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Despatch: Our Growth Problem is a Productivity Crisis
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 private sector, we’d unlock £100bn a year—no tax hikes, no cuts, just better government. So why isn’t it happening? And who, if anyone, has the courage to fix it? Listen now to Tim Knox's diagnosis of Britain's great stagnation—and what we can do about it.
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Despatch: The Chancellor won't survive this
08:13||Season 1The markets have made their judgment—and it’s far from flattering. As gilt yields climb and confidence wanes, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing a fiscal storm of her own making. Economist Damian Pudner weighs in on Labour’s deepening credibility crisis, arguing that the era of cost-free politics is drawing to a close. With pressure mounting on both the Treasury and No. 10, the question is no longer whether taxes will rise, but how swiftly and by how much. The Chancellor is running out of road, the Prime Minister is newly vulnerable—and the world is watching.25. Taxing the rich is not a quick fix
29:57||Season 1, Ep. 25Does Zohran Mamdani’s shock rise in New York politics suggest that wealth taxes are back on the agenda? Plus: what does Labour’s welfare cuts u-turn say about the government’s economic credibility? And why economic arguments keep falling flat with voters—and how we can change the conversation. Marc Sidwell is joined by Reem Ibrahim from the Institute of Economic Affairs and Henry Hill of Conservative Home for a fast-paced look at the shifting political landscape.Despatch: How to sell difficult economic truths
06:51||Season 1Marc Sidwell dissects the Reform's shaky new tax proposal, the backlash against expert critique, and what it all says about the state of political debate. From Britain’s fragile finances to America’s protectionist turn, CapX's editor makes the case for returning to a more grounded, common-sense approach to economics — one that recognises trade-offs, not magical solutions.24. How to reduce energy prices
22:13||Season 1, Ep. 24Oil prices are on the rise following US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites — with fears mounting over how Tehran might retaliate. Marc Sidwell is joined by Daniel Freeman of the Institute of Economic Affairs to assess the economic fallout. Plus: the government makes lower energy costs the centrepiece of its new industrial strategy, but will it be enough to spark real growth? And with inflation easing and confidence wavering, is it finally time to cut interest rates?Despatch: On Track in Coventry
04:31||Season 1Coventry’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?23. How tax really affects growth
30:21||Season 1, Ep. 23CapX 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 £113bn infrastructure plan, even as welfare cuts spark unease within Labour ranks. Plus: Britain’s productivity problem is back in the spotlight. Are we too squeamish about automation—and is now the moment for a bold leap into the robot age?Despatch: Is Rachel Reeves ready for the coming crisis?
05:59||Season 1Economist 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 when the backlash begins? Tune in for a clear-eyed take on the week’s most important speech.22. Spending Review: Health, Policing, and Reform’s Rise
32:07||Season 1, Ep. 22With 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 in Labour heartlands. CapX’s Marc Sidwell is joined by Maxwell Marlow of the Adam Smith Institute and Alys Denby from City AM for a brisk tour through the week’s economic flashpoints — and what they mean for Britain’s political future.Despatch: Jeremy Hunt on Free Trade
06:30||Season 1Former 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, and why the UK can lead again — if it chooses to stay open. Despatch is our weekly highlight of the best writing from CapX's daily briefings, brought to you by the team behind The Capitalist.