Tag: Andy Burnham

Don’t bank on a “Burnham bounce”

Andy Burnham's first week as PM has coincided with some better economic news. The more positive tone from No.10 may help a little further, but the inflation and fiscal risks haven't gone away. Andy Burnham’s first week as Prime Minister has coincided with some better news on the UK economy and especially on business and … Continue reading Don’t bank on a “Burnham bounce”

Burnham’s first big idea: lower your bills by raising your taxes?

It is obviously a bit harsh to judge anyone’s premiership by just one announcement on the first day, but a token cut in VAT on domestic electricity bills does not bode well. In case you missed it, the new government has announced that the rate of VAT charged on domestic electricity bills will be cut … Continue reading Burnham’s first big idea: lower your bills by raising your taxes?

Weekly wrap: don’t forget the US-Iran war…

The spotlight is on Andy Burnham, but the immediate prospects both for UK markets and for the economy may depend more on events in the Middle East than in Westminster for quite a while yet. Welcome to the latest summary of news that caught my eye over the past seven days. Theme of the week … Continue reading Weekly wrap: don’t forget the US-Iran war…

Should there be an extra Bank Holiday if England win the World Cup?

In my unpopular view, the social benefits of an extra Bank Holiday are overstated, while the economic costs would be too high. But political realities suggest we’ll get one anyway, if the football gods allow! An extra Bank Holiday would obviously be popular, and few politicians would be able to resist. Indeed, Keir Starmer has … Continue reading Should there be an extra Bank Holiday if England win the World Cup?