Further worrying evidence of the decline in adult and further education was revealed in the debate about selling off the … Continue reading ““Two plus two equals five”, argue Tories. “Two plus two equals three”, respond Lib Dems”

Shadow Chancellor George Osborne leads the chorus of tut-tutting at means-tested child tax credits going to “better-off” families and seems … Continue reading “Means testing means more welfare dependency”

The Conservatives’ plans for “free schools” are, arguably, their flagship policy. It is vital that there is no compromise when … Continue reading “The Conservatives must give Swedish-style “free schools” a lot more freedom”

I recently had a discussion with a commissioning editor of an academic publishing house who informed me that any new … Continue reading “Profiting from capitalism”

In his four years as leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron has often seemed to embrace socialist ideas.  “Sharing … Continue reading “Can Cameron roll back the state?”

With youth unemployment rising to 1 million, the government – or more realistically the Tories – need a radical rethink … Continue reading “The Tories need a rethink on the minimum wage”

Working in a university social science environment I find myself surrounded by those who take a leftist view of the … Continue reading “The budget deficit: close your eyes and it goes away”

Elinor Ostrom and Oliver E. Williamson, the winners of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Economics, have much to contribute to … Continue reading “What this year’s Nobel Prize winners can teach the Conservatives”

The International Monetary Fund has just presented perhaps the gloomiest forecast for Britain’s public finances so far. It predicts that by … Continue reading “Conservative economic policy is timid and unimaginative”