I'm thinking about building a small group chat on Signal with like-minded small-state conservatives and libertarians. If you're interested, please DM me. It would be a place for people to share news, exchange opinions, recommendations, etc.

I want to be honest about how we’ve got to a place where British billpayers are paying some of the highest energy costs in Europe. Over the past 40 years, we’ve given up control of our necessities, outsourced our essentials and privatised the basics. Water, transport, housing. And of course, energy. Now the public are paying the price. We haven’t invested in the infrastructure we need. Conflict overseas has pushed up energy costs and it’s hurting our businesses and families. That’s why we need to take back greater control of our energy system. This week, I announced Great British Grid, which will speed up connections and push down bills. We’re also giving mayors, local leaders and communities a stronger role. With funding for People’s Power projects, communities will be able to build solar panels on libraries and town halls, hydro schemes in rivers or publicly owned windfarms on local land. But it’s not just energy we need stronger public control over. It’s also water, housing, transport and care. So we’re repealing the ban on public ownership of water companies. We’re building more council homes than this country has seen since the end of World War Two. We’re reforming the leasehold system so families aren’t squeezed for every penny. And we’re opening up home ownership for first time buyers who can’t rely on the bank of mum and dad. This week I also announced my determination to introduce a National Care Service, to put people above profit and to give pensioners peace of mind. Together, we’ll rewire the country from top to bottom so that it works for all people in all places. That is the only way to put Britain back on the right path. It’s the only way to put power back in people’s hands. And it’s the only way we will bring hope again.

If Germany, or any other EU state, had truly wanted Britain in the EU, they would not have perfomatively sent David Cameron away empty-handed from the 2016 renegotiation. They were readier to lose their second-largest economy than to allow the slightest return of powers.

BREAKING: President Trump says higher US inflation will "pay off" US debt "very rapidly" in response to total US debt rising above $40 trillion. "I know I'm the best in the world... you can pay off the debt through other means. But the one thing that you can do is pay it off through growth, and we've never had growth like this," Trump said. US Treasury yields hit a new high of the day after the statement.

Tories committed to pension triple lock, Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart says bbc.in/4hoD37D

I’ll be a Chancellor who backs our country’s founders and entrepreneurs every step of the way. 🚀 Whilst Labour is driving them abroad, we Conservatives have a plan to make Britain the best place to start, build and grow a business.

Here is one of the 700 prisoners that Labour have released today. His plan now that he’s free? “I’m going to go stealing again.”

Like many people across Swansea Bay, I’m deeply disappointed to learn that Admiral Insurance are to cut 500 jobs from its UK business. I’ve asked for an urgent meeting with the company to talk about what happens next - particularly in Swansea.

HSBC: INVESTORS ROTATING OUT OF FRANCE INTO UK HSBC says European equity funds are shifting capital from France toward the UK, as concerns over France’s fiscal outlook intensify. The bank recently cut France to Underweight, citing worsening public finances, weaker growth forecasts and deteriorating earnings expectations. HSBC remains Overweight European technology and sees higher bond yields continuing to support financial stocks.

What was once called the “moron premium” - the excess of UK borrowing rates over other major economics, a reflection of confidence - has hit a new high this morning.

I've been asked again what the Bank of England should do in response to the latest jump in gilt yields. Short answer - nothing. The MPC's job is to worry about inflation, not to make it easier for the government to borrow even more.

Reforming the state pension is possible. Gradually abolishing it in a way that leaves the entitlements of the people who 'paid into the system' untouched while improving the returns on investment for young people is not only desirable, but perfectly feasible. We need to look at the problem from an objective, mathematical perspective, and address it before it inevitably leads the country to bankruptcy. @DanielJHannan , @K_Niemietz and @cjsnowdon discuss how this can be done. It should be an uncontroversial reform that benefits both the state and its citizens. But unless people stop their religious attachment to irrational beliefs around pension, we will never move forward. youtu.be/vbcbD9crNQ4?si=EmxY…

Residential care - the expensive bit of elder care - will not be covered by a new Social Care Plan. People will still have to sell their homes. Another fib.