Pickles’s new national planning policy threatens motorway chaos
Analysis of the government’s National Planning Policy Framework shows journey times will rise from 3.6 minutes to 6.4 per 10 miles on a 175-mile stretch of the M1.
Green Politics
FT takes apart Osborne’s Swiss tax deal
Today’s Financial Times has drilled an alarming number of holes in George Osborne’s much-spun anti-tax evasion deal with the Swiss authorities last week.
Cable should concentrate on promoting growth not Goa
Goan sausages rather than growth seem to be on business secretary Vince Cable’s mind, with only one of 50 Regional Growth Fund projects green lighted by BIS.
New rights for agency workers point to a better economy for all
New protection for agency workers should lead to better jobs, helping turn back the tide of lagging lower pay and a better economy for all.
GDP figures confirm economy is stagnating
The second estimate of Q2 GDP growth released today confirms that the economy expanded by just 0.2 per cent, reports IPPR senior economist Tony Dolphin.
Osborne’s Swiss tax deal castrates international tax avoidance clampdowns
George Osborne’s Swiss tax deal is allowing these individuals to buy their anonymity – but the question remains, why would they want to be anonymous?
Ex-Cabinet Office chief economist: slower cuts are “common sense”
Think tank boss, Jonathan Portes – who resigned recently as chief economist of the coalition’s cabinet office – says a longer deficit reduction period “is not only feasible, but sensible and prudent”.
Household finances are a millstone around the neck of recovery
A new poll from the Resolution Foundation reveals almost half of all people on low-to-middle incomes now say they have no cash left over at the end of each month.
Higher borrowing than under Labour threatens credibility of UK plc.
While the coalition is pointing to not needing to borrow in July, the City now expects the coalition to borrow £10 billion more than the OBR prediction.
CBI survey shows glimmer of hope in UK manufacturing
The latest survey of manufacturing published yesterday by the CBI represents a glimmer of hope in the gloom, writes IPPR’s Tony Dolphin.