The high-speed rail white paper confirmed that – despite the recession – the massive government investment programme is being given the green light. Christian Wolmar reports
The UK’s deficit needs to be addressed and neither main party has a credible plan. Ahead of this month’s Budget, Tony Dolphin says it would be dangerous to implement more cuts now but there is an...
Plans to give Scotland additional tax powers contain a fatal flaw. A built-in perverse incentive means that the Holyrood government would be less inclined to adopt a fiscal stimulus and could,...
Is the Whitehall post of Scottish secretary an anachronism in today’s devolved UK? Yes, say the SNP and the LibDems; no, insist Labour and the Tories. As the row heats up, latest incumbent Jim Murphy...
Supporters of national pay bargaining say it ensures fair and equal wages across the UK. But critics are squaring up, arguing that it distorts the labour market and fails to recognise cost of living...
The government and Opposition both claim the NHS will be safe in their hands. But just how protected will health budgets really be as the spending squeeze tightens? Tash Shifrin reports on threats of...
Greater citizen involvement in running public services is building a popular front of support from Westminster to Tooting and beyond. But Jonathan Clifton cautions that it is harder to achieve in...
The Conservatives’ planning green paper, launched this week, proposes to scrap most of Labour’s reforms and devolve many decisions to local communities. But critics fear this will be a charter for ‘...
Councils should now be approaching the final straight in their preparations for International Financial Reporting Standards. But many are falling behind and must speed up, says Bharat Shah
Safeguarding the budgets of health and education could leave unprotected public services facing cuts of up to 50%. Wouldn’t it be fairer to plug the fiscal hole by ‘salami-slicing’ the whole lot,...
Unequal Britain can’t be changed simply by giving individuals ‘opportunities’, argues Lisa Harker. It needs a government prepared to invest in more skilled jobs for the future and to narrow the...
Sustainability is no longer a choice for the public sector, with legal requirements to cut carbon emissions to be introduced in April. John Thornton says technology can help meet these targets and...
Labour and the Tories are squaring up for the coming election battles over education, and are scathing about each other’s plans. But how much of this is posturing and how much substance? Conor Ryan...
Total Place could help solve the problem of drastic funding cuts for local services. But it’s going to be a steep learning curve for both Whitehall and town halls, says John Tizard
The recession is officially over. But the misery will continue when the next government has to decide between continuing economic life support or paying off the debt. Peter Riddell asks which party...
A long list of essential infrastructure projects is crying out for attention, but traditional funding sources are drying up. Mark Hellowell asks whether the new government agency Infrastructure UK...
The pressure is on for public bodies to share services in order to make efficiency savings. But there are considerable risks as well as rewards in taking this approach. Paul Jackson offers ten top...
Multiple layers of expensive bureaucracy stand between central and local government, reducing accountability and efficient provision of services. It’s time to put these quangos on the bonfire and...
Steve Bundred, the man who has come
to 'personify' the Audit Commission,
is moving on after six eventful years in charge. So what next for him and the watchdog he leaves behind? Editor Mike Thatcher...
The nation’s ever-expanding fiscal gap was examined recently in a video debate organised by PricewaterhouseCoopers and chaired by Public Finance editor Mike Thatcher – and asks, is it time to face...
More support must be provided to children sleeping rough in Britain. Not only would this alleviate suffering, it would also reduce the long-term costs to the public purse, argues Emilie Smeaton
The past ten years have seen the economy go from boom to bust, and the public finances spiral out of control. Tony Travers relives a decade of war, terrorism and financial
collapse – and asks, is it...
In the Pre-Budget Report, the chancellor must consider cutting non-essential public services and make sure others are being provided efficiently – even if this means outsourcing, argues Jon Sibson
Ahead of next week’s Pre-Budget Report, Public Finance convened a round table to debate the risks and possibilities in trying to deliver more from less public spending. Judy Hirst reports on the good...
