Opinion – First Stage Reality and Brexiters – Mainly Macro – Simon Wren-Lewis

December 11, 2017 By dralfoldman in Brexit, Business Administration, Far Left, Politics Tags: Andrew Marr, Boris Johnson, Brexit, Conservative Party (UK), European Union, John McDonnell, Labour Party (UK), Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Theresa May, United Kingdom Leave a comment

David Davis MP (Conservative). (Photo: Robert ...

David Davis MP (Conservative). (Photo: Robert Sharp / English PEN) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s a rather good blog from Oxford macro-economist, Simon Wren-Lewis.

Source: First Stage Reality and Brexiters – Mainly Macro – Simon Wren-Lewis

Wren-Lewis speculates that we’re headed for a very soft Brexit. For me, it’s too early to call. But I do agree with Wren-Lewis, don’t trust the political classes to explain the truth.

Look to hard-evidence and professional risk analysis not political chancers. The bottom line is that whether it’s a hard-Brexit or very soft Brexit, the economic costs will be enormous for generations and the gains will be nebulous in the extreme. The damage is done. Now we must look to the major political parties and how they sell the pup to the UK public. I fear Labour will have more credibility and apart from weaker property prices, highly leveraged UK consumers will need to bargain on eye-watering tax increases.

After all, did you see David Davis‘ eyes on the Andrew Marr show?

Thoughts?

Most people do not believe the Tories are on their side. My party has to change | Phillip Lee MP | Opinion | The Guardian

October 1, 2017 By dralfoldman in Boris Johnson, Business Administration, Democracy, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, Growth, Healthcare, Immigration, Jeremy Corbyn, Millennials, Neoliberal, People, Politics, Public Services Reform, Reform, Students, Thatcherism, Theresa May, Unemployment Tags: Boris Johnson, Brexit, Conservative Party (UK), David Cameron, European Union, Jeremy Corbyn, Member of parliament, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Theresa May, United Kingdom Leave a comment

Conservative Party (UK)

Conservative Party (UK) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s a good op-ed, published in the Guardian/Observer. On the eve of the his party’s conference, a Conservative MP calls for a new vision to recapture support across all ages.

Source: Most people do not believe the Tories are on their side. My party has to change | Phillip Lee | Opinion | The Guardian

Whilst there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with this article, it’s far too weak in my view. With Boris Johnson about to make a leadership bid, the Conservative Party is once again dominated by ‘traditional conservatives’, and the radical reformers are in the wilderness. So far, the Cameron/May years have been squandered, with the rich and privileged going from strength to strength.

I’ve always been a one-nation conservative in the Disraeli tradition but my left-wing friends tell me that one-nation tories are rare beasts these days.

Personally, I can’t see the Conservative Party appealing to younger voters in the next election. But the first step is surely a new leader, with the appeal to win the younger vote?

Thoughts?