Ministers are finally listening to local government and last week’s Budget represented a series of strategic victories for the sector, says James Maker of the County Councils Network.
An umbrella-group has expressed disappointment Philip Hammond did not consult with local authorities before announcing in the Budget business rates relief for high street retailers.
The disconnect between the rhetoric of ‘ending austerity’ and current spending plans will make next year’s Spending Review harder than it needs to be, argues the IfG’s Graham Atkins.
The chancellor managed to ease the squeeze on the public sector with his Budget on Monday but he dodged the tough decisions needed to come up with long-term solutions for funding services, says the...
The chancellor hasn’t ended austerity. And he’s also missed the opportunity to have an honest conversation with the public about how he plans to pay for public services, says the Institute for...
The chancellor told the Commons austerity is “coming to an end” today, announcing funding boosts for the Ministry of Defence to the tune of £1bn and adult social care of £650m.
Philip Hammond has announced an extra funding boost for the government’s flagship universal credit welfare scheme and said the system is “here to stay”, despite criticism.
The government has met both of its fiscal rules three years early marking a “turning point” in the UK’s economic recovery, chancellor Philip Hammond said today.
The chancellor has announced a digital services tax to ensure “global giants” pay their fair share of tax on their UK profits, which he expects will raise £400m a year for the public purse.
The end of austerity is unlikely to happen any time soon without tax increases - but what would be helpful is an overhaul of the current spending review framework, says CIPFA’s Alan Bermingham.
