The former MP has compiled a wish list of grand plans for world peace and global free trade, patched together with a half-baked proposal on UK membership of the EU’s Single Market. I'm not convinced... This weekend the Telegraph ran a story with the striking headline “Burnham told to trade nuclear umbrella for access to … Continue reading A sceptical take on Nick Boles’ proposal for a “European Confederation”
Tag: Ukraine
Three quick points on the economics of defence spending
Raising defence spending will be a hard sell. But politicians must not shy away from this fight, and innovative "defence bonds" may help to win it. John Healey’s resignation as Defence Secretary today may well be the fatal blow to Keir Starmer’s premiership, leaving Andy Burnham to deliver the last rites. Everything that has happened … Continue reading Three quick points on the economics of defence spending
The hard sell: Britain needs to step up to fund its own defence
The BBC is reporting today that the Prime Minister is considering a significant increase in defence spending or, more precisely, that Keir Starmer is looking at bringing forward increases that have already been promised. The Labour government has previously committed to raising core defence spending from a little under 2.5% of national income currently to the new … Continue reading The hard sell: Britain needs to step up to fund its own defence
What happens if Russia defaults?
The high probability that the Russian government will stop paying its international debts is well down the list of things to worry about as the tragedy in Ukraine unfolds. But this risk should certainly be somewhere on that list – as the fallout from past defaults has shown. We have been here several times before. … Continue reading What happens if Russia defaults?
Plain-speaking Economics 