Recently the ONS produced a long-term forecast for spending and taxation. It makes for grim reading. Assuming policy doesn’t change, they forecast UK debt will rise to levels last seen in the Napoleonic Wars. This forecast also assumes there are no external shocks like Covid or the Ukraine war. At the same time, bond investors …
Labour's Big Budget GambleWatch this video on YouTube It was one of the biggest budgets in decades – Higher tax, higher spending, and more borrowing. Rachel’s Reeves hopes it will boost economic growth, avoid austerity and restore public services. But it is a gamble because if it fails to increase growth the UK will need …
A frequently asked question is – Who does the UK borrow from? Who owns the UK’s government debt? (Asset Purchase Facility = Bank of England) UK government debt is primarily held by: Private financial institutions – banks, pension funds, investment trusts and also private households. 28% is held by overseas investors (e.g. American investment trusts/Japanese …
Hampshire is one of the more prosperous parts of England, average house prices are over £400,000, but Hampshire County Council has the largest deficit in the UK. Like many local councils, it is at risk of bankruptcy. The council is spending more, but residents appear to be getting less. In 2011, the council spent 52% …
How Short-Termism Is Destroying the UK’s FutureWatch this video on YouTube Back in 2010, when Nick Clegg was asked about nuclear power he said it was pointless because it wouldn’t be ready until 2022. As it happened, 2022 came and went, with an unprecedented surge in global energy prices. Although this was ironic bad luck, …
Faced with a black hole in public finances, the Labour government have announced an end to universal winter fuel allowance for pensioners. It will now be means-tested. It means 9.4 million individual pensioners will lose the £200-£300 a year allowance. It will save the government an estimated £1.6bn a year, which as we shall see …
Imagine an economy with high wages, low debt, public services which work, a short working week and free university tuition. It’s kind of the opposite to the UK, which has seen wage stagnation, growing debt, unaffordable housing and long waiting lists. How Danish Living Standards Surpassed UKWatch this video on YouTube This model economy does …
The UK is experiencing record levels of immigration and although it will fall a little in coming years, it will still be a record decade for immigration. The big question is why are immigration levels so high, how will it affect the economy and can the housing market cope with such a rise in the …