Call it a defence levy or even a patriot tax – but Labour is going to have to raise taxes, fast | Gaby Hinsliff
The world has shifted and defence spending has to rise. But time is running out for the government to make a case for it
Five years ago this weekend, life as we knew it was suspended overnight. Though with hindsight it seems amazing that it took Britain so long to lock down in the face of a gathering pandemic, at the time the pace of events felt dizzyingly fast.
It took a still-young government time to realise its manifesto was toast; that it would be forced into decisions either it or the public hated, which would nonetheless beat the alternative. The new chancellor, Rishi Sunak, was visibly reluctant to rip up a budget whose ink was barely dry and instead spend billions paying people not to go to work. Yet ironically, it is furlough for which history may remember him most kindly.
Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist
Continue reading...
Read more at The Guardian
Topics
-
Merz presses Greens to name their terms for German defence spending rise
‘What more do you want from us?’ asks chancellor-in-waiting as he seeks urgent support for fiscal rule changes. Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting has tried to win over the Greens to his ambitious but ...The Guardian - 5d -
Five Years On, Ghosts of a Pandemic We Didn’t Imagine Still Haunt Us
Time’s passage may have granted the illusion of distance, but we are living in a world that has yet to put the effects of Covid behind it.The New York Times - 3d -
If even Germany is embracing higher spending, why on earth can’t Labour? | William Keegan
Russia has pushed Europe into a quasi-Keynesian approach to the defence budget. Only Britain insists on cutting help to the sick to pay for security. As the president of the US provokes trade and ...The Guardian - 2d -
Merz Challenges Germans to Make a Bold Strategic Shift. Will They Do It?
The likely next chancellor has staked his government on a move to increase military spending. But the window for change is closing fast.The New York Times - 4d -
‘Nothing is off the table’ on EU defence funding, says Ursula von der Leyen
Commission president says ‘something fundamental’ has shifted and democracy and rule of law are under threat. “Nothing is off the table” when it comes to raising money for defence, the head of the ...The Guardian - Mar. 9 -
‘We have ignored lessons’: how Covid continues to affect lives five years later
The ways the pandemic has shaken Guardian readers’ worlds – from new businesses to difficulty socialising. It’s been five years since the Trump administration declared a nationwide emergency ...The Guardian - 5d -
Germany has broken 'shackles' to spend more on defence, Scholz says
Yahoo News - 1h -
Reflecting on five years since the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world
On this day five years ago, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, shutting down daily life, crippling the economy and reshaping public health. More than 1.1 million ...CBS News - Mar. 11 -
These tax errors could delay your refund
We're less than a month out from tax day and if you still haven't filed there are some common mistakes you should try to avoid to make sure you get your refund in a timely fashion. Medora Lee, ...CBS News - 7h
More from The Guardian
-
Trump and Putin agree temporary halt on energy infrastructure strikes as Zelenskyy welcomes proposal – live
Trump hails ‘productive’ call with Russian president as Putin issues long list of conditions; Ukraine’s president reacts to Trump-Putin call. Speaking for the Greens, who are expected to back the ...The Guardian - 22m -
Trump waging ‘sickening’ psychological war, deported Venezuelan’s lawyer says
One detained man’s lawyer says he is gay artist who had fled persecution in his home country, not a gang member. A lawyer for one of the Venezuelan immigrants sent from the US to a notorious mega ...The Guardian - 1h -
Netanyahu warns Israel’s renewed Gaza offensive ‘is only the beginning’
Israeli PM says attacks will continue until Hamas is destroyed and hostages freed, as airstrikes kill hundreds. Middle East crisis – live updates The wave of deadly airstrikes that shattered ...The Guardian - 1h -
Nasa astronauts heading back to Earth on SpaceX Dragon capsule after being ‘stranded’ on ISS for months
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore embark on 17-hour return following Starliner capsule failure that turned a days-long mission into one lasting nine months. Two Nasa astronauts “stranded” onboard the ...The Guardian - 15h -
Canada’s Liberals on course for political resurrection amid trade war, polls show
Mark Carney-led ruling party projected to form majority months after political wipeout seemed inevitable. In January, Canadian pollsters and political pundits struggled to find fresh ways to ...The Guardian - 3h
More in World
-
Trump and Putin agree temporary halt on energy infrastructure strikes as Zelenskyy welcomes proposal – live
Trump hails ‘productive’ call with Russian president as Putin issues long list of conditions; Ukraine’s president reacts to Trump-Putin call. Speaking for the Greens, who are expected to back the ...The Guardian - 22m -
Real Madrid 2-0 Arsenal: Women’s Champions League quarter-final, first leg – as it happened
Linda Caicedo and Athenea del Castillo get the better of Arsenal to win first leg. 2 min : Both teams are just finding their feet in the early stages of this one but a ball is popped through for ...The Guardian - 23m -
South Africa Will Not Remove Antarctic Team After a Reported Assault
A researcher at a South African base in Antarctica has been accused of physical assault and sexual harassment. South Africa said it had no immediate plans to remove the accused or any colleagues.The New York Times - 38m -
Trump’s Focus on Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Is Partly Linked to Minerals Deal, Officials Say
The U.S. is seeking access to Ukrainian minerals, which require extensive energy to process. The Zaporizhzhia power plant in southern Ukraine, which Russia controls, could help with that, Kyiv says.The New York Times - 38m -
France and Algeria feud over expulsion policy as tensions flare between the two countries
Yahoo News - 40m
