IEA Featured Media Posts

CONTACT: [email protected], 07763 365520 There has been moral panic about a secret plan to privatise the NHS for over four decades, yet the UK still has an unusually state-centred healthcare system. The conspiracy theory — that there is a sinister plot to dismantle the NHS, sell off its parts to private companies and introduce a ... Continue reading

Commenting on the latest ONS retail sales and GfK consumer confidence data, Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "Much of the coverage of the latest consumer confidence surveys is too negative. Yes, the headline GfK index hit a record low in May, as you would expect ... Continue reading

Commenting on the latest ONS inflation data, Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: "The jump in consumer price inflation to 9 per cent in April was not quite as bad as some had feared, but the soaring cost of living is still extremely worrying. Without more ... Continue reading

Commenting on plans for legislation that would allow the UK government to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, Victoria Hewson, Head of Regulatory Affairs at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "The Foreign Secretary's announcement was widely expected. Moving towards a dual regulatory zone and eliminating trade barriers between Great ... Continue reading

Commenting on today's ONS labour market data, Professor Len Shackleton, labour market expert and editorial and research fellow at free market think the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: "The UK labour market news continues to be a mixed bag. The number of payroll employees has risen again, but lagged data from January-March suggest that public ... Continue reading

Commenting on the news Ofgem has proposed to update the energy price cap quarterly rather than every six months, Andy Mayer, Energy Analyst at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: "Tinkering with the energy price cap cannot fix it. This disastrous policy has put 29 energy companies out of business, while doing ... Continue reading

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL IMPACT OF PROTOCOL MAY JUSTIFY UNILATERAL ACTION, SAYS NEW IEA BRIEFING  Responding to the paper, The Rt Hon Lord Frost CMG said: "If the EU will not negotiate, then the Government will be right to intervene unilaterally to restore stability” The Northern Ireland Protocol is failing to prevent massive disruption in Northern ... Continue reading

Commenting on the GDP data, published today by the ONS, Julian Jessop, Economics Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: "The UK economy ground to a halt in March under the weight of the cost of living crisis. The quarterly growth rate of 0.8 per cent over the first three ... Continue reading

Commenting on the Energy Security Bill announced in the Queen's Speech today, Andy Mayer, Energy Analyst at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: "In extending the energy price cap and picking winners in supply the government is committing to higher energy prices for years to come."The cap temporarily suppresses headline prices, ... Continue reading

Commenting on the Queen’s Speech, Matthew Lesh, Head of Public Policy at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:“The Queen's Speech lacks ambition in the face of Britain's immense challenges.“Despite all the talk about embracing Brexit opportunities, for instance, the government is steaming ahead with legislation like the Online Safety Bill and ... Continue reading