Former Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable, Reform UK leader Richard Tice and former No. 10 adviser Meera Vadher assess the pressures shaping the next U.K. general election. The discussion covers recent tax and spending levels, economic-growth trends, immigration policy, and the cost and timing of the 2050 net-zero target. The speakers also consider how Reform UK’s polling gains could alter parliamentary arithmetic and what a more fragmented party landscape would mean for businesses planning investment and hiring decisions.

Key Takeaways:
-Fragmented Four-Party Landscape – Reform UK’s surge and Liberal Democrat gains show that Britain may be moving from two dominant parties to a competitive field of four, reshaping campaign maths and coalition possibilities.
-Growth Versus Tax Burden – Record-high taxes, spending and debt are colliding with record-low productivity growth, fuelling public anger and calls for radical fiscal surgery.
-Immigration Policy Crossroads – The panel splits between tighter visas, reform of student routes and targeted skills recruitment, yet all agree uncontrolled inflows now drive housing shortages and wage stagnation.
-Net-Zero Culture Clash – Where critics call the 2050 target “financial self-harm,” investors and moderates insist it anchors £ billions in clean-tech capital; the battle will shape Britain’s industrial strategy.
-Trade Uncertainty Costs – Rapid-fire tariff changes between Washington, Beijing and London are freezing board-room decisions; closer EU alignment, some argue, could restore predictability and growth.