Shows / The Capitalist
The Capitalist
The Capitalist: where economics meets politics. New episodes every Wednesday.
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Episodes
The CapitalistDespatch: The Online Safety Act stands against Britain’s liberal tradition
Economic journalist Mani Basharzad reflects on Britain’s Online Safety Act — and what it reveals about the rise of managerialism in public life. What begins as…
The CapitalistEU's tariff 'humiliation' & doctors' dodgy pay metrics
Are Britain’s doctors striking based on a broken metric? Economist Andrew Lilico says RPI—the measure unions love—is complete NONSENSE compared to CPI. Policy…
The CapitalistDespatch: Private equity didn’t ruin Britain – it’s helping rebuild it
Michael Moore, chief executive of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, takes aim at the lazy caricatures and media misfires that still…
The CapitalistThe return of James Cleverly, broke retirees, and bans on air conditioning
As Sir James Cleverly returns to the front bench, Marc Sidwell is joined by City AM’s Alys Denby and writer and academic Andrew Tettenborn to assess what the…
The CapitalistDespatch: The fiscal fantasy is over
Independent economist Damian Pudner offers a crisp, clear-eyed warning from the heart of Britain’s fiscal landscape. As Chancellor Rachel Reeves sets out her…
The CapitalistIs America breaking the world’s economy?
With Donald Trump threatening sweeping new tariffs on the EU, the European Commission warns that transatlantic trade could become “almost impossible” — a shock…
The CapitalistDespatch: The greatest prime minister we never had
Karl Williams reflects on the life and legacy of Norman Tebbit — the Conservative bruiser, RAF veteran, and Thatcherite stalwart who helped reshape Britain in…
The CapitalistIs socialism on the rise in Britain?
A new poll finds voters see Sir Keir Starmer’s government as every bit as chaotic as the last. Can Labour regain its footing? Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn eyes a…
The CapitalistDespatch: The Chancellor won't survive this
The 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…
The CapitalistTaxing the rich is not a quick fix
Does 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 CapitalistDespatch: How to sell difficult economic truths
Marc 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…
The CapitalistHow to reduce energy prices
Oil 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…
The CapitalistDespatch: On Track in Coventry
Coventry’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…
The CapitalistHow tax really affects growth
CapX 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…
The CapitalistDespatch: Is Rachel Reeves ready for the coming crisis?
Economist Andrew Lilico casts a sharp eye over the Chancellor’s first Spending Review — and finds it lacking. Beyond the rhetoric, the message is sobering…
The CapitalistSpending Review: Health, Policing, and Reform’s Rise
With the Chancellor’s spending review looming, ministers are jostling for funds. But with public services under pressure and growth still sluggish, is the…
The CapitalistDespatch: Jeremy Hunt on Free Trade
Former 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…
The CapitalistUK-US Trade: The Real Story
President Trump’s tariff blitz hits a legal snag — but he's showing no signs of backing down. Marc Sidwell is joined by National Review Institute’s Dominic…
The CapitalistDespatch: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Cheese
What does chasing a wheel of cheese down a dangerously steep hill say about Britain — and the state? In this Despatch, James Price of the Adam Smith Institute…
The CapitalistSpecial Edition: Reviving the High Street with Samuel Hughes
A special edition on the future of Britain’s high streets. As department stores disappear and civic spaces fall silent, we ask: what’s next for the beating…
The CapitalistDespatch: Copying Reform Is a Trap
This week's Despatch offers a sharp warning to the Conservative Party from inside the tent. Former Tory candidate William Wellesley argues that the answer to…
The CapitalistBorder Lines: Can Labour’s Migration Gamble Pay Off?
Karl Williams of the Centre for Policy Studies and economist Julian Jessop take a clear-eyed look at the politics and economics of migration. Two decades ago…
The CapitalistDespatch: Bordering on Failure – Is Labour Serious About Reform?
In this week’s Despatch, Karl Williams of the Centre for Policy Studies unpacks Labour’s long-awaited immigration white paper — and asks whether anything’s…
The CapitalistIn Conversation: Fraser Nelson, Richard Reeves and Nicholas Eberstadt
For the first time in modern British history, young men are now more likely than young women to be out of education, employment or training. It’s a trend…
The CapitalistDespatch: Ignore the doubters, more trade with India is win-win
Harry Phibbs takes a scalpel to Britain’s new free trade deal with India. Is it a triumph for post-Brexit Britain — slashing tariffs, boosting growth, and…
The CapitalistSpecial Edition: From Gridlock to Growth
In this special Bank Holiday edition, Marc Sidwell is joined by Dr Lawrence Newport from the Looking for Growth campaign for a sharp and solutions-focused…
The CapitalistDespatch: Wake up Tories, Reform are on the march
The by-election in Runcorn & Helsby has sent shockwaves through Westminster — not because Reform UK squeaked to victory, but because what once looked like a…
The CapitalistFrom Beijing to Bangalore: A New Economic Order?
As Chancellor Rachel Reeves treads a delicate path in Washington, Britain finds itself caught between diplomacy and hard economics — will tariff relief be…
The CapitalistDespatch: From Stronghold to Shaky Ground
Runcorn and Helsby has been Labour’s turf for decades — but the ground is shifting, and Reform UK can smell blood. In this week’s edition of Despatch, Gawain…
The CapitalistGlobal Growth Is Faltering — Can Britain Sprint Ahead?
Is Britain ready to outpace a stalling global economy? As fresh figures show growth grinding to a halt, The Capitalist asks whether the UK can still carve a…
The CapitalistDespatch: Steel Trap — Why Nationalisation Won't Work
Harry Phibbs asks a pointed question in this week's Despatch: if nationalisation has failed before, why are we doing it again? With Parliament recalled for an…
The CapitalistEconomic Nostalgia vs. the Hard Work of Growth
A dramatic Saturday recall of Parliament delivers a last-minute reprieve for British Steel — but is it a genuine industrial strategy, or just another…
The CapitalistDespatch: No Growth, No Progress
Britain isn’t broken — but it is stuck. In this urgent Despatch, Julia Willemyns, co-founder of the Centre for British Progress, makes the case for boldness…
The CapitalistBacklash Economics: When Policy Meets Pocketbooks
What happens when the world’s biggest economy slams the brakes on global trade? In just weeks, Donald Trump’s tariff blitz has shattered decades of US-led…
The CapitalistDespatch: Mel Stride, Robert Colvile, David Miles and Alys Denby
Rachel Reeves entered her first Budget with a familiar refrain—blaming the Conservatives for the difficult choices ahead. But now, the focus has shifted to her…
The CapitalistRegulation Nation: Why Britain is Losing Its Best and Brightest
Rachel Reeves envisions Britain as a “defence industrial superpower” — but does the industry exist to match the ambition? Meanwhile, London eyes Brussels for a…
The CapitalistDespatch: 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…
The CapitalistSpecial Edition: Spring Statement Slashes Growth
A reality check for Britain’s economy? Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement reveals growth forecasts have been slashed in half. Can Labour still deliver…
The CapitalistDespatch: A Message from Kemi Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch’s political journey was shaped by first-hand experience of government overreach and the stifling effects of socialism. In this special Despatch…
The CapitalistGeorge Osborne, Robert Colvile, and Professor Sir Niall Ferguson
As Britain reflects on 50 years since Margaret Thatcher took the helm of the Conservative Party, the outlook for free-market thinking—and a dynamic economy—has…
The CapitalistDespatch: CANZUK vs. the World — The Case for a Fourth Global Power
As the world shifts and alliances evolve, could a partnership between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK form a Fourth Global Power? While CANZUK…
The CapitalistTough Talk, Weak Results: How Tariffs and Moscow Hurt the US
With US support for Ukraine waning, can Europe step up before the situation spirals? Plus, are Trump’s tariffs making Washington a volatile trading partner?…
The CapitalistDespatch: The Age of Unknowns
As Trump humiliates Zelensky, has Washington quietly decided to switch sides? In this Despatch, Bruce Anderson dissects a moment of historic uncertainty—one…
The CapitalistWashington’s New Best Friend? Trump, Putin, and the Future of Ukraine
After last week's stunning scenes in the White House, murmurs of President Zelensky’s downfall are growing louder. Could he be sidelined in favour of a…
The CapitalistDespatch: Politics Needs More Outsiders
Britain is at a crossroads. As high costs, stagnation, and failing public services push talented young people abroad, a new wave of problem-solvers is choosing…
The CapitalistAI Hype, Trump’s Economic Woes & The Decline of Debate
Microsoft’s Satya Nadella says it’s time to separate AI’s real impact from the noise: true success isn’t measured in viral demos but in global GDP growth. So…
The CapitalistDespatch: There’s no point in democracy without debate
In an age of soundbites and social media grandstanding, has real Parliamentary debate become obsolete? Barrister Harry Gillow cuts through the noise to examine…
The CapitalistEconomic Missteps: How Reform UK Is Squandering Its Credibility
Has Reform UK's energy plan exposed the party's economic failings? And will Kemi Badenoch capitalize on this misstep? Marc Sidwell is joined by Dr Lawrence…
The CapitalistDespatch: Will the Tories Bow to Farage?
Dominic Cummings has spoken, and—no surprise—he’s not impressed. The Tories are “intellectually dead,” Kemi Badenoch is a “bad joke,” and Nigel Farage is more…
The CapitalistPolitical Meltdown: Labour Stumbles, Tories Collapse
Sir Keir Starmer just hit the reset button on his struggling government, but will voters buy it? We break down his six-hour crisis meeting, the economic…
The CapitalistDespatch: Imagine a Britain where you can just do things
Is Britain losing its edge? While US entrepreneurs are launching rockets, breaking the sound barrier, and rewriting the rules of innovation, the UK is stuck in…
The CapitalistThe Cost of Defiance: Can the UK Survive the Trump Effect?
Is Britain’s post-Brexit plan coming undone? As the US torpedoes the OECD’s global tax deal, the UK’s fiscal strategy is left in limbo—was it too quick to play…
The CapitalistDespatch: Can Rachel Reeves get growth back on track?
The new Government faces a tall order: it must deliver on the same growth promises others have made, but do it better. A tough task, especially with tensions…
The CapitalistBritain’s Bottleneck: Why Bold Reforms Are Stuck in Neutral
With a healthy majority in Parliament, what’s stopping Britain’s Government from enacting the kind of sweeping policy changes we’re seeing in the United…
The CapitalistDespatch: Heathrow airport, an allegory of our decline
Extending an existing runway at Heathrow is a solution more economical and environmentally astute than constructing an entirely new third runway. It would…
The CapitalistTrump, Tariffs, and Tech Titans
Can Britain strike a deal with President Trump and avoid the looming tariff trap? Why are leaders in the UK and the US falling short of the so-called "Reagan…
The CapitalistDespatch: Think renting is bad? Just wait
As rents climb ever higher, you’d think the Government would aim to make renting easier. Yet the new Renters' Rights Bill threatens to do just the opposite…
The CapitalistHow to get Britain building
In this debut edition of The Capitalist: a bold new political movement takes aim at red tape to get Britain building, the Chancellor faces criticism over an…
The CapitalistDespatch: It's time to remake the case for conservatism
Despatch is a fresh addition to The Capitalist, delivering standout writing from the team behind CapX’s indispensable daily briefings. In this debut edition…
The CapitalistIntroducing: The Capitalist
A preview of The Capitalist, a new podcast from the team behind CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Join sharp minds from…