Kate Andrews is economics editor of The Spectator
The NatWest saga is fast becoming a textbook example of what some consider to be an ‘establishment’ attack on minority (and often right-leaning) viewpoints. The fast U-turn from the NatWest board which now sees Dame Alison Rose out of a job (Mr Steerpike has the details here) confirms that this was not a nuanced or two-sided
Two by-election defeats have made it a miserable morning for the Tories, even if they did manage to cling on in Uxbridge. But they’ve had better-than-expected news on another front. This morning’s update from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that public sector net borrowing has come in lower than what was forecast at the
15 min listen
Katy Balls speaks to Kate Andrews and James Heale about today’s inflation figures and the latest news about the Conservative Mayoral candidate for London – Susan Hall.
The rate of inflation has fallen again. CPI rose 7.9 per cent on the year in June, down from 8.7 per cent on the year in May. This takes the headline rate back to its lowest level since March last year – although it remains the highest across major economies. A drop in motor fuel
It’s been more than two days since Keir Starmer told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that Labour would keep the two-child benefit cap, yet the party seems no closer to finding resolution on the issue. The pushback within the party has been intense, with plenty of people (including, reportedly, members of the shadow cabinet) asking how
21 min listen
Advanced economies are not seeing the economic growth that they once did, and none more so than the UK where there has been little productivity or real wage growth since 2008. What factors have contributed to this? Which industries will be at the forefront as we chart a path towards a high-growth British future? Kate
13 min listen
It looks like the summer could be about to get a whole lot easier after the government announced that millions of public sector workers will get a pay rise between 5 and 7 per cent. In a press conference this afternoon, Rishi said this was the governments ‘final offer’ and the result of consultation independent pay review
The economy contracted by 0.1 per cent in May – down by 0.4 per cent compared to May 2022. But this dip is largely being attributed to the extra bank holiday for the King’s Coronation. This morning’s update from the Office for National Statistics shows some changes in behaviour due to this one-off occasion, including
What will Liz Truss’s legacy be? The obvious answer is her 49-day stint in Downing Street. But she is determined not to settle for that. Today in Westminster, she oversaw the formal launch of her new project, The Growth Commission, dedicated to spreading the message she tried to convey as prime minister: the importance of
Mortgage costs have reached a 15-year high today, with the average two-year fixed deal hitting 6.66 per cent – the highest level since the summer of the 2008 financial crash. But today’s mortgage news is being pegged to far more recent history, as average deals just topped their peak from last autumn, when Liz Truss’s
The labour market continues to show signs of becoming less tight – but this won’t be fast enough for the Bank of England’s liking. The UK unemployment rate rose to 4 per cent – up 0.2 per cent on the quarter. But this relatively small change is indicative of more people moving off the economic
Will Labour and the Tories be heading into the next election ‘following the same tram lines on spending?’ That was the question the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg put to Rachel Reeves this morning, as the shadow chancellor insisted once again that the Labour party is committed to fiscal discipline, promising to ‘not play fast and loose
17 min listen
This week: Kate Andrews on the NHS and the celebrations that marked its 75th birthday (01:05), Igor Toronyi-Lalic is in Marseille watching with interest as the riots happen around him (06:57) and Ivo Dawnay describes how being related to Boris is cramping his style oversees (11:13). Produced and presented by Linden Kemkaran.
14 min listen
The NHS marks its 75th anniversary today, and in Westminster, both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer attended a service at Westminster Abbey in honour of the organisation. James Heale talks to Katy Balls and Kate Andrews about why there was a church service for the NHS and whether Rishi Sunak’s time would have been better
It’s a rare occasion that sees politicians put aside their feuds and rivalries to gather together at Westminster Abbey. These moments are limited to weddings, coronations, funerals – and the National Health Service’s birthday. This week the Prime Minister, the opposition leader and a sprinkling of royals joined together to mark the NHS’s 75th anniversary,
12 min listen
Rishi Sunak’s personal approval rating among Tory members has turned negative for the first time in his premiership. Why is the Prime Minister becoming more unpopular in his party? Should he be worried about internal dissent? James Heale speaks to Katy Balls and Kate Andrews. Produced by Max Jeffery.
When the average two-year fixed mortgage hit 6 per cent last month, panic started to set in. For the 1.3 million homeowners set to renew before Christmas, many would now be facing interest payments three times higher than what they had originally paid. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt immediately called a meeting with lenders and customer representatives
We’re going to hear a lot about the NHS this week: mostly tributes and praise – and even a few prayers – all in recognition of its 75th anniversary on Wednesday. The loudest criticism you’re likely to hear will be about underfunding – which is not the fault of NHS officials, really, but rather the fault of politicians
27 min listen
Next week is the NHS’s 75th birthday. Why is the health service in such a poor state? Are the Tories selling it off? And is there any hope for its future? Max Jeffery speaks to Kate Andrews and Isabel Hardman.
The NHS is in crisis, but the government at last has a plan: a ‘Long-term Workforce plan’, that is, aimed at getting staffing levels up to something functional in the years to come. The £2.4 billion blueprint (which has big question marks around how it will be funded) was published today. Medic placements will be
