Institute of Economic Affairs

09/10/2026

Which conference announcements would actually help Britain’s economy?

Our Chief Economist Valentin Boboc has assessed 30 proposals from Labour, the Conservatives, Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party against five tests: growth, incentives, competition, consumer choice and the public finances.

There were promising reforms across the political spectrum, particularly those that remove barriers to investment. But too many announcements relied on greater spending, price controls or changes in ownership, without tackling the underlying problems.

The real test is not how much is promised, but whether policies create the conditions for investment, competition and growth.

See how every proposal scored on Economic Affairs, the IEA’s Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/ieainsider/p/party-conference-season-which-policies?r=2dwvjm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

09/10/2026

Scrap Stamp Duty. Cut Inheritance Tax. Slash the Jobs Tax.

Kemi Badenoch unveiled her plans for Britain’s economy at Conservative Party Conference.

But will they deliver growth?

Watch our round up of the key announcements 👇

08/10/2026

⚖️ "Governments need to live by the same moral code as the rest of us." and David Nott, President and CEO of Reason Foundation, on how to make the case for liberty.
Watch the latest IEA Interview 👇️

In this Institute of Economic Affairs interview, IEA Director Gener...

08/10/2026

The IEA's Director General, Lord Hannan, writing for the Daily Mail on the Conservatives inheritance tax pledge:

Cutting property taxes isn't just popular with homeowners. It would boost growth that benefits everyone, including those who don't own their homes.

https://www.dailymail.com/debate/article-16191477/Cutting-property-taxes-boost-economy-DANIEL-HANNAN.html

The IEA has long made the case for scrapping inheritance tax.

Our paper A Taxing Inheritance found the UK has the fifth-highest inheritance tax in the OECD, while 18 of the 38 member countries don't tax what parents leave their children at all.

https://iea.org.uk/media/britain-has-one-of-the-worlds-harshest-inheritance-taxes-and-should-scrap-it-says-new-iea-paper/

04/10/2026

Who pays for social care? 💷

New IEA analysis, featured in today's Sunday Express, finds that raising an estimated £18.5bn a year for comprehensive social care through income tax would mean lifting the basic rate from 20% to around 22.25%.

For someone earning £40,000, that's around £617 more a year.

Reforming the triple lock would slow the growth of pension spending, but it won't cover the bill.

"Politicians can make big promises on social care, but ultimately someone has to pay for them." Dr Valentin Boboc, IEA Chief Economist

Read more: https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2254203/tax-bomb-warning-andy-burnham?utm_source=app

04/10/2026

📰 IEA analysis leads today’s Sunday Express: Funding the Government’s National Care Service through income tax could cost someone earning £40,000 an extra £617 a year 👇
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2254203/tax-bomb-warning-andy-burnham?utm_source=app

02/10/2026

🏠 "Sold them to who?" Daniel Freeman questions Andy Burnham's argument that selling council houses caused the housing shortage.

Hear more on Burnham's Labour Party conference speech this week with Kristian Niemietz and Maeve Halligan on the IEA podcast 👇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBXPZMZQxGk&t=1s

02/10/2026

"The UK's policy should be to select an area for concentration in applied AI and promote it energetically."

Miles Saltiel on what Britain needs to get right to compete on AI.

Click below to read👇
https://open.substack.com/pub/ieainsider/p/ai-where-britain-can-make-a-difference?r=2dwvjm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

01/10/2026

🗯️ Andy Burnham's speech to Labour Party conference: big promises, not much on who pays.

💷 A National Care Service, a publicly owned grid company and more public spending, with only a partial explanation of how it's funded.

🎙️ Find out more in our new podcast episode, out tomorrow

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30/09/2026

💷 "The Government should build on this momentum by easing the burden on businesses and workers, with lower and simpler taxes, lighter regulation and cheaper energy."

Dr Valentin Boboc on today's GDP figures 👇