labour Government came into power in 1997 has been the poor performance of equity shares, both in actual terms and by comparison with the performance of stock market indices in other developed economies. This contrasts strangely with the growth of the economy over the same period. Why has this happened?
The European Constitution and what it means for Britain
The government wants Britain to have a written constitution. It has not been drafted here and was not requested by Parliament or the people. Once in place it will take precedence over all British laws and constitutional practices. It will not be amendable except by the consent of others. This is the European Constitution.
