Steve Hoyles

As the market closed on Wednesday, the FTSE 100 share index closed at 8,354.05 points – its highest-ever level. So, if the UK is struggling, why is the UK stock market doing so well? FTSE 100 Isn’t the Economy To begin with, the FTSE 100 isn’t a measure of the UK economy. It’s a market … Read more

Party defections, racism rows, worse NHS satisfaction levels on record, local election defeats and now… the economy is still shrinking. Revised Official Figures Confirm Bad News The corrected figures show that GDP (gross domestic product) shrank by 0.3% between October and December 2023.  Office of National Statistics Data Adheres to the Findings Data from the … Read more

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee is expected to maintain interest rates at 5.25% in their upcoming meeting. It’ll come as a blow to many, with some hoping to have seen rates fall already.  Interest Rates Determine More Than Mortgage Costs The base interest rates affect more than just mortgages. They impact all kinds … Read more

Innovation and investment in the renewable energy sector show that universal green power is now within our grasp for the first time ever. Advancements in technology, funding, and attitudes can help us eliminate fossil fuels almost completely.  UK Perfectly Capable of Green Energy Revolution The National Grid website says, “On 15 May 2023 the UK … Read more

Now that the local elections are over, the debriefs will be underway. Campaign managers will decide their tactics for the upcoming elections. The question is for the Tories: With their record in government being so poor, what are they actually going to campaign on? Tory Record on the Economy Since 2010, economic growth has largely … Read more

After over a decade of cutbacks, staff shortages, record waiting times and lack of infrastructure spending, public satisfaction with the NHS is at its lowest-ever levels. Only 24% of people said they were ‘satisfied’ with the NHS in 2023. British Social Attitudes Survey Shows Dissatisfaction The long-running survey is used as a benchmark to assess … Read more

Following a disastrous set of local election results, the Tories are urged to move to the Right. Having lost a significant amount of vote share on issues such as immigration and tax rates, some Tories are urging a re-think to strategy. Reform Eating into Vote Share The biggest beneficiary of the Tory deserters is Reform. … Read more

As the dust begins to settle on an awful set of local election results for the Tories, a clearer picture of what is going wrong for them emerges. It’s a challenging read for the Tory party. How Did the Tories Perform Last Time Around? In 2021, the Conservatives had 2,345 councillors elected and controlled 63 … Read more

An investigation has found that children have access to sex-blocking hormones on the internet. These hormones are available without prescription and can be bought for as little as £11 per month.  Cass Review Casts Doubt Over Medical Interventions Dr Hilary Cass was asked to review gender identity services offered by the NHS. Her conclusion was … Read more

If these local elections are a temperature check, the government will hope the thermometer is broken. They’ve suffered a series of devastating losses, indicating the scale of resentment toward this government.  107 Councils Holding Elections There has been a series of elections up and down the country. We’ve had local council elections, police and crime … Read more