Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Brexit Posted:
The UK’s political, social and economic landscape has changed beyond recognition since June 23rd. But did the Leave result mean this was inevitable? Colin Talbot argues that we appear to have overturned our Parliamentary democracy in favour of a public vote – a ‘plebiscitary democracy’ – and the enormous impact of this has only just […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Westminster Watch, Whitehall Watch Posted:
More fast reaction from Colin Talbot to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2015. One thing has puzzled me since the introduction of “Quantitative Easing” (QE) in 2009. Between then and 2012 the Bank of England ‘bought’ £375bn of government bonds from their previous private sector owners. This is a pretty sizeable chunk of the total Government […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts Posted:
[Rather than single blog I am posting a series of shorter posts on the Spending Review today on specific issues] “Mr Speaker, I want to announce to the House that we are on target to meet our long-term economic plan of reducing the size of the British state to just 36%, putting firmly at the […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Featured Posted:
Here Colin Talbot reacts to the terrorist atrocities in Paris. These are just some thoughts about the attacks in Paris. They’re not a thorough narrative or analysis, but things that have occurred to me as I have followed the story over the weekend. WHAT SORT OF ATTACK? It was clearly a highly organized, well-equipped and […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Westminster Watch, Whitehall Watch Posted:
The Government has only itself to blame for its House of Lords defeat over Tax Credits, which it could easily have avoided says Colin Talbot. Normally, major financial changes introduced in a Budget are put through the normal House of Commons mechanisms for ‘supply’ (spending) and finance (tax). As these measures were about tax (credits) […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts Posted:
When Francis Fukuyama published his now famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) initial essay on “The End of History” in 1989 it provoked a furious discussion that continues to this day (the later book version is here) and is continued here by Colin Talbot. The discussion has often generated more heat than […]
By Dave Richards, Colin Talbot and Ewan Munro Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted:
Dave Richards, Colin Talbot and Ewan Munro explore target setting in Government. “Everyone has to think of their responsibilities with regard to the dreadful events that happened at the Staffordshire hospital, including the fact that part of the problem was people following a very top-down, target-led agenda which led to patient care being put on […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted:
Colin Talbot asks if we have reached a tipping point where ‘first past the post’ finally fails to hold together the two big coalitions that have dominated British politics for nearly a century ? Could we be seeing the end of the Conservative and Labour Parties? The Tories are having a great summer: an unexpected […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts Posted:
The sudden collapse of the high-profile (though rather small) Kids Company charity has been getting lots of headlines. Colin Talbot looks at what has gone wrong. A quick look at its history and its published accounts suggests this is a pretty classic example of an entrepreneurial and charismatic ‘Leader’ coming up with a good idea […]
By Colin Talbot Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted:
The entire Labour Party leadership debate is being framed by the question “how can Labour win again?” But what if it can’t, asks Colin Talbot? There are several reasons for believing it might be impossible for Labour to win an outright majority in the House of Commons again, at least for any foreseeable future. (Let […]