Nickolai Hubble

Labour’s plans for the OBR are an attack on democracy itself

Centralising judgement over the impact of budget policies in one place will merely enshrine one vision of economics. And the whole point of democracy is to allow different visions to compete

Another reason to buy UK defence stocks?

Reports of unfit German tanks, captured US drones, and jammed missiles and artillery shells are now coming in daily. What does the failure of Western military hardware mean for defence spending?

The election is a shootout in a hall of mirrors

Nothing is more embarrassing to democracy than an election campaign. This time, it’s like all the circuses have come to town at once. But is there something important hidden amongst all the entertainment?

How to foil the eco zealots before the power cuts

The ability of the individual to foil the state using high or low tech solutions is one of the few bright spots that will always be there for you, no matter how dystopian things get.

How the Awkward Squad will define the UK election

Ignore the noise. There is only one thing investors need to focus on in the upcoming UK election: “How big is the Awkward Squad going to be?” That’s how Nigel Farage put it, anyway.

Back to Blackout Britain

I’m growing ever more worried the failing energy transition will end in blackouts. But what would they really mean for Britain? I asked our readers. Here’s what they wrote back…

Japan is more than a warning for the West

It’s difficult to make people care about Japan. But that can change rather quickly. Here’s how it’ll happen for you…

Lawfare and warfare are deciding the US presidential election now

Polls in the swing states of the American presidential election are on the move. As are Russian tanks and protestors on college campuses. Is the fate of Trump and Biden being decided now?

Hydrogen versus nuclear: which will save us from a renewable electricity grid’s impossible demand for copper?

It’s been a busy week for the reader mailbox. Hydrogen, copper, nuclear power and much more featured. Some of you could be newsletter writers…

What would blackouts do to UK politics?

One year ago, Bloomberg published the strangest article. It reported delightful news: “South Africa is ahead of its target for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases.” But how?

The immigration crisis is deliberate and was predictable

In January 2019, I made some startling predictions about immigration. They earned me more than the usual amount of ridicule. Today, I want to reveal what I wrote back then…

Is the energy transition leading to blackouts?

The energy transition is coming dangerously close to causing blackouts. But what happens if it does? That’s what I asked Nigel Farage…

How far will the Overton Window go on net zero and renewables?

It has become downright fashionable to doubt net zero. But how far will this scepticism go? And what will this new reality mean for investors?

A fatal flaw or just a bottleneck for net zero?

Governments may have built and planned for a vast amount of renewable energy. But what about the extraordinarily vast electricity grid needed to move all that power? They forgot to build it…

Hats off to renewable energy, it’s pulled our pants down

Renewable energy is providing 100% of our electricity needs in ever more places. Which begs the question, why do we need more? And will adding more help or hinder our energy transition?

Take your pick: Liz Truss, the Japanese yen or austerity?

It must be getting very awkward over at the Bank of England. Inflation is ticking back up again. But can the government afford a higher interest rate?

The stock market is not a free market anymore

Last week, I claimed that sellers are now in control of stock market prices. Buyers are nothing more than passive aggressive investing zombies. But was I right? Readers have their say…

Will history repeat for Labour’s pension taxes?

Our readers still rage about Gordon Brown’s surprise pension tax raid of 1997. But what pension tax plans are lurking in Labour’s hidden manifesto this time? We’re going to find out the hard way, reckons Nigel Farage.

Who is going to pay for your retirement?

The money must come from somewhere. Whether its taxpayers, home buyers or investors, someone has to fork up the cash you use in retirement. But is there enough to go round?

The high price of diversification in portfolios and power supply

American finance professor Harry Markowitz said, “diversification is the only free lunch in investing”. Students have been regurgitating his theories ever since. But was he wrong?