The Prime Minister’s words are no substitute for bold action to turbocharge innovation
21 November 2022
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Energy and Environment
Andy Mayer quoted in City AM
18 November 2022
In the Media
Mark Littlewood writes for The Times
21 November 2022
Uncategorized
20 January 2026
Responding to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s speech at the CBI, Matthew Lesh, Head of Public Policy at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
“Britain’s prosperity will not come from the benevolence of Rishi Sunak, but rather, from our creators, thinkers, and entrepreneurs. The Prime Minister said there is a need to be “bold and radical” in challenging conventional wisdom, only to propose the usual mix of top-down state-centric solutions. The government needs an agenda to remove barriers to innovation and growth.
“Sunak entirely failed to discuss the single biggest handbrake on our prosperity: Britain’s broken planning system. It hampers the construction of infrastructure, factories, lab space and housing, which are all essential to innovation and growth. Nor are a few reviews anywhere near enough to tackle Britain’s mounting red tape burden and take advantage of Brexit opportunities.
“The Prime Minister was also right to highlight the importance of innovation to improve healthcare, but he has doubled down on our failed NHS model by doing little more than throwing more money into a broken system.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Contact: media@iea.org.uk / 07763 365520
IEA spokespeople are available for comment and interview
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
“Britain’s prosperity will not come from the benevolence of Rishi Sunak, but rather, from our creators, thinkers, and entrepreneurs. The Prime Minister said there is a need to be “bold and radical” in challenging conventional wisdom, only to propose the usual mix of top-down state-centric solutions. The government needs an agenda to remove barriers to innovation and growth.
“Sunak entirely failed to discuss the single biggest handbrake on our prosperity: Britain’s broken planning system. It hampers the construction of infrastructure, factories, lab space and housing, which are all essential to innovation and growth. Nor are a few reviews anywhere near enough to tackle Britain’s mounting red tape burden and take advantage of Brexit opportunities.
“The Prime Minister was also right to highlight the importance of innovation to improve healthcare, but he has doubled down on our failed NHS model by doing little more than throwing more money into a broken system.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Contact: media@iea.org.uk / 07763 365520
IEA spokespeople are available for comment and interview
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
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