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The Capitalist
by CapX
The Capitalist is the podcast that champions free markets, fresh ideas, and thoughtful solutions. Join sharp minds from business, politics, and beyond for intelligent debate and optimistic conversations about building a brighter, market-driven future for Britain. Brought to you by the team behind CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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Kallum Pickering: The bond markets will decide Britain's PM
Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life. The bond markets are watching — and they have a long memory. Kallum Pickering, chief economist at Peel Hunt and columnist for The Telegraph, joins CapX editor Marc Sidwell for a lucid diagnosis of what is really going wrong with the British…
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Despatch: Why the old parties aren't dead
From fractured local elections to the rise of Reform and the Greens, British politics increasingly feels unstable, fragmented and unpredictable. Yet in this essay, Lee David Evans of the Mile End Institute argues that while the old political order may be gone, the old parties are proving harder…
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Why aren't we investing our money?
When a business raises capital, it buys equipment, expands its operations, and hires people. That’s how investment becomes jobs. But the United Kingdom has ranked in the bottom quartile of advanced economies for private capital investment every year since 1995. The gap with our peers runs to...
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Live: Palantir and the AI race
Britain may have stumbled almost accidentally into one of the best positions in the world to win the AI race. The question is whether it has the wit and will to press on. Recorded live at the Margaret Thatcher Conference in London, Charlotte Crosswell OBE chairs a conversation with Louis Mosley,...
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Despatch: Should the government run supermarkets?
As grocery prices rise and political pressure mounts, radical solutions are back on the table – including state-owned food stores. In this essay, Jimmy Nicholls, writer of Poke the Bear and host of The Right Dishonourable podcast, examines New York’s experiment under mayor Zohran Mamdani, arguing...
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The left stole feminism – let’s take it back
The feminist case for capitalism is one of the most powerful arguments nobody seems to be making. Zoe Strimpel has decided to make it anyway. A columnist for The Telegraph and author of Good Slut: How Money, Sex and Power Set Women Free, Zoe joins CapX editor Marc Sidwell to make the conservative...
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Despatch: A smarter path to Net Zero
War in Iran. Energy bills set to spike again this summer. Electricity prices that have gone from among the lowest in Europe to among the highest. And a Government that appears to believe the answer is simply to press on. But Dr Gerard Lyons, research fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies, isn't...
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Is Britain really broken?
Britain's reputation for decline has taken on a life of its own online. But how much of it is real — and what would it actually take to fix? Sam Dumitriu, head of policy at Britain Remade, joins CapX editor Marc Sidwell for a forensic tour through the structural problems dragging on the British...
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Despatch: Get Britain off the benefits treadmill
Labour's benefits reforms are now law. Ministers say they will cut poverty. Critics say they will simply transfer money from people who work to people who don't. Both sides are missing the point – because Britain's welfare state isn't just poorly calibrated. It is built on a fundamental...
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Adrian Wooldridge: How centrists fight back
Liberalism is under its greatest threat since the 1930s. The question is whether its defenders have the nerve to admit why – and the ideas to fight back. Adrian Wooldridge, Bloomberg columnist and author of "Centrists of the World Unite!", joins CapX editor Marc Sidwell for an unsentimental...
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Steve Davies: The Great Realignment
The political map we grew up with is obsolete. What comes next could be far more turbulent than anything we've seen so far. Historian Stephen Davies, author of The Great Realignment, joins CapX editor Marc Sidwell to make the case that the upheavals of recent years – Brexit, Trump, the rise of...
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Despatch: Driven to blackouts
In the winter of 1973, Britain ran on three days a week. Candles lit homes, shops shut early, and a Prime Minister insisted everything was under control — right up until it wasn't. Half a century later, the warnings are sounding again. Dr Lawrence Newport, Director of Looking for Growth, draws a...
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Tyler Goodspeed: You're wrong about recessions
We have been telling ourselves the wrong story about recessions for four centuries. And the consequences of that error are bigger than you might think. Dr. Tyler Goodspeed, former chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers and author of the new book Recession, joins CapX editor Marc...
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Despatch: Same mistakes, same results
Rachel Reeves delivers her Mais lecture. Zack Polanski addresses the New Economics Foundation. Both correctly identify the wounds – and then reach for policies that will make them worse. Britain's productivity slowdown is the worst in 250 years. GDP per head is nearly £11,000 lower than it would...
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How the Tories win again
The Conservative Party has a plan to rebuild. But is it radical enough — and does it have the courage to see it through? James Cowling, founder of Next Gen Tories, joins CapX editor Marc Sidwell to make the case that the Conservative Party's problems run deeper than a bad election result — and…
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Despatch: Economic nationalism is a myth
A Labour backbencher posts a forty-second video blaming Thatcher for Britain's economic woes — and the internet applauds. It's a familiar routine. But what if almost every claim in it is demonstrably, provably wrong? Maxwell Marlow of the Adam Smith Institute takes a scalpel to the mythology of...
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Tim Leunig: Let's tap the North Sea for energy
When war in Iran doubled gas prices overnight, Britain's energy vulnerabilities were suddenly impossible to ignore. But what's the real fix — and who's actually right? Tim Leunig, former economic adviser to Rishi Sunak and chief economist at Nesta, joins CapX editor Marc Sidwell for a clear-eyed...
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Despatch: How to beat Zack Polanski
Under Zack Polanski, the Greens have quietly abandoned environmentalism in favour of something far more combustible: a coalition of economic grievance, communal tension, and calculated identity politics. And it's working. Young Britons — priced out of homes, squeezed by taxes, shut out of stable...
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Pierre Poilievre: Why free markets work
Why does it feel harder than ever for young people to buy a home? According to Pierre Poilievre, the answer lies not just in planning laws or slow construction — but in the silent erosion of money itself. In this special episode of The Capitalist, recorded at the Margaret Thatcher Lecture hosted…
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Despatch: Farage v. Polanski?
A Green by-election victory in Greater Manchester may once have seemed unthinkable. Now it looks like a warning shot. In this essay, William Atkinson, Assistant Content Editor at The Spectator, argues that the result signals something far deeper than a protest vote: the fragmentation of Britain’s...
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Build, baby, build
Britain is in the grip of a housing crisis. And despite the promises of successive governments, we just can’t seem to build enough new homes. But this isn’t a uniquely British problem. In his book, “Build Baby Build”, Bryan Caplan examines the forces shaping housing markets in a way that applies...
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Despatch: Generation Unemployed
As unemployment climbs and youth joblessness surges past 16%, ministers insist the labour market is merely adjusting. But in this essay, Andrew Griffith, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, argues the truth is far starker: Labour’s higher payroll taxes, expanded union powers and...
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If we don't own AI's future, China will
America has long liked to see itself as the world’s dream factory – from the birth of Hollywood to the moon landings, a belief in thinking bigger has been central to the national story. But attitudes towards artificial intelligence reveal a worrying shift. Surveys show that more people are…
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Despatch: Thatcher's ownership revolution isn't over
As younger voters grow disillusioned with a housing system that denies them real control over their homes, the battle over leasehold has become a test of whether capitalism still delivers on its promises. In this essay, Harry Scoffin, founder of Free Leaseholders, argues that reforming — and...
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Is small-state conservatism ready for a comeback?
When the Conservative Party last entered government, in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, the UK was still finding its feet after the global financial crisis. What followed was a succession of events that quickly came to dominate political life: Brexit, the pandemic, and Russia’s invasion of...
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Could Keir Starmer be replaced?
Can a Prime Minister really be on borrowed time less than two years after a landslide election victory? Benjamin Wilson speaks to ConservativeHome's Henry Hill about the mounting speculation around Sir Keir Starmer — and why Labour’s internal unrest may be less surprising than it looks. Henry...
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Despatch: Build up, not out
After decades of chronic undersupply, even modest housing reforms can feel like cause for celebration. But in this essay, John Penrose, Chair of the Conservative Policy Forum and founder and director of the Centre for Small-State Conservatives, argues that the Government’s latest plans don’t go...
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Special: Lessons from the Lawson boom
In this special live discussion, Mervyn King, Lord King of Lothbury, and Terry Burns, Lord Burns, reflect on the economics and politics of the Lawson boom, chaired by Daniel Mahoney. Drawing on their first-hand experience working with Nigel Lawson, they revisit one of the most consequential…
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Despatch: Should we ban rich people?
As calls grow louder to cap personal fortunes, a new philosophy – “limitarianism” – argues that no one should be allowed to be rich beyond a fixed limit. In this essay, Tim Worstall, Senior Fellow at the Adam Smith Institute, takes aim at the idea, arguing that it rests on a fundamental...
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Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg: It's time for a Tory-Reform pact
As Robert Jenrick defects to Reform UK, pressure is mounting on the Conservative Party to chart a new course. In this episode of The Capitalist, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg joins Marc Sidwell to dissect the fallout — and to make the case for a pre-election pact between Reform and the Tories. One of the...
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Despatch: More Tory turmoil?
Robert Jenrick’s dramatic defection to Reform UK has blown open long-simmering tensions on the British Right — and handed Kemi Badenoch a serious test as Conservative leader. In this essay, Joseph Dinnage, deputy editor of CapX, dissects the intrigue behind Jenrick’s dismissal, the risks Badenoch...
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Will Trump strike Iran?
What happens when a regime shuts off the internet — and then turns its guns on its own people? For the IEA's Mani Basharzad, the question is deeply personal: he hasn't heard from his mother or friends in Iran for days. As the country plunges into its most violent crackdown in decades, reports of...
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Despatch: Is Britain sacrificing a generation to unemployment?
As ministers insist the labour market is merely “normalising”, the numbers tell a more troubling story — especially for the young. In this essay, Damian Pudner, an independent economist specialising in monetary policy, argues that Britain is sliding into a slow-burn recession under Rachel Reeves,...
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The Rage of Party with George Owers
Are today’s culture wars, party fractures and populist backlashes really something new — or are we simply reliving an old British story? In this episode of The Capitalist, Marc Sidwell looks three centuries into the past to understand the political turmoil of the present. From riots over...
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Special: Sir Malcolm Rifkind on Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher remains one of the most consequential leaders in modern British history. Rising to power after the "Winter of Discontent," she steered the country through economic turmoil, high inflation, and widespread industrial unrest. Her bold embrace of free-market principles reshaped...
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Forecast 2026: Has Nigel Farage peaked?
With local elections looming in May, Labour collapsing in the polls, and Westminster rumbling with leadership intrigue, Marc Sidwell asks whether Sir Keir Starmer is heading for a reckoning — and whether figures like Ed Miliband could seize the moment. Meanwhile, Reform UK continues to hover…
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Is the political centre breaking?
Is Britain entering an age of permanent political fragmentation? As Labour falters despite its landslide victory, Reform UK surges, the Greens flirt with wealth taxes, and the Conservatives search for renewed purpose under Kemi Badenoch, the old certainties of British politics are unravelling....
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Despatch: Education needs more scrutiny
With nearly a million under-24s out of work, education or training, good intentions are no longer enough. In this essay, John Penrose, Chair of the Conservative Policy Forum, argues that Britain’s education and careers system is quietly wasting talent — steering young people into the wrong…
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Is the Online Safety Act doomed?
What happens when foreign governments try to police American speech? For years, UK and EU regulators have slapped massive fines on U.S. tech firms — but Washington may finally be ready to hit back. Free speech lawyer Preston Byrne joins The Capitalist to unveil the GRANITE Act, a bold new…
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Despatch: All parties should be subjected to the OBR
What if every political party had to face real economic scrutiny? As Britain’s political landscape fragments and fiscal debate grows ever more chaotic, Joseph Dinnage, deputy editor of CapX, asks a provocative question: should the Office for Budget Responsibility judge all parties, not just the…
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Sir Malcolm Rifkind on the future of the Conservatives
Can Britain’s oldest political party reinvent itself for a new age? Former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind joins Marc Sidwell to discuss the future of the Conservative Party, the legacy of Margaret Thatcher, and the dangers of Britain’s political drift. From the crisis over the European...
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Despatch: Labour need a new strategy
Faced with weak growth, mounting debt and global instability, Britain needed a bold, pro-enterprise Budget. Instead, says James Price, Senior Fellow at the Adam Smith Institute, Rachel Reeves delivered one designed for party management rather than national renewal. In this essay, Price argues…
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Budget Day with Jeremy Hunt
Are higher taxes really inevitable — or just a political choice? Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt joins Marc Sidwell on The Capitalist to share a rare insider’s view of what it’s like to build a Budget under pressure. From last-minute policy decisions to the fine balance between fiscal…
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Despatch: Can Britain escape its economic doom loop?
After years of stagnation, high taxes and spiralling public spending, Britain risks locking itself into permanent decline. As Rachel Reeves prepares her second Budget, Ewen Stewart, City economist and member of the Growth Commission, sets out a bold plan to reverse course — cutting £105 billion…
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Is Britain at war with wealth?
Next week, former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will join Marc Sidwell for a special interview as Rachel Reeves delivers her much-anticipated Budget. Ahead of that, Henry Hill, deputy editor of Conservative Home, assesses the political allure—and economic illusion—of a wealth tax. From the risks of...
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Despatch: Could trillionaires actually save the world?
As Elon Musk edges toward an eye-watering new milestone, the idea of a trillionaire sparks more fear than fascination on the left. But what if extreme wealth could accelerate progress rather than hoard it? In this essay, James Price, Senior Fellow at the Adam Smith Institute, argues that...
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Can the BBC survive its biggest crisis yet?
How does Britain’s most famous broadcaster recover from a crisis that’s reached the very top? In the space of a week, the BBC has lost two of its most senior executives and now faces an extraordinary legal threat from the President of the United States. What began as an editing error in a…
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Despatch: Tax treachery will cost us
Is Britain heading for another 1976 moment? With a £30 billion fiscal hole and few promises left unbroken, Rachel Reeves looks set to raise income tax — a move that could mark a grim turning point for Britain’s economy. In this essay, Reem Ibrahim, Head of Media at the Institute of Economic...
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Special: Decoding the Chancellor’s pre-Budget signals
Rachel Reeves' speech on Tuesday gave every indication that tax rises are on the way — though she was careful not to name names. The challenge is clear: raising serious revenue usually means turning to the big three — income tax, National Insurance, or VAT. But Labour’s manifesto ruled those out,...
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Despatch: Why the Right should back the Oxford Cambridge Arc
Should the Right back Britain’s most ambitious science corridor? The Oxford–Cambridge Arc has long been dismissed as another government slogan in search of substance. Yet beneath the jargon lies a bold vision: a world-class corridor linking Britain’s greatest minds, laboratories, and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Capitalist is the podcast that champions free markets, fresh ideas, and thoughtful solutions. Join sharp minds from business, politics, and beyond for intelligent debate and optimistic conversations about building a brighter, market-driven future for Britain. Brought to you by the team behind CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
CapX
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Capitalist have?
The Capitalist currently has 320 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Capitalist about?
The Capitalist is the podcast that champions free markets, fresh ideas, and thoughtful solutions. Join sharp minds from business, politics, and beyond for intelligent debate and optimistic conversations about building a brighter, market-driven future for Britain. Brought to you by the team behind...
How often does The Capitalist release new episodes?
The Capitalist publishes regularly with 320 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Capitalist?
You can listen to The Capitalist on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Capitalist?
The Capitalist is created and hosted by CapX.
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