Gary Gibbon
Is George Osborne changing the shape of the state?
The asset sales being contemplated by Chancellor George Osborne only deliver some cuts and one-off benefits, briefly flattering the nation’s accounts.
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FactCheck Q&A: are we really heading for a DIY recession?
The Treasury have published another doomy report on the economic effects of Brexit. A sobering read, or a dose of propaganda?
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FactCheck: has the RBS sell-off lost the government £1bn overnight?
The government has sold a 5.2 per cent stake in RBS for 330p a share – £2.1bn. But was it a billion pound loss or an astute financial decision in an uncertain market?
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Gary Gibbon
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Gary Gibbon
Minimum wage upgrade does not offset benefit cuts
The Institute for Fiscal Studies finds it is undoubtedly the case that tax credit recipients in work will on average be worse off as a result of the budget changes
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FactCheck: how much has the coalition cost you?
Are you out of pocket thanks to coalition policies? And would it have been any different under a Labour government?
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Gary Gibbon
Cameron back from the brink on Europe and immigration
The idea of an emergency brake on EU immigration remained in David Cameron’s speech until a few days ago. But at the last moment, the prime minister pulled back.
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Gary Gibbon
Can Miliband persuade voters he’s tough on welfare?
Labour Ed Miliband is focusing on welfare changes to convince voters he’s not weak leader. But he risks antagonising parts of his party in the process.
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Gary Gibbon
Cable ‘keeping options open’ on Pfizer
Business Secretary Vince Cable wants stronger commitments to jobs and investment from Pfizer in its bid for AstraZeneca. But he will never secure a 100 per cent binding promise.
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Gary Gibbon
Magic numbers – free expansion of childcare
This expansion of the welfare state spends more on the better off than the poorest. There are relatively few parents who spend at or close to £10,000 a year on childcare.
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Faisal Islam
Playing ‘long-term plan’ bingo with George Osborne
If you believe that the government’s policies contributed to further imbalances, it might appear a little cheeky to argue: “Vote for me and I will rebalance the economy I further imbalanced.”
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Gary Gibbon
Osborne minimum wage spoiler for Ed Miliband speech
The dance of the minimum wage veil continues as Chancellor George Osborne blasts a fanfare for a 70p hike in the minimum wage.
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Siobhan Kennedy
RBS: to split, or not to split?
Leaks from the banking commission’s report into the majority state-owned RBS show that a clear split is emerging – not with regard to RBS, but inside the commission itself.
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Tough on tax, but is it all talk? FactCheck
The government’s promising it’s cracking down on tax avoiders. Are their claims avoidance or evasion? FactCheck finds out.
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Faisal Islam
IMF tells chancellor to boost growth
The IMF backs away from its ringing endorsement of UK economic policy. But the Treasury will be relieved that it has not yet spelled out an alternative policy to austerity.
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Gary Gibbon
Not so much ‘Happy Days’ as bumping along the bottom
Today’s GDP figures prompted no tickertape celebrations at the ONS today – in fact, they suggest the country may do nothing more than bump along the bottom for some time.