It is possible to cut public spending significantly without pushing the economy back into recession. But the next government will need to change its approach, and focus on infrastructure projects, UK...
CHRIS LESLIE | It is surely essential that the local dimension is not neglected in the grand debates about constitutional reform – and if there is merit for a shift to a ‘preference based’ electoral...
The public sector's system of checks and balances hinders the progress of large infrastructure projects. There is a clear opportunity here for whoever wins the election to make some important changes.
RICHARD REEVES | If the principal weapons against inequality were reports, commissions and panels, we'd have reached an egalitarian nirvana decades ago
Councils should be allowed to use Section 106 money to undertake repairs and improvements to existing properties and not just to improve new developments.
MELISSA BENN | Labour’s attempt to play the class card against David Cameron is undermined by its failure to bridge the inequality gap. Both parties should focus on policies
ALASTAIR HATCHETT | The new Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) data were released on 20 January 2010, and were immediately misinterpreted by a host of journalists. The main point made by a number of...
ALAN DOWNEY | It is good news that the UK economy has emerged from recession, but there's trepidation among public sector workers that the starting gun has been fired on a public sector recession...
ANTHONY PAINTER | The obvious take on the latest British Social Attitudes is that Britain is becoming more socially liberal. But as we become more tolerant of life choices - homosexual relationships...
INSTITUTE FOR FISCAL STUDIES | The issue of marriage and family life looks set to be a major election battleground. Analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies – and two new projects funded by...
HEATHER WAKEFIELD | Over 1.5 million local government workers face a pay cut this year after the employers chose not to make a pay offer. Will this create the perfect pay storm?
MARGARET CUTHBERT AND JIM CUTHBERT | England could learn from the consequences – both intended and unintended – of Scotland’s free personal care scheme before implementing its own version
JUDY HIRST | For most of the past decade, localism has been the dog that rarely if ever barked. Now though, emboldened by decentralising talk from the opposition parties, it is off the leash, and...
STEPHEN COURT | Spending cuts to higher education will hamper efforts to increase social mobility. So it might be time to ask employers to pay their fair share
STEVE FREER | Sharing and collaboration between public bodies is not a new idea but there are real grounds for optimism that it is an idea whose time has come
AMELIA WALKER | Councils nationwide are holding £18bn in debt, much if it being repaid at levels far above the historic average for interest rates – 9% and more. The LGIU had suggested solutions,...
