Tag: net zero

Weekly wrap: is the ‘net zero’ economy really worth £105 billion?

How the numbers in the CBI Economics report are being spun to mislead, and why Italy and Spain are not good benchmarks for the performance of ‘Brexit Britain’… Welcome to the third weekly wrap of key points from my social media posts. These wraps will typically include a mix of comments on the UK and … Continue reading Weekly wrap: is the ‘net zero’ economy really worth £105 billion?

Why Labour’s “build, baby, build” mission is struggling to take off

Steve Reed, the newish Secretary of State for Housing, has certainly brought fresh energy to the role. This has even extended to waving MAGA-style caps with Trump-like calls to “build, baby, build!”. But while it is still early days, little has improved on the ground. The construction sector is worth watching closely for at least … Continue reading Why Labour’s “build, baby, build” mission is struggling to take off

Is the “booming net zero economy” really a key driver of growth?

On Monday the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit published a report by CBI Economics which generated plenty of uncritical headlines about the “booming net zero economy”. In particular, the report claimed that the total economic value (GVA) generated by the sector grew by 10.1% last year, and that this supported the equivalent of 951,000 full-time … Continue reading Is the “booming net zero economy” really a key driver of growth?

Can Rachel Reeves get growth back on track?

The Chancellor’s big growth speech on Wednesday morning was so widely trailed that it contained few surprises. But it was still the clearest and most coherent statement of her economic philosophy and plans, so far. Before diving into the detail, it is only fair to welcome the change of tone. It has been refreshing to … Continue reading Can Rachel Reeves get growth back on track?