Spending Review 2013

Schools spending: could do better

The schools spending ringfence should be removed, to ease up the pressure on other departments. And there’s evidence that educational standards need not suffer Read more

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A ‘singleton’ tax? Not exactly

The LGA’s measured submission on local government finance in advance of the Spending Review sparked a spate of misleading stories claiming ‘Labour town halls’ were plotting to impose ‘Bridget Jones taxes’ Read more

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Where now for public services?

UK politicians need to recognise that economic growth will not return to ‘normal’ in the foreseeable future. As a result, we need to think radically about how public services can be managed and funded Read more

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Missing the whole picture

The Public Accounts Committee wants the Treasury to increase the use of Whole of Government Accounts in Whitehall. How might this inform June’s Spending Review? Read more

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Austerity: so last season

With the IMF and the European Commission raising concerns about current austerity strategies, the chancellor’s plans are suddenly looking out of step Read more

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Osborne’s framework: unfit for purpose

There is mounting criticism from the IMF of George Osborne’s austerity programme. But endless moving of the goalposts has obscured the fact that his entire fiscal framework is not fit for purpose Read more

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Local cuts: innovate to survive

Local government is on the sharp end of the forthcoming Spending Review cuts. It needs to wise up about finding more innovative ways to cope Read more

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Spending Review spats

Confusion surrounds the timing and status of the next Spending Review. A coalition struggle seems to be taking place with neither party wanting to go into the May 2015 general election committed to the same spending plans Read more

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