Business investment continues to stagnate
Business investment is stagnating. Coalition policies look set to exacerbate the problem and will do little to help the economy meet OBR’s ambitious estimates.
Green Politics
Abolition of Saving Gateway will hit poorest families the hardest
Combined with other measures in the budget which are likely to disproportionately affect the poor, the abolition of the Saving Gateway is further indication that this Budget is not as progressive as the government claims.
IDS told to get on his bike
Iain Duncan Smith has called for social tenants to be more prepared to move to find work where none exists where they live. However, nowhere has concern over the plan provoked such negative reaction to the Government’s position than across Scotland and Wales.
Cuts won’t reduce the deficit – investment will
The recent Budget will not reduce the deficit. The experience of Thatcherism in Britain demonstrates that it won’t, as well as the more recent experience of countries such as Ireland and Greece.
Osborne’s false “trade-off”
George Osborne claims there’s a “trade-off” between cutting welfare spending and departmental budgets. It’s a false choice and reflects only his ideological masochism.
Hottest year & decade on record as Arctic sea ice faces record low
It’s hot, isn’t it? In fact, worldwide, we just had the warmest May, warmest Spring, and warmest January-May on record – that’s according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA) of the US government – and that’s all despite the fact we’ve been in “the deepest solar minimum in nearly a century”.
A bad Budget for jobs and for jobseekers
Overall, this was a Budget that seems highly likely to lead to rising unemployment.
Progressives should unite for a fairer, slower reduction plan
Progressive should unite to help Simon Hughes make the Budget fairer. Progressive taxation and a slower reduction plan are the way ahead.
Challenging the cuts agenda can boost the economy and Labour’s support
Cameron warned that every person is to be affected by the savage cuts over the next few years. The urgent task of all progressives today is to put in place the policies and alliances to create a counter consensus.
Leaked G20 document reveals more handouts to ‘big oil’
A G20 communiqué indicates that eliminating the estimated $250 billion to $500 billion countries pay to make fossil fuels cheaper will now be made “voluntary” and “member specific.”