Starmer’s steel tariffs are as hare-brained as Trump’s Opinion Contrary to supporting the industry, Starmer's steel tariffs will push manufacturing offshore and invite retaliatory EU action, writes Andrew Griffith.
The story of Keir Starmer’s failure is boringly familiar Opinion Keir Starmer’s fate was not brought about chiefly by his lack of personality. It was the predictable result of the economic conditions that have wracked Britain for almost two decades, a political system poorly attuned to fixing them, and more than a little of his own hubris, says Andrew Griffith Analysing why Keir Starmer failed [...]
The £4.2m CMA sledgehammer over drip pricing that is totally out of proportion Opinion There’s a particular kind of institutional vanity that mistakes noise for impact. It’s particularly prevalent in Whitehall and abundant especially in those – like many in our government today – who have only ever worked in the bureaucratic state or legal profession. The CMA’s triumphant announcement this week — it’s very first fine under the [...]
‘What do they have to hide?’ Ministers must not scrap regulatory watchdog March 16, 2026 The Regulatory Policy Committee keeps a close eye on government red tape, and scrapping it would be a serious mistake – says Andrew Griffith. Red tape is strangling British business. A survey just out from the Federation of Small Businesses has found small firms and entrepreneurs collectively spend 379 million hours a year complying with [...]
Rachel Reeves is acting like the mayor in Jaws – and small businesses are suffering January 19, 2026 The FTSE may be at an all-time high, but Reeves should not pretend all is calm when the waters are extremely choppy for small businesses, says Andrew Griffith Embattled ministers love good news to boast about on social media or in a TV studio, and this government’s most embattled minister, Rachel Reeves, is no exception. [...]
Price caps for pop concerts: is there any market Labour won’t restrict? November 25, 2025 Labour’s plan for a ban on secondary ticket sales is an open door for fraudsters. Yet more proof that only the Conservatives believe in free markets, says Andrew Griffith Anyone would think that growth is roaring back, public spending has been brought firmly under control and small boat crossings to our shores have ceased. Why? [...]
It’s time to take a chainsaw to red tape November 19, 2025 Britain’s regulatory state is about the only thing that’s growing under this Labour government, says Andrew Griffith As business now know, words are cheap – it’s actions that count. Rachel Reeves has spoken at length about her drive to deregulate the city, from her Mansion House speech in the summer to a recent deregulatory launch. [...]
Labour should pull it’s Employment Rights Bill before it becomes the Unemployment Act November 6, 2025 Labour’s new law will mean a new starter can show up at work at 9am and file a costly claim against their boss by lunchtime, says Andrew Griffith MPs debated amendments to Labour’s so-called Employment Rights Bill yesterday. Employers are dreading this Bill. Written by and for the trade unions, it poses a dire threat to businesses [...]
Rachel Reeves is in a hole, but she just keeps digging October 22, 2025 Only the Conservatives have a plan to turn the economy around by abolishing stamp duty, cut welfare spending and get Britain back to work, says Andrew Griffith Rachel Reeves’ much-dreaded Autumn Budget is now just over a month away. And with each passing week there is a crescendo building. It’s made up of voices from [...]
Employers are barely an afterthought for Labour September 17, 2025 The economy is flatlining. Unemployment is rising. Investors are fleeing our shores. At times like these, businesses needs support. But instead of a shot in the arm, they get a series of knives in the back. One of Labour’s first acts after coming to power was to hike Employer National Insurance Contributions. And now the employers [...]
