On Friday 08th November, I gave a keynote speech at the annual conference of the China International Finance Society in Beijing. The other foreign keynote was by Jeffrey Sachs. I discussed the world economy and the future of UK-China ties. One observation was while senior Chinese officials dislike...

I spoke to Sky News (from 08:17 minutes), noting that a risk premium has not been added to UK assets but markets are wary of the economic and borrowing numbers - and how far rates will fall. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9n9MvvQNiw

This was first published on Netwealth - 01st November 2024 The Chancellor began her Budget speech by putting it in a historic context, citing 1945, 1964 and 1997, three years in which Labour regained power in the post-war period. The only other year in which Labour also achieved that was 1974, and...

This article was first published on the CapX on 30th October 2024. This was a tax, borrow and spend Budget. Taxes and borrowing are up to fund increased public spending and higher public investment. The Budget contained 70 specific tax and spending measures. The net fiscal boost over six fiscal...

I joined The Telegraph's Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson to discuss the Budget. Listen to my c.20 minute interview below (09:35-27:28 minutes). In short, boosting pubic sector investment was the Chancellor's focus. Unless growth moves materially higher, addressing the overhang of debt will...

I was interviewed by James Naughtie regarding the Chancellor's options for the Budget. Listen from 11:45 - 13:53 minutes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0023x3f

This op-ed was first published in The Times - 01st October 2024 Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, wants to address the UK’s low rate of investment. Ideally, this should include incentivising the private sector and requires the City to pull its weight in closing funding gaps. It also requires higher...

The below is the executive summary of my report for the Centre for Policy Studies, which can be fully accessed here. Addressing the UK’s growth problem is paramount and should underpin virtually every other priority when it comes to public policy. However, contrary to recent clamour, re-joining...

This was first published in The Times - 05th August 2024 On Monday, Japan’s stock market suffered its biggest fall since Black Monday in 1987. There was contagion as stock markets across the globe crashed. Last Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve left policy rates unchanged at 5.25 per cent to 5.5...

This op-ed was first published on CapX on Friday 21st June. How the fiscal sums add up is an ongoing feature of the policy and political debate. Into this arena has stepped the issue of whether interest should be paid on the reserves of banks at the Bank of England (BOE). As it stands, this is...