It is tempting to dismiss Rachel Reeves’ statement to Parliament on the health of the public finances as merely a piece of political theatre. The main purpose was indeed to blame the Conservatives for the consequences of decisions taken by the new Labour government, and to prepare the ground for tax rises in the Autumn. But there … Continue reading “Abacus Economics 2.0”
Tag: social care
Broken Britain: can a Labour government fix it?
Keir Starmer’s suited and rebooted Labour Party looks set to sweep to power and says it is ready for business. But Labour will also inherit an economy suffering from a chronic lack of growth, a housing crisis, and failing public services. Nothing seems to be working properly and productivity has stagnated. Can Labour get the … Continue reading Broken Britain: can a Labour government fix it?
Soaring costs of dementia care demand urgent action
One of the biggest social and economic challenges facing the next government will be the rising costs of caring for people living with dementia. Dementia is a general term for a group of related symptoms, rather than a single disease, and too many cases go undiagnosed. But the statistics are brutal. Last year, the ONS … Continue reading Soaring costs of dementia care demand urgent action
National Insurance is still the wrong tax, at the wrong time
Sajid Javid has made a good attempt at defending the increases in National Insurance rates for workers and businesses, arguing that they are both right and fair. But he is still wrong. Speaking to Sky News, Javid said that “when we spend money on public services, whether it’s NHS or anything else for that matter, … Continue reading National Insurance is still the wrong tax, at the wrong time
Plain-speaking Economics 