Everything government, Parliament, the statistical agencies and the major policy institutes published — read, summarised and ranked so you can skim the day in a minute.
5,510 articles · 37 live sources · updated 3h ago
Proposes converting utilities into public‑benefit companies with a constitutional duty to deliver high‑quality services and subordinate profitability, arguing this could be done within existing ownership and licensing frameworks to avoid costly shareholder compensation, despite potential legal challenges.
A polemical piece arguing John Maynard Keynes remains the most insightful economist for understanding contemporary capitalism, critiquing opponents for misunderstanding Keynes’s views on market equilibrium and the role of the state.
Argues the case against a National Care Service by urging investment in policies that extend healthy independent living; cites ONS 2022–24 healthy life expectancy at birth: men 60.7 years (77% of life), women 60.9 years (73%).
Argues Britain’s regulatory burden stifles innovation and competitiveness, urging the government to slash or eliminate many bureaucratic processes—rather than just reduce or speed them up—to let firms ‘just go do stuff’ and foster development.
Opinion piece arguing the common claim that governments cannot be likened to households is wrong; the author contends the household analogy — balancing spending with income, prudent borrowing and tight limits — remains a useful guide for fiscal policy.
British parents in dual‑income households pay more than a third of net earnings on childcare, the highest in the OECD. The piece argues costs stem from tight child‑to‑staff ratios (around 1:4.5 for under‑fours) rather than under‑spending, citing looser ratios (about 1:9) in Norway and France with no evident quality drop and lower family costs.
Labour’s new national apprenticeship scheme enrolled just 160 young people in its first eight months, far short of the 30,000 ‘foundation apprenticeship’ starts target by the end of this parliament, with the Adam Smith Institute blaming nationalisation for employers withdrawing.
Commemorates Douglas Mason, the Adam Smith Institute author who proposed replacing local property 'rates' with a per-capita charge—an idea that evolved into the controversial poll tax—and recounts the policy debates that followed.
Argues the £210m high-street regeneration pledge is backward: spend decisions should follow local demand research. Notes online sales now represent about 25% of retail, implying less physical High Street space is needed before redesigning uses.
Critiques Kemi Badenoch’s proposal to replace cash benefits for the long-term unemployed with prepaid ‘back-to-work’ cards that block purchases of alcohol, cigarettes and gambling, arguing such controls would create a black market and harm recipients.
Contends councils should be able to compel repair or reuse of long-neglected properties, citing international examples of prolonged urban decay and arguing for sensible time limits and enforcement powers for local authorities.
The piece describes France’s system of parliamentary representation for overseas departments and territories — 27 of 577 National Assembly seats and additional senators — and presents it as a straightforward model for integrating overseas communities.
Essay arguing economics should treat time as a fundamental fourth dimension, stressing that transactions unfold over time and that interest reflects the price of waiting, with implications for economic modelling and policy thinking.
Sharon Graham of Unite says the frozen personal allowance of about £12,500 would be over £16,000 without recent freezes, arguing low‑paid workers face excessive income tax and NI. She backs progressive taxation and hints at using consumption and ‘sin’ taxes.
Critique opposes Andy Burnham's proposed 'Your First Home' 20% equity‑loan scheme for new‑build first‑time buyers with a 2.5% minimum deposit, warning of moral hazard and risks reminiscent of past US mortgage failures.
Argues that spending cuts are inevitable and signals the state pension triple lock as an obvious but politically sensitive target for savings, urging parties to confront difficult choices on public spending.
The Adam Smith Institute argues that the pro-Proposition 40 rhetoric — claiming a California billionaire wealth tax will curb oligarchy and spark wider wealth taxes — actually demonstrates why the measure should not be passed.
Argues Europe faces a dilemma on AI: either reject it and forgo growth, or adopt it and rely on US/Chinese technology; recent safety debates may render the choice irrelevant, reflecting Europe’s failure to produce Silicon-Valley scale firms.
Argues that economic models often present spurious precision by treating humans as uniform utility-maximisers, warning that real human behaviour—history, loyalties and rumours—undermines the reliability of neat mathematical economics.
Contrasts socialism’s end‑state planning with conservatism and market liberalism’s emphasis on learning from existing institutions, customs and practices that have endured rather than imposing a designed ‘finished society’.
Argues that English mayors should face greater central scrutiny to prevent devolution being undermined by poor local decisions, criticising current arrangements and calling for tighter oversight of mayoral powers.
Author revisits a 2018 wishlist of 15 desired inventions and asked an AI to report what has been invented or progressed since. The piece summarises AI’s assessment of each idea, from biodegradable nappies to enhanced carbon‑capture plants.
An Adam Smith Institute opinion piece disputes claims that AI datacentre expansion will create a catastrophic ‘tsunami’ of toxic e‑waste, arguing most discarded electronics will be recyclable, profitable to process and thus not a major problem.
Argues that slavery was not the unique driver of the Industrial Revolution and therefore cannot be the sole basis for multitrillion-pound reparations; rejects the claim that beneficiaries of modern prosperity must pay compensation for historic slavery.
Essay on Bernard Mandeville’s Fable of the Bees arguing that private vices such as self‑interest, greed and vanity (luxury, pride) drive industry, commerce and employment, while public virtue undermines ambition, consumption and wealth.