Duncan Robinson

As The Economist’s political editor, Duncan Robinson has provided agenda-setting analysis of British politics. In spring, Robinson argued that British politics had shifted from the “Magic Money Tree” to the “Reform Fairy”, with politicians of all stripes - but particularly Labour - assuming that overhauling public services can happen at no cost whatsoever. The concept has since been adopted by other commentators and think-tanks. Robinson also explained that house building was the new divide in British politics, with the country split between “Blockers” versus “Builders”, rather than NIMBYs versus YIMBYs. The phrasing was borrowed by Sir Keir Starmer for Labour, which has since used the slogan repeatedly. In the autumn, Robinson explained how the Conservatives had resorted to magical-thinking rather than grapple with their imminent demise.