Funding the Future

Will Starmer end our ‘special relationship’?

The forthcoming trade war that Trump is intent upon is going to force Starmer to do something he hates. He’s going to back either the US or the EU, because he can’t fudge this one without imposing massive harm on this country. And he’s also going to have to be the Prime Minister who finally says farewell to the ‘special relationship’, once and for all.

Why inheritance tax charges are really good for real farmers

When farmland has become financialised in the way it has been because of inheritance tax exemptions, farming can't work, so farmers need to realise that actually having an inheritance tax charge helps them to reclaim farming for farmers and for the benefit of the people of this country. They really should not be protesting today: Labour is, for once, on their side and even doing the right thing.

Trump is Making America Poor Again

Trump says he will make America great again, but if he cuts $2 trillion from the US Federal budget of $6.7 trillion – as he says he wants to do – then the impact on millions of US people will be catastrophic. The reality is that he seems to be setting out to Make America Poor Again.

Might we drop the dogma from politics?

I am bored by politicians who pretend that they are from the left and right, and who either worship markets or pretend that the state can do nothing of value. The reality is that we live in a mixed economy where both the state and private sectors are essential. Why is it so hard to admit that fact?

Why are you divorced from your savings?

Most people have no clue how their pension and other savings are managed, or who by, and what the consequences for the economy, the planet or themselves of that management of their savings might be. Why is it that £6 trillion of pension fund money in the UK is totally unaccountable and what would happen if we brought it back under saver control?

Rachel Reeves’ Budget is falling apart

Rachel Reeves increased the minimum wage, the rate of employers’ national insurance and the amount of income on which that charge is levied in her Budget. Now every labour-intensive activity in the country, from the NHS, to teaching and childcare as well as hospitality, and many smaller businesses are rightly complaining. Reeves made a massive mistake. She has to change her mind.

Trump’s tariffs are bad news for everyone

Trump’s plan to impose massive tariffs on imports into the USA are bad news for US consumers, and most specially the poorest people in that country. But they are also really bad news for the UK in a great many ways, and for the rest of the world as well, because we just don’t know how to manage the chaos they will unleash.

What would a good fiscal rule look like?

If we want to change things, we do have to change the rules of government. We have to change them so that people are at their epicentre and that things that matter are the goals that government must achieve.

Why should people work at home?

The ‘return to work’ now being enforced by many organisations makes no sense for many people, or the planet. It really is time that we have some enlightened managers who did what is best for people and the world, and not what they see as being best for them.

Will 2025 be a nightmare year for Trump?

Trump controls the Presidency, Senate and, most likely, the House. He has no excuses for not delivering on his promises as a result. But, he is also going to rely on very inexperienced people to deliver them. The chance that a great deal will go wrong is high. And if he fails the backlash from voters will be strong. 2026 might be a good year for the Democrats.