Robert Colvile
@rcolvile
Director of @CPSThinkTank, EIC of @CapX, Sunday columnist for @thetimes, author of 'The Great Acceleration'. Politics, policy and parenting.
Wrote for Observer about London housing crisis and the choices for politicians (1/2) observer.co.uk/news/opinion-a…
I want to speak briefly about an element of the James O'Brien story which has been underdiscussed in the understandable outrage about his repetition of comments aimed at British Jews. And that's the Ha'aretz poll he was citing prior to that: A 🧵
Unintentionally hilarious. Tony explains that he isn’t leaving his son an inheritance, that leaving your kids anything is an unfair “leg up”, and instead…he is setting up a charitable trust which will *employ his son*!
Comedian and author Tony Hawks explains why he isn't leaving his son anything in his will.
A UK wealth tax sounds simple: "tax the super‑rich, fund public services" But it's not. Our 16,000 word deep‑dive shows revenues are fragile, it puts growth, investment and jobs at risk, and there's no revenue before 2029. Here’s the evidence:
This is the essential read on wealth taxes. @DanNeidle explains: - Why the far-left's revenue estimates are wildly over-optimistic - Why wealth taxes reduce economic growth - Why a wealth tax is unlikely to raise 1p before the next election taxpolicy.org.uk/2025/07/22/uk-…
In need of a new book for your upcoming holiday? Here's what CapX is reading this summer 🧵👇
There’s actually a small part of me that will miss the CPRE et al performatively pretending that a private golf course was public recreation land. But I’m sure they’ll find some other nonsense quickly enough.
Plans to expand Wimbledon can go ahead, judge rules bbc.in/4lEn5pu
Author of official review: ‘Water customers will have to accept above-average bill rises for a decade.’ Whoops!
Chrissake. This is not just a lie, it's a ludicrously insulting lie. (1/?)
Poor UK borrowing figures announced this morning by the ONS The budget deficit came in worse than forecast at £20.7 billion in June Economists had expected £17.5b It’s around £7.5b worse than June 2024 Puts further pressure on Rachel Reeves ahead of the budget
Sometimes I think about when the Tories had three months left in government, staring electoral oblivion in the face, and for their final policy swing went for a football regulator, national service, and a ban on smoking.
I've always hated the idea of PR. Even more, the idea of the govt changing the rules just because Farage might win. But it's really hard to argue that the voters and the voting system are in synch. Me for @thetimes
They made it real
We’ve launched the Civil Society Covenant - a new partnership between government and civil society. Together, we’ll deliver real change through respect, shared ambition, and collaboration. This is what doing government differently looks like.
Some sort of bigger society you say
We’ve launched the Civil Society Covenant - a new partnership between government and civil society. Together, we’ll deliver real change through respect, shared ambition, and collaboration. This is what doing government differently looks like.