Too often, referendums have been used to get governments out of a political hole. As they have become more common, political pressure to hold them increases and they become harder to resist.
There is also a strong case for believing that it is risky if you have almost half of adults not paying income tax – the position we were approaching by the end of the Coalition.
This will not be the last scandal to come to light and, given the impact of ITV’s drama, other scandals may get similar television treatment. The contaminated blood story would make searing viewing.
Blaming the OBR is easier than acknowledging that some elements on the right have had a central tenet of its thinking rejected. Tax cuts don’t always pay for themselves.
Combing an income tax cut with a reduction in stamp duty could form an obvious sequel to Hunt’s Autumn pairing of a reduction in national insurance with permanent full expensing.
In his youth he was mocked for being weird, but in middle age he upholds conventional wisdom.
There is also a moral point: if someone works, they should be the main beneficiary of their labour, rather than being forced to give most of their extra earnings to the Government.
if you look at the odds for the next Conservative leader, there are no white men among the front runners. The top five comprise Kemi Badenoch, Penny Mordaunt, James Cleverly, Suella Braverman and Gillian Keegan.
His critics think he is “a busted flush”: how eager he will be to demonstrate that he is, on the contrary, serious.
The second part of our series on reducing demand for government, in which we set out a programme for change – focused on families, civil society and government.
The second part of our series on reducing demand for government, in which we set out a programme for change – focused on families, civil society and government.
The number of possibilities teaches us three lessons about politics today. Firstly, never to underestimate the role played by mere chance. Secondly, that this is not an age of great leaders who make their own luck. And, thirdly, that we need to choose more carefully in future.
He may have less than a year, as Parliament returns and his Party’s conference looms, to persuade voters of his case – which he has scarcely even begun to make.
Downing Street and CCHQ will be perturbed by the continuing run of men being selected in the safer constituencies.
On education, high speed rail and smoking, he will allow our country to pursue an ambitious and optimistic future for people, whoever they are and wherever they come from.