Just when you thought it was safe to head for the beach, is it time for a snap election?
Some analysts think Andy Burnham’s bounce in the polls could see him gamble on a general election. Let’s at least get this Thursday’s Clacton by-election over with first, please.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister has been talking up his plans to revive the nation’s high streets – earning cautious praise from Samuel Hughes, who talked with The Capitalist podcast about this issue last year. Another CapX contributor, Ben Ramanauskas, also had a bold policy idea for Burnham – tax the charity shops.
And finally, some good economic news? The ONS says the level of long-term sickness in the UK may be lower than feared. But we won’t know until next year, due to the statistics agency’s well-documented data problems.
Below you’ll find all the latest pieces from CapX, plus what we’re reading from around the web.
Marc Sidwell
Editor, CapX
Today’s Takes
Fresh thinking from CapX
Reversing Brexit by stealth is a fantasy
Julian Jessop
‘It makes no sense to tie this commitment to one particular economic arrangement between the UK and the EU, especially when that arrangement would come with substantial costs.’
Nick Boles’s proposal for a European Confederation to link the EU’s Single Market with NATO-style commitments on defence is fanciful. It is a wish list of grand plans for world peace, barely held together by a proposal for closer ties to the EU. It would be more candid to admit that the real aim is to reverse Brexit. Read More
How to beat antisemitism in the UK
Limor Simhony Philpott
‘Britain is not a country of Jew-haters. But, as politicians have rightly noted, antisemitism has become a national emergency.’
According to a recent report, antisemitic incidents in the UK are rising at an alarming rate. The Government is spending a quarter of a billion pounds to protect the Jewish community but isn’t getting to the heart of the issue. To reduce antisemitism, we need to confront the ecosystem that spreads and reinforces narratives of hate. Read More
Stat of the day
Best of the Web
One cheer for the vape shops crackdown
Samuel Hughes, The Spectator
‘High streets face heaps of problems that are untouched by today’s announcements.’
The Government is giving councils more control over the high street. They will be able to block vape shops and restrict tacky signage, among other powers. This won't fix the high street, although it should help tidy it up. But this is to ignore much bigger issues we know how to fix – like tackling endemic shoplifting. Read More
Gimmicks won't fix the cost of living
Gerard Lyons, The Telegraph 🔒
‘Too many recent policies resemble duct tape rather than addressing the underlying weaknesses of the economy.’
Andy Burnham says he wants to tackle the cost of living crisis, but targeted support isn’t enough. Real progress needs three arrows to hit together: low inflation, sound public finances and more private-sector competition and investment. This crisis took decades to build – there’s no quick way out of it. Read More
There is no substitute for the market
The Capitalist: Alex Tabarrok on equal pay
And if you want more...
– Economists should tell more stories (The Observer)
– A wartime vision of eternal England (Engelsberg Ideas)
– Liberals need more courage (The UnPopulist)
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