Michael Simmons

Is the US economy immune to harm? It has been tested this year under Trump's trade tariffs, and inflation fears. Kate Andrews, former economics editor of The Spectator now opinion journalist at the Washington Post and host of the Make it Make Sense podcast returns to Spectator TV with Michael Simmons to discuss the US economy, whether Mamdani is as bad as Zack Polanski, Andrew Bailey vs Kevin Warsh the UK's growth figures.

As Keir Starmer's government implodes, the Prime Minister has outlined his vision to regain support – one of which is to nationalise British steel. Michael Simmons is joined by SDP leader William Clouston to discuss the case for nationalisation, how Britain has become the entitlement state and how the SDP can cut through to the public.

May local elections have finally arrived. As 5,066 seats are contested in local councils many are wondering whether there is any point in voting at all. These councils manage budgets worth hundreds of millions of pounds – budgets decided by national government. Given the amount of statutory spending on areas like SEND and care homes, there is very little room for change inside local government. Michael Simmons has the data. This episode is brought to you by Artemis Fund Managers, for more information on our fund range please click here https://www.artemisfunds.com/ .

Britain has recorded the highest drug deaths in Europe. Green Party leader Zack Polanski has declared that this means the so called 'war on drugs' is not working, and favours a more liberal approach of legalisation. Michael Simmons is joined by John Power to look at the numbers and show why Polanski would likely make drug deaths rise under his policy. This episode is brought to you by Artemis Fund Managers, for more information on our fund range please click here https://www.artemisfunds.com/ .

Unemployment unexpectedly fell to 4.9 per cent this week. Some in government may been using this to mark a healthy economy but don't believe the headlines. Whilst unemployment may be down, economic inactivity is up. And figures show its predominately graduates who are struggling to find work. Michael Simmons looks at the data and explains why youth employment is in crisis, and why the government can't blame AI.

Buying a flat in Britain has increasingly become a fool's errand, driven in part by the leasehold system trapping homeowners into flats. When Labour wrote their manifesto they promised reform to the leasehold system, but it remains a sticking point in Westminster due to heavy lobbying. Michael Simmons is joined by Harry Scoffin, founder from Free Leaseholders who makes the case for the common law system.

Britain has become a freeloader’s paradise. A working family of four will fork out £111 for a trip to the Tower of London, or £108 to visit London Zoo. With one parent on Universal Credit (UC), however, that drops to just £4 and £26 respectively. Welfare-advice websites expose how the public sector is ‘geared permanently to making welfare an increasingly attractive way of living’. Those on welfare are not enduring the cost-of-living crisis in the same way as the rest of us, with successive governments fiddling with prices and prioritising claimants. On its own, UC is not particularly generous by international standards, but health-related top-ups transform the picture, while it is our failure to incentivise people back to work that really makes us stand out.

What has the war in Iran got to do with Britain’s house buyers? Michael Simmons takes a look at conflicting predictions from economists and the markets on the impact rising oil prices could have on interest rates. 2026 was expected to be one of the best years for first-time buyers to finally get on the property ladder. Now it looks as if Trump’s war could bring that to an end. But there is a small window for optimism – are the markets wrong?

In the final Prime Minister's Questions before Easter recess, Kemi Badenoch pushed Keir Starmer to commit to new oil & gas drilling licences. The Conservatives spot an easy win here – cost of living concerns are rising as America's war with Iran continues. Plus, with a burgeoning welfare bill, the trade-offs are even trickier for Labour to resolve. Who should Labour target? Tim Shipman and Michael Simmons join Patrick Gibbons to discuss. Come for Tim's impression of the Prime Minister, and stay for Michael's very strong response when asked if renewables are the answer. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Today Rachel Reeves promised ‘support for those who need it most’ as she updated MPs on measures the government is taking as the Iran war risks increasing energy bills. Michael Simmons is joined by Spectator writer Ross Clarke to discuss why energy bailouts won’t work, why Reeves is unfair to pile the blame on Liz Truss and understand the complexities behind a means tested method to target those that need help most.

Yesterday Rachel Reeves gave her Mais lecture and said UK would achieve ‘fastest AI adoption in the G7’. Today govt is publishing its position on AI rules that are crucial for keeping AI startups in the UK and not losing them abroad. Michael Simmons uncovers the data that shows just how costly of Britain's energy resources this plan for an AI revolution would be. And how incompatible this is with Ed Miliband's dreams of a net zero future.

The Chancellor will deliver the annual Mais lecture today and is expected to focus on closer alignment with the EU, AI and improving Britain's economic geography ('levelling up' in all but name). While her comments on Europe might gain the most headlines, we're more curious about what she will say over AI – given the current geopolitical context. Given the energy requirements of AI, the Iran crisis has only further exposed the holes in Britain's energy policy – can Rachel Reeves convince Ed Miliband to adapt his policies? And is this about the Chancellor's political headroom as much as the economic?

Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel as the war with Iran intensified over the weekend. Since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, without a solution to the severe disruption in crude oil flows, how hard will we feel it back in Britain? And why has Britain left itself so vulnerable from its energy policy? Michael Simmons is joined by former advisor to Donald Trump Tyler Goodspeed to discuss why this situation has far greater consequences than Trump’s tariffs, how petroleum is so embedded in our everyday economy and why Ed Miliband could be heading for a Liz situation.