Starmer’s plan ‘another false dawn’, says Dr Kristian Niemietz
10 December 2024
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Lifestyle Economics
10 December 2024
Economics
11 December 2024
Lifestyle Economics
9 December 2024
Commenting on Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘plan for change’ outlined in his speech earlier today, Dr Kristian Niemietz, Editorial Director and Head of Political Economy at the free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
“Britain’s inability to build anything is not just a problem for one or two sectors of the economy in isolation: it is the mother of all problems, affecting nearly every part of the economy to varying degrees. The government’s recognition of this is welcome, and the Prime Minister is right to point out that our planning system has not just left us short of homes but of key infrastructure too, including transport and energy.
“But we have heard similar positive noises before. Such announcements have become the political equivalent of the New Year’s Resolution to stop smoking, go to the gym, and become fluent in French. Recognising that these things are desirable is the easy part. The challenge to prevent another false dawn is to stick to them in the face of adversity.
“IEA authors have been writing about how Britain is needlessly impoverishing itself with planning constraints and professional obstructionism since 1988, including in my paper Home Win, and urging politicians to tackle the problem. Many have paid lip service to it without ever following through. We will believe it when we see it.”
“Britain’s inability to build anything is not just a problem for one or two sectors of the economy in isolation: it is the mother of all problems, affecting nearly every part of the economy to varying degrees. The government’s recognition of this is welcome, and the Prime Minister is right to point out that our planning system has not just left us short of homes but of key infrastructure too, including transport and energy.
“But we have heard similar positive noises before. Such announcements have become the political equivalent of the New Year’s Resolution to stop smoking, go to the gym, and become fluent in French. Recognising that these things are desirable is the easy part. The challenge to prevent another false dawn is to stick to them in the face of adversity.
“IEA authors have been writing about how Britain is needlessly impoverishing itself with planning constraints and professional obstructionism since 1988, including in my paper Home Win, and urging politicians to tackle the problem. Many have paid lip service to it without ever following through. We will believe it when we see it.”
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