Coalition Britain: less Dragon’s Den, more a nation of odd jobbers
As with so many of the coalition’s claims of economic recovery, the seemingly buoyant labour market is hiding a much more fragile picture, writes James Bloodworth.
Green Politics
The role of skills in tackling low pay
Two new reports show just how little impact economic growth is having in the places that need it most.
1.4 million now on zero hours contracts
Shocking new figures from the Office for National Statistics show that British employers are using about 1.4 million ‘zero-hours’ contract.
George Osborne loses legal challenge to Robin Hood Tax
This morning the European Court of Justice has announced that the UK has failed in its legal challenge to prevent 11 EU Member States.
Sorry George, what recovery?
On hearing that Britain is ‘returning to growth’, many if not most people will probably ask ‘recovery? what recovery?’ writes James Bloodworth.
UK GDP up 0.8 per cent
UK GDP grew by 0.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2014, according to the latest quarterly national accounts from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Government ‘trying to stigmatise job seekers’, says trade union
Labour and Unite have slammed the government’s new mandatory Community Work Placement scheme, reports Rob Edwards.
‘He lived on field mushrooms and borrowed eggs’: how the coalition is dismantling the welfare state
The coalition is moving toward a welfare system that is surreal in its cruelty, writes Annie Powell.
Why Miliband’s zero hours contract pledge is spot on
Ed Miliband won’t be able to ban zero hours contracts, but he is tackling the worst way they are abused, writes James Bloodworth.
The public are more concerned about inequality than either immigration, cutting taxes or curbing benefits
New polling found that 76 per cent of voters think big businesses has too much power over the government, reports Luke Hildyard.