Time for a snap election?

Plus: reversing Brexit is a fantasy, and the ecosystem enabling antisemitism

Aug 11, 2026

Just when you thought it was safe to head for the beach, is it time for a snap election?

Some analysts think Andy Burnham’s bounce in the polls could see him gamble on a general election. Let’s at least get this Thursday’s Clacton by-election over with first, please.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister has been talking up his plans to revive the nation’s high streets – earning cautious praise from Samuel Hughes, who talked with The Capitalist podcast about this issue last year. Another CapX contributor, Ben Ramanauskas, also had a bold policy idea for Burnham – tax the charity shops.

Ben Ramanauskas@BenRamanauskas

If you're serious about improving high streets then you'd end Business Rates relief for charity shops and outlaw chugging as well.

Andy Burnham @andyburnham

Vape shops. Betting shops. Dodgy businesses. If you look at your high street these days and think ‘who asked for this?’, you’re not alone. I’m doing something about it. We’re giving local people and councils more control over what opens, and tougher powers to crack down on

9:16 AM · Aug 11, 2026 · 41.4K Views

10 Replies · 9 Reposts · 116 Likes

And finally, some good economic news? The ONS says the level of long-term sickness in the UK may be lower than feared. But we won’t know until next year, due to the statistics agency’s well-documented data problems.

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

Reversing Brexit by stealth is a fantasy

Julian Jessop

‘It makes no sense to tie this commitment to one particular economic arrangement between the UK and the EU, especially when that arrangement would come with substantial costs.’

Nick Boles’s proposal for a European Confederation to link the EU’s Single Market with NATO-style commitments on defence is fanciful. It is a wish list of grand plans for world peace, barely held together by a proposal for closer ties to the EU. It would be more candid to admit that the real aim is to reverse Brexit. Read More

How to beat antisemitism in the UK

Limor Simhony Philpott

‘Britain is not a country of Jew-haters. But, as politicians have rightly noted, antisemitism has become a national emergency.’

According to a recent report, antisemitic incidents in the UK are rising at an alarming rate. The Government is spending a quarter of a billion pounds to protect the Jewish community but isn’t getting to the heart of the issue. To reduce antisemitism, we need to confront the ecosystem that spreads and reinforces narratives of hate. Read More

Stat of the day

Best of the Web

One cheer for the vape shops crackdown

Samuel Hughes, The Spectator

‘High streets face heaps of problems that are untouched by today’s announcements.’

The Government is giving councils more control over the high street. They will be able to block vape shops and restrict tacky signage, among other powers. This won't fix the high street, although it should help tidy it up. But this is to ignore much bigger issues we know how to fix – like tackling endemic shoplifting. Read More

Gimmicks won't fix the cost of living

Gerard Lyons, The Telegraph 🔒

‘Too many recent policies resemble duct tape rather than addressing the underlying weaknesses of the economy.’

Andy Burnham says he wants to tackle the cost of living crisis, but targeted support isn’t enough. Real progress needs three arrows to hit together: low inflation, sound public finances and more private-sector competition and investment. This crisis took decades to build – there’s no quick way out of it. Read More