Bringing benefits under control
Changing Britain’s welfare state is an important but complicated task. The government must make sure it does not stop halfway
With government expenditure soon to account for almost half the UK economy and one in five Britons working in the public sector, politicians are reconsidering the size and boundaries of the state
Home affairs committee concerns include uncertainty on whether frontline duties traditionally undertaken by the police are included in contracts
UK’s two biggest teachers’ unions have set aside a historic rivalry to engage in a co-ordinated campaign to fight government cutbacks
Employers’ group urges government to guarantee part of the risk to unlock billions of pounds in private investment for large-scale projects
Street parties take place in several UK cities as part of nationwide protests against austerity measures
The £55bn Building Schools for the Future refurbishment scheme, started by Labour, was cancelled within months of the coalition coming into office
The FT has cleaned up government spending data and created a searchable database for details on over 5,000 private sector suppliers to central government departments
A consensus exists on the need to shrink the state but there is little detail on how to effect this, reflecting a lack of understanding of what the modern British state does
Changing Britain’s welfare state is an important but complicated task. The government must make sure it does not stop halfway
Decision makers appear to be falling into a two-part trap: over-optimism in forecasting and defeatism in policy, writes Chris Giles
Policy makers should take an imaginative approach in counteracting the UK’s stagnation rather than restrict themselves to usual levers
The big reason why GDP recorded a marginal contraction and not a marginal expansion, was disappointing growth in business services and finance
George Osborne must decide whether to risk alienating wealthy Tory voters as he courts the ‘squeezed middle’, write George Parker and Chris Giles
The government’s plan may be flawed but it is necessary, as it cannot be right that wealthy families get child benefit when resources are scarce
‘Our polling shows 62% think you drink champagne for breakfast and 44% think you and George Osborne flog your servants.’ By Robert Shrimsley
We must begin by deregulating the labour market. It is too difficult to hire and fire. Political objections must be overridden, writes Liam Fox
ONS says economic performance worse than thought
Data show Britain in deeper recession than thought
Sceptics see little hope of turning words into action
Underlying net borrowing hits £11.5bn in April
Plan to slash £350m from legal aid budget opposed
PM seeks ways to ease credit flows and spur growth
Cameron adviser’s call branded as ‘nonsense’
Shouts of ‘Resign!’ at officers’ conference
MPs warn of disaster but officials say system is simplest
Commons watchdog to look at work programme
Duncan Smith aims to slash annual benefits bill
Understanding of spending plans impact ‘limited’
Coalition’s growth policy under fresh assault
Twenty thousand set to demonstrate in London
Party leaders make pitch for Essex vote
Profit above defined level should be shared, says committee
Government to reveal £70bn outsourcing contracts
Concerns about robustness of pledge to release £2.6bn
Alexander issues call to government departments
Minister rejects call for £30,000 payment