By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter. The attention-seizing half of childcare policy is the demand side – the recognition by the state that having children affects one's capacity to pay tax, and the response by government that follows in terms of measures. Attention is seized precisely because each possible solution is controversial – touching on […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter David Cameron will deliver these words later today: "I’ve lost count of the number of times people working in our small businesses have told me they just can’t get a loan for that new investment, that new clean room or that extension to their business. We also need to be […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter. A new plank of the Coalition's growth strategy, a £500m growth fund, has been announced today. The Growing Places Fund, to be operational early next year, is primarily aimed at developing infrastructure projects, and getting currently-stalled projects up and running. The Fund is to be used by the government's […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter A YouGov poll for The Sunday Times (PDF) has a clear message for David Cameron and George Osborne: Don't use our money to bailout the Eurozone. Although 80% agree that it's important for the British economy that the Eurozone's debt crisis is solved there is strong support for a partial […]
By Joseph Willits Follow Joseph on Twitter In a speech at the Royal Commonwealth Club today, Theresa May announced plans to put women at the forefront of the Government's plans for economic growth. One of the measures proposed by May was to allow funding to recruit 5,000 female mentors to encourage more women to become entrepreneurs. The […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Library photo In a testy interview with Sarah Montague the Chancellor conceded that the old omertà is no longer being observed and other EU states are now openly talking about the possibility of Greece leaving the single currency. He poured cold water on its desirability, however. Mr Osborne told Radio 4 […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter He was speaking to the Federation of Small Businesses but was his real message to Numbers 10 and 11? Chris Grayling, Employment Minister and one of the most senior members of the Tory Right on the frontbenches, used a speech last night (PA and Telegraph) to say that the […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter. The Office for National Statistics has just released the GDP figures for the last quarter: 0.5% growth. "Some growth but not very strong growth", says the ONS' chief statistician, Joe Grice. It's better than the 0.1% growth of the previous quarter, and better than the 0.3% or 0.4% that City analysts […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter The Prime Minister has written an article for tomorrow's Financial Times on his "three-pronged plan to revive Britain's economy". The piece is already online (£). Here are its key messages: Britain will not retreat from deficit reduction: Mr Cameron outlines the benefits that the Coalition's austerity measures have produced: […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Earlier today a report from Income Data Services noted that pay for the directors of Britain's top businesses rose by 49% over the last year once salary, benefits and bonuses were counted. These increases were much greater than any increase in profitability or share price (+4.5%). They were also […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter. The Daily Telegraph splashes this morning with a Downing Street report recommending that it be made easier for firms to sack unproductive workers. Far be it from me to suspect that Number Ten has leaked its findings to cheer the party's right after Monday evening's challenging events. So let […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter. A little while ago the Chancellor gave the €urozone six weeks to save itself. Osborne has about the same time until 29th November, when he delivers his Autumn Statement. Matthew d'Ancona, a commentator with good connections to Number 11, told his readers that it will include “big, controversial announcements”. […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter. I know how to enjoy myself and so am spending today and tomorrow reading through all of the big speeches given at the Tory Conference. I was very encouraged by this section from the Chancellor's speech: "We know that a decade of environmental laws and regulations are piling costs […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter. The Bank of England has announced that it will embark on another round of "quantitative easing" after receiving permission from the Chancellor in this letter (PDF). Guido Fawkes reminds us of what George Osborne said, in 2009, when the Bank first printed money, when Labour was in office (my […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter. I can't quite decide about this speech. I liked the modern compassionate conservatism. I liked it very much. Cameron talked about his commitment to the NHS. To ending school failure. He talked about supporting families and gay marriage. He focused on helping people move off welfare and into work. […]