Arguably

Reclaiming the Future – our founding essay is out. For progressives, this is an existential moment. To defy the twin foes of populism and fatalism, they must put ideas back at the centre of their politics and draw on the greatest thinkers from their past, such as Keynes, Crosland and Rawls, to shape the future. We argue for ideas including embracing Europe for growth and security, adopting Danish-style “flexicurity” to make our labour market fit for the age of AI, abolishing the current triple lock, creating a new Department of the PM and allowing London and other wealthy areas to fund their own infrastructure projects. Subscribe to Arguably today and join the debate at the new home of progressive ideas. arguably.uk/p/reclaiming-t…

Don’t fall for the Brexiteer myth that the cost of rejoining the EU would be too high for the UK, writes @b_judah. arguably.uk/p/a-good-rejoi…

Interesting take on what rejoin might look like. Definitely credible, with the usual caveats of EU moving parts.

Would 🇬🇧 be forced to join Schengen and the Euro to rejoin 🇪🇺? The question is decisive. According to @YouGov when those conditions are presented support for rejoining declines from 54 to 36%. Below is a thread based off my latest piece for @ArguablyMag showing if you look at the treaties 🇬🇧 would not in fact be forced to actually do so. Politically the path to Europe is open. arguably.uk/p/a-good-rejoi…

Since the debate on Britain rejoining the EU has opened up two questions have emerged as central. Would the UK be forced to join the Euro or the passport-free Schengen Area? The truth I explain for @arguablymag, is that if you look closely at the treaties, the UK would have a veto of any implementation of its Schengen membership, as would Ireland who is not in Schengen — which is of course like us committed to an open border on the island of Ireland as per the Good Friday Agreement. The UK also would join the Union with an automatic derogation on Euro membership until it had fulfilled the Maastricht criteria, key bits of which are at their own discretion. If the EU wanted a Rejoin government to win the referendum, it could simply clarify these points before any campaign. Neither of which is a concession but a statement of legal fact. This means a referendum, per polling, is eminently winnable. arguably.uk/p/a-good-rejoi…

A good Rejoin deal is possible – a must-read piece by @b_judah for @ArguablyMag on why the UK wouldn't be forced to join the Euro or Schengen. arguably.uk/p/a-good-rejoi…

What’s the best way to tax wealth? @dc_lawrence writes on why we should replace Stamp Duty with a new property tax. “A proportional property tax is a tax on wealth, but more importantly, it is a tax on passive, unproductive wealth.” arguably.uk/p/could-a-weal…

What’s the best way to tax wealth? Excellent from @dc_lawrence on why we should replace Stamp Duty with a new property tax. “A proportional property tax is a tax on wealth, but more importantly, it is a tax on passive, unproductive wealth.” arguably.uk/p/could-a-weal…

Could wealth taxes be heading our way? This week Wes Streeting called for equalising capital gains & income tax, and Andy Burnham hinted at a tax on land. The UK's tax system is unfair and inefficient. We reward those who earn money by doing nothing, and punish those who work. But do wealth taxes actually work? In my latest piece for @ArguablyMag, I look at the two strongest candidates for reform: ⚖️ Equalising capital gains tax with income tax 🏡 Reforming property taxation, such as by replacing SDLT with an annual property tax I argue that one of these is far better for growth than the other: while a property tax encourages investment in more productive assets, and the development of land, taxing capital gains can do the opposite, reducing the return on productive investment and encouraging capital flight. Read the full piece here: arguably.uk/p/could-a-weal… Thanks to @pdmsero for helping with much of the analysis!

To fix the social care crisis, Labour needs a “big bang” for the state, writes Dan Mead. arguably.uk/p/how-to-fix-t…

Andy Burnham understands the power of political theatre – insightful column by @martha_dacombe for @ArguablyMag with lessons from Thatcher, Blair and FDR. arguably.uk/p/andy-burnham…

NEW for @ArguablyMag : Andy Burnham's Makerfield gambit is the kind of political theatre Starmer's managerialism has conspicuously failed to produce. Risk-taking is a democratic virtue. Thatcher knew it, Blair knew it and Burnham seems to. Read in replies

How can Britain tame the bond markets? @georgeeaton on why it’s time to end outdated policies such as the triple lock. arguably.uk/p/britains-wak…

The consequences of not acting are clear: the UK spent *£110bn* or 8.1% of total spending on debt interest last year. If you want to know why we're getting European-style taxes without European-style public services, this is a significant part of the answer. arguably.uk/p/britains-wak…

How should Britain tame the bond markets? New piece by me for @ArguablyMag. - Get serious on spending reform, if the triple lock can't go now then when? - Bank of England should pause its bond sell-offs which are exacerbating the squeeze. - A more radical growth agenda on Europe and supply-side reform. - Burnham right to stick with current fiscal rules (already loosened by Reeves). arguably.uk/p/britains-wak…

Very good piece:

All of this.

The moral case for welfare reform – excellent column by @martha_dacombe for @ArguablyMag on why Labour must act now to save lives and rebuild consent. arguably.uk/p/to-save-welf…