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
The news about the UK’s return to growth has been over-hyped. As Lord Heseltine’s report underlines, urgent government action is needed to stimulate the economy Read more
Doubts have been raised in the past about the competence of individual Whitehall departments. Be it the Home Office, Communities & Local Government or Culture, Media & Sport, the question often asked is: are they fit for purpose? Read more
There is some merit in the plan for greater coordination between eurozone banks. But not if it creates yet more bureaucratic regulation and undermines national sovereignty Read more
The eurozone crisis might make the nationalists’ plans for loosening Scotland’s ties to the UK look increasingly unattractive Read more
As renewed problems in Spain and Italy highlight the deteriorating situation across the eurozone, are we approaching the end game for this fundamentally flawed union? Read more
Should we extend the British love affair with all things Scandinavian – from Ikea to its crime series – by modelling our deficit reduction strategy on Sweden’s? Read more
It’s time for governments to take their accounting responsibilities seriously and to modernise their finances. The eurozone debt crisis has highlighted widespread reporting failures and must lead to extensive reform Read more
There seems little concern about the continuing rise in unemployment across the euro area. If European leaders were really worried about the situation, they would be planning for the weaker economies to leave the single currency in an early and orderly fashion Read more
By sticking to Plan A, the government is missing an opportunity to boost growth. If there is a further eurozone crisis, the chancellor may have to think differently in his 21 March Budget Read more
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