Labour’s carrot and stick
24/07/2024
Jim reports on the first big challenges facing the Chancellor, the row over the economic inheritance, the legacy of HS2 cancellation, Biden’s departure and the Tories leadership plans.
Still want the job Rachel?
07/03/2024
In his blog Jim asks if Rachael Reeves still wants the job of Chancellor after Jeremy Hunt has stolen her policies and left a legacy of tax increases and spending cuts.
Tax cuts when councils on their knees?
29/02/2024
Ahead of next week’s Budget, Jim examines the pressure on the Chancellor for tax cuts, and the consequences if he carries them out.
Will the Tories be forgiven?
23/11/2023
The Chancellor is cherpy but is he entitled to be? Jim analyses the Autumn Statement and Labour’s pledge to back the tax cuts.
The Hunt is on
16/03/2023
The highest taxes for generations and falling living standards, yet argues Jim in his latest blog, the Chancellor offered stability and some ground breaking measures for the North and Midlands in this week’s Budget.
Go for growth Chancellor
23/02/2023
Frank McKenna urges the Chancellor to use his £30 Billion windfall to support business and the economy, and go for growth, when he delivers his budget next month.
Where are we going to get growth?
24/11/2022
Frank McKenna fears for small businesses and the hospitality sector following last week’s Autumn Statement.
We do not Truss you
29/09/2022
Jim reflects on the spectacular economic implosion of the new Truss government and reports on the level of interest from business in the Labour Party that he noted at their Liverpool conference.
Remember levelling up Rishi?
24/03/2022
Jim looks at the implications of the Chancellor’s statement on the Levelling Up agenda and the date of the next General Election.
Cheery defiance to the gathering storm
28/10/2021
Jim asks if the Chancellor’s breezy Budget optimism is justified and the difficulty Labour has in opposing a high spending, high taxing government.
Spend, spend, spend – Rishi has traditional Tories scratching their heads
28/10/2021
Traditional Tories will see the Chancellor’s budget as heresy. But Sunak and Johnson won’t mind if it delivers them another election victory.
Does Debt Matter?
14/05/2020
In his 400th blog for Downtown, Jim asks how the huge bill for Covid-19 is going to be paid for. Some experts say let the deficit take care of itself, but Jim thinks some tax rises are inevitable.