As the chancellor looks for new ways to raise money, thought I should flag this one again. Logically consistent with the schools tax, but could raise far more.

Reducing electricity consumption was literally the policy of the EU. Countries had targets. Only the U.K., I think, achieved them.

The burden of feeding your own children has now been assumed by the state

Some political scandals are confected nonsense, but this isn’t one. Reeves advocated to introduce unnecessary cost (in compliance) and risk (in inadvertent noncompliance) for landlords, then fell into her own trap. Either she or the regulation should go.

This was a rare policy that accepted a little short-term unfairness as the price of better long-run incentives. But no policy can survive long against the tyranny of first-order thinking.

"We have inherited the British system, and you see how grievously they have harmed themselves. They say, just nationalise. Oh well, just redistribute wealth. Squeeze the rich until the pips squeak. It sounds wonderful at election time..." Lee Kuan Yew, August 16th, 1981.

Considering taking out a large loan secured on my future lottery winnings. economist.com/europe/2025/12…