New MPC member Alan Taylor could ‘tip the scales towards a rate cut’ in September

It was announced today that the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has appointed economist Alan Taylor to the Monetary Policy Committee after Jonathan Haskel left his post earlier this month.

This means that the MPC will still be going into their September meeting with nine members as opposed to eight, which would have had the more dovish Andrew Bailey cast the deciding vote on whether to cut rates if it came down to a tie.

Whilst not much is known about Taylor’s current stance on economic policy, his most recent research papers would suggest that he tilts more dovish in the short term, or in other words, more accommodative of lower interest rates.

This would be music to the ears of those who’ve been clamouring for rate cuts, although the new committee member is also not a fan of keeping rates too low either.

In a recent paper published by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Taylor and his peers cited that prolonged periods of high interest could weigh on a country’s economic growth for more than a decade as a result of lower productivity and capital. This would suggest that Taylor understands that keeping rates too high for too long may be damaging to the economy.

That said, it’s also worth noting that he’s not the strongest advocate for “ultra-low” interest rates either, as seen in the pre-pandemic era when borrowing costs were close to 0%. This could see him turning more hawkish in a couple of years when interest rates return to “neutral” levels. His argument is that looser monetary policy does not appear to raise long-run potential for economies, and can even lead to “increased financial fragility several years down the line”, in a paper published in 2023.

John Choong, Head of Equities and Markets at Investors Edge said,  “With September’s rate decision looming, Taylor’s appointment could tip the scales towards a cut. It’s like watching a high-stakes poker game, and he just might have the winning hand for both the MPC and the government.

“Taylor’s recent research suggests he’s leaning dovish in the short term, potentially giving a boost to those itching for a rate cut. This could be music to the Labour government’s ears, as lower rates might just give the economy more caffeine to finish the year on a stronger footing. However, Taylor’s no pushover for permanent low rates either.

“His wariness of the long-term hangover from ultra-low borrowing costs, suggests that this dove might grow talons when rates come down to approximately 2-3%.”

Riz Malik, Independent Financial Adviser at R3 Wealth said, “It’s worth remembering that the government operates independently from the Bank of England, although the Chancellor still appoints members to the Monetary Policy Committee.

“As Alan Taylor is slightly less hawkish than his predecessor, this is positive news for those hoping for further interest rate cuts in the months to come.”

Chris Barry, Director at Thomas Legal said, “The addition of a member with a more dovish mindset will help cement the chances of two further base rate reductions before the end of the year. Although some positive data came out this week around retail spend, there we still some key areas reducing.

“And with the US reporting some worrying stats impacting growth, a recession across the pond may encourage further reductions in the UK.”