Economic update – August 2010
Alistair Darling and George Osborne both claimed the news that the economy grew by 1.1 per cent in the second quarter of the year – almost double economists’ expectations – was vindication of their economic policies.
Green Politics
The right didn’t win but the left did lose
New polling by YouGov for Demos shows why Labour lost the last election. But it doesn’t mean – as Janet Daley – claims that the right has won the argument either.
New research: ‘Glaring obvious explanation’ is warming from greenhouse gases
New research has shown that on up to 11 different indicators of climate, each one pointed to a world that was warming owing to the influence of greenhouse gases.
Thumbs down to IDS reforms
Left Foot Forward summarises the concerns being expressed across the devolved nations to Iain Duncan Smith’s proposed shake up of the benefits system.
New clean energy cuts threaten low-carbon economic progress and new jobs
The Financial Times reported this week that serious and established plans by Siemens to build a wind turbine industry in the UK, with the creation of hundreds of new jobs, are now being threatened by possible new coalition cuts to clean energy budgets.
Bank of England Governor joins attack on bank lending
Following the embarrassingly empty green paper published this week, titled “Financing a private sector recovery” without offering any ideas on how to finance it, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has launched a blistering attack on Britain’s major banks.
Now Clegg claims he changed mind on deficit before the election
Nick Clegg now claims that he sold out on deficit reduction before May 6th – despite going into the election committed to a deficit reduction plan closer to Labour than the Conservatives.
The economic madness of abolishing the UK Film Council
The abolition of the UK Film Council a curious decision; indeed, the government’s decision to scrap the UKFC is not just an act of artistic philistinism – it’s a case of economic vandalism too.
Green Deal without ‘nudges’ will fail
It would be all too easy for the Government to choose to do nothing in the face of a vocal minority; something which will only lead to the Green Deal failing.
Cable plans provide comfort for banks but nothing for SMEs
Leading economist and new Labour MP Rachel Reeves writes exclusively for Left Foot Forward on Vince Cable’s lack of support for small and medium sized enterprises.