New analysis confirms austerity has hit the poorest hardest
The coalition’s selective cuts have had a disproportionate impact on low-income families – but austerity still hasn’t helped the deficit
deficit reduction
Why Labour’s deficit reduction plans are genuinely different to those of the government
Labour’s deficit reduction plans for the next parliament are genuinely different to those of the Conservatives.
Coalition deficit reduction has made UK tax base more regressive
The coalition’s deficit reduction plan has increased the overall tax burden on the poor, says new study.
Ignore the rhetoric: the deficit is growing
According to the latest ONS borrowing figures, the deficit for April was £6.3bn, around £2bn lower than expected. Public sector net borrowing for the previous year (2012/13) was revised down from £120.6bn to £119.5bn (compared to a deficit of £120.9bn in 2011/12).
Debt has become a convenient cover for ideological cuts
We must be watchful of a spinning of facts by this government to justify its policies. Nowhere has this been more apparent than when Cameron and co talk about government borrowing.
Budget 2012: Tippex still wet on the coalition agreement
George Osborne’s budget has seen a complete change in the economic direction of this government, writes Left Foot Forward’s Cormac Hollingsworth.
Busting the means testing myth
Andrew Harrop presents the evidence against increasing means-testing – universalism is the key to ensuring a well-funded welfare state.
Cameron’s speech churns out the old Tory myths
Cameron’s speech turned out to be a trotting out of well-worn Tory tropes on spending, deregulation, family values, NHS reform, disability benefit reform and so much else. But there’s a lot of spin obscuring the truth.
UK growth down as IMF warn deficit reduction should not be at the expense of growth
The UK economy barely grew in the second quarter of 2011, GDP up just 0.1 per cent, as the IMF said deficit reduction should not be at the expense of growth.
We need to invest in infrastructure if we are going to reduce the deficit
The public sector cuts have led to a lack of investment, and now we are paying the price as the deficit refuses to be reduced, writes Cormac Hollingsworth.