In reopening relations with China, the PM showed an uncharacteristic grasp of power, proportion and Britain’s diminished place in the world – a lesson many in Westminster still refuse to learn, says ANDREW MURRAY
IN A question to the Welsh Economy Minister this week, I asked what he thought were the reasons for being optimistic about the Welsh economy: what awaits the young people here other than staggering rent hikes, stagnant wages and dearth of opportunity?
I did so following yet another publication from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) — one in a series of publications in recent months — in which the glaring weaknesses within the Welsh economy were thrown into very sharp relief.
The figures showed that rates of unemployment in Wales were 4.6 per cent — this is 1.6 points up on last year and compares to a UK-wide rate of 3.9 per cent.
If the government really wanted to address public finances, improve living standards and begin economic recovery, it would increase its borrowing for investment, argues MICHAEL BURKE
Exempting military expenditure from austerity while slashing welfare represents a fundamental misallocation of resources that guarantees continued decline, argues MICHAEL BURKE



