Keir Starmer is facing the biggest rebellion of his premiership over plans to reform the welfare state. Almost a third of Labour MPs have signed an amendment by Meg Hillier aimed at derailing Liz Kendall’s flagship bill, which is due for debate in Parliament next week. The Government will be working over the weekend to … Read more
Reform UK’s First “Victory” in Durham? Not Quite. Reform UK now control Durham County Council, following the most recent round of local elections. They replaced a lacklustre Conservative-Lib Dem coalition — hardly a high bar to clear. Many of the wards that swung to Reform were Labour strongholds until 2015. Reform have already claimed their … Read more
This is the most boring blog you’re ever going to read. Truly dull. It contains some very big numbers and zero sex appeal. And yet, it marks a fundamental shift in how government works in the UK—a quiet but far-reaching change that’s been unfolding over the past year and underpins the most recent Government Spending … Read more
Musk and Trump: DOGE, Debt, and DefaultThe Department of Government Efficiency goes inefficiently bust. The last 48 hours have been historic—and not in a good way. Elon Musk has left the Trump administration with a black eye and a fresh dose of chaos. The official line is that he “tripped on something,” but given the … Read more
Is UK immigration out of control? No it’s not out of control, nor is it increasing. There’s been a lot of noise lately about immigration being “out of control.” Social media is full of it. So are the usual suspects—the Mail, Telegraph, and certain politicians who never miss a chance to shout fire in a … Read more
Nations depend on rules – fair rules.Sometimes they’re written down, often they’re not, but either way, they give shape to our values.They guide us towards our rights, of course, but also our responsibilities, the obligations we owe to one another.Now, in a diverse nation like ours, and I celebrate that, these rules become even more … Read more
Imagine a right-wing regime where private business and authoritarian politics are so closely intertwined that the boundary between the two ceases to exist. A system where businessmen sit at the cabinet table, making decisions not for the public good, but to further their own corporate interests. In this world, politics and profit collude. The demand … Read more
The Rise of Dark Kitchens: How Delivery Platforms Are Changing the Food Industry Recently, I was feeling peckish and checked Just Eat, only to discover that North Road in Durham now boasts four Korean takeaways. A quick look at Deliveroo revealed four more: That means eight Korean takeaways have seemingly popped up in the same … Read more
Is This an Austerity Government? No. Rachel Reeves will deliver her Spring Statement today. While not a full budget, this statement will outline the framework for the government’s spending review. Government departments will find out if they have more or less to spend—most will find the answer is less. This follows a Green Paper consultation … Read more
Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Understanding the Need for Disability Benefit Reform The Fiscal Context The cost of disability benefits has surged over the last decade. In 2010, the UK spent £16.7 billion on disability benefits; today, that figure stands at £40 billion annually. There are two primary benefits: … Read more