Monthly Archives: July 2011

In all events

29 July 2011 | Mike Thatcher

‘Events, dear boy’ have certainly taken their toll on a coalition government that, only in its second year, appears stymied in all directions. Read more

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Getting out of the economic no-growth hole

28 July 2011 | Malcolm Prowle

The prime minister is rumoured to be unhappy with the progress being made by the Treasury on economic growth. True or not, it is clear that tinkering isn’t working  Read more

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Fit for work test: unfit for purpose

27 July 2011 | Claudia Wood

The current government is using a new, tougher test for benefits eligibility. It has moved the goalposts and created a less generous definition of ‘fit to work’
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Take the politics out of pensions

27 July 2011 | Ian Mulheirn

Pensions have become a key battleground between government and public sector workers. Ian Mulheirn puts forward the case for a pay and pensions body to depoliticise the issue Read more...

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Welfare scroungers? Behind the disability benefit headlines

27 July 2011 | Paul Gregg

The headlines about only 7% of Employment Support Allowance applicants being unfit for work are misleading to say the least Read more

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Care costs: does the ‘cap’ fit?

27 July 2011 | James Lloyd

The Dilnot proposals on funding adult social care are welcome , but there are some tricky financial issues for policy-makers to digest over the summer break

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Time for Plan B

26 July 2011 | David Nash

Today’s dismal GDP figures mean that it’s time for the Chancellor to explore a more flexible, long-term approach to cutting the deficit   Read more

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Open services, closed political minds

26 July 2011 | Colin Talbot

The Open public services white paper is full of ‘new’ policies that have been around for ages. It rehashes failed ideas and rubbishes the public sector at almost every opportunity Read more...

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Growth figures: the state we’re in

26 July 2011 | Andrew Sissons

Today’s sluggish growth figures show that the government has got to completely reconsider the role of the state in boosting the economy Read more

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Now the mighty have fallen

25 July 2011 | Peter Wilby

The rise and fall of the Murdoch empire will have no real impact on politics or ordinary people, some commentators argue. They couldn’t be more wrong Read more...

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