Weekly series
The State of the Nation
A substantial weekly investigation into how Britain is governed and functioning.
- Politics and public administration
- The economy and taxation
- Migration and border policy
- Housing and infrastructure
- Health, education and public services
- Policing, defence and national security
- Britain's international position
Who pays when Britain gets old
Britain’s ageing population is turning social care into an unavoidable fiscal choice. Who should contribute, what should be guaranteed, and how can reform protect families, workers and dignity?
15 min read
Can Britain still feed itself
Drought, a poor harvest and fragile global supply chains are testing a food system most of us take for granted. Britain cannot and should not grow everything at home, but it can protect the domestic capacity, water, diverse trade and household access that keep the country fed when several things go wrong at once.
15 min read
What Britain’s asylum system really costs
The £4.9 billion asylum bill is real, but delay drives much of the cost. An examination of accommodation, appeals and returns, and what a lawful, financially credible reform would require.
15 min read
Can Britain afford its promises
Britain is not about to run out of money, but it is steadily losing the freedom to choose. Pensions, health, welfare, defence and debt interest are pressing against the revenue available to honour them, and a credible settlement must put every promise in the same account.
16 min read
Who should control Britain’s essential services
Who should control Britain’s water, rail, buses, energy and housing? Public ownership may address failures that regulation cannot, but every proposal must account for cost, investment and performance.
16 min read