‘If we are buying carpets, we are suspicious. When it comes to really big decisions, we ought to be equally suspicious’

Samuel Brittan and Edward Hadas, both distinguished economic commentators, discuss where to place the blame for the current global crisis with Standpoint editor Daniel Johnson

‘Even in the midst of financial turmoil, the West still needs defending’

Edward Lucas and Mary Dejevsky, both leading commentators on Russia and eastern Europe, discuss the Georgian crisis and its implications for the West

‘By the 2030s China will have an economic weight two or three times that of America, its nearest rival’

The delicate balance of power between China and American is unstable and the geopolitical consequences will affect us all

‘The oil price rise has already forced the global warming guru Lord Stern to change his mind’

‘Absolutely no one believes that the earth could produce 17 times as much oil as today. The stuff simply is not there’

‘In a fiercely competitive global economy, taxes should be lower. So as Chancellor I will approach each Budget looking to see if we can reduce taxes as well as reform them.’

‘The one education reform no government has tried is putting parents firmly in control’