New Economics Podcast Why is the UK in such a mess?
15 snips
Sep 16, 2025 Faiza Shaheen, Chief Executive of Tax Justice UK, and Alex Chapman, Senior Economist at the New Economics Foundation, delve into the UK's political turmoil. They analyze the Labour government’s faltering popularity, attributing it to economic discontent and instability. The conversation touches on the pressing need for wealth tax reform driven by rising inequality, and the intersection of economic woes with anti-immigrant sentiments. They argue for grassroots organizing and an inclusive approach to policy to foster meaningful change.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Crash In Labour's Popularity
- Labour's popularity collapse combines scandals, weak policy and unmet material expectations.
- Faiza Shaheen says voters don't feel materially better off under the new government.
No Clear Economic Narrative
- Alex Chapman argues Labour lacks a coherent economic narrative people can buy into.
- He says the government avoided needed structural reforms and thus lost public trust.
Reframe Public Spending As Investment
- Invest in public services as productive long-term capacity rather than just cuts or one-off projects.
- Alex Chapman urges backing well-targeted spending to rebuild trust and productivity.