Gary Gibbon
Conservative manifesto: sober, but with some cross-dressing
The Tories wanted to play what they see as their good management card at today’s manifesto launch. But their plans still contain some smoke and mirrors.
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Gary Gibbon
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Is the younger generation getting a raw deal?
With austerity looming, pension strikes back on the agenda and youth unemployment on the rise, is intergenerational conflict inevitable? Channel 4 News hears from both sides.
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Economic growth – how to attain it
As Chancellor George Osborne announces that growth will be lower than forecast, Channel 4 News asks economists how they would boost activity.
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Budget 2011: what to watch out for
It’s Chancellor George Osborne’s first full Budget. But as the Government tries to balance growth with the “age of austerity”, what will it deliver? Channel 4 News speaks to the experts.
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Budget 2011: the analysis
Chancellor George Osborne delivers a “keep calm and carry on” Budget – with some surprises, including fuel price cuts for the consumer. An expert picks out the key points for Channel 4 News.
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Budget: Osborne claims ‘fuel in the tank’ for Britain
Chancellor George Osborne claims his Budget will “put fuel into the tank of the British economy” as he cuts petrol duty by 1p a litre and unveils a package of measures to boost businesses.
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Faisal Islam
‘Misery index’ hits two-decade high ahead of Budget
As inflation hits a two-year high, Faisal Islam blogs on the “misery index” which suggests that so-called Osbornemania may be a bit premature ahead of Wednesday’s Budget.
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Faisal Islam
10 mammoth implications of merging National Insurance with Income Tax
Although it may not be intended, plans to combine National Insurance and Income Tax could have major implications for all workers, blogs Faisal Islam.
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FactCheck: Is a VAT hike better than a rise in NI or Income Tax?
“If you look at the population and how much they spend, then VAT is progressive…Income tax and National Insurance would have a more damaging impact on poorer people in our society and it’s worth remembering that in the Budget I took substantial means to reduce the NI burden” Chancellor George Osborne MP, BBC Radio 4’s Today programme January 4, 2011
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Conservative and Lib Dem promises: then and now
The Tories and the Lib Dems released their coalition policies today. FactCheck looked at how these compared to the claims both made before the election.
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Conservative Manifesto 2010: inheritance tax, crime & unemployment
FactCheck checks it out FactCheck thought we had a hard day yesterday working on the Labour Manifesto but when 120 pages of the Conservative manifesto dropped in our inboxes we stopped what we were doing and got to work. The analysis “And we will raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1m to help millions of people who…
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Faisal Islam
Labour’s tax pledge a lost chance for political candour
On the income tax pledge, which is arguably stronger than previous Labour manifesto pledges, as it includes the new top rate tax, it strikes me as a lost opportunity for candour in politics. Clearly guaranteeing rates has little or no impact on the actual tax burden. It makes little sense to guarantee no increase in…
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Faisal Islam
Tories still won’t publish efficiency savings calculations in full
Faisal Islam blogs on how Conservative adviser Martin Read has revealed more of the Tories’ spending cuts plans, but the party won’t release the full calculations.
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Are the Tory savings just back-of-an-envelope sums?
Its claim and counter-claim from the Tories and Labour over how the Tories can make even more efficiency savings than are already being made.
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Faisal Islam
Tories bask in business leaders’ support – but questions remain
Faisal Islam blogs on Labour’s fightback against the Conservative’s high profile election camapign against Labour’s planned national insurance rise.
