November 2010
Immigration cap turning into a major headache for the government
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has today published the findings of its report to the government on the recommended level for the proposed cap on skilled immigration from outside the European Union. The report demonstrates the scale of the task which the Government has set itself by committing to reduce net immigration to the tens of thousands from the current level of almost 200,000.
What Iain Duncan Smith needs to learn from Germany
Iain Duncan Smith announced last week that the unemployed will, under some circumstances, be required to undertake unpaid “community work”, with strict sanctions for those who fail to comply. His view was that this would help people re-integrate into the labour market, by getting into the habit of work.
No faith in Cameron’s ‘Big Society’
What is the government's version of a ‘Big Society’ all about? According to a strong statement from a new Christian network called Common Wealth – in which I should straight away declare my interest as a supporter – it’s an ideological con trick aimed at co-opting civil society groups (including churches and charities) into the Conservative/Lib Dem agenda to shrink the responsibilities of government so that the poorest get to pay for an economic mess created by the wealthy.
OECD forecasts modest growth for UK economy
The OECD released its latest Economic Outlook today, setting out its forecasts for developments in its member countries. It is supportive of the UK government’s fiscal tightening, describing it as “substantial but necessary”, but warns that it will, when combined with weak real income growth, mean moderate output growth over the next two years.
A tale of two Budgets
Left Foot Forward's Devolution Correspondent Ed Jacobs looks at the Scottish and Welsh draft Budgets, published yesterday.
Fox under pressure on £4.3bn of mystery “non frontline savings”
Jim Murphy has urged the Government to come clean on how it would achieve "at least £4.3 billion of non frontline savings". The MOD is unable to account for its numbers.