One hopes the overworked staff in the Office of Tax Simplification get overtime.  This year they have surely earned every … Continue reading “Tax simplification”

John Campbell’s biography of Margaret Thatcher refers to her taking a well-worn copy of Hayek’s Constitution of Liberty from her … Continue reading “Retrospective taxation”

It is in times like these that one appreciates the advice the Irishman gave the tourist seeking directions: ‘If I … Continue reading “Crisis in the eurozone”

In his speech this afternoon to the Liberal Democrats’ conference, the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, will assert: “ Capitalism kills … Continue reading “Cable on capitalism and competition”

It is distressing to witness yet another piece of financial chicanery by the British government, which now proposes to substitute … Continue reading “British government DEFAULT”

The new Chancellor of the Exchequer’s proposal to set up an independent Office for Budget Responsibility sounds like a good idea. … Continue reading “Truth in government”

My expectations of politicians, those “insidious and crafty animals”, are low. (Like Hayek, I find that over the course of … Continue reading “Spineless politicians still refuse to explain how they would tackle the deficit”

The Irish people voted “No” both to the EU’s Nice Treaty and to the Lisbon Treaty. That is, they voted … Continue reading “Why not an Irish reunion?”