Gary Gibbon
The incredible shrinking state?
With drastic cuts needed to meet its economic pledges, experts fear that the government has no secret plan, but is making policy up on the hoof.
-
FactCheck: have the Tories done their sums correctly?
As the Tories release their election campaign poster, FactCheck goes behind the figures to see whether they add up, and what they’re not telling us.
-
Osborne: ‘Competence versus chaos’
Chancellor George Osborne tells Channel 4 News voters have a choice between the government’s economic competence and the chaos of the alternatives of higher borrowing and higher taxation.
-
FactCheck: which party will cut the deepest?
Ed Balls says voters have a “big choice” between rival economic strategies. But how much clear blue water really lies between the parties’ plans?
-
Gary Gibbon
-
FactCheck: is the chancellor telling the truth, the whole truth…?
The facts and figures came thick and fast as the chancellor defended the government’s stewardship of the economy today. Did he pass the FactCheck test?
-
Gary Gibbon
On track to smallest state since 1930s? Not if Vince can help it
One Treasury source said this was “just where the graph lines happened to end up,” implying no champagne popping pencilled in for the big day five years off.
-
Are you an autumn statement winner or loser?
Home-buyers are among the winners of the autumn statement, with many expected to save thousands of pounds on stamp duty. But it isn’t all good news, we’re afraid.
-
Paul Mason
Eight questions about the autumn statement answered
Ahead of the chancellor’s Autumn Statement tomorrow, here are eight questions about the speech, the economy and the politics answered.
-
Gary Gibbon
‘Couple of surprises’ up Osborne’s sleeve for autumn statement
Tory MPs tell me they suspect the chancellor’s getting all his infrastructure and NHS spending news out of the way early because he’s given up on getting a hearing for good news on Wednesday.
-
Paul Mason
The truth about low-pay Britain
Just when the media were starting to get all breathless about the “recovery” in real wages, the government’s gone and released data showing how truly and devastatingly low pay has become.
-
Gary Gibbon
Real earnings and Labour fortunes: graph lines crossed
Just as the earnings/inflation lines crossed in the right direction for the government, the Lab/Con graph lines of support crossed in the wrong direction for Labour.
-
FactCheck: who wants elected mayors?
Manchester is getting more money and power. In return, George Osborne wants an elected mayor. Cynical politics or a good day for democracy?
-
Paul Mason
Why universal credit won’t be universal until 2018. At the earliest.
Benefit claimants in areas piloting the new universal credit seem to like it. But with its roll-out taking much longer than anticipated, are government hopes for billions of pounds of savings misplaced?
-
Gary Gibbon
Osborne benefits freeze: political genius or death wish?
Senior Tories say they’ve road-tested today’s announcement to death. There is strong voter support; it has gone down “extremely well” in the focus groups.
-
FactCheck: How great is Osborne’s Britain?
Britain’s economy is a world-beating powerhouse, according to the chancellor. Are we really outpacing every major advanced economy on the planet?
