budget

Budget 2017: Productivity is not enough, inclusive growth is the key

By John Wrathmell Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Growth and Inclusion Posted: March 8, 2017

As part of Policy@Manchester’s Budget coverage, John Wrathmell, Head of Strategy for New Economy, asks whether actions will follow Philip Hammond’s promising words on productivity and inclusion. The Prime Minister’s aim of wider inclusion in economic success is an important one Greater Manchester’s work on this agenda underpins the City Region’s approach Productivity is part […]

Time for some low key fireworks?

By Andy Westwood Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, British Politics Posted: March 7, 2017

Ahead of the first Budget under May’s government, and the first since the Brexit vote, Policy@Manchester Co-Director Professor Andy Westwood sets the scene and shares his predictions on the Chancellor’s approach to the year’s spending priorities. We need some action from the Budget, even if the fireworks are likely to be more low key this […]

Why Everyday Austerity is Gendered

By Sarah Marie Hall Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Growth and Inclusion Posted: March 7, 2017

On the eve of both the Spring Budget and International Women’s Day, Dr Sarah Marie Hall examines the gendered nature of austerity and argues for a new economic system that addresses social inequalities and values caring work. Gaps created by a retreating welfare state are typically attended to by women in communities and families, underpinned […]

A New Britain, by George

By Andy Westwood Filed Under: All posts, Whitehall Watch Posted: November 26, 2015

Andy Westwood assesses a political transformation in the wake of the Autumn Statement. 2012 really was a big year for Britain. Politically, it was the moment that George Osborne tanked. First with the ‘Omnishambles’ Budget and its ill conceived Granny and Pasty taxes and second with a round booing at the Olympic Park. But it […]

SR2015: Spending: Is 36% of GDP still his target?

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts Posted: November 25, 2015

[Rather than single blog I am posting a series of shorter posts on the Spending Review today on specific issues] “Mr Speaker, I want to announce to the House that we are on target to meet our long-term economic plan of reducing the size of the British state to just 36%, putting firmly at the […]

Could the SNP block a Labour Budget? No

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted: April 22, 2015

Colin Talbot looks at the reality after Scottish National Party claims that they could block any budget if the Labour Party is leading a minority Government. The SNP are claiming they can ‘block Labour budgets’, ‘end austerity’ and ‘stop Trident’. Their problem however is simple – most of what they say is based on assuming […]

The truth behind ‘Pensions Freedom’

By John Read Filed Under: All posts, Featured Posted: March 25, 2015

If you intend to retire within the next year, then the best course of action may simply be not to, warns John Read. Chancellor George Osborne made a bold claim in last week’s Budget. “Last year I unlocked pensions with freedom for millions of savers,” he said. Yet the reality is very different. That so-called […]

Budget 2015 – What now? (see Update as well)

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Westminster Watch Posted: March 18, 2015

Most of the commentary around the last Budget of this Parliament will, predictably, focus on the contents of George Osborne’s little red briefcase. Few will focus on what might happen afterwards – the Parliamentary procedure for implementing Budgets. That’s because these are usually pretty uncontroversial – Budget announcements usually get ‘rubber stamped’ through Parliament with […]

All this talk about balancing the budget is …

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Westminster Watch, Whitehall Watch Posted: December 12, 2014

Remember the Maastricht criteria? No, I didn’t think so. Nor apparently do Britain’s political leaders, based on their manifestos for tackling the UK’s deficit. The Maastricht Criteria were the convergence criteria for European countries that wanted to join the Euro. Agreed in 1992 (including by John Major’s Conservative government) it covered inflation, deficits, debt, exchange […]

Not So Much an Autumn Statement, More a (Tory) Manifesto for a Small State?

By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Featured Posted: December 3, 2014

Today’s Autumn Statement by Chancellor George Osborne was both a report card and a manifesto. It was a (self written) report card on the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government that has been in power since May 2010. But it was also a manifesto for the Conservative-only government George Osborne would like to see after May 2015. […]