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
UK government spending
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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
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MPs criticise private sector role in police
Home affairs committee concerns include uncertainty on whether frontline duties traditionally undertaken by the police are included in contracts
Teaching unions unite to fight cuts
UK’s two biggest teachers’ unions have set aside a historic rivalry to engage in a co-ordinated campaign to fight government cutbacks
CBI presses for infrastructure action
Employers’ group urges government to guarantee part of the risk to unlock billions of pounds in private investment for large-scale projects
Anti-cuts group protests at Clegg’s home
Street parties take place in several UK cities as part of nationwide protests against austerity measures
Gove unveils school rebuilding decision
The £55bn Building Schools for the Future refurbishment scheme, started by Labour, was cancelled within months of the coalition coming into office
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UK spending database
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
The state of Britain
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
Comment & Analysis
The Bank of England must unleash more QE
Decision makers appear to be falling into a two-part trap: over-optimism in forecasting and defeatism in policy, writes Chris Giles
Britain faces up to the double-dip test
Policy makers should take an imaginative approach in counteracting the UK’s stagnation rather than restrict themselves to usual levers
UK economy: double-dipping
The big reason why GDP recorded a marginal contraction and not a marginal expansion, was disappointing growth in business services and finance
UK public finances: The chancellor’s choice
George Osborne must decide whether to risk alienating wealthy Tory voters as he courts the ‘squeezed middle’, write George Parker and Chris Giles
Benefiting children most in need
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
Pushing the posh out of Downing St
‘Our polling shows 62% think you drink champagne for breakfast and 44% think you and George Osborne flog your servants.’ By Robert Shrimsley
The pressing case to cut both taxes and spending
We must begin by deregulating the labour market. It is too difficult to hire and fire. Political objections must be overridden, writes Liam Fox
More stories
Data deal blow to austerity plans
ONS says economic performance worse than thought
Treasury to stick to cutting deficit
Data show Britain in deeper recession than thought
Investment promises fail to convince
Sceptics see little hope of turning words into action
Data point to worsening public finances
Underlying net borrowing hits £11.5bn in April
Barristers threaten to strike over aid cuts
Plan to slash £350m from legal aid budget opposed
PM urges Treasury on cheap borrowing
PM seeks ways to ease credit flows and spur growth
Hilton’s £25bn welfare cuts attacked
Cameron adviser’s call branded as ‘nonsense’
Police heckle May over funding cuts
Shouts of ‘Resign!’ at officers’ conference
Revenue on defensive over child benefit
MPs warn of disaster but officials say system is simplest
Scrutiny on fees in flagship jobs push
Commons watchdog to look at work programme
Half a million to lose disability allowances
Duncan Smith aims to slash annual benefits bill
Lack of co-ordinated decisions prey on policy
Understanding of spending plans impact ‘limited’
Regional strategy spent £200,000 on one job
Coalition’s growth policy under fresh assault
Police march in protest over cuts
Twenty thousand set to demonstrate in London
Cameron defends ‘efficiency’ drive
Party leaders make pitch for Essex vote
Call for ‘radical’ change of policy on PFI
Profit above defined level should be shared, says committee
Public service deals unveiled
Government to reveal £70bn outsourcing contracts
MPs query planned savings made from quango cull
Concerns about robustness of pledge to release £2.6bn
Treasury demands monthly spending reports
Alexander issues call to government departments
Peers will get no pay-off under reforms
Minister rejects call for £30,000 payment
