Infrastructure delays pile up
28 January 2019
An independent report from KPMG published last week found that the delayed Crossrail project is eating up cash at the rate of £30 million a week.
Child social care in the red
20 January 2019
New figures show that almost 9 in 10 English councils overspent on children’s social care in the last financial year, reflecting growing numbers of children being placed into the system.
Revealed: the inside plot against Brexit
18 January 2019
Shortly after the overwhelming defeat of the government's proposed deal with the European Union on the evening of 14 January, three senior ministers held a conference call with ten representatives of big business…
A coup against democracy
13 January 2019
As the delayed vote on Theresa May’s “withdrawal” agreement approaches, it has become increasingly obvious that parliament is planning a coup.
Bridge repair backlog soars to £6.7 billion.
13 January 2019
The maintenance backlog for council-owned road bridges in Britain increased by a third in the past year, with billions needed to bring all structures up to standard.
Car jobs on the line
13 January 2019
The loss of jobs in the car industry is blamed on Brexit; that’s not the case. To think that the EU or May’s deal is any answer will disarm the fight to maintain and build the industry.
Homeless dying as housing crisis worsens
9 January 2019
The number of homeless people dying on the streets or in temporary accommodation has surged 24 per cent in just five years.
Bus journeys fall
6 January 2019
Long the “Cinderella” of transport services, local bus services, especially in rural areas, are seeing deep and damaging cuts.
Who voted to hand over the army to the EU?
While diverting our attention with a pretence of negotiating withdrawal from the EU, the government has been signing Britain up to the developing EU army – and paying a huge chunk of the cost…
The TUC's own Project Fear
The TUC has been running its own special Project Fear campaign, largely unnoticed – though given its recent performance, that’s not surprising.
Protest at Scottish budget
Members of several unions gathered at the Scottish Parliament on 12 December to protest against that day’s annual budget announcement from the minority SNP administration.
We need to talk about pay
At a time when many in the country are becoming alive to the possibilities of control in the context of Britain and the European Union, collective control of pay is at a low point. That has got to change…
EU energy interference
With cold weather on the way, the European Court of Justice has seen fit to meddle in the power market…
It's time we were free to improve animal welfare
In animal welfare, as in so much, the EU likes to pose as an authority and protector of standards. The record tells us otherwise…
Straight talk on trade
20 December 2018
This well-argued book from Professor Dani Rodrik examines the effects of globalisation and criticises the economic justfication for it.
Active policy for Britain
20 December 2018
In this book Professor Philip Whyman makes the case for rebuilding Britain as an advanced industrial economy by rejecting options that tie the government to EU control.
What research does Britain really need?
In recent years, UK academia has become increasingly hooked on a steady supply of grants from the European Union. But even without Brexit that tap could never run indefinitely. Time to set our own priorities…
Social care: the case for making it a priority
While Britain’s workers cherish their National Health Service, the locally delivered and essential social services that support NHS provision are in comparison rather unloved…
Finance capital – our enemy
During the last two centuries, finance capital has progressively become remote from and hostile to the real economy…
Local Govt: London in need
The BBC reports that London’s councils have told the government they need an extra £526 million in funding to balance the books.
Guards' disputes continue
Members of rail union RMT in the north of England have now taken their 40th day of strike action.
Ambulance staff call for lower retirement age
10 December: London ambulance staff, members of Unison, present a petition to the Department of Health and Social Care calling for a lowering of the retirement age from 67 to 60 – the age at which other emergency services staff retire.
Engineering - Springburn anger
Springburn, in north west Glasgow, once the proud heart of the world locomotive industry, is threatened with closure.
Contracting Out - Interserve quizzed
The Institute for Government think tank has published a report warning that handing so much government business to only a few large strategic suppliers is a risky strategy.
Libraries - Funding fall
Public finance body Cipfa has reported that funding for Britain’s libraries fell by £30 million in 2017/18, with a loss of 712 full-time staff.
We must go
We must leave the EU on 29 March 2019. It’s what Britain voted for in June 2016 and that decision must be carried out.
Message to May: just go
11 December 2018
If May is allowed to remain in office, there will be no Brexit – just interminable pretend negotiations. She has to go.
Swiss stand firm over free movement
10 December 2018
In echoes of May’s Brexit “negotiations”, a proposed Swiss agreement over free movement from the EU is facing likely defeat.
Bus drivers striking for pay
9 December 2018
Bus drivers in two areas of northern England are striking over pay.