Faisal Islam has left Channel 4 News. This is an archive of his blogs.
Inflation has come in significantly higher than expected. No crisis yet, but it’s a window on a complicated world of post-election monetary policy. At 3.4 per cent it was last month well above target, but we are still told that this is a temporary ‘blip’ caused by the remnants of the VAT rise, and fuel…
Faisal Islam blogs on how he believes the Conservatives may be feeling a little edgy after last night’s leaders’ debate.
In the few hours before this seminal, historic, semi-colon in the 21st century story of Britain, I advise the three not-so-wise men who have come from afar to gather in Manchester to go on a last minute walk around the world’s greatest city. My home town can illuminate the issues in this election.
If the election was a prize for fiscal candour, the Liberal Democrats might actually win, blogs Faisal Islam.
No one could accuse the Conservatives of failing to outline an original vision for Britain. Just flick back to “Are you thinking what we’re thinking?” and the difference is pretty clear. It is brimming with sunny pre-election optimism, the issue is: is this Blue Book hiding something a little more pessimistic post-election? The Labour charge is…
On the income tax pledge, which is arguably stronger than previous Labour manifesto pledges, as it includes the new top rate tax, it strikes me as a lost opportunity for candour in politics. Clearly guaranteeing rates has little or no impact on the actual tax burden. It makes little sense to guarantee no increase in…
So Gordon Brown chose to host his manifesto launch at a brand new hospital. A tangible exposition of the difference 13 years of New Labour has made to the country.
Faisal Islam blogs on how Conservative adviser Martin Read has revealed more of the Tories’ spending cuts plans, but the party won’t release the full calculations.
Faisal Islam blogs on Labour’s fightback against the Conservative’s high profile election camapign against Labour’s planned national insurance rise.
Faisal Islam blogs on the stance of Labour, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to cutting the UK’s £167bn national debt.
It is like the Conservatives have flicked a switch. Today, I got invited into the Conservative war-room and they seem a pretty euphoric lot following the apparent endorsement of their National Insurance plan from Britain’s business elite – George Osborne thinks it’s a “momentous” day in the campaign. And when I spoke to George Osborne,…
“It’s April Fool’s Day,” is what I muttered to myself, when looking at the line of attack from Darling, Mandelson and Byrne in their extensive 180-page dossier on the “Conservative credibility gap”. Yes it outlines a £22bn gap from the Conservatives on tax and spending pledges, but that suggests that the Labour frontbench think that…
About five minutes after Channel 4’s Ask the Chancellors debate had ended, Britain’s first ever “spin room” was invaded by a phalanx of sharp-suited Conservatives, blogs Faisal Islam.
Shadow chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that he will reverse Labour’s planned rise in national insurance puts clear blue water between the main parites, blogs Faisal Islam.
The word bulk is now key to the election economics. It is the root of what difference exists between Labour and Conservatives in terms of their spending cuts and tax rises.