Realising a New Normal
What comes after Covid-19? It may be many things, but we can be certain it will be entirely different to what came before. The far-reaching ramifications of this crisis provide…
First Carillion, Now Capita? We Need To Change How We Outsource
It is just over three months since the giant construction and outsourcing firm Carillion entered compulsory liquidation, throwing 19,000 people’s jobs, livelihoods and pensions as well as hundreds of public…
Immigration and Brexit (and Trump): It’s More About Social Attitudes than Social Class
Following on from discussions at our 2024 conference, we asked key thinkers to summarise their thoughts on some of the most important issues facing Britain today. Immigration has dominated headlines…
Our young people deserve a secure future
The controversy over GCSE results cannot be seen in isolation: it comes within the context of a large chunk of young people feeling as though the Government is slamming the…
It’s no surprise that charity workers say the Big Society is dead
Just five years ago and the voluntary sector was at the heart of the general election campaign with Cameron’s flagship policy the Big Society. But four short years later and…
Government Ideological Obsession With Outsourcing Behind Carillion Collapse
Carillion’s collapse in January sent shockwaves through the country. One of the ‘companies that run Britain’ seemingly collapsed overnight, throwing public services into chaos, threatening thousands of jobs and placing…
The worst thing about the Budget? The tax cuts
This post originally appeared on LabourList. You can download our election guide to tax here. My plan for this week’s column was “pick something you hate about the Budget and…
Involuntary idleness represents a massive waste of economic resources
This blog first appeared on the LSE Politics and Policy Blog on 29 April As part of the ongoing Social State project, Howard Reed reflects on the macroeconomic significance of…
Labour Market Realities: Privatisation and the Railways
Record levels of employment and unemployment are once again back in the headlines with the release of the first labour market statistics of 2018. Yet these numbers remain distract from…
More likely to go to prison than university? But a degree doesn’t close the pay gap
David Cameron’s front page of the Sunday Times announced a concerted Government anti-discrimination drive. Targeting universities, the police, the courts and the armed forces he said steps must be taken…
Brexit update: parliament is back in session
This has been a very busy week for the UK government. Parliament is back in session after the summer recess, Brexit Minister David Davis has spoken to MPs about EU…