August 2010
First XI: The Tory MPs committed to narrowing the gap between rich and poor
While the swivel-eyed TaxPayers’ Alliance and Policy Exchange continue to have a go at Professors Wilkinson and Pickett - authors of ‘The Spirit Level: why equality is better for everyone’ - at least some on the right seem to have been listening to the independent academics.
Coalition lies on Labour’s legacy
Chris Huhne and Baroness Warsi today attempted to lay the blame for cuts to come at Labour's door. But the level of cuts was their ideological choice.
Benefit fraud – PM plays to the polls whilst IDS considers the real issues
The prime minister’s blustering attack on people committing benefit fraud yesterday highlighted the growing gap between work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith’s increasingly nuanced line on the issue and the rest of government’s determination to milk the potential of a ‘government cracks down on benefit cheats’ headline for all it’s worth.
Success of Haitian presidency dependant on White House approval
Regardless of how his actions might affect the Haitian nation or its people, the incoming Haitian president is unlikely to see out his term in office without it being violently hampered, or even terminated, unless he demonstrates a clear willingness to succumb to the political and financial demands of Washington and Wall Street.
Good news on employment, but concerning signs for the future
Today's labour market figures present some promising news, as well as a number of concerning signs about the future direction of the labour market recovery.
Coalition cuts lead to slower growth
GDP growth has been downgraded by the Bank of England partly due to the Coalition's cuts. But growth in 2009-10 was at the top range of estimates set out last year.