Why not scrap the annual Budget?
One of my top 3 suggestions for this year’s budget was: “Scrap the absurd twice-yearly cycle of Budgets and Autumn Statements.” It wasn’t an original idea – the economist Tim Harford suggested it a...
View ArticleSome first thoughts on the Budget
So the Chancellor has just sat down. Here are my first thoughts on the Budget. Nick gets his Workers’ Bonus The personal tax threshold rises to £10,500. I doubt it was anything to do with the petition...
View ArticleOpinion: Expansion of apprenticeships shows that Liberal Democrats are the...
As someone who believes tackling long-term youth unemployment and giving opportunities to young people should be the Liberal Democrats’ next great mission in Government, I very much welcome the news in...
View ArticleLibLink: Danny Alexander: We ignored siren voices in the Tory party on 40p...
To write for the Mail once might be considered unfortunate. To do so twice in three days has to be considered careless. Mind you, Lady Bracknell would no doubt have read that paper. Danny Alexander...
View ArticleSocial Liberal Forum response to Budget 2014
The Social Liberal Forum’s Gareth Epps responded to yesterday’s budget over on the SLF website: Much of this year’s Budget comes as little surprise. With a tight fiscal background and given George...
View Article“I thought it was a spoof” Danny Alexander on Shapps’“patronising” Bingo tweet
Proof, as if we needed it, that Liberal Democrat and Tory mindsets are very different can be seen from Danny Alexander’s reaction to Grant Shapps’ “Bingo”poster. #budget2014 cuts bingo & beer tax...
View ArticleLiberal Reform response to Budget 2014
Liberal Reform had this to say about the measures contained in yesterday’s budget: Liberal Reform welcomes much of this year’s budget, which once again has a clear Liberal Democrat thread running...
View ArticleCall Clegg: Proud of Budget, help for parents, taking on Ed Balls and “silly”...
Another good Call Clegg this morning with one question from Philadelphia on Scottish independence. The caller asked if David Cameron should resign if Scotland voted yes. Nick didn’t get into that, but...
View ArticleLDVideo: Vince responds to the budget (and takes on Labour “hubris” in the...
Business secretary Vince Cable was on his feet in the Commons on Thursday, providing his response to budget. His speech has already proved something of a hit, not least for his deft responses to...
View ArticleOpinion: Pensions move could negate the whole point of pensions saving
George Osborne’s announcement that people with defined contribution (money purchase) pensions could take the lot as a lump sum on retirement kills several birds with one stone. First, it most...
View ArticleEric Avebury writes…Society cannot afford to scrap the alcohol duty escalator
Last week’s Budget saw the Chancellor renege on the Government’s commitment to tackle the problem of cheap alcohol by scrapping the alcohol duty escalator. This move is a step that society simply...
View ArticleThe Independent View: Pensions reform – the right to advice is right
During the Budget last week George Osborne announced the right to free and impartial face-to-face advice in the context of pension reforms. On a day where we saw other good news — such as encouraging...
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