Louis Willis
@louiswillis.bsky.social
Director of Policy and Programmes at the Economic Change Unit. Interested in all things politics, economics and climate. Views my own.
Reposted by Louis Willis
Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Food vouchers, free milk and two-child cap: Reeves weighs up help for families
Ministers' long-awaited child poverty strategy is due this month - and it's closely tied to the Chancellor's Budget
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Scrapping the cap entirely is both good policy *and* good politics.
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Half measures will "save" some money short-term, but will piss *everybody* off and still leave very large numbers of children suffering from a policy designed to make them poorer.
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
This was excellent. I’ve been trying to put my finger on what is making UK politics feel so airless at the moment and I think a big part of it is the futurelessness that Mulgan diagnoses here.
open.substack.com/pub/geoffmul...
A lot of very important points in a short post
A lot of very important points in a short post
Hollowed out: can the centre hold?
Can the centre hold and resist the far right?
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:23 PM
This was excellent. I’ve been trying to put my finger on what is making UK politics feel so airless at the moment and I think a big part of it is the futurelessness that Mulgan diagnoses here.
Reposted by Louis Willis
Late period Osborne: interest rates at zero and 50-80bn of headroom: and his priority was “don’t invest”.
November 4, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Late period Osborne: interest rates at zero and 50-80bn of headroom: and his priority was “don’t invest”.
Reposted by Louis Willis
Responding to the Chancellor's speech, Louis Willis, Director of the Invest in Britain campaign, said:
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Responding to the Chancellor's speech, Louis Willis, Director of the Invest in Britain campaign, said:
Reposted by Louis Willis
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The value of public R&D
www.gov.uk
October 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Enjoyed this wide-ranging discussion across fiscal + monetary policy and the links between them. Great to hear clarity and challenge on subjects that are too often mystified and naturalised.
New @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS: I speak with @danielagabor.bsky.social & Andy Haldane on bond markets, gilt vigilantes, and the role of Britain's central bank. Instructive and hugely illuminating conversation on finance, democracy, & how we get out of the doom loop.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Do bond markets and the Bank of England run Britain?
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 10/29/2025 · 1h 6m
podcasts.apple.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Enjoyed this wide-ranging discussion across fiscal + monetary policy and the links between them. Great to hear clarity and challenge on subjects that are too often mystified and naturalised.
Great new research that is worth a read for anyone interested in the politics of fiscal policy.
For me, two key takeaways:
- Voters will punish Labour for failing on child poverty, whatever they say about two-child limit as standalone policy
- Voters love wealth taxes, even when framed negatively
For me, two key takeaways:
- Voters will punish Labour for failing on child poverty, whatever they say about two-child limit as standalone policy
- Voters love wealth taxes, even when framed negatively
Ahead of Budget, where do voters stand on tax and the dilemmas facing government?
Big new @persuasionuk.bsky.social report out today on this.
TL;DR as risky as breaching the manifesto is for Lab - failing on public services, cost of living and child poverty is *far riskier* for Lab.
🧵
Big new @persuasionuk.bsky.social report out today on this.
TL;DR as risky as breaching the manifesto is for Lab - failing on public services, cost of living and child poverty is *far riskier* for Lab.
🧵
October 29, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Great new research that is worth a read for anyone interested in the politics of fiscal policy.
For me, two key takeaways:
- Voters will punish Labour for failing on child poverty, whatever they say about two-child limit as standalone policy
- Voters love wealth taxes, even when framed negatively
For me, two key takeaways:
- Voters will punish Labour for failing on child poverty, whatever they say about two-child limit as standalone policy
- Voters love wealth taxes, even when framed negatively
Reposted by Louis Willis
The wealth gap between rich and poor increased by over 50% from 2011 to 2021, to over £11.5 trillion. Find out more about the impacts on our society, economy, democracy and environment, and what we can do about it, from our updated Wealth Gap Risk Register.
Wealth Gap Risk Register 2025
An online resource that collates evidence about the impacts of wealth inequality, the solutions and public attitudes to all of the above
fairnessfoundation.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:14 AM
The wealth gap between rich and poor increased by over 50% from 2011 to 2021, to over £11.5 trillion. Find out more about the impacts on our society, economy, democracy and environment, and what we can do about it, from our updated Wealth Gap Risk Register.
Great story illustrating how legacies of under-investment and privatisation have fed into current crises in cost of living and local govt finances.
Action in Brighton sounds promising too but national govt needs to do more to support scaling these kind of solutions.
Action in Brighton sounds promising too but national govt needs to do more to support scaling these kind of solutions.
Right to buy in reverse: how Brighton is tackling its social housing crisis | Richard Partington
Right to buy in reverse: how Brighton is tackling its social housing crisis | Richard Partington
The council is rolling back Thatcher’s flagship policy by buying stock from private landlords. Other local authorities should take note
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Great story illustrating how legacies of under-investment and privatisation have fed into current crises in cost of living and local govt finances.
Action in Brighton sounds promising too but national govt needs to do more to support scaling these kind of solutions.
Action in Brighton sounds promising too but national govt needs to do more to support scaling these kind of solutions.
Reposted by Louis Willis
Labour MPs want the Chancellor to go beyond fiscal tinkering at the upcoming Budget.
New polling reveals a majority of Labour MPs (52%) think the Chancellor should raise taxes to fund more spending & investment rather than just to meet her fiscal rules: labourlist.org/2025/10/labo...
New polling reveals a majority of Labour MPs (52%) think the Chancellor should raise taxes to fund more spending & investment rather than just to meet her fiscal rules: labourlist.org/2025/10/labo...
Labour MPs call for Chancellor to hike taxes for greater spending - poll - LabourList
A majority of Labour MPs think the Chancellor should raise taxes at the Budget to allow for additional spending and investment above the amount needed to meet her fiscal rules.
labourlist.org
October 18, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Labour MPs want the Chancellor to go beyond fiscal tinkering at the upcoming Budget.
New polling reveals a majority of Labour MPs (52%) think the Chancellor should raise taxes to fund more spending & investment rather than just to meet her fiscal rules: labourlist.org/2025/10/labo...
New polling reveals a majority of Labour MPs (52%) think the Chancellor should raise taxes to fund more spending & investment rather than just to meet her fiscal rules: labourlist.org/2025/10/labo...
Reposted by Louis Willis
This week's New Economy Brief looks at the crisis in local government funding - its roots, its consequences and possible solutions:
neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/c...
neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/c...
October 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
This week's New Economy Brief looks at the crisis in local government funding - its roots, its consequences and possible solutions:
neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/c...
neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/c...
Sof has managed to write about patriotism with a sense of humour and while avoiding cringe earnestness on the one hand or derision on the other.
In carrying off this near-impossible feat she has perfectly embodied the culture she’s writing about here. Enjoyed this very much.
In carrying off this near-impossible feat she has perfectly embodied the culture she’s writing about here. Enjoyed this very much.
As I was speaking on panels at Labour conference last week I began to describe the Britain I know exists and love. In the end I gave it a name: Mr Blobby Patriotism
And I’ve written about it for @renewaljournal.bsky.social here bsky.app/profile/rene...
And I’ve written about it for @renewaljournal.bsky.social here bsky.app/profile/rene...
"Most of us basically love our country, even if begrudgingly – not the version we’re told to, or even presented with, but the one we really see and live in every day. Silly Sausage Britain is the Britain most of us reside in, and love."
@sofiejenkinson.bsky.social on "Mr Blobby patriotism"
@sofiejenkinson.bsky.social on "Mr Blobby patriotism"
October 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Sof has managed to write about patriotism with a sense of humour and while avoiding cringe earnestness on the one hand or derision on the other.
In carrying off this near-impossible feat she has perfectly embodied the culture she’s writing about here. Enjoyed this very much.
In carrying off this near-impossible feat she has perfectly embodied the culture she’s writing about here. Enjoyed this very much.
Reposted by Louis Willis
Responding to the Chancellor's speech at the Labour Party Conference today, Louis Willis, Director of the Invest in Britain campaign, said:
September 29, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Responding to the Chancellor's speech at the Labour Party Conference today, Louis Willis, Director of the Invest in Britain campaign, said:
Hope this doesn’t prove to be the case. The government has talked a good game on exactly this kind of infrastructure investment - now it needs to deliver.
And coming just before Liverpool conference would be all too reminiscent of Sunak on HS2 in Manchester 2023.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
And coming just before Liverpool conference would be all too reminiscent of Sunak on HS2 in Manchester 2023.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Northern Powerhouse Rail plans delayed again
The BBC understands the prime minister will now not announce plans for a rail link between Manchester and Liverpool at the Labour Party conference.
www.bbc.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Hope this doesn’t prove to be the case. The government has talked a good game on exactly this kind of infrastructure investment - now it needs to deliver.
And coming just before Liverpool conference would be all too reminiscent of Sunak on HS2 in Manchester 2023.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
And coming just before Liverpool conference would be all too reminiscent of Sunak on HS2 in Manchester 2023.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Louis Willis
What was in the US-UK Tech Prosperity deal? How does it fit into wider trade negotiations with the US? And what are the implications of conceding to the demands of the ‘Big Tech’ lobby? We explore all this and more in this week's New Economy Brief: neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/t...
September 24, 2025 at 1:16 PM
What was in the US-UK Tech Prosperity deal? How does it fit into wider trade negotiations with the US? And what are the implications of conceding to the demands of the ‘Big Tech’ lobby? We explore all this and more in this week's New Economy Brief: neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/t...
Reposted by Louis Willis
Higher investment, sustainable spending, raise taxes/reform pensions so better-off older people pay their share.
Advice for the Chancellor from Gus O'Donnell, @mazzucatom.bsky.social, Jim O'Neill, @uofgvc.bsky.social @elerianm.bsky.social, @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social & me.
archive.ph/I9PVc#select...
Advice for the Chancellor from Gus O'Donnell, @mazzucatom.bsky.social, Jim O'Neill, @uofgvc.bsky.social @elerianm.bsky.social, @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social & me.
archive.ph/I9PVc#select...
September 20, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Higher investment, sustainable spending, raise taxes/reform pensions so better-off older people pay their share.
Advice for the Chancellor from Gus O'Donnell, @mazzucatom.bsky.social, Jim O'Neill, @uofgvc.bsky.social @elerianm.bsky.social, @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social & me.
archive.ph/I9PVc#select...
Advice for the Chancellor from Gus O'Donnell, @mazzucatom.bsky.social, Jim O'Neill, @uofgvc.bsky.social @elerianm.bsky.social, @sjwrenlewis.bsky.social & me.
archive.ph/I9PVc#select...
Reposted by Louis Willis
Some of the UK’s most distinguished economists have written to the Chancellor warning that fiscal sustainability will not be achieved “without a significant further increase in public investment” to drive economic growth: www.thetimes.com/article/5acc...
Policymakers urge Rachel Reeves to tax ‘better-off older people’
Economists and academics tell the chancellor to stabilise the public finances by boosting investment with levies on wealth and stamp duty reform
www.thetimes.com
September 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Some of the UK’s most distinguished economists have written to the Chancellor warning that fiscal sustainability will not be achieved “without a significant further increase in public investment” to drive economic growth: www.thetimes.com/article/5acc...
Reposted by Louis Willis
🚀🌍 Project Boost is collaborating with @econchange.bsky.social to run Economics 101, a new series aimed at increasing your understanding of our economy.
Join us, @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social & @louiswillis.bsky.social for 'Making sense of Reeves' fiscal rules'.
🗓️ 18 Sep, 10:00am
Request access:
Join us, @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social & @louiswillis.bsky.social for 'Making sense of Reeves' fiscal rules'.
🗓️ 18 Sep, 10:00am
Request access:
Economics 101: Making sense of Reeves' fiscal rules
Request access to Project Boost
buff.ly
September 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM
🚀🌍 Project Boost is collaborating with @econchange.bsky.social to run Economics 101, a new series aimed at increasing your understanding of our economy.
Join us, @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social & @louiswillis.bsky.social for 'Making sense of Reeves' fiscal rules'.
🗓️ 18 Sep, 10:00am
Request access:
Join us, @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social & @louiswillis.bsky.social for 'Making sense of Reeves' fiscal rules'.
🗓️ 18 Sep, 10:00am
Request access:
Reposted by Louis Willis
I used to take it for granted that the OBR will downgrade its productivity forecast in the autumn, leading to a chunky fiscal contraction.
But the talented @willellisecon.bsky.social looked into the data and convinced me otherwise. Evidence base is really not as clear cut as some suggest. 👇
But the talented @willellisecon.bsky.social looked into the data and convinced me otherwise. Evidence base is really not as clear cut as some suggest. 👇
1/Productivity really matters - strong growth allows us to produce more, collecting extra tax. Today's data still looks weak, seemingly vindicating calls for a costly OBR downgrade - but closer assessment reveals a strong argument for keeping steady.
August 14, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I used to take it for granted that the OBR will downgrade its productivity forecast in the autumn, leading to a chunky fiscal contraction.
But the talented @willellisecon.bsky.social looked into the data and convinced me otherwise. Evidence base is really not as clear cut as some suggest. 👇
But the talented @willellisecon.bsky.social looked into the data and convinced me otherwise. Evidence base is really not as clear cut as some suggest. 👇
Reposted by Louis Willis
We want to make sure Rachel Reeves MP sees some important % and ££s:
🇬🇧 80% of UK millionaires support a 2% tax on wealth over £10m
🇬🇧 81% think it’s patriotic to pay their fair share
We’re proud to pay and here to stay
#taxthesuperrich #taxwealthnotwork
🇬🇧 80% of UK millionaires support a 2% tax on wealth over £10m
🇬🇧 81% think it’s patriotic to pay their fair share
We’re proud to pay and here to stay
#taxthesuperrich #taxwealthnotwork
June 5, 2025 at 6:08 AM
We want to make sure Rachel Reeves MP sees some important % and ££s:
🇬🇧 80% of UK millionaires support a 2% tax on wealth over £10m
🇬🇧 81% think it’s patriotic to pay their fair share
We’re proud to pay and here to stay
#taxthesuperrich #taxwealthnotwork
🇬🇧 80% of UK millionaires support a 2% tax on wealth over £10m
🇬🇧 81% think it’s patriotic to pay their fair share
We’re proud to pay and here to stay
#taxthesuperrich #taxwealthnotwork
Reposted by Louis Willis
🧵New polling from @investinbritain.bsky.social by
@survation.bsky.social reveals a majority of Labour MPs want the Chancellor to change course on fiscal policy.
1/8 thetimes.com/article/6448...
@survation.bsky.social reveals a majority of Labour MPs want the Chancellor to change course on fiscal policy.
1/8 thetimes.com/article/6448...
Majority of Labour MPs oppose Rachel Reeves’s fiscal rules
Divisions within the party are exposed as two thirds of MPs are against the Rachel Reeves’ fiscal plans
www.thetimes.com
June 2, 2025 at 10:22 AM
🧵New polling from @investinbritain.bsky.social by
@survation.bsky.social reveals a majority of Labour MPs want the Chancellor to change course on fiscal policy.
1/8 thetimes.com/article/6448...
@survation.bsky.social reveals a majority of Labour MPs want the Chancellor to change course on fiscal policy.
1/8 thetimes.com/article/6448...
Reposted by Louis Willis
Tackling the childcare crisis.
This week, we explore the economic case for childcare investment and the arguments for counting it as capital rather than current spending.
www.neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/t...
This week, we explore the economic case for childcare investment and the arguments for counting it as capital rather than current spending.
www.neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/t...
May 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Tackling the childcare crisis.
This week, we explore the economic case for childcare investment and the arguments for counting it as capital rather than current spending.
www.neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/t...
This week, we explore the economic case for childcare investment and the arguments for counting it as capital rather than current spending.
www.neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/t...
Reposted by Louis Willis
What if the decisions behind the government's benefit cuts were based partly on inaccurate data?
This week we explore ongoing problems with some of the most important economic indicators calculated by the Office for National Statistics: neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/c...
This week we explore ongoing problems with some of the most important economic indicators calculated by the Office for National Statistics: neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/c...
May 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM
What if the decisions behind the government's benefit cuts were based partly on inaccurate data?
This week we explore ongoing problems with some of the most important economic indicators calculated by the Office for National Statistics: neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/c...
This week we explore ongoing problems with some of the most important economic indicators calculated by the Office for National Statistics: neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/c...
Reposted by Louis Willis
🚨NEW: Anneliese Dodds says govt must ‘reassess’ fiscal rules and taxation pledges in first speech since resignation
“We must be prepared to reassess shibboleths, whether they be the fiscal rules, as Germany has done, or on taxation.”
Thread of clips from this thoughtful speech 👇
“We must be prepared to reassess shibboleths, whether they be the fiscal rules, as Germany has done, or on taxation.”
Thread of clips from this thoughtful speech 👇
Anneliese Dodds says government must 'reassess' fiscal rules in first speech since resignation - Politics.co.uk
Anneliese Dodds has urged the government to “reassess” its fiscal rules and pledges on taxation in her first commons speech since her resignation. Dodds, the former international development minister,...
www.politics.co.uk
April 3, 2025 at 3:15 PM
🚨NEW: Anneliese Dodds says govt must ‘reassess’ fiscal rules and taxation pledges in first speech since resignation
“We must be prepared to reassess shibboleths, whether they be the fiscal rules, as Germany has done, or on taxation.”
Thread of clips from this thoughtful speech 👇
“We must be prepared to reassess shibboleths, whether they be the fiscal rules, as Germany has done, or on taxation.”
Thread of clips from this thoughtful speech 👇
Reposted by Louis Willis
The OBR was created in 2010, and it’s no coincidence that the UK has been stuck in an economic doom loop since then
Governments repeatedly design budgets to game the OBR’s highly uncertain projections of highly problematic fiscal rules. This is part of the doom loop
Governments repeatedly design budgets to game the OBR’s highly uncertain projections of highly problematic fiscal rules. This is part of the doom loop
March 27, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The OBR was created in 2010, and it’s no coincidence that the UK has been stuck in an economic doom loop since then
Governments repeatedly design budgets to game the OBR’s highly uncertain projections of highly problematic fiscal rules. This is part of the doom loop
Governments repeatedly design budgets to game the OBR’s highly uncertain projections of highly problematic fiscal rules. This is part of the doom loop