Monthly Archives: November 2010

          After the failure of the Exchange Rate Mechanism we had an interlude of successful economic policy. From 1992 onwards the economy recovered well. Labour continued the fiscal  policy of the outgoing Conservative government for the first couple of years. By 2000 the UK economy was in good shape and the public finances were recovering strongly [...]

                 The political classes in the UK have for most of my active life in politics been gripped by a destructive  wish to find an “independent” discipline to run the economy to take it out of the hands of politicians. Some will say this shows a great wisdom and a certain humility about their [...]

              I spent some of yesterday with a group of Conservative members and activists. Their views on the government’s progress to date were interesting.              They are all pleased to see the end of Gordon Brown’s regime. They wanted an end to reckless spending and borrowing, and to the rash of political correctness and [...]

                  The US announced its quantitative easing just before the G20. This was a provocative act to many of the other G20 leaders, showing that the US was willing to lower the dollar come what may.                 The US action has ensured that the main issue thrust onto the table will be the extent [...]

                    Today we have the debate on how to secure faster and more consistent economic growth in the UK.  I will be proposing a five point plan for the government.                   HONEST MONEY   The Bank should be told no more quantitative easing  and reminded its sole aim is to get inflation back to target. [...]

Dear EU shareholder and citizen,               I am writing to reassure you that all is going well with our great European project. We have agreed plans to expand our spending for next year, and are busy working on a future budget strategy which will ensure continuous growth in our activities for the decade ahead. I am [...]

                 It’s been a bad few days for some European government bonds. New alarms in the market have arisen, as investors fear that some countries may have to reschedule or reduce payments to bondholders.                  Germany can borrow ten year money for around 2.4%. Greece has to pay nearer 11.5%, and Ireland more than [...]

             I have been reading the lengthy documents on EU Economic Governance which the Uk administration invites Parliament  to take note of . I do not think I can in any way  support them.            The sheer audacity and ambition of them makes clear that many in the EU are now driving hard to complete [...]

               Melissa Kite in yesterday’s Sunday Telegraph revealed that the much vaunted Freedom Bill has been scaled down and transferred to the Home Office, as suggested on this site recently. She went to Liberal Democrat sources, who told her that Mr Clegg does not want to sift through the mountains of suggestions that came [...]

                 On Thursday I will be leading a one day debate in the Commons on the UK economy and economic growth. This is possible owing to the excellent reform that gives a Backbench Committee the right to allocate debates for one day a week. I asked for this wide ranging debate on what is needed [...]