PUBLISHED ON JULY 12TH
 
The last fortnight has caused a political storm in the UK. Boris Johnson's resignation as PM has triggered a leadership race and renewed debates about UK economic strategy and how the government should ease the high cost of living.
In this episode, Christopher Snowdon, IEA Head of Lifestyle Economics, is joined by Eamonn Butler, Co-founder and Director of the Adam Smith Institute, to appraise Boris Johnson's tenure as PM and the future of the UK's economic direction.

The Swift Half with Snowdon ft. Eamonn Butler

Welcome to the IEA Podcast. The Institute of Economic Affairs is the UK’s original free market think tank, founded in 1955. 

Our mission is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.

Given the current economic challenges facing Britain and the wider global environment, it is more vital than ever that we promote the intellectual case for a free economy, low taxes, freedom in education, health and welfare and lower levels of regulation.

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On this IEA Podcast episode, host Matthew Lesh discusses the hot button UK immigration policy issue with Professor Jonathan Portes of King's College London as political parties announce restrictive plans ahead of elections. Portes, an expert on labor markets and immigration, analyzes the recent immigration spike, arguing the system should bring in economically beneficial workers rather than fixating on numbers. He addresses common concerns around impacts on public services, housing, productivity and social cohesion, pushing back on anti-immigration arguments while acknowledging trade-offs like housing supply constraints in this nuanced look at one of Britain's most polarising topics.






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Should the UK Cap Immigration Numbers? IEA Podcast

The Conservative Party's proposal to reintroduce 12 months of mandatory national service if they win the general election has sparked a heated debate between Matthew Lesh, Director of Public Policy and Communications at the Institute of Economic Affairs, and James Price, a former government advisor.
Lesh argues against the policy, viewing it as an infringement on individual liberty and questioning its effectiveness, while Price, once a classical liberal, makes a case for it as a necessary measure to promote social cohesion, patriotism, and resilience in an increasingly fragmented society. The discussion delves into the role of government in shaping culture, the perceived decline of traditional institutions, the challenges faced by younger generations, and the trade-offs between individual freedom and collective responsibility surrounding the national service debate.

National Service Debate: Compulsion vs Liberty in the UK

In this week's IEA Podcast episode, host Reem Ibrahim and guest Andy Mayer from the Institute of Economic Affairs discuss the appalling findings of the UK's Infected Blood Inquiry, which revealed over 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated NHS blood products in the 1970s-80s.
Mayer demonstrates the NHS, clinicians and governments of repeatedly failing patients by covering up risks for decades to avoid compensation, enabled by the NHS's lack of market incentives for transparency and innovation - a catastrophic institutional failure costing thousands of lives. Exploring why the NHS covered up the scandal, Mayer argues introducing market mechanisms to the blood supply could have prevented or resolved it sooner by driving higher quality suppliers, product diversity and safer treatment innovation.

The NHS Infected Blood Scandal Explained | IEA Podcast

In this new Institute of Economic Affairs "In Conversation" interview, Tom Clougherty sits down with renowned conservative historian and commentator Simon Heffer. Heffer pulls no punches in his scathing critique of contemporary Conservative leadership and the party's civil war over Europe. He explores major challenges Britain faces - an aging population, pressures on the welfare state, and the need for pro-growth economic reforms. Heffer calls for reining in corporatism and state overreach while incentivizing hard work and self-reliance. He advocates transitioning from a welfare state to a "welfare society" rooted in Victorian values of self-help, making this a must-watch discussion on the future of British politics and economics.

The Future of British Politics: In Conversation with Simon Heffer

On this IEA Podcast episode, host Matthew Lesh engages Tom Clougherty, the Institute of Economic Affairs' Executive Director, in a thought-provoking discussion centered around the government's recent efforts to cut red tape. They dive deep into the 10-point plan announced, which includes measures like issuing new regulations only when "absolutely necessary" and imposing stronger growth duties on regulators. While acknowledging these as positive steps, Clougherty argues that they fail to truly reshape Britain's regulatory landscape fundamentally. The conversation explores the origins of the modern regulatory state, the institutional and cultural forces driving over-regulation, and the structural reforms needed, such as mandatory sunset clauses and a senior government figure spearheading deregulation, to counterbalance these pressures effectively.

The Swift Half with Snowdon ft. Eamonn Butler

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