We need to talk about capitalism. Why won’t Labour do it?

The government has its five missions. But the deeper cause of Britain’s malaise is the unhealthy and unhappy nature of the modern economy

We often hear how ministers should be more honest about the state of the economy. How they should signal their intentions and, before announcing a policy shift, have the guts and intellectual heft to debate the expected impact in public, such that when a section of the public dislikes the plan, at least they understand why it has been set in motion.

It was a message Rachel Reeves absorbed and used as a defence for her first budget in October, only to come unstuck when she shocked businesses with a previously undiscussed change to the terms of employer national insurance contributions and an ill-considered last-minute grab at farmers’ incomes via a rise in inheritance tax.

Topics

Forget Screen Time. We Need to Talk About Screen Real Estate

Spending many hours daily looking at screens feels like a foregone conclusion. The new challenge is paring down what fills them.
Tech - Wired - November 8
We need to talk about plastic: five everyday items choking the planet

It is one of the world’s most dangerous materials, and global leaders are meeting in South Korea to thrash out a treaty to curb its effects. This week, world leaders are gathering in Busan, South ...
World - The Guardian - Yesterday
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There are 17 states that accept mail ballots that arrive after Election Day. Some even accept ballots that arrive up to two weeks late.
Politics - The Hill - November 4
Why do we have the Electoral College?

When people cast ballots in the 2024 presidential election, their votes translate into Electoral College representation. Many wonder why the system still exists, and if it should.
Top stories - CBS News - November 5
Why poppies are worn for Remembrance Day

The poppy has been synonymous with marking Remembrance since a few years after World War One.
Top stories - BBC News - November 10
A Game of Thrones movie may be coming – but do we really need it?

With multiple prequel shows already in production – and George RR Martin showing no signs of finishing his book series – what can a Thrones movie really add to the franchise? Spoiler alert – ...
World - The Guardian - November 8
‘If We Care About Justice in America, There’s Going to Be a Lot of Work to Do’

Two Opinion writers consider a second term for Donald Trump.
Top stories - The New York Times - November 6
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Science - The New York Times - November 22