Green Politics
There’s something badly wrong with our welfare system
Today’s figures should open up debate on how to reform the current system of tax credits and benefits. What is clear is that more needs to be done to address the growing number of people who are actively contributing to society but yet are finding it increasingly difficult just to get by.
Household incomes fall for second successive year and child poverty is up
Average incomes have fallen for the second successive year, leaving median and mean incomes six per cent and seven per cent below their 2009 and 2010 peaks, according to government figures released today.
The employment figures can’t hide the fact that Britain needs a pay rise
Today’s employment figures include a couple of headlines the government will be grateful for and what seems like an improvement on the pay front. But when you look at the labour market from a slightly longer perspective, the picture is less brilliant.
A further unearned and disproportionate increase in the size of executive pay packets
The annual Manifest/MM&K executive director Total Remuneration survey was released this week, finding that take home pay for the average FTSE 100 CEO was up to £4.3 million in 2012, an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year.
Unemployment down 5,000 to 2.51 million
Unemployment decreased by 5,000 between February 2013 and April 2013 to 2.51 million, with the unemployment rate rising to 7.8 per cent, today’s labour market statistics reveal.
Did the welfare bill really get out of control under Labour?
The idea that social security spending got out of control under Labour isn’t really backed up by Department of Work and Pensions evidence.