The music from the 70s and 80s was excellent and most of what followed was disappointing. Hey Ho - showing my age here!
Andrew Sentance Thu 04 Mar 2021 12:28

When did we last have a Test Match involving the England cricket team starting the day after the Budget? @PaddyBriggs @DMcWilliams_UK or @bbctms may know.
Andrew Sentance Thu 04 Mar 2021 07:28

We can nit-pick about #Budget2021 today but it was in the right direction - short-term fiscal boost followed by stabilisation of public finances in the mid-2020s. But on Green Recovery it was a big disappointment. Motor fuel duty frozen and very modest green investment measures.
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 17:37

RT @PJTheEconomist: Another freeze in fuel duty. Once again rhetoric on environment and climate change not matched by reality of continuall…
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 17:27

Invest, invest and invest more. That is the message from @RishiSunak with his supercharged investment allowances. A good move for the short-term but not sustainable into the future.
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 17:22

Why does @RishiSunak sound like a robot when he is talking to camera?
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 17:02

RT @Katycat1960: @asentance @adamboultonSKY @NicolaSturgeon Listened from the beginning, how can someone talk so much but not actually say…
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 16:02

I’ve lost count of the number of times that @NicolaSturgeon has said “I don’t recall” or “I’m not sure” in her evidence in the Scottish Parliament today. Given the importance of the events she is talking about it is surprising she has become so forgetful.
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 15:42

The big message from the @OBR_UK Budget report is that economic recovery, not tax rises, will be the main driver in the repair of public finances. It will be important for the gov’t to keep this in mind over the next 2-3 years.
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 14:42

Very good analysis from @EdConwaySky on @SkyNews. Shows that fiscal tightening does not start until 2023/24 in terms of the measures announced in #Budget2021. Sounds about right to me.
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 14:37

After #Budget2021, UK gov’t expected to borrow £74bn in 24/25 instead of £58bn projected before the pandemic, according to @OBR_UK . Both figures in the 2-3 percent of GDP range which is normally sustainable into the longer-term. Panic over, public finances under control again!
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 14:27

Verdict on #Budget2021: short-term BOOST but stealth taxes from 2022/3 to prevent chickens coming home to ROOST in future. Some innovative measures eg supercharged investment allowances. But others contradictory, like freezing motor fuel duty - inconsistent with “Green Recovery”
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 13:42

RT @jhawksworth5: 'Stealth' taxes back as income tax allowances and thresholds frozen from 2022 to 2026. A bit economical with the truth to…
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 13:17

#Boris badly needs a haircut (even more than normal). Can we have a Tory charity fundraising campaign to find a hairdresser to make him fit to appear on TV!
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 12:32

RT @angelaeagle: PM who divided the country down the middle to get into Downing St calls for unity He has literally no shame #PMQs
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 12:17

BBC1 12.15 Bargain Hunt. BBC2 12.30 2021 Budget. You can see where the BBC’s priorities lie in the current dire economic situation!
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 12:12

Nicola Sturgeon @NicolaSturgeon talks and talks and talks and hopes we will forget anything she has said! An interesting strategy.
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 12:02

Budget coming up at 12.30pm. Most of the details have been leaked so the most interesting thing will be what the @OBR_UK say about the prospects for public finances. Watch this space for my commentary!
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 11:37

RT @shjfrench: The last para from @dsmitheconomics should be nailed to every newsroom pinboard today. Exact timing of tax increases/spendin…
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 10:12

Nicola Sturgeon coming across very hesitantly at the Scottish Parliament hearing. Is this because she wants to protect Alex Salmond or has something else to hide?
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 10:12

RT @DMcWilliams_UK: Well done @josiedent1 on an assured performance on BBC 5 live at 8am setting out the Chancellor’s options and constrain…
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 09:57

It is a day of high drama in UK politics. @NicolaSturgeon giving her account of events to the Scottish Parliament now and then the #Budget2021 from @RishiSunak. Two of the biggest media manipulators in our political establishment performing on live TV.
Andrew Sentance Wed 03 Mar 2021 09:52

So much for the success of the vaccination programme. I live in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire and am being offered my jab in Enfield or Tottenham. No way Jose!
Andrew Sentance Tue 02 Mar 2021 17:21

RT @jhawksworth5: Good to see the latest @PwC_UK Women in Work index is out. The UK’s performance remains middling (16th out of 33 OECD cou…
Andrew Sentance Tue 02 Mar 2021 09:06

Has anyone else noticed how many TV adverts now have a song as a soundtrack. My favourite is the Census 2021 advert which uses This Will Be Our Year by The Zombies from their classic album Odessey and Oracle. Someone at the @ONS has good musical taste!
Andrew Sentance Mon 01 Mar 2021 20:25