US grew almost twice as fast as UK in 2011
The US economy grew by 1.7% in 2011 compared to 0.9% in the UK – almost twice as fast. The new figures put to bed Treasury spin that the two economies were on the same course.
cuts
Growth goes down, so what will happen to the deficit?
Alex Hern uses George’s Marvellous Deficit Calculator to examine what the news of GDP contraction means for the government’s flagship deficit reduction program
Yes, but are you REALLY disabled?
Ann Milnes Roberts attempts to explain the lives behind the DLA cuts.
No turning back: Balls stays firm on cuts, pay, and the deficit
Ed Balls defended Labour’s new direction last night, insisting he would not make promises he couldn’t keep and could be trusted to make the big decisions.
Osborne’s slashing of legal aid: Another false economy
The government’s cuts in legal aid will cost the taxpayer more and simply shift the costs onto other government departments, writes Dr Graham Cookson.
Resources, powers and accountability – the three big issues facing the police in 2012
Kevin Meagher looks at the biggest problems for the police to deal with over the coming year
Government funding of university research at lowest proportion since 1900s
Annual public spending on university teaching and research in England will fall to its lowest proportion in over a century.
Sports minister: School sport “nothing to do with me… but the School Games are”
Sports minister Hugh Robertson today denied any responsibility for the school sport cuts – yet claimed credit for the school games, reports Shamik Das.
Over 10,000 children under 13 in cells every year must be stopped
Sophie Willett writes about the Howard League’s aim to end the practice of jailing children under 13, which currently causes over 10,000 children to be locked up each year.
Irish budget day 2 – opposition attacks “socially regressive” VAT increases
Ed Jacobs reports on the latest developments from Ireland over the budget brought on by the eurozone crisis.