The Top 10: Popular zombie bad policies

Graduate tax, rail nationalisation and proportional representation – a list of the most undesirable or unworkable ideas that refuse to die

The Bring Back British Rail campaign, with its reversed British Rail logo

This list was inspired by the refusal of the idea of a graduate tax to die. Owen Smith advocated it during the Labour leadership campaign. This prompted Damian Counsell to suggest the first seven items.

1. Graduate tax. Martin McQuillan, deputy vice-chancellor of research and innovation at Kingston University, recently explained why it is a bad idea.

2. Rent control. Paul Krugman, economist darling of the left, once wrote that this bad idea is “among the best-understood issues in all of economics, and – among economists, anyway – one of the least controversial”. Nominated by Usahibs.

3. Universal basic income. Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell are looking at it. They can look as much as they like. The basic rate of income tax would have to go up from 20p to 48p in the pound for a version that doesn’t even replace housing and council tax benefit, according to Malcolm Torry, who supports the idea. For more, see also Declan Gaffney, who doesn’t.

4. Proportional representation. It’s a matter of opinion, but I think it gives disproportionate power to small parties, and it is not obvious to me that Ireland, Germany or Italy are more democratic, better governed or more engaged with politics than we are.

5. Rail nationalisation. Tom Harris, Labour former transport minister, talks sense on this.

6. Death penalty. Support has declined over the past 20 years, but it is still favoured by a majority of the British people.

7. Import tariffs. Not yet very popular here. Most Leavers didn’t even use trade protection as an argument for Brexit. But always a big populist promise in American elections.

8. Efficiency savings. Nominated by Matthew Smith. See also cutting red tape, "bonfire of the quangos" and tax simplification.

9. More runways. We don’t need them, in my view. One way to constrain air travel, a growing cause of climate change, is to ration existing airport capacity.

10. Rebalancing the economy. Also wins the award for the policy that invites the most questions about what it means, says Stian Westlake.

Ones that you don’t hear about so much these days are bringing back national service and a “short, sharp shock” punishment for young criminals, nominated John Peters. Finally, as a reluctant Remainer, I refused to accept a nomination from Stephen Evans, who suggested Brexit.

Next week: Undelivered speeches, a timely list for party conference season.

Coming soon: Retronyms, such as acoustic guitar, snail mail and the First World War.

Listellany: A Miscellany of Very British Top Tens, From Politics to Pop, is available as an e-book for £3.79. Your suggestions, and ideas for future Top 10s, in the comments please, or to me on Twitter, or by email to top10@independent.co.uk