The best day of his life. So far.
Plus: Drill, Andy, drill, and CapX's summer reading
No 10 North is open for business, and Andy Burnham has said this might be the best day of his life. Just don’t ask about the travel costs.
Not such good news for the Prime Minister’s plans to supercharge council house building. The Resolution Foundation has concluded that because of the extra expense compared to affordable housing, Burnham’s plan ‘means spending more or delivering less’. Good to find them in agreement with the Centre for Policy Studies for once.
Elsewhere, Donald Trump’s tariffs have returned (see our Stat of the Day), and this time the UK has a worse deal than the EU. Maybe Burnham can charm the Americans with the help of some of the influencers he’s hiring for the new No 10.
And if you need a break from all of the above, our annual summer reading list is now live, full of fascinating recommendations from our team and regular contributors. From Hoskyns to Wodehouse, there’s something for everyone.
Below you’ll find all the latest pieces from CapX, plus what we’re reading from around the web.
Marc Sidwell
Editor, CapX
Today’s Takes
Fresh thinking from CapX
What CapX is reading this summer
Robert Colvile, Liam Halligan, Daniel Hannan and more…
‘“Just in Time” is a no-holds-barred account of how a think tank’s ideas can successfully transform an entire nation’s political economy, with huge national and international implications.’
As Andy Burnham wastes no time rearranging the furniture – and, for part of the week, the postcode – of No 10, what better way to see out the summer than with a good book? We asked our contributors what they’re packing for the holidays. From Thatcher-era history to trade wars and Taylor Swift, we’ve got you covered. Read More
How pay transparency could cost you a job
Len Shackleton
‘The more the government tries to impose restrictions on the way in which firms recruit, the more likely it is that employers will seek ways around them.’
Companies will soon be forced to disclose pay details in job ads – in an effort to make the system fairer. But the jobs market is messier than civil servants or academics think. This is a recipe for mediocrity, low productivity and fewer jobs all round. It’s also another backdoor concession to Brussels. Read More
Stat of the day
Best of the Web
Can North Sea oil save Andy Burnham?
Ross Clark, The Spectator
‘Our new PM has spent every day this week announcing a new initiative to bring down the cost of living. But it has all been spoiled by the galloping price of oil.’
Is Andy Burnham about to back drilling at the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields in the North Sea? With Trump promising the biggest strikes yet in his war with Iran, and Brent crude hitting $100 a barrel yesterday, it may be a smart move if Burnham is to keep his promise to ease the cost of living. Read More
The 24-hour news cycle is ruining politics
Emma Revell, City AM
‘Politicians need the breathing room to develop policies and test them, rather than having half-baked ideas leaked out into the world and getting torn apart because they were rushed.’
The endless circus of rolling news plus social media isn’t doing our politics any favours. A world where any little slip becomes headline news rewards the banal, the safe and the uncontested. But whose fault is that? If we actually want politicians to think before they speak, the fix might have less to do with them than with us. Read More
Why Britain stopped growing
Tyler Goodspeed
The Capitalist: Griffith talks tax cuts
And if you want more...
– Why we need the rich (Civitas Outlook)
– How the welfare state replaced charity (Invert 🎥)
– ‘Tsundoku’: the secret pleasure of unread books (The Conversation)
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We'll be back on Sunday with the Weekly Briefing. Have a great weekend.