‘Stop calling me a ‘loser’ and start doing something instead’

The future of trade unionism and the next generation

On the face of it you might think that the future is full of potential for trade unions. Four in five people in Great Britain think that trade unions are “essential” to protect workers’ interests. Public concerns over low pay have soared…

Taxing times in Scotland: what to make of the emerging debate on tax policy?

The announcement by Kezia Dugdale that Scottish Labour would use devolved tax powers to add 1p to all the main rates of Scottish income tax, a similar stance to the Lib Dems, and hot on the heels of…

The rise of Bristol, success but not yet shared growth — notes for a new mayor

This is the basis of remarks made in response to the Inaugural Address of the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees.

You say success, I say failure. The difficult politics of telling the difference

Are the robots about to take all the jobs? Don’t hold your breath

We are said to live in an increasingly ‘post-fact’ world but it remains the case that an eye-catching statistic can gain its own momentum and shape public debate regardless of its providence or even its author’s…

The state of Labour’s fiscal debate

Across different Labour circles there is a rumbling debate about the type of fiscal policy that should be adopted in response to George Osborne’s fiscal rules. It’s an important issue that tells us much about the troubled state of the party.

The Budget numbers are going to all change again — time to report it differently

The Budget aftermath is the usual time to unearth hidden nasty measures and expose the Chancellor of the day’s sleight of hand. But it should also be a moment to step back and consider whether…

Well adjusted? What policy can do to support the losers of economic change

Years ago, while working as an advisor in government, I was asked to think afresh about what policy could do to improve the plight of those on low incomes. I went to see one of the UK’s most respected…