Latest News

Rail Nationalisation Makes Sense - Richard Murphy

Labour says it is going to nationalise Brtain's railways Its plans make sense - as far as they go.   But, like so much that it does, this plan does not go far enough.  

Making Fit Notes More Effective As Rishi Sunak Will Make It Harder To Get Sick Notes

The prime minister claims benefits have become a "lifestyle choice" for some, causing a "spiralling" welfare bill.   If the Tories win the general election, Mr Sunak wants to make it harder for some patients to obtain a sick note.  

Rishi Sunak Wants To Cut The Cost Of Sicknote Britain - But We've Found A Strong Economic Case For Benefits

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has announced a crackdown on sickness and disability benefits in order to end a "sicknote culture" and "over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life", in part because he claims that "good work" can actually improve mental and physical health.  He instead wants to focus on "what people can do with the right support in place, rather than what they can't do".  

Where Are The CFOs? Two-fifths Blame Professionals Stepping Into CEO Positions

CFO Talent Gap - two-fifths of business leaders blame professionals stepping into CEO positions.   41% state CFOs moving to CEO positions as key driver of CFO turnover.  

The Expansion Of Free Childcare Has Been A Tory-fied Mess Of A Bright Labour Idea

Polly Toynbee writing in the Guardian has demolished Rishi Sunak and Tory handling of child care in England.   The economy relies on enough workers to be available and in this crucial area with vacancies in many industries failure to handle the situation means businesses cannot recruit and families cannot get the child care to allow them to get employment.  

Are We Rapidly Moving To Another Scottish Government Election As Motions Of No Confidence Flying Fast

The Labour List Web site is pushing out the latest on motions of no confidence so with tensions rising to wards the motions to be taken next week thing are moving swiftly.  Is everyone ready for another election for the Scottish Government?.  

Lower Tax Receipts Leave Borrowing Higher Than Forecast - And No Signs Of Extra Wriggle Room To Fuel Another Pre-election Budget

UK borrowing over the last fiscal year (2023-24) was £7.6 billion lower than last year, but £60 billion higher than the year before the pandemic and, critically, £6.6 billion higher than the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecast at the Spring Budget last month, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday).   The higher than forecast borrowing was driven by lower than expected tax receipts, down over £7 billion on the OBR’s latest forecast, though they were still over £65 billion up on the year before as a result of high inflation and rising taxes.  

Stephanie Kelton - "Finding The Money" & "the Deficit Myth"

Stephanie Kelton, bestselling author of "The Deficit Myth" and professor of economics and public policy, talks to Jordan Klepper and Ronny Chieng about changing our understanding of government spending through MMT, or Modern Money Theory.   She also explains how the national deficit is not a number to be fearful of, but can be put to good use, and how government finance is far more flexible than you might think.  

Aviation Fuel Plan Supports Growth Of British Aviation Sector

Measures announced to give UK aviation and the SAF industry the certainty to keep creating skilled British jobs while ensuring air travel is fit for the future.   plans unveiled for world leading sustainable aviation fuel mandate, with 10% of all jet fuel set to go green by 2030.  

Firm Foundations - Understanding Why Employers Use Flexible Contracts

At the end of 2023, more than one-in-eight (13 per cent) employees in UK were working on some form of flexible contract that can be viewed as ‘precarious', accounting for 3.8 million workers nationwide.   From variable-hours and zero-hours contracts to temporary work such as casual, seasonal or short-term employment, flexible contracts often entail considerable uncertainty for workers over hours or the length of employment, and a fluctuating income too.