September 2009
Payback on debt is historically low
Peter Hoskin on Coffee House draws attention to the Economist's new Global Debt Comparison feature. But the important question is not the level of debt but the cost of paying it back. Despite the fears and scaremongering from the right, the yield from 10-year British Government Securities (gilts) remain low by recent historic standards.
Politics summary: Thursday, September 10th
Andrew Lansley has, for the first time, shifted the Conservative commitment to increase health spending year on year in real […]
Britain’s 60-year progressive consensus
Jon Cruddas' Compass speech included a graph showing the popular vote since 1832. A reinterpretation of the data shows Britain's 60-year progressive consensus.
World leaders still a long way off 2020 emissions targets
The world's leading countries remain far away from their emissions targets for 2020
Conservative research shows there’s no debt crisis
David Cameron mentioned the phrase "debt crisis" eight times in his speech yesterday. On Sunday, speaking on the Andrew Marr show, George Osborne said, "the difference between Britain and countries like France and Germany is that we have an absolutely enormous budget deficit." But research used by the Conservative Party show that Britain's debt position is far from in crisis despite their claims.
Cruddas reversal shows his green credentials
Some interesting new green noises were among the many issues addressed by Jon Cruddas in his keynote speech to Compass at the LSE yesterday evening. Cruddas, “We need to marry up the core values of the greens and the Labour movement and join the dots between democracy, equality and ecological sustainability." He called for a reversal of the decision on the proposed third runway at Heathrow and the introduction of new emissions performance standards for power stations.