How to take back the NHS, before it’s too late | David Owen
The coalition’s 2012 health reform act was disastrous. It can be overturned – but time is running outThe Health and Social Care Act 2012 – engineered by the former health secretary Andrew Lansley – was...
View ArticleNick Clegg: Tory spending plans are utter nonsense
Lib Dem leader accuses George Osborne of trying to balance Britain’s economy ‘on the backs of the working-age poor’George Osborne’s economic plans are a complete nonsense because they contain no...
View ArticlePatrick McLoughlin's Commons statement on the £15bn roads investment:...
Rolling coverage of all the day’s political developments as they happenLunchtime summaryAfternoon summary4.57pm GMTThe budget deficit is down by a third under this government, and we will see what...
View ArticleEconomic dishonesty is the deadliest deficit of all | Polly Toynbee
Chancellor George Osborne will disguise the harm he means to do in the autumn statement, but Labour and the Lib Dems are trapped in me-too territoryNever – probably – in the history of political...
View ArticleGordon Brown: without winning an election, he has left a legacy greater than...
His predecessor was always seen as the winner, but Brown retires having saved the pound, the global economy and the United KingdomEven at the end, he still had them talking. For the best part of a...
View ArticlePoliticians threw Royal Mail to the wolves | Letter: Alan Whitt, former chief...
Ofcom is right to raise fears that unfair competition is damaging Royal Mail’s ability to deliver to every UK home for a set price. Competitors are creaming off profitable urban mail, while leaving...
View ArticleGeorge Osborne on offensive over tax abuse but admits deficit target missed
Chancellor highlights plans to clamp down on tax loopholes used by tech firms and will vow to rein in debt faster than LabourGeorge Osborne will take the first steps to redeem his pledge to tackle...
View ArticleNo wonder landowners are scared. We are starting to learn who owns Britain |...
Scotland is breaking the cover-up that stifles our political thought. Bring the Highland Spring southBring out the violins. The land reform programme announced last week by the Scottish government is...
View ArticleThis isn’t an autumn statement, it’s an early advert for the 2015 election
The coalition has been a modest success, but it’s off the rails on the deficit and debt reduction. Let the fingerpointing commence• Autumn statement 2014: Osborne to miss deficit targets – liveWhy are...
View ArticleCollapse of oil prices leads world economy into trouble
Opec, the oil cartel, believed it could help production. Instead, it ended up hurting itself as well as the Russian rouble, energy stocks and much moreThe Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries...
View ArticleGeorge Osborne unveils stamp duty overhaul in autumn statement
Chancellor says shakeup will cut tax for 98% of purchases while raising money from those buying most expensive homes • Live coverage of the autumn statement 2014• Autumn statement 2014: the key...
View ArticleAutumn statement 2014: chancellor says economic growth higher than expected
George Osborne says economy will grow by 3% this year but is still concerned by the size of the budget deficit• Live coverage of the autumn statement• Key points at a glanceGeorge Osborne unveiled...
View ArticleGeorge Osborne's autumn statement: 'Stay on course to prosperity' – video
George Osborne gives his autumn statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday. The chancellor tells MPs the UK is growing faster than its global competitors and says unemployment, inflation and the...
View ArticleSurge in UK services sector calms fears of economic slowdown
Firms report hiring more staff to cope with a rise in workloads as business grows much higher than City forecastsBritain’s services sector grew at a faster-than-expected rate in November, easing fears...
View ArticleThe Guardian view on George Osborne: he cannot be serious | Editorial
The chancellor poses as steadfast, but he continually rewrites his ‘long-term plan’ and has not come clean about the dreadful consequences of the endless cutting buried in the smallprintHe’s a...
View ArticleVery political chancellor sharpens battle lines in autumn statement
George Osborne targets voters who decide election but opposition believes he is still vulnerableDavid Cameron, perhaps sensing the difficulties ahead in the autumn statement, confided in his...
View ArticleAutumn statement: OBR predicts recovery running out of steam
Office for Budget Responsibility expecting higher growth of 3% and 2.4% this year and next, but it will fall to 2.2% in 2016Britain’s recovery is expected to start running out of steam next year as the...
View ArticleAutumn statement 2014: Osborne moves to cut spending to 1930s levels
Chancellor’s plan could require cuts to police, local government and justice amounting to a further £60bn by 2019-20The chancellor, George Osborne, set out dramatic plans to move Britain from the red...
View ArticleGeorge Osborne thrown off course by pay squeeze and falling income tax take
Spending watchdog says more austerity needed to get deficit cut on track after chancellor misses short-term targetsThe squeeze on pay packets and falling income tax receipts mean George Osborne will...
View ArticleGeorge Osborne on autumn statement: difficult decisions ahead – video
The chancellor, George Osborne, says there will be 'difficult decisions ahead' as the government tries to create economic prosperity. Speaking on Thursday he says he wants to support work and savings....
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