Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today’s issues and tomorrow’s problems
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The rise of the civil service
In the three years to March 2023 there was an increase of 63,000 civil servants, or 64,000 full time equivalents. Over the 3 years 2020 to 2023 there was a substantial fall in public sector productivity. There are now more than 4000 senior civil servants in Director level and above...Read More »
The Autumn Statement – again
The Times runs detailed stories on what will be in the so called Autumn Statement. Time was when the Autumn Statement was an annual review and future budget for spending, provoking proper debate about priorities, costs, public sector productivity and the rest. This was followed by a Spring budget which...Read More »
The Autumn Statement
Next week the Chancellor presents his Autumn Statement.
It is important he starts to cut taxes. The Conservative party must be the party of lower taxation. It needs to do that as well as say that. It has two main opportunities left before the next General election. It should start now...Read More »
What should Esther McVey do?
Esther McVey is taking up a new post in the Cabinet Office as Minister without portfolio. The press say she is the “Commonsense Czar”, the wokefinder general, the slayer of wrong headed wokery.
So where should she begin?
The kind of commonsense I would like from government includes putting the public first...Read More »
Votes on the Israel/Hamas war
I voted in accordance with the Conservative Party whip. I support the government as it urges all involved to avoid civilian casualties, to obey the laws of war, to provide humanitarian pauses and facilitate humanitarian aid.I support its diplomatic work to press the humanitarian case and to seek to...Read More »