Budget
Jeremy Hunt defends the Tories’ long-term economic record
A Chancellor’s Sunday media appearance before a Budget often serves as a ‘free pass’ – not because difficult questions aren’t…
What ‘Budget’ and ‘bilge’ have in common
The Budget (which the revolutionary fiscal act last week was technically not) is directly connected with bilge and with one…
Is Rishi Sunak any good at politics?
Is Rishi Sunak any good at politics? In recent days Labour sources have been putting it about that they no…
Does Rishi Sunak really understand red wall voters?
Rishi Sunak thinks Boris Johnson goofed badly when he conspiring to upend Commons standards procedures and agrees with his colleagues…
Will the Tories cut taxes before the next election?
The Tory party has reached a fork in the road, I say in the Times today. One path involves sticking…
Portrait of the week: Queen stays home, Boris rubbishes recycling and pay freeze thaws
Home The Queen will not attend the COP26 meeting in Glasgow next week; she had resumed light duties after having…
My night of nostalgia with Boris and co.
Rishi Sunak had a pre-game Twix and a Sprite to prepare for this week’s impressive Budget. I used to have…
Would the real Rishi Sunak please stand up?
It was a tale of two chancellors at today’s high-spending Budget. Rishi Sunak began by embracing the big-state profligacy pursued…
Rishi Sunak's low tax pitch to MPs
Is Rishi Sunak a low tax chancellor? He certainly likes to tell anyone who will listen that he is. Yet…
Six things we learnt from the Budget
Another big fiscal event for Rishi Sunak today, as he delivered his Budget and the details of a three-year spending…
Responsible Rishi's Budget balancing act
Rishi Sunak has released photos of his Budget prep, as he prepares to stand up in the House of Commons…
Sunak faces the free-marketeers
Rishi Sunak didn’t give too much away tonight when he spoke at the ThinkTent Conservative Party Conference. The Chancellor is…
When will Boris get serious about balancing the budget?
Should we be pleased that net government borrowing for June came in below expectations, at £22.8 billion – £5.5 billion…
The Budget could be an awkward moment for fiscal conservatives
There is no getting around the fact that these are awkward times for fiscal conservatives, such as myself. It has…
Are the Tories about to ditch one of their biggest policy achievements?
We already know much of what will be in Rishi Sunak’s Budget next week. Another £30bn for Covid-relief measures: furlough…
The Budget’s corona contagion
When Sajid Javid resigned in a row with No. 10, there was much speculation about what would be in the…
The Budget will show how the Tories plan to win the next election
It’s only a few weeks until Budget day and the papers are filled with reports of the various revenue-raising measures…
What is the point of Philip Hammond?
What is the point of Philip Hammond? Most chancellors have an agenda, but it’s hard to discern any purpose or…
Can Hammond’s Budget make business feel better about Brexit?
‘Uncertainty is draining investment from the UK, with Brexit having a negative impact on eight in ten businesses,’ says Carolyn…
Why austerity is coming to an end
The last day of the parliamentary term is usually an occasion for the government to get a whole bunch of…
A sensible Budget and stronger banks – what could go wrong?
One week you’re fighting to survive the dance-off amid vicious backstage rivalries, the next you’re scoring a perfect ten from…
The Tories urgently need a boost from Philip Hammond’s Budget
The Budget this Wednesday represents this government’s best, and perhaps its last, chance to regain the political initiative. Ever since…
Hammond can build his way out of trouble
Sometimes in life the biggest risk you can take is to play it safe. This is the predicament of Philip…
Iain Duncan Smith on how to save Conservatism
Iain Duncan Smith on the fallout from his shock resignation
George Osborne still deserves praise for his Living Wage
It was unfashionable of me to write in praise of George Osborne on Budget day. I did so, you may…
