Tory cuts would “strangle” growth by £5bn
The Conservative party’s economy policy would “strangle the recovery at birth.” Their cuts are equivalent to taking £5 billion out of the economy or 1/3% GDP.
Will Straw
Will Straw founded Left Foot Forward in 2009 and was its first Editor. Follow him on Twitter.
Politics Summary: Monday, February 1st
The Guardian reports new concerns over Lord Ashcroft, the Conservative party’s biggest donor. The Conservative leadership is accused of being “evasive and obfuscatory” over Ashcroft’s tax status in a ruling by the information commissioner, which states: “Lord Ashcroft could havetest
Progressive groups want faster progress on parliamentary reform
Progressive groups have reacted with dismay at the Government’s tactics over parliamentary reform. Harriet Harman has said that reform must be consensual.
Politics Summary: Friday, January 29th
Witness number 69, Tony Blair, will today give evidence to the Iraq Inquiry. The Times speculate that Mr Blair is “expected today to confess that he made significant mistakes in both the build up to the Iraq war and itstest
University participation will fall if fees rise
The papers today cover rises in higher education participation. But the Institute for Fiscal Studies show that any fee increase would reduce participation.
Unreported: pensioner poverty falls by 900,000
New figures show that there are 900,000 fewer pensioners in poverty than 10 years ago. But the mainstream media have largely reported this as 2 million in poverty.
Ken Clarke backtracks on VAT
On Channel 4 News last night, Ken Clarke categorically denied that he had ever called for a VAT cut. In fact, he repeatedly called for a cut in November 2008.
Tom Watson is Labour’s top influencer on twitter
Tory Radio have produced a new index of Tory Twitter influence based on Edelman’s tweet level service. Left Foot Forward produces a similar Labour list.
UK has highest GDP per capita rise in G7 since 1997
Britain had the highest per-capita rise in GDP in the G7 since Labour came to power. But critics are calling for an end to “unsustainable” growth.
Politics Summary: Tuesday, January 26th
Figures out today are expected to show that the economy grew by 0.3 to 0.4 per cent in the last three months of last year. The Times and Guardian report the different approaches of each party with Gordon Brown determinedtest