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Is Britain a "capitalist command economy"? Dr Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, joins Damian Pudner to explain how government now steers private industry with targets and fines, from heat pumps and electric cars to supermarket calories, and why it keeps the blame at arm's length.
They also cover a proposed £11-a-month broadband levy to fund the BBC, why more vapers than smokers is good news, Wales's new 65p minimum price for alcohol, 20mph limits, impact assessments with billions in costs and no monetised benefit, the mini-budget compared with today's gilt market, and the one reform Chris would make first.
Chris's new book, Inside the Sausage Factory: The Illusion of Evidence-Based Policymaking (IEA): https://iea.org.uk/publications/inside-the-sausage-factory/
Guest: Dr Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics, Institute of Economic Affairs. X: @cjsnowdon
Host: Damian Pudner, Director of the Great British Think Tank. X: @DamianPudner
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/D0MD0O_1jpw
The numbers: the government is reported to be weighing an £11-a-month levy on home broadband bills to replace the TV licence (September 2026). Wales raised its minimum unit price for alcohol from 50p to 65p on 1 October 2026. ONS figures show more adults in Great Britain now vape than smoke (10.0% v 9.1% of adults aged 16 and over, 2024). The 30-year gilt yield went above 6% on 1 October 2026, higher than at the peak of the September 2022 mini-budget sell-off. Other figures quoted in conversation are the speakers' own.
Pints & Policy talks to guests from across politics and policy. Their views are their own.
Great British Think Tank. Data. Not vibes.
gbtt.info · X: @GreatBritishTT
