The Peter McCormack Show #127 - Ewen Stewart - The Leviathan State, Civilisational Decline & the Way Back
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Nov 11, 2025 Ewen Stewart, a sharp economist and public policy commentator, dives deep into the UK’s economic woes. He discusses the detrimental effects of bloated state spending, skyrocketing debt, and overregulation on growth and innovation. Ewen highlights a troubling brain drain as talent and wealth exit the country. He draws lessons from fiscal policies in Ireland and Eastern Europe, advocating for radical reforms and targeted tax cuts. The conversation also explores the moral impact of the welfare state and the urgent need for accountability within the civil service.
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Leviathan State Is Squeezing Growth
- The UK state has expanded from about a third to nearly half the economy, squeezing private sector growth.
- Ewen Stewart links this enlargement with soaring debt and falling per‑capita growth since 2008.
The Post‑2008 Growth Collapse
- Since 2008 per‑capita GDP growth fell from ~2.5% to ~0.5% and stalled after COVID.
- Stewart ties this unprecedented slowdown to bigger state spending, debt, and rising regulation.
Audit Quangos And Recycle Savings
- Perform a line‑by‑line reset of quangos and bring spending back in‑house to control budgets.
- Recycle savings into deficit reduction and targeted tax cuts to regrow the private sector.
