Tax rises and austerity are not the way to shore up post-pandemic growth

Boris Johnson's government has competing priorities, and no clear message, on economic policy

What kind of austerity would you prefer?

There is the reheated version from 2010 that puts most of the emphasis on cuts in public spending. Tax rises are another option. In recent weeks Downing Street sources have floated the idea of taxes on wealth, clobbering the better off, alongside taxes on consumption, hitting everyone in the pocket.