My Lords, I am very grateful to my noble friend the Minister for his characteristically clear and cogent introduction to today’s debate on the Spring Statement and the finance Bill, timed also to allow us to take into account the Chancellor’s Mais Lecture, delivered early this afternoon. I very much...

My Lords, I am very grateful to my noble friend the Minister for his characteristically clear and cogent introduction to today’s debate on the Spring Statement and the finance Bill, timed also to allow us to take into account the Chancellor’s Mais Lecture, delivered early this afternoon. I very much...

It is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Bray, for the first time. I would suggest that she look back at the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Macpherson, who set out some notable former Conservative Chancellors who raised taxes early in their term of office. I should...

It is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Bray, for the first time. I would suggest that she look back at the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Macpherson, who set out some notable former Conservative Chancellors who raised taxes early in their term of office. I should...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Bridges of Headley, for introducing this debate, and for the exemplary work that he and other members of the Economic Affairs Committee have done to produce this report. I was privileged to be a member of the committee previously,...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Bridges of Headley, for introducing this debate, and for the exemplary work that he and other members of the Economic Affairs Committee have done to produce this report. I was privileged to be a member of the committee previously,...

My Lords, what can a Back-Bench speaker this late in the order usefully do other than allow your Lordships to get home as early as possible? It is not to repeat arguments powerfully made by other speakers on every side of the House, nor is it to usurp the role...

My Lords, what can a Back-Bench speaker this late in the order usefully do other than allow your Lordships to get home as early as possible? It is not to repeat arguments powerfully made by other speakers on every side of the House, nor is it to usurp the role...

My Lords, I am delighted to follow the noble Lord, Lord Horam. It is more than 35 years since he and I were comrades-in-arms but he has just demonstrated that, although our political paths have diverged, our views remain similar in many respects.

“I am comfortable with the choices I have...

My Lords, I am delighted to follow the noble Lord, Lord Horam. It is more than 35 years since he and I were comrades-in-arms but he has just demonstrated that, although our political paths have diverged, our views remain similar in many respects.

“I am comfortable with the choices I have...

Promising a tax cut tomorrow while allowing benefits to fall today as prices soar just is not serious policy-making. But I suppose that at least the Chancellor acknowledged that he had made choices; his neighbour, the Prime Minister, does not appear to believe that choices ever really need to be...

Promising a tax cut tomorrow while allowing benefits to fall today as prices soar just is not serious policy-making. But I suppose that at least the Chancellor acknowledged that he had made choices; his neighbour, the Prime Minister, does not appear to believe that choices ever really need to be...

My Lords, I join other speakers in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, for securing this debate and for his powerful introduction. The committee’s inquiry into QE reflects the noble Lord’s foresight and leadership, and its timely relevance owes much to him. I was privileged to be a member of...

My Lords, I join other speakers in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, for securing this debate and for his powerful introduction. The committee’s inquiry into QE reflects the noble Lord’s foresight and leadership, and its timely relevance owes much to him. I was privileged to be a member of...