The vulnerable need help, but across-the-board benefit rises are a waste of taxpayers’ money

26 February 2021
Welfare

The vulnerable need help, but across-the-board benefit rises are a waste of taxpayers’ money

Len Shackleton quoted on BBC News

The Chancellor is under pressure to extend the £20 uplift in Universal Credit (UC) payment beyond March this year at the Spring Budget next week. However, Professor Len Shackleton, Editorial and Research Fellow at the IEA, said the top-up did not distinguish between people in need after losing jobs due to lockdown and longer-term benefits ... Continue reading
26 February 2021
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Stamp duty extension is not enough

25 February 2021
Tax and Fiscal Policy

Stamp duty extension is not enough

Julian Jessop quoted in the Daily Telegraph

The Chancellor is expected to extend the stamp duty holiday until June this year in the forthcoming Spring Budget. Reacting to the news in the Daily Telegraph, IEA Economics Fellow Julian Jessop said that "Any extension would be welcome, but the Chancellor should look at ways to scrap the tax." Article printed in the Daily ... Continue reading
25 February 2021
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Has the low corporation tax experiment worked?

25 February 2021
Tax and Fiscal Policy

Has the low corporation tax experiment worked?

Julian Jessop quoted in the Scottish Times

Rishi Sunak is expected to end the UK's decade long experiment with low corporation tax rates at the forthcoming Spring Budget. A debate has emerged as to whether lower rates actually boosted the economy. Quoted in the Scottish Times, IEA Economics Fellow Julian Jessop suggested that although "revenues would have risen anyway over this period, ... Continue reading
25 February 2021
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Covid has exposed deeper problems in our education system

25 February 2021
Education

Covid has exposed deeper problems in our education system

Professor Len Shackleton writes for The Telegraph

Some damage resulting from missed schooling is reparable, argues IEA Editorial and Research Fellow Professor Len Shackleton, but "sticking plasters" are not enough to fix the deeper problems in our education system, exposed by the pandemic. Writing for The Telegraph, Len argues the government should  firmly rebuff objections from the teaching unions and radically reform ... Continue reading
25 February 2021
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The government owes it to schoolchildren to be bold

25 February 2021
Education

The government owes it to schoolchildren to be bold

Annabel Denham writes for The Times Red Box

England's education system has "a hill to climb" to bring children up to speed, following the disruption of the past year. Writing for The Times Red Box, Annabel argues that it will take more than temporary measures to fix the system's failings. This could include reforms to the length of the school day, the structure ... Continue reading
25 February 2021
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It is time to scrap stamp duty altogether, says IEA expert

24 February 2021
Housing and Planning

It is time to scrap stamp duty altogether, says IEA expert

Commenting on reports that the Chancellor will extend the stamp duty holiday until June, Julian Jessop Economics Fellow at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "Any extension to the stamp duty holiday would be welcome, but the Chancellor should go further and look at ways to scrap the tax altogether. "Most economists agree ... Continue reading
24 February 2021
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It is time to look at ways to scrap stamp duty altogether

24 February 2021
Tax and Fiscal Policy

It is time to look at ways to scrap stamp duty altogether

Julian Jessop quoted in City AM

The Chancellor is reportedly planning to extend the stamp duty holiday to June. IEA Economics Fellow Julian Jessop welcomed the news but argued that the government should look at ways to scrap the tax altogether. Quoted in City AM, Julian argued that stamp duty "acts as a major deterrent" for those wishing to downsize or ... Continue reading
24 February 2021
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Covid has exposed “fundamental fault lines” in education

24 February 2021
Education

Covid has exposed “fundamental fault lines” in education

Emily Carver writes for Conservative Home

In her bi-weekly column for Conservative Home, IEA Head of Media Emily Carver highlighted the disproportionate effects lockdown has had on the education of children of lower socio-economic backgrounds. Emily argued that "far from being a leveller, the pandemic has, inevitably, impacted disproportionately the education of the already disadvantaged".  Citing a new paper by the ... Continue reading
24 February 2021
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In a free society there should be “no right not to be offended”, says IEA expert

23 February 2021
Society and Culture

In a free society there should be “no right not to be offended”, says IEA expert

Commenting on Merseyside Police's decision to apologise for claiming "being offensive is an offence" as part of a campaign to encourage people to report hate crime, Marc Glendening, Head of Cultural Affairs at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:  "The decision by Merseyside police to spend taxpayers' money on a mobile ... Continue reading
23 February 2021
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Extending the furlough scheme beyond the summer would be “costly and counterproductive”

23 February 2021
Labour Market

Extending the furlough scheme beyond the summer would be “costly and counterproductive”

Julian Jessop quoted in the Evening Standard

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today released new figures showing the jobless rate has risen to 5.1 per cent.  Julian Jessop, IEA Economics Fellow, was quoted in the Evening Standard saying that the unemployment figures are not as bad as some commentators feared, suggesting that "Once the brakes are taken off, the economy ... Continue reading
23 February 2021
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