Patrick Nolan

Queen’s Speech: a missed opportunity

8 May 2013 | Patrick Nolan

Today’s announcement of the government’s legislative programme fails to address major long-term funding issues. Ministers need to reconsider the ‘triple lock’ on pensions and the ring fencing of the NHS budget Read more

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Budget 2013: protect and survive?

20 March 2013 | Patrick Nolan

Today’s Budget was full of giveaways and short-termist measures. What it didn’t do was tackle the politically fraught issue of protected areas of spending Read more

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Budget 2013: time to follow the rules

18 March 2013 | Patrick Nolan

The real test of this week’s Budget will be whether George Osborne strengthens the management of the public finances. He must avoid ringfencing, while committing to surpluses that are measured comprehensively and linked to new fiscal rules Read more

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Older and wiser?

21 November 2012 | Patrick Nolan

Demographic changes mean that reform of the welfare state is inevitable. Families and individuals have to take more responsibility for themselves, but the government must avoid crude taxation of pensions and other disincentives to save Read more

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Dear Chancellor . . .

20 March 2012 | Patrick Nolan

The tendency for chancellors to make poorly targeted  giveaways in their Budgets puts the public finances in danger.  George Osborne needs to show tomorrow that he will not repeat that mistake   Read more

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Don’t delay on Dilnot

15 March 2012 | Patrick Nolan

Political paralysis has prevented Andrew Dilnot’s proposals on elderly care from being taken forward. Cross-party agreement is essential and the government should commit to introducing legislation by the end of this Parliament Read more

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The new normal

14 December 2011 | Patrick Nolan

The UK must continue with its plans for deficit reduction. Easing the fiscal pain now would provide little or no benefit Read more...

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Autumn statement: keep calm and carry on

22 November 2011 | Patrick Nolan

Next week’s autumn statement should not be an occasion for U-turns. There will be no long-term gain without short-term pain Read more...

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Pension deficit denial

30 June 2011 | Patrick Nolan

The issues raised by today’s public sector pension disputes require much more radical action than the government is proposing Read more

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Ditch the Universal Credit, by Patrick Nolan

31 January 2011 | Patrick Nolan

The coalition government plans to replace all existing working age benefits with a single Universal Credit. Last week the Work and Pensions Committee held an oral evidence session on this proposal. I was asked to appear before the committee and explain Reform’s concerns over these plans. Read more...

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