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CityAM looking for participants in this week's Debate on British economic pessimism

ended 28. January 2026

Looking for participants for this week's City AM Debate asking: Should the UK be more self-confident/positive about the economy?

For the 'yes' side, looking for arguments about positive signs in the UK economy, the powers of optimism and why talking down the UK might be detracting investment. (Perhaps also arguments about why the UK should be more like their American peers in talking themselves up and the dangers of tall poppy syndrome).

For the 'no' side, participants could argue for the merits of realism, and why the UK might need to be spooked/motivated into growth.

  • Please comment on either the ‘yes’ or the ‘no’ side.
  • I (Doug) will then send on your comment, building it to 270+ words, to CityAM for consideration.

Responses asap please.

2 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Samuel Mather-Holgate
Managing Director & IFA at Mather and Murray Financial
YES- next to the US, China and Isreal, the UK has the largest AI sector. This is going to be massive and if the government gets behind the industry in terms of tax incentives, regulation and stabilising industries our GDP could fly.
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Sam Kirk
Managing Director at J-Flex Rubber Products
I'd love to say yes, but right now it's a no. Why?
- We have a Government who isn't interested in business, in particular the SME sector.
- There is no real incentive to running a business in the UK at present.
- Productivity has barely grown since 2008, not helped by the trade friciton still being felt for many SMEs post-Brexit.