By Scott Simmonds, Researcher New figures released today show that business rates collected last year increased by over £850 million to £25.3 billion, meaning small firms are still doing much of the heavy lifting in raising cash for local and national government. So why is that a cause for concern? ... Read more...
By Edward Chammas, Volunteer It is increasingly clear that there is a housing crisis in Britain. The ONS has stated that the averagely-priced home in England and Wales would cost a full-time worker 7.8 times their salary. This is particularly problematic for young adults trying to buy their first property.... Read more...
To find out more about the Stand Against Socialism (SAS) campaign, click here By Danny Al-khafaji, Volunteer 5 Daily Realities Living Under Socialism 1. Expect less than the essentials With the state as the sole distributor of goods, a small disconnected clique of central planners decide what will be produced and... Read more...
To find out more about the Stand Against Socialism (SAS) campaign, click here By Duncan Simpson, Research Director We have seen on our television screens this week scenes of rioting from the city of Hong Kong. We have seen pictures of ordinary people, particularly students and young professionals, taking to... Read more...
By Duncan Simpson, Research Director With President Trump’s visit to the UK behind us, and the outrage/adulation dissipating, it is worth reflecting on what changes have been afoot on the domestic policy front in the US. In January 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act came into force. Though a... Read more...
By Policy Analyst, Jeremy Hutton. This week sees marks the release of our latest piece of research, Hollow Highstreets, which gives a snapshot of how many council owned (non-residential) properties are lying vacant throughout the UK. Unlike our usual releases, which serve to point explicitly at examples of government waste... Read more...
By Research Director, Duncan Simpson. YouGov polling in 2015 showed that no other tax was as unpopular: 59 per cent thought that inheritance tax was unfair. Though only a small minority of estates are subject to it, people’s aspirations to pass on their wealth to their children are attacked by its... Read more...
To find out more about the Stand Against Socialism (SAS) campaign, click here In the 1970’s, Britain watched in horror as a small minority of militant activists, hell bent on causing as much disruption as possible, mobilised the trade unions to bring the country to its knees. During widespread strikes... Read more...
By Policy Analyst, Jeremy Hutton. Over the past 2 years a number of high profile figures have called for an increase in defence spending. Gavin Williamson’s stint as defence secretary was characterised by his battle for defence spending. So adamant was he that he allowed service chiefs to get out... Read more...
To find out more about the Stand Against Socialism (SAS) campaign, click here By Ethan Wilkinson, Digital Campaign Manager As a father of 3 young, energetic, strong-willed, free-spirited boys I find myself donning my army uniform and marching out onto the battlefield multiple times of day. I take up arms... Read more...
Across the country, councils are complaining about vicious ‘government cuts’ that have stripped local services to the bone. That's despite the clear evidence (from research like our own Town Hall Rich List) that councils are still wasting money hand over foot. London councils are some of the worst offenders. Londoners... Read more...
This article was originally published on the CapX website. British Steel is on its last legs. Given the huge amount of human suffering which will result if it does collapse, and the impact that this will have on the town of Scunthorpe, people are rightly concerned. The company has requested... Read more...