The Capitalist

Coventry’s sleek new very-light-rail system is now in test mode, with 2,000 residents invited aboard. In this special Despatch, policy thinker Samuel Hughes explores how the project could offer a smarter, faster — and much cheaper — way to deliver public transport in Britain. Could this be the blueprint for the future of urban mobility? Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the...

CapX editor Marc Sidwell is joined by economist Andrew Lilico and political strategist John Oxley to unpack a volatile moment in the global economy. From the fallout of Israel’s escalating conflict with Iran to the knock-on effects of surging oil prices, we take stock of the risks facing markets—and what they could mean for Britain. Closer to home, Chancellor Rachel Reeves presses ahead with a £11...

Economist Andrew Lilico casts a sharp eye over the Chancellor’s first Spending Review — and finds it lacking. Beyond the rhetoric, the message is sobering: health spending is set to surge while almost every other department faces quiet, compounding cuts. The NHS will grow to dominate Britain’s public finances — even as Rachel Reeves eyes new tax rises to make the numbers add up. So, what happens w...

With the Chancellor’s spending review looming, ministers are jostling for funds. But with public services under pressure and growth still sluggish, is the government backing the right bets? Plus: what’s really behind Reform UK’s rise in the polls? As support swells in areas hit hardest by poverty, our guests unpack the party’s shifting economic message — and what it reveals about voter discontent...

Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt offers a spirited defence of Britain’s open-market tradition — and a sharp rebuke of Trump’s tariff tactics. As the world shrugs off ‘Liberation Day’, Hunt argues it’s not America but open economies like Britain that are poised to thrive. With historical perspective and policy punch, he lays out why trade still matters, how globalisation lifted billions out of poverty...

President Trump’s tariff blitz hits a legal snag — but he's showing no signs of backing down. Marc Sidwell is joined by National Review Institute’s Dominic Pino and the journalist Harry Phibbs to assess what comes next for transatlantic trade. Plus: can Britain turn Washington’s assault on academia into an opportunity? And as China races ahead in the humanoid AI stakes, could Britain still take a...

What does chasing a wheel of cheese down a dangerously steep hill say about Britain — and the state? In this Despatch, James Price of the Adam Smith Institute finds wisdom in one of our most eccentric traditions: Gloucestershire’s infamous cheese rolling. What begins as a bruising ritual becomes a spirited case for liberty, localism, and limited government. A celebration of chaos, cheese, and the...

A special edition on the future of Britain’s high streets. As department stores disappear and civic spaces fall silent, we ask: what’s next for the beating heart of our towns? Samuel Hughes, an editor at Works in Progress and fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies, joins us to explore practical ways to revive our high streets. From imaginative public services to smarter regeneration strategies, w...

This week's Despatch offers a sharp warning to the Conservative Party from inside the tent. Former Tory candidate William Wellesley argues that the answer to Reform UK’s rise isn’t mimicry — it’s honesty. In a measured but damning critique, Wellesley calls out decades of spin, soundbites and shallow promises from across the political spectrum — and urges the Tories to break the cycle. Only by conf...

Karl Williams of the Centre for Policy Studies and economist Julian Jessop take a clear-eyed look at the politics and economics of migration. Two decades ago, the UK opened its doors to eastern Europe. A modest prediction of 13,000 arrivals became 1.5 million — a shift that continues to shape British politics. Now, with Reform UK on the rise, Labour is gambling that stricter immigration controls w...

In this week’s Despatch, Karl Williams of the Centre for Policy Studies unpacks Labour’s long-awaited immigration white paper — and asks whether anything’s really changed. From sky-high net migration targets to fudged visa reforms and a rebrand of the widely abused ‘shortage occupation’ list, Labour’s plans are long on rhetoric but risk being short on action. Worse still, the numbers show that eve...

For the first time in modern British history, young men are now more likely than young women to be out of education, employment or training. It’s a trend mirrored across the Atlantic — and it raises a stark question: are boys and men being left behind? In this special edition, we bring you a timely conversation exploring the data, the causes, and the political consequences of male economic decline...

Harry Phibbs takes a scalpel to Britain’s new free trade deal with India. Is it a triumph for post-Brexit Britain — slashing tariffs, boosting growth, and bringing down prices? Or does the small print on visas and taxes muddy the waters? From trade triumphs to immigration tensions, Phibbs unpacks the political spin and the economic reality — and explains why, despite the noise, this deal matters....

In this special Bank Holiday edition, Marc Sidwell is joined by Dr Lawrence Newport from the Looking for Growth campaign for a sharp and solutions-focused conversation on how to reignite Britain’s economic engine. From planning delays to regulatory sprawl, we examine the blockages stalling national progress — and lay out a bold vision to get Britain building again. Stay informed with CapX's unmiss...

The by-election in Runcorn & Helsby has sent shockwaves through Westminster — not because Reform UK squeaked to victory, but because what once looked like a protest vote now smells like a political realignment. In this special weekend Despatch, Conservative Home's Henry Hill unpacks why Reform’s close win changes the narrative, and why the Tories are running out of excuses. Is Nigel Farage bui...

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves treads a delicate path in Washington, Britain finds itself caught between diplomacy and hard economics — will tariff relief be enough to steady the ship? Meanwhile, Apple’s dramatic pivot to India signals just how deeply Trump’s sweeping trade war is reshaping global business. Could a world less reliant on Beijing ultimately emerge stronger — or simply more fragmented?...

Runcorn and Helsby has been Labour’s turf for decades — but the ground is shifting, and Reform UK can smell blood. In this week’s edition of Despatch, Gawain Towler — former director of communications for Reform UK — takes us inside the Cheshire constituency where poverty is entrenched, campaigning is curiously absent, and Keir Starmer’s team seems strangely quiet. Why is Labour pulling its punche...

Is Britain ready to outpace a stalling global economy? As fresh figures show growth grinding to a halt, The Capitalist asks whether the UK can still carve a bold new path forward. With Chancellor Rachel Reeves heading to Washington, is a transatlantic trade deal within reach — or is Britain about to be caught in a clash of superpowers? Plus: nationalisation is back on the table, but can state cont...

Harry Phibbs asks a pointed question in this week's Despatch: if nationalisation has failed before, why are we doing it again? With Parliament recalled for an emergency Saturday sitting to save British Steel, the political consensus was deafening — and expensive. But is this really a matter of national security, or just another costly round of state interference dressed in patriotic clothing? From...

A dramatic Saturday recall of Parliament delivers a last-minute reprieve for British Steel — but is it a genuine industrial strategy, or just another short-term fix? Meanwhile in Washington, President Trump promised to revive American manufacturing. But can you really rebuild the past — or is this economic cosplay doomed to fail? Broadcaster Albie Amankona and the IEA’s Daniel Freeman join CapX’s...

Britain isn’t broken — but it is stuck. In this urgent Despatch, Julia Willemyns, co-founder of the Centre for British Progress, makes the case for boldness over drift. Why has growth stalled? Why does everything feel harder, slower, smaller than it should? And why have both Left and Right abandoned the ambition to build? With sharp insight and a rallying cry for change, Willemyns lays out a compe...

What happens when the world’s biggest economy slams the brakes on global trade? In just weeks, Donald Trump’s tariff blitz has shattered decades of US-led liberalisation — and the fallout is only just beginning. As prices creep higher and wallets tighten, will the political backlash bite harder than the economic one? And in the UK, could fiscal fear turn into fiscal flair? CapX editor Marc Sidwell...

Rachel Reeves entered her first Budget with a familiar refrain—blaming the Conservatives for the difficult choices ahead. But now, the focus has shifted to her own decisions, particularly the impact of tax rises on business confidence, jobs, and growth. Can her latest fiscal measures break Britain free from economic stagnation, or have they only deepened the challenge? CapX Editor-in-Chief Robert...

Rachel Reeves envisions Britain as a “defence industrial superpower” — but does the industry exist to match the ambition? Meanwhile, London eyes Brussels for a reset, with hopes that closer ties could unlock growth. And amid high taxes and tight regulation, is Britain’s economic model locked in for good? Marc Sidwell is joined by Julian Jessop and Maxwell Marlow to dissect the latest political cur...

Britain is spending more than ever—but getting less. Public debt is soaring, growth is non-existent, and dissatisfaction with public services has never been higher. The government talks tough on cuts, but the real crisis is deeper: a bloated state that punishes efficiency and rewards failure. The one word no politician dares to take seriously? Productivity. If public sector performance matched the...