Tag: inflation

Two cheers for Kemi Badenoch’s inheritance tax plans

Inheritance tax is a fundamentally bad tax and raising its threshold makes economic as well as political sense. But exempting “family homes” entirely is more problematic and potentially distortionary. Kemi Badenoch announced today that the Conservative Party “would abolish Inheritance Tax on the family home and raise the individual threshold to £500,000. This will mean … Continue reading Two cheers for Kemi Badenoch’s inheritance tax plans →

Weekly wrap – Budget fears might ease, but Brexit uncertainty is back

Including thoughts on the Budget, government bond yields, the folly of reopening the Brexit debate, some better news on UK growth, the OBR 15 years on, and Zack Polanski’s grasp of basic economics... Theme of the Week Labour sources are suggesting that the new Chancellor, John Healey, is set to delay ‘difficult choices’ with a … Continue reading Weekly wrap – Budget fears might ease, but Brexit uncertainty is back →

Burnham’s U-turn on the EU is political and economic folly

Reopening the Brexit debate is likely to prove toxic for Labour, while reviving uncertainty about Britain’s future relationship with the EU could undermine investment again - notably in the tech sector. Andy Burnham’s comments on Brexit in his conference speech on Tuesday have at least been welcomed by those who want the UK to rejoin … Continue reading Burnham’s U-turn on the EU is political and economic folly →

Why raising the personal allowance would be the wrong tax cut

A large increase in the personal allowance would not be a good way to cut taxes, whether the goal is to boost economic growth or to help the poor, and regardless of how it would be financed. There is now remarkably broad support for a large rise in the standard Personal Allowance (PA), which is … Continue reading Why raising the personal allowance would be the wrong tax cut →