Philip Hammond believes that what is good for the City of London is good for Britain. He represents the Conservative Party as sociological determinism says it should be, a Europhile and the voice of unfettered financial capitalism
Coronavirus recovery
For now, issues of Salmond and independence are subsumed in the public mind by the question of managing the pandemic. And here, in the shadow of May’s election, the news is (superficially) good for the SNP.
Source Direct: Reasons to be Cheerful
Coronavirus, many imagine, is the great equaliser. However, new figures from Oxfam paint a very different picture.
Source Direct: Plunder and Pandemic
Capitalism, our system, is ageing, inept, bilious and barely able to rise from its sickbed. Economic news does not determine the constitution, but it does ask questions about what type of independence might be possible or desirable.
Source Direct: System Shock
Scotland’s news today is dominated by further lockdown restrictions. The measures may appear marginal: limitations on click and collect deliveries; firmer rules for takeaways; curbs around alcohol. But they are designed to stamp home the message that there is no imminent return to normality.
Source Direct: Lock Me Down
On Monday the Scottish Government proposed that the UK needs £80 billion of investment for a Coronavirus recovery plan – equating to 4% of the UK’s GDP. Instead, Boris Johnson has revealed his ‘New Deal’ for £5 billion of investment – 0.2% of the UK’s GDP – in a speech full of rhetoric.
Boris Johnson’s Underwhelming Recovery Plan
11 June is the final day for new applicants to be added to the UK Government’s furlough scheme. But a Tsunami of new job losses has arrived.
Analysis: The furlough scheme is coming to an end, but job losses aren’t
“If the changes that have led to this new demand profile are good for renewable energy, are they good for people and society too, and if so, how can we encourage them to stick with us post-lockdown?”
Keith Baker: How should our approach to energy use change post-lockdown?
“The model of ‘corporation in trouble, finance sector doesn’t want to put its hands in its own pocket so demands the public does, but expects to stay in total control anyway’ is how the RBS bailout was handled. This is a direct replica.”