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Policy@Manchester Articles
Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues

Denial about taxes and cuts and half-truths about efficiency – what an election

Colin Talbot By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: April 28, 2010

With the FT and IFS reports this week it is abundantly clear now to everyone what some of us have been saying for ages – this election is being fought with a big void where the truth about the public finances and spending cuts ought to be. But if what they are telling us about […]

Prime Minister Johnson edges closer?

Colin Talbot By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: April 26, 2010

When I posted a week ago about the possibility of Alan Johnson as PM in a Lab-Lib coalition, it would have been easy to dismiss it as fantasy. But, a week is a very long time in our current politics. Today’s Guardian headlines Nick Clegg saying: I could work with Labour, just not Gordon Brown

TINA’s revenge

Colin Talbot By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: April 23, 2010

Mrs Thatcher famously liked to use the phrase “there is no alternative” which she did so often it apparently became simply known as TINA (I’m not sure how much this is urban legend, but what the heck, it’s part of our political folk-lore now).

Tories IMF scare: towards a Chancer Chancellor?

Colin Talbot By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: April 21, 2010

Is the idea of an IMF intervention in Britain fact or fiction?  Simple answer: fiction, on just about every level.

Time for a Well Hung Parliament?

Colin Talbot By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: April 20, 2010

The idea of a hung parliament is now not only possible but is slipping into being acceptable, at least to some. So far up the agenda has it leapt that the new, more positive, term ‘balanced parliament’ is creeping into widespread use.

Prime Minister Johnson

Colin Talbot By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: April 19, 2010

I’ve already hinted at this in a previous post, and I’ve been saying it privately for several weeks: it wouldn’t be a completely wild bet on Alan Johnson being the next Prime Minister.

Half a Million Public Sector Jobs To Go?

Colin Talbot By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: April 19, 2010

The CIPD has estimated that up to half a million public sector jobs could go within the next 5 years, whoever wins the next Election. Is this realistic and how does it sit in historic trends?

It’s not who won, but who didn’t

Colin Talbot By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: April 15, 2010

Our first ever Prime Miniserial TV debate is over and my instant verdict is: (1) Nick Clegg, (2) David Cameron, (3) Gordon Brown. So David Cameron effectively lost, because he should have won.

Lib Dems – a mysterious £860m saving?

Colin Talbot By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: April 14, 2010

The Liberal Democrats are making a great deal of how honest, detailed and clear they are being about the needs for ‘tough choices’ in public spending. And by and large they do seem to be, but there are some areas where spin seems to have gotten the better of them.

Conservative ‘big society’ plan risks increasing corruption, experts warn

Colin Talbot By Colin Talbot Filed Under: Whitehall Watch Posted: April 13, 2010

Plan for public to take control of public services will not guarantee savings and could inflame social division, say critics – Guardian BTW – before Charles Moore bursts another blood vessel I should point out I was on BBC R4’s The World Tonight (12/04/2010) criticising the Labour Manifesto’s commitments on public sector organisations.

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